Method for handling incoming calls on a pots telephone line to a user's premises
First Claim
1. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises comprising:
- identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code wherein each call handler in said plurality of call handlers configures a personal call manager to provide real-time call routing and caller control based upon said individual'"'"'s requirements as specified in the call handler;
storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of said personal call manager located on said individual'"'"'s premises; and
activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for said one call handler wherein, upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line to said individual'"'"'s premises by said personal call manager, said one call handler specifying that a first local extension be rung upon detection of an incoming call on said POTS line, and specifying a second local extension for routing said incoming call after said first local extension is rung a predetermined number of times.
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Accused Products
Abstract
With a personal call manager, when a caller calls a primary telephone number for the owner of the personal call manager, the personal call manager selectively routes the incoming call to any combination of local extensions on the owner'"'"'s premises, and to remote extensions such as a telephone instrument on another premises, a pager, a cellular telephone, a central office voice mail box, and a cellular telephone voice mail box. A call handler stored in a memory of the personal call manager is used to specify how an incoming call is handled. The personal call manager retains control over an incoming call throughout the duration of the call. Consequently, the owner can route the incoming call to multiple locations, or transfer the call to a telephone answering service at any time after taking the incoming call as defined by the active call handler. Moreover, a call can be handled based on the type of call, e.g., voice, fax, or modem. The call handlers include a direct call handler, a monitor call handler and a menu call handler.
85 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises comprising:
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identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code wherein each call handler in said plurality of call handlers configures a personal call manager to provide real-time call routing and caller control based upon said individual'"'"'s requirements as specified in the call handler; storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of said personal call manager located on said individual'"'"'s premises; and activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for said one call handler wherein, upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line to said individual'"'"'s premises by said personal call manager, said one call handler specifying that a first local extension be rung upon detection of an incoming call on said POTS line, and specifying a second local extension for routing said incoming call after said first local extension is rung a predetermined number of times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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4. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises, comprising:
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identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code; storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of a personal call manager; and activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for the said one call handler wherein upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line; wherein said plurality of call handlers includes a monitor call handler.
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13. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises, comprising:
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identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code; storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of a personal call manager; and activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for the said one call handler wherein upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line; wherein said one call handler controlling call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line includes; specifying a type of incoming call to detect; and specifying an extension to receive said incoming call upon detection of said type of incoming call.
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14. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises, comprising:
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identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code; storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of a personal call manager, and activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for the said one call handler wherein upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line; wherein said one call handler controlling call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line includes; specifying a local extension and a remote extension to ring simultaneously.
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16. A method for handling incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises, comprising:
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identifying each of a plurality of call handlers with a different identification code; storing said plurality of call handlers in a memory of a personal call manager; and activating one call handler in said plurality of call handlers by selecting the identification code for the said one call handler wherein upon activation of said one call handler, said one call handler controls call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line; wherein said one call handler controlling call handling of said incoming calls on said POTS telephone line includes; specifying an extension for a monitor call. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for processing incoming calls on a POTS telephone line to an individual'"'"'s premises comprising:
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activating a default call handler, in a personal call manager at said individual'"'"'s premises, to handle incoming calls on said POTS telephone line to said individuals premises wherein said default call handler configures said personal call manager to provide real-tine call routing and caller control base upon requirements of said individual, as specified in the default call handler; comparing a call presentation characteristic of each of said incoming calls with a filter criterion; and activating another call handler, different from said default call handler, to handle each of said incoming calls, on said POTS telephone line to said individual'"'"'s premises, satisfying said filter criterion wherein said another call handler reconfigures said personal call manager to provide real-time call routing and caller control based upon another set of requirements of said individual, as specified in the another call handler. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification