Meet-me telephone system with subscriber notification feature

• US 6,104,912 A
• Filed: 04/25/1995
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Telecommunications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fuller, Robert M., Epler, Frederick A., Manowski, Maxwell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/428,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/58, 379/210-212, 379/201, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/665 by checking the validity of a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/428 : Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• 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 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 : Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 : Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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: H04Q 11/0457 : Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 : Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 : Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 : CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 : Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 : Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 : PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13271 : Forced release
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13286 : Direct in-dialling in PBX, DDI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 : Transistors, semiconductors in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 : Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13385 : Off-net subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 : authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 : mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 : multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 : subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54 : in which the logic circuitry controlling the exchange is centralised
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/542 : Logic circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54525 : Features introduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54591 : Supervision, e.g. fault localisation, traffic measurements, avoiding errors, failure recovery, monitoring, statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/622 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 : Arrangements in the private branch exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/627 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 : Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 : selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 : One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 : Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 : Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 : Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

A paging system wherein each user carries a paging device adapted to receive radio frequency signals broadcast from a central paging system with a unique identification code assigned to each paging device. Each paging device includes a radio frequency transmitter and controller for controlling the radio frequency transmitter, the controller being operable in two distinct user selectable modes, the first such mode being responsive to receiving a signal broadcast by the central paging system and responding by transmitting predetermined data back to said central paging system.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system capable of receiving telephone calls for meet-me subscribers and telephone calls for non-meet-me subscribers from a telephone network, wherein the subscribers are provided with portable paging receivers, comprising:

a paging system, which, in response to meet-me page requests, generates pages and broadcasts the pages to paging receivers;

a meet-me unit connected to the telephone network for handling telephone calls to the meet-me page subscribers and for handling telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said meet-me unit, in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber, generates a meet-me page request and holds the incoming call, and wherein said meet-me unit is connected to said paging system for forwarding meet-me page requests thereto, said meet-me unit also determining from which meet-me page subscriber that a meet-me page subscriber call has been received, determining if said held call is for the calling meet-me page subscriber; and

, if said held call is for the meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between said held call and the call from the meet-me page system subscriber wherein said meet-me unit includes means to indicate to the calling meet-me subscriber that verbal communication via said signal link may commence.

2. A telecommunications system capable of receiving telephone calls for meet-me subscribers and telephone calls for non-meet-me subscribers from a telephone network, wherein the subscribers are provided with portable paging receivers, comprising:

a paging system, which, in response to meet-me page requests, generates pages and broadcasts the pages to paging receivers;

a meet-me unit connected to the telephone network for handling telephone calls to the meet-me page subscribers and for handling telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said meet-me unit, in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber, generates a meet-me page request and holds the incoming call, and wherein said meet-me unit is connected to said paging system for forwarding meet-me page requests thereto, said meet-me unit also determining from which meet-me page subscriber that a meet-me page subscriber call has been received, determining if said held call is for the calling meet-me page subscriber; and

, if said held call is for the meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between said held call and the call from the meet-me page system subscriber wherein said meet-me unit includes means for selectively disabling establishment of said signal link in response to an election by the meet-me page system subscriber.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein, before said signal link is established between said held call and the meet-me page system subscriber, said meet-me unit causes a message to be played announcing to the subscriber that a meet-me call has been receive.

7. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein after said meet-me unit generates said meet-me page request, said meet-me unit causes a message to be played to the caller indicating that the called subscriber is being paged.

8. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein each meet-me page subscriber is assigned a single telephone number, said meet-me unit receives calls to the meet-me subscribers and from the meet-me subscribers over said single number, and said meet-me unit evaluates signals entered over said single telephone number to determine if a call is to the meet-me subscriber or from the meet-me subscriber.

9. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein said paging system and said meet-me unit are spaced apart from each other.

21. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein said system handles calls for a plurality of subscribers with each subscriber being able to invoke at least one of a plurality of different call handling modes for handling incoming calls directed to the subscriber, said call handling modes including a meet-me call handling mode, and wherein said meet-me unit responds to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber by generating a meet-me page request only when said specific meet-me page subscriber has invoked said meet-me call handling mode.

