Automated callback system

• US 6,088,436 A
• Filed: 03/03/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AIP Acquisition LLC
• Original Assignee: ANIP, Inc. (INNOVATE Corp.)
• Inventors: Mashinsky, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/811,071
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/222, 379/229, 379/230, 379/242, 379/243, 379/244, 379/268, 379/272, 379/273, 379/274
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 : Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A seamless automated callback system is disclosed. The system utilizes first and second telecommunication nodes connected to each other by a data line and additionally connected to a conventional telephone network. When a call is placed via the callback system, the first node transmits to the caller an appropriate ring tone for the called location and concurrently requests a callback from the second node via the data line. The second node places the callback which is not immediately answered by the first node. Concurrently, or after a suitable delay, the second node places a call to the called telephone. If the called party answers the call, the second node signals the first node via the data line to answer the callback and connect the caller to the called party. If, however, the call results in a busy signal, an operator intercept, or a ring no answer, the callback is terminated before any telephone toll charges are incurred. In a second preferred embodiment, the system may comprise a network of telecommunications nodes and a server node for coordinating calls between any two nodes in the network. When a call is placed, the system calculates a cost-efficient routing path for the call, and connects the calling telephone to the called telephone via that route. In a third preferred embodiment, one or more transit nodes are predesignated to handle all calling traffic between a first and second node.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a calling telephone user equipment and a called telephone user equipment comprising:

establishing a first connection between the calling telephone and a first telecommunications node via a first telephone switch;

transmitting a data message from the first telecommunications node to a second telecommunications node remote from the first telecommunications node via a data line, the data message comprising the telephone number of the called telephone user equipment;

placing a call from the second telecommunications node to the first telecommunications node via a second telephone switch and the first telephone switch;

placing a call from the second telecommunications node to the called telephone user equipment;

receiving at the second telecommunications node an indication of the result of the call placed to the called telephone user equipment;

transmitting a data message from the second telecommunications node to the first telecommunications node via a data line, the content of the data message being reflective of the indication;

answering the call from the second telecommunication node to the first telecommunication node when the data message indicates that the call from the second telecommunications node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting the calling telephone user equipment to the called telephone user equipment when the data message indicates that the call from the second telecommunications node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a recorded busy signal tone generated by the first telecommunications node to the calling telephone user equipment when the data message indicates that the called telephone user equipment is busy.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

placing a second call from the first telecommunications node to the called telephone user equipment when the data message indicates that the first call resulted in an operator intercept; and

connecting the calling telephone user equipment to the second call.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a recorded message generated by the first telecommunications node to the calling telephone user equipment, the content of the message conveying that there is no answer at the called telephone, when the data message indicates that the call to the called telephone user equipment has not been answered for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call from the second telecommunications node to the first telecommunications node comprises a predesignated routing path for connecting a call between the calling telephone user equipment and the called telephone user equipment, and further comprising the step of:

identifying a routing path for the call between the calling telephone user equipment and the called telephone user equipment, wherein the step of identifying comprises the step of retrieving the predesignated routing path from memory when the call from the calling telephone user equipment to the called telephone user equipment is placed.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of connecting the calling telephone user equipment to the called telephone user equipment when the indication is that the call from the telephone switch to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.

7. A method of connecting a calling telephone user equipment to a called telephone user equipment comprising:

signalling a telephone switch to place a call to the called telephone user equipment;

signalling the telephone switch to place a call to a telecommunication node;

signalling the telecommunication node an indication of the result of the call to the called telephone user equipment;

answering the call to the telecommunication node when the indication is that the call to the called telephone user equipment has been answered; and

connecting the calling telephone user equipment to the called telephone user equipment via the call to the called telephone user equipment, the call to the telecommunication node, and a connection between the calling telephone user equipment and the telecommunication node.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting a recorded busy signal tone generated by the telecommunication node to the calling telephone user equipment when the indication is that the called telephone is busy.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of

signalling a second telephone switch to place a second call to the called telephone user equipment when the indication is that the first call to the called telephone user equipment resulted in an operator intercept;

and

connecting the calling telephone user equipment to the second call.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the telephone switch is part of a telephone network and the signal to the telecommunication node is transmitted via a data line external to the telephone network.

12. A method for connecting a call from a calling telephone user equipment to a called telephone user equipment comprising the steps of:

establishing a first connection between the calling telephone user equipment and a first telecommunication node;

identifying a routing path for the call;

transmitting a first data message from the first telecommunication node to a server node, the data message requesting establishment of the routing path;

transmitting a first set of data messages, one data message from the set being transmitted to each calling node in the routing path, the message instructing each calling node to place a call to an associated called node, the set comprising at least one data message;

placing a first set of calls, one call from the set being placed by each calling node to its associated called node, the set comprising at least one call;

transmitting a second data message to a second telecommunication node, the message instructing the second telecommunication node to place a call to the called telephone user equipment;

placing a call from the second telecommunication node to the called telephone user equipment;

receiving at the second telecommunication node an indication of the result of the call placed to the called telephone user equipment;

transmitting a third data message from the second telecommunication node to the server node, the content of the message being reflective of the indication;

transmitting a second set of data messages when the third data message indicates that the call from the second telecommunication node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered, one data message from the second set being transmitted to each called node in the routing path, the message instructing the called node to answer the call from its associated calling node, the second set comprising at least one data message;

answering the first set of calls upon receipt of the second set of data messages.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the routing path is a cost-efficient routing path.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the routing path for the call is predesignated before the call is placed, and wherein the step of identifying a routing path for the call comprises the step of retrieving the predesignated routing path from memory when the call is placed.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of identifying a routing path for the call comprises the step of determining a routing path for the call after the call is placed.

16. A method for connecting a call from a calling telephone user equipment to a called telephone user equipment comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between the calling telephone user equipment and an originating node;

transmitting a data message from the originating node to a transit node remote from the originating node via a data line, the data message comprising the telephone number of the originating node and the telephone number of the called telephone user equipment;

placing a call from the transit node to the originating node;

placing a call from the transit node to a terminating node;

transmitting to the terminating node a data message via a data line comprising the telephone number of the called telephone user equipment;

placing a call from the terminating node to the called telephone user equipment;

receiving at the terminating node an indication of the result of the call placed to the called telephone user equipment;

answering the call from the transit node to the terminating node when the indication is that the call from the terminating node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered;

transmitting a data message to the originating node via a data line, the content of the data message being reflective of the indication;

answering the call from the transit node to the originating node when the data message indicates that the call from the terminating node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.

17. A method of connecting a telephone call to a called telephone user equipment comprising:

receiving a data message at a terminating node via a data line, the data message comprising the telephone number of the called telephone user equipment;

placing a call from the terminating node to a remote originating node;

placing a call from the terminating node to the called telephone user equipment;

receiving at the terminating node an indication of the result of the call placed to the called telephone user equipment;

transmitting a data message from the terminating node to the originating node via a data line, the content of the data message being reflective of the indication.

18. A method for connecting a call using a telecommunications node comprising:

establishing a connection between a calling telephone user equipment and the telecommunications node;

sending a first data message by the telecommunications node to remote equipment, the first data message comprising telephone number of a called telephone user equipment;

receiving a second data message at the telecommunications node from the remote equipment, the second data message indicating a result of a cell placed to the called telephone user equipment by the remote equipment; and

answering a call from the remote equipment that had been placed to the telecommunication node when the second data message, received at the telecommunications node from the remote equipment, indicates that the call from the remote equipment to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transmitting a recorded busy signal tone generated by the telecommunications node to the calling telephone user equipment when the second data message from the remote equipment indicates that the called telephone user equipment is busy.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of, if the call to the called telephone user equipment has not been answered, playing a recorded message generated by the telecommunications node to the calling telephone user equipment, the content of the message conveying that there is no answer at the called telephone user equipment when the second data message indicates that there is no answer at the called telephone user equipment.

21. A method for connecting a call from a calling telephone user equipment to a called telephone user equipment comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between the calling telephone user equipment and an originating node;

sending a first data message from the originating node to a transit node remote from the originating node, the first data message comprising the telephone number of the originating node and the telephone number of the called telephone user equipment;

receiving, but not answering, a call at the originating node that has been placed by the transit node;

receiving a second data message at the originating node, the second data message indicating whether the call from a terminating node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered; and

answering the call from the transit node to the originating node when the second data message indicates that the call from the terminating node to the called telephone user equipment has been answered.