Multiple party telephone control system with random dialing for polling

• US 5,185,787 A
• Filed: 02/07/1992
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/832,720
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 379/204, 379/205, 379/92, 379/156, 379/158, 379/165, 379/355
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/904 Auto-calling

Abstract

To interface a primary telephone terminal with a vast number of remote terminals through a telephone network, parties at the remote terminals are individually screened to attain a select group. A random digit dialer unit may provide random dialing signals to the telephone network to establish communication with a plurality of connected terminals, as for polling applications. Bridged together, the select group is preliminarily informed of the status of the interface by a voice generator and, accordingly, the multitude of connections are synchronized for the interface. On cue, the select group is coupled to the primary telephone terminal for unilateral communications. Deviations from the unilateral communication include select bilateral communication for a few of the remote terminals and digital communication from the remote terminals by push button as for polling applications. Subjects for interfaces are programmed for selection from a memory.

Claims

1. A multiple-party control system for use with a telephone facility to interface a primary terminal with a multiplicity of remote terminals through said telephone facility, said system comprising:

a random digit dialer unit for providing random dialing signals to said telephone facility to establish communication with a plurality of connected terminals;

preliminary structure to provide vocal information to callers at connected terminals;

gang holding structure for collectively communicating with persons at said connected terminals collectively as a group; and

switch means for initially coupling individual connected terminals to said preliminary structure during an engagement phase of operation, subsequently connecting said connected terminals to said gang holding structure during a pending phase of operation and thereafter connecting said gang holding structure to said primary terminal for collectively receiving unilateral voice communication.

2. A multiple-party control system according to claim 1 wherein said preliminary structure comprises means to test data to selectively maintain an interface with select terminals.

3. A multiple-party control system according to claim 2 wherein said preliminary structure includes:

memory means for storing reference information related to callers, means to receive online information from said coupled terminals indicative of said callers and means to test said reference information related to specific callers against said online information received from specific callers.

4. A multiple-party control system according to claim 1 wherein said gang holding structure includes audio means for providing audio status signals to said terminals.

5. A multiple-party control system according to claim 1 wherein said controlled switch means includes a control computer and a multiplexer switch means.

6. A multiple-party control system according to claim 5 wherein said controlled switch means is unidirectional during said interface phase whereby audio signals are provided from said primary terminal to said other terminals.

7. A multiple-party control system according to claim 5 wherein said controlled switch means enables a bidirectional connection from said primary terminal to certain of said other terminals.