Automatic batch broadcast system
First Claim
1. A method of using an automated telephone switch, having ports to receive telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data, to identify callers having common caller identification data, and to place the identified callers into a queue for simultaneously receiving a broadcast message from a storage device connected to a designated port of said automated telephone switch, comprising the steps of:
- receiving telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data;
responsive to said telephone caller identification data, identifying telephone callers having a first common identifying characteristic;
arranging said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic in a first queue of said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic;
connecting said first queue to a designated port of said storage device, to hear a first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic; and
simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic to said telephone callers in said first queue having said first common identifying characteristic.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is shown for holding callers in a queue for the broadcast of a message. Callers are assembled by a common attribute such as a caller I.D. The callers are assembled in a queue according to this attribute and according to a suitable priority process. Once the callers are assembled into a set, the priority process has been completed, then all of the callers within the set are connected to receive the same broadcasted message.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of using an automated telephone switch, having ports to receive telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data, to identify callers having common caller identification data, and to place the identified callers into a queue for simultaneously receiving a broadcast message from a storage device connected to a designated port of said automated telephone switch, comprising the steps of:
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receiving telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data; responsive to said telephone caller identification data, identifying telephone callers having a first common identifying characteristic; arranging said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic in a first queue of said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic; connecting said first queue to a designated port of said storage device, to hear a first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic; and simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic to said telephone callers in said first queue having said first common identifying characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a telephone switch having identified ports for receiving and transmitting messages with caller identifying information, from and to calling parties, the method of connecting a set of telephone callers, at a first set of ports in said telephone switch, and identified by identifying characteristics, to a stored message connected to a designated port in said telephone switch, including the steps of:
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A. receiving calls from calling parties, at first set of ports of said telephone switch, said calls identified by identifying characteristics; B. using caller identifying information to identify a first plurality of telephone callers, at a first set of ports of said telephone switch, having a first common identifying characteristic and placing said first set of ports in a first queue of said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic; C. identifying a designated port of said telephone switch connected to a broadcast device having a plurality of stored messages; D. selecting a first stored message from said broadcast device, responsive to said first common identifying characteristic; and E. connecting said designated port of said telephone switch and said first set of ports of said telephone switch and simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message to said callers in said first queue through said first set of ports. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A system for connecting a set of telephone callers, identified by a common characteristic, to a stored message, comprising:
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A. means for receiving telephone calls with telephone caller identifying information; B. means for using said telephone caller identifying information to identify said telephone callers by a first common characteristic and for arranging said telephone callers having said first common characteristic in a first queue; C. means for selecting a first stored message from a storage device, responsive to said first common characteristic; and D. means for simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message to said telephone callers in said first queue. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a telephone switch having ports for receiving and transmitting messages from and to calling parties, a system for connecting a set of telephone callers identified by a common characteristic to a stored message, including:
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means for receiving calls with identifying information from said calling parties, at said ports of said telephone switch; means for using said identifying information to identify a plurality of said telephone callers having a first common characteristic, in a first set of telephone callers; means for identifying a single broadcast device having a plurality of stored messages with a designated port of said telephone switch; means for selecting a first stored message from said single broadcast device, responsive to said first common characteristics; and means for simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message to said first set of telephone callers through said designated port. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of using an automated telephone switch, having ports to receive telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data, to identify callers having common caller identification data, and to place the identified callers into a queue for simultaneously receiving a broadcast message from a storage device connected to a designated port of said automated telephone switch, comprising the steps of:
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receiving telephone calls containing telephone caller identification data; responsive to said telephone caller identification data, identifying telephone callers having a first common identifying characteristic; arranging said telephone callers having said first common identifying characteristic in a first queue limited to said telephone callers having said first common characteristic; connecting said first queue to a designated port of said automated telephone switch and through said designated port to said storage device, to hear a first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic; and simultaneously broadcasting said first stored message selected in response to said first common identifying characteristic to said callers in said first queue limited to said telephone callers having said first common characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification