Charge minimizing callback system
First Claim
1. A method of minimizing phone charges comprising:
- receiving preconnection information transmitted to a callee'"'"'s toll free telephone line in response to an incoming call from a caller,examining the preconnection information and determining the caller'"'"'s telephone number without answering the incoming call,examining the preconnection information and determining whether or not the incoming call was placed from a pay phone without answering the incoming call,completing the call if it is determined that the incoming call was not placed from a pay phone, andnot completing the incoming call if it is determined the incoming call was placed from a pay telephone, andautomatically placing a return call by dialing the caller'"'"'s telephone number,prompting the caller to enter an identification code when the caller answers the return call,verifying the identification code corresponds to an authorized caller,producing an alarm that indicates a return call has been made, andcompleting the call.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method minimize telephone charges by not answering the destination telephone when an incoming call is detected. Preconnection information such as dialed number identification system (DNIS) information, phone type information digits, and automatic number identification (ANI) information is automatically provided by the public switched telephone network to the destination telephone in response to the incoming call. The preconnection information is examined to determine if the rate structure is such that it would be more desirable to have the call billed as if it originated from the destination telephone or from the source telephone. If it is less expensive to have the call originate from the source telephone, the call is answered. If it is less expensive to have the call originate from the destination phone, a signal is sent to the user prompting them to hang up. When the caller hangs up, a return call is placed to the number and the caller answers. A slight modification of the method and device can be utilized to operate a cost efficient calling card system. The preconnection information is received at a central station without answering the telephone and a return call is placed. The caller then enters the number they wish to call. The central station then connects the caller to the number. In accordance with the invention, callers can also be prompted to enter an identification code to insure they are authorized to use the system.
41 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of minimizing phone charges comprising:
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receiving preconnection information transmitted to a callee'"'"'s toll free telephone line in response to an incoming call from a caller, examining the preconnection information and determining the caller'"'"'s telephone number without answering the incoming call, examining the preconnection information and determining whether or not the incoming call was placed from a pay phone without answering the incoming call, completing the call if it is determined that the incoming call was not placed from a pay phone, and not completing the incoming call if it is determined the incoming call was placed from a pay telephone, and automatically placing a return call by dialing the caller'"'"'s telephone number, prompting the caller to enter an identification code when the caller answers the return call, verifying the identification code corresponds to an authorized caller, producing an alarm that indicates a return call has been made, and completing the call.
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2. An apparatus for minimizing telephone charges comprising:
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a telephone line, and a digital computer for; receiving preconnection information on the telephone line in response to an incoming call from a caller on the telephone line, examining the preconnection information to determine a number corresponding to a telephone from which the incoming call was initiated without answering the incoming call, examining the preconnection information to determine if the call was initiated from a pay phone, answering the incoming phone call if it was not initiated from a pay phone, not answering the incoming call if the incoming call was initiated from a pay phone, and dialing the number corresponding to the telephone from which the incoming call was placed, prompting the caller to input an identification code, receiving an identification code input by the caller and determining the identification of the caller based on the identification code, disconnecting the return call if the identification number is unauthorized, completing the return call if the identification number is authorized, and producing an incoming call notification alarm if the return call was completed.
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3. A method of minimizing phone charges on telephone calls made by a caller on a pay phone to a callee, comprising:
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receiving preconnection information transmitted to a callee'"'"'s telephone in response to an incoming call from a caller, examining the preconnection information received on the callee'"'"'s telephone line and determining the caller'"'"'s telephone number and whether the incoming call originated from a pay phone without answering the incoming call, if the incoming call originated from a pay phone, disconnecting and not completing the incoming call once the caller'"'"'s number has been obtained, automatically placing a return call from the callee phone by dialing the caller'"'"'s telephone number; and producing a return call indication that indicates to the callee that a return call is being automatically placed. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for automatically minimizing phone charges on telephone calls made by a caller to a callee, comprising:
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a telephone line, and processing means for; receiving preconnection information on the telephone line in response to an incoming call from the caller on the telephone line, examining the preconnection information to determine a number corresponding to a telephone from which the incoming call was initiated and the type of the telephone of the caller without answering the incoming call, and wherein the type of the phone being in a group of pay phone, cellular phone, mobile phone or collect call, and if the incoming call originated from a telephone being in the group of pay phone, cellular phone, mobile phone or collect call, not answering the incoming call, and automatically dialing the number corresponding to the telephone from which the incoming call was initiated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of minimizing phone charges comprising:
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receiving preconnection information transmitted to a callee'"'"'s toll free telephone line in response to an incoming call from a caller, examining the preconnection information and determining the caller'"'"'s telephone number without answering the incoming call, examining the preconnection information and determining whether or not the incoming call was placed from a pay phone without answering the incoming call, completing the call if it is determined that the incoming call was not placed from a pay phone, not completing the incoming call if it is determined the incoming call was placed from a pay telephone, automatically placing a return call by dialing the caller'"'"'s telephone number, prompting the caller to enter an identification code upon answering the return call, receiving a verification code from the caller and verifying the identification code corresponds to an authorized caller, producing a signal that indicates a return call has been made, and completing the call.
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18. An apparatus for minimizing telephone charges comprising:
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a telephone line, and a digital computer for; receiving preconnection information on the telephone line in response to an incoming call from a caller, examining the preconnection information to determine a number corresponding to a telephone from which the incoming call was initiated without answering the incoming call, examining the preconnection information to determine if the call was initiated from a pay phone, answering the incoming phone call if it was not initiated from a pay phone, not answering the incoming call if the incoming call was initiated from a pay phone, and dialing the number corresponding to the telephone from which the incoming call was placed, prompting the caller to input an identification code, receiving an identification code input by the caller and determining the identification of the caller based on the identification code, and connecting the caller to a desired number if the caller is authorized.
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19. A method of operating a calling card system comprising:
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receiving a telephone call from a caller, examining the preconnection information to determine a telephone number from which the telephone call was made, not answering the telephone call, automatically placing a return call to the telephone number from which the telephone call was received, prompting a party answering the return call to enter an identification code, receiving the identification code, verifying that the entered identification code corresponds to an authorized user, prompting the party answering the return call to enter a telephone number that the party wishes to call, and connecting the party to the telephone number that the party entered. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of minimizing domestic phone charges comprising:
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receiving preconnection information transmitted to a domestic callee'"'"'telephone line in response to an incoming call from a domestic caller, examining the preconnection information received on the domestic callee'"'"'s telephone line and determining the domestic caller'"'"'s telephone number and phone type without answering the incoming call, not completing the incoming call if the phone type in a group of pay phone, cellular phone, mobile phone, or collect call that indicates a per use surcharge will be incurred if the incoming call is answered, and automatically placing a return call by dialing the domestic caller'"'"'s telephone number if the incoming call was not completed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of minimizing phone charges on telephone calls made by a caller on a pay phone to a callee, comprising:
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receiving preconnection information transmitted to a callee'"'"'s telephone in response to an incoming call from a caller; examining the preconnection information received on the callee'"'"'s telephone line and determining the caller'"'"'s telephone number and whether the incoming call originated from a pay phone without answering the incoming call; if the incoming call originated from a pay phone, disconnecting and not completing the incoming call once the caller'"'"'s number has been obtained; automatically placing a return call from the callee phone by dialing the caller'"'"'s telephone number; and prompting the caller to enter an identification code upon answering the return call and verifying that the identification code corresponds to an authorized caller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification