Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls
First Claim
1. A method for use in connecting an originating telephone call originated by a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting said originating telephone call to an alternate destination;
while said originating telephone call is connected to said alternate destination, receiving a return telephone call from said called party, said return telephone call being initiated from a return telephone,in response to said return telephone call, connecting said return telephone call to said originating telephone call and to said alternate destination, such that sound originating at said return telephone is not transmitted to said caller and said alternate destination, andwherein said step of connecting said originating telephone call to an alternate destination is in response to a determination that said originating telephone call cannot then be successfully connected to said called party.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing personal communications services are disclosed. A bridging and signaling unit implements a bridge for connecting telephone calls between a caller, a called party, and an alternate destination. A caller who calls the personal telephone number associated with a called party is held at the bridging and signaling unit while waiting for a return telephone call from the called party. The called party is alerted to the existence of the call through a paging system. If the time period during which the caller is on hold exceeds a timeout period, the caller will be connected to an alternate destination, such as a secretary, an answering service, or a voice messaging system. If the called party places the return telephone call while the caller is connected to the alternate destination, the called party will be connected to the caller and the alternate destination in such a manner that the called party can hear the conversation between the caller and the alternate destination, but the caller and the alternate destination cannot hear the called party and do not know that the called party has connected, i.e. the called party is on mute mode. After screening the call, the called party may then indicate that he/she wishes to be connected to the caller, at which time the connection to the alternate destination is terminated and the caller and the called party are connected such that they can speak with each other. If the called party does not wish to speak to the caller, he/she may hang up, and the connection between the caller and the alternate destination may continue.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for use in connecting an originating telephone call originated by a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting said originating telephone call to an alternate destination; while said originating telephone call is connected to said alternate destination, receiving a return telephone call from said called party, said return telephone call being initiated from a return telephone, in response to said return telephone call, connecting said return telephone call to said originating telephone call and to said alternate destination, such that sound originating at said return telephone is not transmitted to said caller and said alternate destination, and wherein said step of connecting said originating telephone call to an alternate destination is in response to a determination that said originating telephone call cannot then be successfully connected to said called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for use in completing an originating telephone call originated by a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting said originating telephone call to an intermediate destination during a first time period in which said caller is waiting to be connected to said called party; receiving a return telephone call from said called party while said caller is connected to said intermediate destination; in response to said return telephone call, connecting said return telephone call to said originating telephone call and said intermediate destination such that sound originating from said called party is not transmitted to said caller, and in response to a determination that a second time period has expired, further connecting said originating telephone call and said return telephone call to an alternate destination such that sound originating from said called party is not transmitted to said caller or said alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for use in completing a first telephone call originated by a caller placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting said first telephone call to an intermediate destination during the time period in which said caller is waiting to be connected to said called party; initiating an alert to said called party; while said caller is connected to said intermediate destination, receiving a second telephone call from the called party; in response to receiving said second telephone call; disconnecting said first telephone call and said intermediate destination; and connecting said first telephone call, said second telephone call, and an alternate destination such that said second telephone call is in mute mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for completing a telephone call originating at a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called individual, the apparatus comprising:
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a first interface for receiving a first telephone call originated by said caller, a second interface for receiving a second telephone call originated by said called individual; a third interface for initiating a third telephone call to an alternate destination; a switch for establishing a connection between said first telephone call, said second telephone call, and said third telephone call in response to a determination that a time period has expired; and a muting circuit connected to said second interface which, when activated, prohibits sound originating from said called individual from being transmitted to said caller and said alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system for completing a telephone call from a caller to a called party, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first telephone call from said caller to said called party; means for initiating an alert to said called party of said first telephone call; means for connecting said first telephone call to an alternate destination; means for receiving a second telephone call from said called party; and means for connecting said second telephone call to said first telephone call and to said alternate destination in response to a determination that a time period has expired such that sound is not transmitted from said second telephone call to said first telephone call and said alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification