Communications marketing system

• US 5,557,658 A
• Filed: 08/11/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marshall Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gregorek, Mark R., Dillow, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/289,472
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/87, 379/215, 379/257, 379/374, 379/82, 379/84, 379/88, 379/201, 379/372, 379/96, 379/381, 379/396, 379/163, 379/162, 379/393
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04707 with ball joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/02 providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A communications marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software permits transmitting a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement to a network station which has been temporarily disconnected from a called network station and placed on hold within the network. The network is adapted for allowing an identified called station connected to a first call from a first party at a first network address to receive a second call from a second party at a second network address. The network interrupts the called station and signals the called station of the second call. The called station can then choose to connect to the second call and temporarily disconnect the first party, placing the first party on hold within the network, and thereafter, the called station may switch between the first and second calls. The system plays at least one generally continuous announcement to the party placed on hold by the called station until the called station signals the network to reconnect the called station to the party on hold, at which time the playing of the announcement is terminated. The system further provides a custom audio and/or visual message and/or menu in lieu of a dial tone signal to a party initiating a connection with the communications network.

Claims

1. A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software of the existing communications network to permit transmitting a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement to a network station which is waiting to reconnect to a call with an identified called station, wherein an identified called station connected to a first call with a first party at a first station at a first network address can receive another call from another party at another station at a separate network address, the identified called station signalling the network to temporarily disconnect the first station and place the first station on hold within the network and to connect the identified called station to the other station, and thereafter the identified called station being able to reconnect to the first station, the system comprising:

means for placing a first call by a first party at a first station having a first network address to a second station having a second network address;

means for connecting the first call to the second station;

means for placing a second call from a third station having a third network address to a selected one of the first and second stations;

means for notifying the one selected station of the second call and transmitting a call progress signal to the third station;

means for the one selected station to temporarily disconnect from the nonselected station and place the nonselected station on hold within the network and for connecting the one selected station to the third station;

means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the nonselected station while the nonselected station is on hold within the network; and

means for the one selected station to temporarily disconnect from the third station and reconnect to the nonselected station, thereby terminating the playing of the announcement to the nonselected station.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the third station is placed on hold within the network when the nonselected station is reconnected to the one selected station, and the means for playing plays at least one generally continuous announcement to the third station while the third station is on hold within the network.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for notifying the station on hold within the network that the one selected station has abandoned the call if the one selected station abandons the call.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the third station in lieu of transmitting a call progress signal to the third station, until the third station abandons the second call or the one selected station answers the second call.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the playing means plays a sequence of announcements and wherein the system repeatedly generates additional announcements at predetermined intervals until the station on hold is reconnected to the one selected station or the station on hold abandons the call.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising interaction means for permitting a party at the station on hold within the network to interact with the means for playing an announcement, during the playing of the announcement, by initiating a predetermined response.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting means for allowing a party at the station on hold to select a type of announcement to be played.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the announcement includes audio and video components.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the announcement is digitally stored within the playing means.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the playing means determines the announcement to play based upon criteria established by the marketing system.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means remotely located from the playing means for changing, updating or deleting the announcement.

12. A method for use with an existing communications network for playing one or more generally continuous announcements to a network station which is waiting to reconnect to a call with an another network station, wherein a first party at a first station at a first network address on a call with a second station at a second network address can receive a call from a third station at a third network address, the first station signalling the network to temporarily disconnect the second station and place the second station on hold within the network and to connect the first station to the third station, and thereafter the first station being able to reconnect to the second station, the method comprising:

connecting a first party at a first station having a first network address to a second station having a second network address to complete a first call;

a third station having a third network address placing a second call to a selected one of the first and second stations;

notifying the one selected station of the second call and transmitting a call progress signal to the third station;

the one selected station of the second call signalling the network to temporarily disconnect from the nonselected station and place the nonselected station on hold within the network;

connecting the one selected station to the third station;

playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the nonselected station while the nonselected station is on hold within the network;

the one selected station signalling the network to temporarily disconnect from the third station and reconnect to the nonselected station;

disconnecting the third station from the one selected station and reconnecting the nonselected station to the one selected station; and

terminating the playing of the announcement to the nonselected station and reconnecting the nonselected station to the one selected station.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of placing the third station on hold within the network in response to the one selected station signalling the network to temporarily disconnect from the third station;

and

playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the third station while the third station is on hold within the network.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of notifying the station on hold within the network that the one selected station has abandoned the call if the one selected station abandons the call.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of playing at least one generally continuous prerecorded announcement to the third station in lieu of transmitting a call progress signal to the third station.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of permitting the station on hold within the network to interact with the announcement, during the playing of the announcement, by initiating a predetermined response.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of allowing the station on hold within the network to select a type of announcement to be played.

18. A marketing system for selectively modifying an existing communications network by modifying a portion of the processing software of the existing communications network to permit transmitting a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement to a network station which is waiting to reconnect to a call with another network station, wherein a first station at a first network address is connected to a call with a second station at a second network address, a selected one of the first or second stations signalling the network to temporarily disconnect the other station and place the other station on hold within the network, the selected station being able to reconnect to the other station, the system comprising:

means for placing a call by a first party at a first station having a first network address to a second station having a second network address;

means for connecting the call to the second station;

means for a selected one of the first and second stations to notify the network to temporarily disconnect from the other station and place the other station on hold within the network;

means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to at least one of the one selected station and the other station while the other station is on hold within the network; and

means for the one selected station to reconnect to the other station, thereby terminating the playing of the announcement.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the means for playing plays the announcement only to the one selected station while the other station is on hold.

20. The system according to claim 18 wherein the means for playing plays the announcement only to the other station while the other station is on hold.

21. The system according to claim 18 further comprising means for notifying the station on hold within the network that the one selected station has abandoned the call if the one selected station abandons the call.

22. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the playing means plays a sequence of announcements and wherein the system repeatedly generates additional announcements at predetermined intervals until the station on hold is reconnected to the one selected station or the station on hold or the one selected station abandons the call.

23. The system as recited in claim 18 further comprising interaction means for permitting the station to which the announcement is played to interact with the means for playing an announcement, during the playing of the announcement, by initiating a predetermined response.

24. The system as recited in claim 18 further comprising selecting means for allowing the station to which the announcement is being played to select a type of announcement to be played.

25. The system according to claim 18 wherein the announcement includes audio and video components.

26. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the announcement is digitally stored within the playing means.

27. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the playing means determines the announcement to play based upon criteria established by the marketing system.

28. A method for use with an existing communications network for playing one or more generally continuous announcements to a network station which is waiting to reconnect to a call with another network station, wherein a first station at a first network address is connected to a call with a second station at a second network address, a selected one of the first or second stations being temporarily disconnected from the other station and placed on hold within the network and prior to reconnecting the one selected station to the other station, the method comprising:

the first station signalling the network to place the second station on hold within the network;

temporarily disconnecting the first station from the second network address and placing the second station on hold within the network;

playing at least one generally continuous announcement to at least one of the first station and the second station while the second station is on hold within the network;

the first station signalling the network to reconnect to the second station; and

terminating the playing of the announcement and reconnecting the second station to the first station.

29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the announcement is played only to the first station.

30. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the announcement is played only to the second station.

31. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of playing a sequence of announcements at predetermined intervals until the first station signals the network to reconnect the call to the second station or the first station abandons the call.

32. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of permitting the station to which the announcement is played to interact with the announcement, during the playing of the announcement, by initiating a predetermined response.

33. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising the step of allowing the station to which the announcement is played to select a type of announcement to be played.

34. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the announcement is determined based upon criteria established by the marketing system independent of the identity of the network address of either the first station or the second station.

35. 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 dial tone signal generated by the communications network by a generally continuous pre-recorded announcement, the system comprising:

means for placing a first call by a party at a first station at a first network address;

means for connecting the first station at the first network address to a switch in the communications network, the switch transmitting a dial tone signal to the first station;

means for signalling the switch to activate the marketing system; and

means for playing at least one generally continuous announcement to the party at the first station in lieu of the dial tone signal for a predetermined period of time or until the party at the first station abandons the communication attempt.

36. The system as recited in claim 35 further comprising interaction means for permitting the first station to interact with the means for playing an announcement by initiating a predetermined response.

37. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the means for playing plays a custom announcement based upon the first network address.

38. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the means for playing includes filters and agents that allow for the customization of the announcement, the custom announcement being based upon input by the party at the first station at the first network address.

39. The system as recited in claim 35 further comprising;

means for checking a subscription list to determine the presence of the first network address on the subscription list and providing a signal indicative thereof; and

means for activating the marketing system in response to said signal.

40. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the announcement includes audio and video components.

41. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the playing means plays a sequence of announcements and wherein the system repeatedly generates additional announcements at predetermined intervals until the first station initiates a predetermined response.

42. The system as recited in claim 35 further comprising selecting means for allowing the first station to select a type of announcement to be played.

43. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the announcement is digitally stored within the playing means.