4. A telecommunications system capable of receiving telephone calls for meet-me subscribers and telephone calls for non-meet-me subscribers from a telephone network, wherein the subscribers are provided with portable paging receivers, comprising:

a paging systems, which, in response to meet-me page requests, generates pages and broadcasts the pages to paging receivers;

a meet-me unit connected to the telephone network for handling telephone calls to the meet-me page subscribers and for handling telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said meet-me unit, in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber, generates a meet-me page request and holds the incoming call, and wherein said meet-me unit is connected to said paging system for forwarding meet-me page requests thereto, said meet-me unit also determining from which meet-me page subscriber that a meet-me page subscriber call has been received, determining if said held call is for the calling meet-me page subscriber; and

, if said held call is for the meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between said held call and the call from the meet-me page system subscriber wherein said meet-me unit, in response to receiving telephone calls to at least some of the meet-me page system subscribers, monitors the telephone calls for transmission of an access code, and said meet-me unit generates a specific indication to said meet-me page subscribers that a meet-me call request is pending only in the event said access code is received.

5. A telecommunications system capable of receiving telephone calls for meet-me subscribers and telephone calls for non-meet-me subscribers from a telephone network, wherein the subscribers are provided with portable paging receivers, comprising:

a paging system, which, in response to meet-me page requests, generates pages and broadcasts the pages to paging receivers;

a meet-me unit connected to the telephone network for handling telephone calls to the meet-me page subscribers and for handling telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said meet-me unit, in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber, generates a meet-me page request and holds the incoming call, and wherein said meet-me unit is connected to said paging system for forwarding meet-me page requests thereto, said meet-me unit also determining from which meet-me page subscriber that a meet-me page subscriber call has been received, determining if said held call is for the calling meet-me page subscriber; and

, if said held call is for the meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between said held call and the call from the meet-me page system subscriber wherein, before said circuitry establishes said signal link between said held call and said meet-me page system subscriber, said meet-me unit causes a message to be played announcing to the meet-me page system subscriber that a meet-me call has been received.

6. A telecommunications system capable of receiving telephone calls for meet-me subscribers and telephone calls for non-meet-me subscribers from a telephone network, wherein the subscribers are provided with portable paging receivers, comprising:

a paging system, which, in response to meet-me page requests, generates pages and broadcasts the pages to paging receivers;

a meet-me unit connected to the telephone network for handling telephone calls to the meet-me page subscribers and for handling telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said meet-me unit, in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me page subscriber, generates a meet-me page request and holds the incoming call, and wherein said meet-me unit is connected to said paging system for forwarding meet-me page requests thereto, said meet-me unit also determining from which meet-me page subscriber that a meet-me page subscriber call has been received, determining if said held call is for the calling meet-me page subscriber; and

, if said held call is for the meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between said held call and the call from the meet-me page system subscriber wherein said meet-me unit, in response to receiving a call from a meet-me page subscriber who has a call held, signals the meet-me page subscriber that there is a held call, waits to receive an accept code from the meet-me page subscriber, if said accept code is received, proceeds to establish said signal link between said held call and the meet-me page subscriber, and, if said accept code is received, plays a message to the caller; and

, as said signal link between said held call and said meet-me page subscriber is being established, signalling the meet-me page subscriber to indicate that the caller is being connected.

10. A telecommunications system comprising:

a paging system responsive to received paging requests for broadcasting said pages in response thereto;

a control unit for receiving telephone calls directed to meet-me page subscribers and for receiving telephone calls from the meet-me page subscribers, wherein said control unit distinguishes between calls to the meet-me page subscribers and calls from the meet-me page subscribers and in response to an incoming call for a specific meet-me subscriber, generating a meet-me page request and forwarding said meet-me page request to said paging system; and

a processor for determining which meet-me page subscriber said meet-me page subscriber call is from, determining if said incoming call for the specific meet-me subscriber is for the calling meet-me page subscriber and, if the incoming call for the specific meet-me subscriber is for the calling meet-me page subscriber, establishing a signal link between the incoming call for the specific meet-me subscriber and the call from the meet-me page subscriber, said processor including means to indicate (i) to the calling meet-me page subscriber and (ii) to a party making the incoming call for the specific meet-me subscriber, upon the signal link between the incoming call for the specific meet-me subscriber and the call from the meet-me page subscriber being established, that verbal communication via said signal link may commence.

11. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein:

said control unit and said processor cooperate to determine if a call is to be a non-meet-me page subscriber, to a meet-me page subscriber, or from a meet-me page subscriber and when said call is to a meet-me page subscriber, generates either a standard page request or a meet-me page request and when the call is from a meet-me page subscriber, establishes a signal link to said held call to the meet-me page subscriber.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein, as said control unit and said processor cooperate to establish said signal link between said held call and said meet-me page system subscriber, said control unit and said processor cooperate to play a message to the meet-me page system subscriber announcing that said held call is waiting.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein said control unit, in response to receiving telephone calls to at least some of the meet-me page system subscribers, monitors the telephone calls for transmission of an access code, and said control unit generates said meet-me page requests only when said access code is received.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said control unit, in response to receiving telephone calls to at least some of the meet-me page system subscribers, monitors the telephone calls for transmission of an access code, and said first processing circuit generates said meet-me page requests only when said access code is received.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein said control unit and processor cooperate, in response to receiving a call from a meet-me page system subscriber who has a call held, to signal the meet-me page system subscriber that there is a held call, to wait to receive an accept code from the meet-me page system subscriber, if said accept code is received, to proceed to establish said signal link between said held call and the meet-me page system subscriber, and, if said accept code is not received, to cause a message to be played to the caller that the meet-me page system subscriber cannot be reached and inviting the caller to leave a message in a voice mail box of said meet-me page system subscriber.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein said control unit, in cooperation with the processor and in response to receiving a call from a meet-me page system subscriber who has a call held, signals the meet-me page system subscriber that there is a held call, waits to receive an accept code from the meet-me page system subscriber, if said accept code is received, proceeds to establish said signal link between said held call and the meet-me page system subscriber, and, if said accept code is not received, plays a message to the caller that the meet-me page system subscriber cannot be reached and disconnects the call to the meet-me page system subscriber.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein after said meet-me unit generates said meet-me page request, said control unit plays a message to the caller indicating that the called subscriber is being paged.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 16, wherein each meet-me page subscriber is assigned a single telephone number, said meet-me unit receives calls to the meet-me subscribers and from the meet-me subscribers over said single number, and said control unit evaluates signals entered over said single telephone number to determine if a call is to the meet-me subscriber or from the meet-me subscriber.

19. A control system for connection to a telephone network, said control system comprising:

(a) communication means for connection to communication facilities of said network for processing telephone calls via said facilities;

(b) control means for controllably routing a call placed to one telephone network address to another telephone address of said network;

(c) memory means for storing signals including signals representative of telephone network addresses; and

(d) electronic processing means for processing a telephone call received via said communication means, said processing means including a call processing mode, wherein the electronic processing means responds to an incoming call with a prompt indicating to the caller that said incoming call can be routed to any one of a plurality of locations, each location having a telephone network address represented in said memory means and, responsive to the caller transmitting a command identifying one of said locations, causing said control means to route said incoming call to the telephone network address corresponding to said one of said locations identified by said caller, said processing means also having a meet-me mode wherein the user has a pager and wherein said electronic processing means further comprises means for storing as a user mode control signal a meet-me mode signal and, upon recalling said meet-me mode signal in processing an incoming call, recalling from said memory means a user notification procedure, and controlling a paging system to provide a notice to the user on their pager indicating that the user has a call waiting, and upon receiving a telephone call from the user while the incoming call is waiting, placing the incoming call and the user into telecommunication only after first signalling the user that connection to the incoming call is imminent.

20. A method of receiving and processing incoming telephone calls to a telephone control system, which telephone calls are directed to a user who has a pager, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) processing an incoming telephone call from a caller, and, upon recalling a meet-me mode signal in processing an incoming call, recalling from said memory means a user notification procedure, and controlling a paging system to provide a notice to the user on their pager indicating that the user has a call waiting, and

(b) upon processing a telephone call from the user while the incoming call processed in step (a) is waiting, placing the incoming call and the user into telecommunication only after first signalling the user that connection to the incoming call is imminent.