Communications marketing system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software of the existing communications network and by replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by the communications network by a generally continuous prerecorded announcement, the system comprising:
- means for placing a call by a calling party at a first network address;
means for connecting the call to an identified called station at a second network address, the called station having either a busy status or an idle status;
means for initially determining the busy/idle status of the called station and, if the called station has an initial busy status, for thereafter checking the busy/idle status of the called station at predetermined intervals;
means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the calling party for a predetermined period of time during a time period when a call progress signal would have been provided to the calling party, said playing means determining the announcement to play based upon criteria established exclusively by the marketing system and independently of the identity of the called station; and
means for terminating the playing of the announcement and completing the call to the called station, in the case of the called station having an initial idle status, said announcement terminating and call completing means completing the call when the called station responds by answering the call and, in the case of the called station having an initial busy status, said announcement terminating and call completing means completing the call when the status of the called station changes to an idle status and the called station thereafter responds by answering the call.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software permits replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by the communications network by a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement. A first station is provided for placing a call by a calling party at a first network address. The network is adapted for connecting the call to an identified called station at a second network address, the called station having either a busy status or an idle status. The network initially determines the busy/idle status of the called station and, if the called station has an initial busy status, thereafter checks the busy/idle status of the called station at predetermined intervals. A player plays at least one generally continuous announcement to the calling party for a predetermined period of time during a time period when a call progress signal would have been provided to the calling party. The player determines the announcement to be played based upon criteria established exclusively by the marketing system and independently of the identity of the called station. The playing of the announcement is terminated and the call is completed to the calling station, in the case of the calling station having an initial idle status, when the called station responds by answering the call. In the case of the called station having an initial busy status, the playing of the announcement is terminated and the call is completed when the status of the called station changes to an idle status and the called station thereafter responds by answering the call.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software of the existing communications network and by replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by the communications network by a generally continuous prerecorded announcement, the system comprising:
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means for placing a call by a calling party at a first network address; means for connecting the call to an identified called station at a second network address, the called station having either a busy status or an idle status; means for initially determining the busy/idle status of the called station and, if the called station has an initial busy status, for thereafter checking the busy/idle status of the called station at predetermined intervals; means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the calling party for a predetermined period of time during a time period when a call progress signal would have been provided to the calling party, said playing means determining the announcement to play based upon criteria established exclusively by the marketing system and independently of the identity of the called station; and means for terminating the playing of the announcement and completing the call to the called station, in the case of the called station having an initial idle status, said announcement terminating and call completing means completing the call when the called station responds by answering the call and, in the case of the called station having an initial busy status, said announcement terminating and call completing means completing the call when the status of the called station changes to an idle status and the called station thereafter responds by answering the call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for use with an existing communications network for replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by the communications network when a call is placed by a calling party at a first network address and prior to the connection of the call to an identified called station at a second network address, the called station having either a busy status or an idle status, the method comprising:
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initially determining the busy/idle status of the called station and, if the called station has an initial busy status, thereafter checking the busy/idle status of the called station at predetermined intervals; playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the calling party for a predetermined period of time during a time period when a call progress signal would have been provided to the calling party, the announcement being determined based upon criteria established exclusively by the marketing system and independently of the identity of the called station; and terminating the playing of the announcement and completing the call to the called station, in the case of the called station having an initial idle status, when the called station responds by answering the call and, in the case of the called station having an initial busy status, when the status of the called station changes to an idle status and the called station thereafter responds by answering the call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification