Method and system for processing emergency service calls

• US 5,898,757 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Thomas Arthur, Levy, Donald E., Kersus, Gerald, Mui, Lily, Buhler, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/678,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/46, 379/49, 379/142, 379/93.23, 379/93.25, 379/127, 379/265, 379/267
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

An operator service terminal system connected to a telephone system switch retains the identifications of calling subscribers. Each operator terminal includes memory for storing at least one more subscriber identification than the number of loops served by that terminal. Once an operator services a call, it is not necessary to signal the telephone system switch to identify the caller if the identification is still in memory. In emergency situations, if a call is terminated before a caller can convey the location of the emergency, the calling party identification information can be used to call the caller back or can be relayed to emergency personnel for appropriate action.

Claims

1. A method for use with a telephone system, said system including a system switch connected to a plurality of subscribers and to an operator service terminal capable of handling a plurality of line instances, said system connecting calls by said subscriber to said terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a call from one of said subscribers to one of said line instances at said operator terminal;

transmitting to said terminal, with said call, data identifying said subscriber;

storing said identifying data, and association data correlating said identifying data with said one of said line instances, at said operator terminal; and

retaining said identifying data and said association data at said terminal after termination of said call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said retaining step comprises retaining said identifying data for a number of calls, said number exceeding said plurality.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said number exceeds said plurality by one.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying data includes an access line directory number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying data includes a billing directory number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying data includes a telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying data includes address information.

10. The telephone call processing system of claim 5 wherein said number exceeds said plurality by one.

8. A telephone call processing system, said system comprising:

at least one operator terminal having a plurality of line instances and having memory;

at least one system switch coupled to a plurality of subscribers and to said operator terminal for connecting a call by one of said subscribers to one of said line instances of said terminal, and for transmitting to said terminal, with said subscriber call, data identifying said one of said subscribers;

a memory controller in said operator terminal for storing said identifying data in said memory, along with association data correlating said identifying data with said one of said line instances, and retaining said identifying data and said association data in said memory after termination of said subscriber call.

9. The telephone call processing system of claim 8 wherein said memory controller stores in said memory identifying data for a number of calls, said number exceeding said plurality.

11. A method for use with a telephone system, said system including a system switch connected to a plurality of subscribers and to an operator service terminal capable of handling a plurality of line instances, said system connecting calls by said subscriber to said terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling said system switch to said operator terminal and said plurality of subscribers;

connecting a call via a type of signaling between said system switch and said operator terminal, from one of said subscribers to one any one of said line instances at said operator terminal;

transmitting to said operator terminal, with said call, data identifying said subscriber independent of the type of signaling between said system switch and said operator terminal;

storing said identifying data, and association data correlating said identifying data with said one of said line instances, at said operator terminal; and

retaining said identifying data and said association data for a number of calls at said terminal after termination of said call, said number of calls exceeds said plurality of line instances.