Automatic call-back system and method using data indicating best time to call
First Claim
1. A system for providing an automatic call-back to a caller at a calling party number that encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party number, comprising:
- a switching network having switches for routing telephone calls;
said switching network comprising a first originating switch node coupled to a first originating telephone call location corresponding to said calling party number and, a terminating switch node coupled to a destination telephone call location corresponding to said called party number;
a database coupled to said terminating switch node for storing information regarding times of calling activity of said called party number;
a processor coupled to said terminating switch node and to said database for analyzing said information to determine a best time to call said called party number and providing said terminating switch node with data indicating said best time to call said called party number;
a signaling network coupling switches in said switching network to one another for transmitting said data indicating said best time to call said called party number to said originating switch node; and
an adjunct coupled to said originating switch node for receiving an automatic call-back request from said caller at said calling party number and initiating said automatic call-back to said calling party number at said best time to call said called party number.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing an automatic call-back when a calling party encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party. An exemplary system includes: a first originating switch node (OSN) coupled to a first originating telephone call location corresponding to a calling party and, a terminating switch node (TSN) coupled to a destination telephone call location corresponding to a called party; a database coupled to the TSN for storing the called party'"'"'s times of calling activity; a processor coupled to the TSN and to the database for processing the times of calling activity to determine a best time to call (BTTC) the called party (wherein the BTTC comprises a best exact time and/or a window of time) and providing the TSN with the BTTC; a signaling network for routing the BTTC to the OSN; and an adjunct coupled to the OSN for receiving the calling party'"'"'s automatic call-back request and initiating an automatic call back to the calling party at the BTTC the called party. Upon receiving the automatic call-back request, the adjunct provides the calling party with the BTTC. The adjunct also requests the calling party to enter a time at which the calling party is most likely to be available to receive an automatic call-back and, if the time entered in response to said request is the best exact time or, within the window of time, the adjunct initiates an automatic call-back to said calling party at the time entered.
148 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for providing an automatic call-back to a caller at a calling party number that encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party number, comprising:
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a switching network having switches for routing telephone calls; said switching network comprising a first originating switch node coupled to a first originating telephone call location corresponding to said calling party number and, a terminating switch node coupled to a destination telephone call location corresponding to said called party number; a database coupled to said terminating switch node for storing information regarding times of calling activity of said called party number; a processor coupled to said terminating switch node and to said database for analyzing said information to determine a best time to call said called party number and providing said terminating switch node with data indicating said best time to call said called party number; a signaling network coupling switches in said switching network to one another for transmitting said data indicating said best time to call said called party number to said originating switch node; and an adjunct coupled to said originating switch node for receiving an automatic call-back request from said caller at said calling party number and initiating said automatic call-back to said calling party number at said best time to call said called party number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing an automatic call-back to a caller at a calling party number that encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party number, comprising the steps of:
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storing times of calling activity of said called party number over a period of time prior to said calling party number encountering said ring-no-answer condition; determining a best time to call said called party number based upon said stored times of calling activity; and initiating said automatic call-back to said calling party number at said best time to call said called party number. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method tot providing an automatic call-back to a caller at a calling party number that encounters a ring-no-answer condition upon calling a called party number, comprising the steps of:
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determining a best time to call said called party number based upon times of calling activity of said called party number; conveying said best time to call said called party number to said calling party number; requesting said caller to enter a time at which said calling party number is most likely available to receive an automatic call-back; and initiating said automatic call-back to said calling party number at said time entered, if said time entered is within a window of time corresponding to a predetermined least acceptable probability of availability of said called party number. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification