Method and apparatus for group-specific calling
First Claim
1. A method of processing a call in a telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a group call initiated by a caller dialing a group number from a caller terminal, wherein the group number is assigned to a group including a plurality of members having distinct member numbers;
receiving a sequence of selection commands entered by the caller during the group call, the selection commands indicating the particular group members selected by the caller;
interpreting the selection commands received from said caller to determine the corresponding member numbers of the selected group members;
connecting said group call from said caller terminal in accordance with the selection command sequence to selected member terminals corresponding to the member numbers of the selected group members; and
transmitting call data, the call data regarding a connection of the group call to one of the selected member terminals, to another of said selected member terminals to which said group call is subsequently connected.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for industry and group-specific calling within a telecommunication system. The method of the present invention includes the steps of receiving, in a carrier network, a call initiated by dialing a group number from a caller terminal; accessing a database in the carrier network to determine an announcement corresponding to the group number; providing the announcement to the caller terminal to prompt a caller to select one of the group members associated with the dialed group number; interpreting a selection command received from the caller to determine a member number of a selected group member; establishing a connection between the network and a member terminal corresponding to the selected member number; and connecting the call from the caller terminal to the selected member terminal. The caller may terminate the connection between the network and the member terminal, and select a connection to other group members, without dialing any additional numbers. Information such as the selection sequence, connect time, and call status may be transmitted by the carrier network to each member terminal prior to connection to the caller terminal.
64 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of processing a call in a telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a group call initiated by a caller dialing a group number from a caller terminal, wherein the group number is assigned to a group including a plurality of members having distinct member numbers; receiving a sequence of selection commands entered by the caller during the group call, the selection commands indicating the particular group members selected by the caller; interpreting the selection commands received from said caller to determine the corresponding member numbers of the selected group members; connecting said group call from said caller terminal in accordance with the selection command sequence to selected member terminals corresponding to the member numbers of the selected group members; and transmitting call data, the call data regarding a connection of the group call to one of the selected member terminals, to another of said selected member terminals to which said group call is subsequently connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for processing a call in a telecommunication system, comprising:
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a first switch for receiving a group call initiated by a caller dialing a group number from a caller terminal, wherein the group number is assigned to a group including a plurality of members having distinct member numbers; an adjunct unit for receiving said group call from said first switch; a detector in said adjunct unit for interpreting a sequence of selection commands entered by the caller and received from said caller terminal, the selection commands indicating the particular group members selected by the caller a second switch for establishing connections in accordance with the selection command sequence between said first switch and selected member terminals corresponding to the member numbers of the selected group members; and means for transmitting call data, the call data regarding a connection of the group call to one of the selected member terminals, to another of said selected member terminals to which said group call is subsequently connected. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of processing a call in a telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a group call initiated by a caller dialing a group number from a caller terminal; providing an announcement to said caller terminal to prompt said caller to select one of a plurality of group members corresponding to said group number; interpreting a selection command received from said caller to determine a member number of a selected group member; connecting said group call from said caller terminal to said member terminal; storing call data regarding said connection of said group call to said member terminal of said selected group member; and transmitting said call data to a member terminal of a group member subsequently selected by said caller during said group call. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for processing a call in a telecommunication system, comprising:
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a first switch for receiving a group call initiated by a caller dialing a group number from a caller terminal; an adjunct unit for receiving said call from said switch, and for prompting said caller to select one of a plurality of group members associated with said dialed group number; a detector in said adjunct unit for interpreting a selection command received from said caller terminal indicating a selection of a group member; a second switch for establishing a connection of said group call to a member terminal corresponding to a selected member number stored in a database; means for storing call data regarding said connection to said member terminal of said selected group member; and means for transmitting said call data to a member terminal of a group member subsequently selected by said caller during said group call. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification