Method for providing calling services during attempt to complete customer call while muting ringing
First Claim
1. A method for providing calling services to a calling customer in a telephone call initiated by the calling customer to a destination telephone, comprising the steps:
- (a) monitoring said telephone call for a predetermined number of rings;
(b) after detecting said predetermined number of rings, muting the ringing signal for the calling customer while continuing to attempt to complete the telephone call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone;
(c) while the ringing signal is muted for the calling customer, playing a recorded menu of options for the calling customer, including an option of attempting to call the desired party back at specified intervals of N minutes;
(d) while the ringing signal is muted for the calling customer, monitoring said telephone call for either call completion or a predetermined caller input signal issued by the calling customer responsive to said recorded menu;
(e) if said predetermined caller input signal is detected, terminating the telephone call to the destination telephone and initiating call attempts to the destination telephone number every N minutes; and
(f) if call completion is detected, ceasing to play said recorded menu and allowing the call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone to proceed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile telephone, or personal communication services subscriber who wishes directory assistance services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who identifies a destination telephone number desired by the subscriber. As known in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call connecting the subscriber to the destination telephone number. In a preferred embodiment, the operator locates a desired destination telephone number in a computer database, and can select automatic dialing of the located number. Further, rather than dropping all further involvement with the call, the preferred embodiment of the present invention continually monitors the connection thereby established for a predetermined DTMF signal issued by the customer, such as that obtained by pressing the "*" button. If such a signal is detected, the customer is transferred to a directory assistance operator, who can then provide whatever further assistance is needed (e.g., providing further directory assistance). If a busy signal or non-answering party is detected, a customer is given a plurality of options including leaving a recorded message or page, or a predetermined alphanumeric message or page for the called party. In this case, the system automatically tries, repeatedly, to deliver the recorded message or page and, optionally, confirms successful or failed message delivery to the calling party.
62 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for providing calling services to a calling customer in a telephone call initiated by the calling customer to a destination telephone, comprising the steps:
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(a) monitoring said telephone call for a predetermined number of rings; (b) after detecting said predetermined number of rings, muting the ringing signal for the calling customer while continuing to attempt to complete the telephone call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone; (c) while the ringing signal is muted for the calling customer, playing a recorded menu of options for the calling customer, including an option of attempting to call the desired party back at specified intervals of N minutes; (d) while the ringing signal is muted for the calling customer, monitoring said telephone call for either call completion or a predetermined caller input signal issued by the calling customer responsive to said recorded menu; (e) if said predetermined caller input signal is detected, terminating the telephone call to the destination telephone and initiating call attempts to the destination telephone number every N minutes; and (f) if call completion is detected, ceasing to play said recorded menu and allowing the call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone to proceed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for providing calling services to a calling customer attempting to initiate a call to a destination telephone, comprising the steps:
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(a) monitoring said telephone call for a ringing condition of a predetermined call status duration; (b) after said predetermined call status duration of the ringing condition has been detected, muting the ringing signal for the calling customer while continuing to attempt to complete the telephone call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone; (c) while the ringing signal is muted for the calling customer, playing a recorded menu of options for the calling customer, the recorded menu allowing the calling customer to select from a plurality of options with a predetermined caller input signal; (d) while the ringing signal is muted for calling customer, monitoring said telephone call for either call completion or said predetermined caller input signal issued by the calling customer responsive to said recorded menu; (e) if said predetermined caller input signal is detected, taking action based on said predetermined caller input signal issued by the calling customer; and (f) if call completion is detected, ceasing to play said recorded menu and allowing the call between the calling customer telephone and the destination telephone to proceed. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification