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Method and apparatus for processing telephone calls

  • US 5,841,837 A
  • Filed: 05/11/1995
  • Issued: 11/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of processing incoming telephone calls directed to a user, said method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) storing in a memory electronic signals including signals representative of telephone network addresses;

    (b) processing an incoming telephone call from a caller, including communicating information to said caller indicating that said incoming call can be routed to any one of at least two telephone network addresses, sensing the transmission by the caller of a command corresponding to the desired telephone network address and, responsive thereto, routing said incoming call to a telephone network address represented in said memory corresponding to the command transmitted by said caller,(c) generating predetermined signals which to the caller indicate normal call processing operation but to the user indicate that the user can transmit a signal to gain access to system provided functions; and

    (d) detecting receipt of the signal from the user, and, upon receipt of the signal, terminating, if initiated, routing of the call to the telephone network address and instead transferring the user to a system command mode.

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