Automatic area code detector and dialer

• US 6,201,864 B1
• Filed: 04/10/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Technology Transfer LLC
• Original Assignee: Illinois Technology Transfer LLC
• Inventors: Theis, Peter F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEY, CLARK S
• Application Number:
  US09/290,010
• Time in Patent Office: 703 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/356, 379/354, 379/216, 379/359, 379/112, 379/196, 379/207
• US Class Current: 379/355.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence

Abstract

The present invention allows for the automatic dialing of local and long distance calls in the United States, as well as automatic dialing of international calls. The automatic dialing feature is accomplished, in part, by implementing a computerized data base grouped in N—files. These files may be searched by the computer system during and after the caller dials a number. If the dialed number matches one of the numbers in the files, the system may automatically out-dial the dialed number.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a database of numbers, each number having a plurality of digits, comprising:

initiating a call by dialing a sequence of digits included in the number to be out-dialed;

before the number is out-dialed, recognizing at least a part of said dialed digits and automatically searching a database that includes at least portions of a plurality of previously out-dialed numbers for said recognized dialed digits;

matching said at least part of said dialed digits to at least a portion of a previously out-dialed number in said database;

causing said identified previously out-dialed number to be out-dialed if there is a match; and

if the number to be out-dialed does not match said previously out-dialed number in said database, storing at least a portion of said out-dialed number in said database as a previously out-dialed number only if the call was completed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of said out-dialed number is stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number only if the call approximately exceeded an approximate length.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination of whether the call was completed is automatically determined based on call completion information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if a caller hangs up before the call is answered.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if the number out-dialed is not a voice number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number based on a signal transmitted after a call was answered.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the number dialed is not out-dialed automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the number dialed is not selected automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is aborted if the number dialed is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

7. A method of maintaining a database of numbers, each number having a plurality of digits, comprising:

initiating a call by dialing a sequence of digits included in the number to be outdialed;

before the number is out-dialed, recognizing at least a part of said dialed digits and automatically searching a database that includes at least portions of a plurality of previously out-dialed numbers available to be out-dialed for said recognized at least one of said dialed digits;

identifying that said number to be out-dialed does not match said previously out-dialed number available to be out-dialed; and

preventing said number to be out-dialed from being added to said database as a previously out-dialed number available to be out-dialed if the call was not completed.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the call is completed only if the call duration approximately exceeded an approximate length.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the determination of whether the call was completed is based on call completion information.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed numbers if a caller hangs up before the call is answered.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if the number out-dialed is not a voice number.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number based on a signal transmitted after a call was answered.

28. The method of claim 7, wherein the number dialed is not out-dialed automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

29. The method of claim 7, wherein the number dialed is not selected automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

30. The method of claim 7, wherein the call is aborted if the number dialed is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

13. An apparatus for maintaining a database of numbers, each number having a plurality of digits by dialing a sequence of digits included in the number to be out-dialed, comprising:

a device for recognizing at least a part of said dialed digits;

said device automatically searching a database before the number is out-dialed, said database including at least portions of a plurality of previously out-dialed numbers available to be out-dialed, for said recognized dialed digits;

said device causing said identified previously out-dialed number to be out-dialed if there is a match;

said device preventing said number to be out-dialed from being included in said database as a previously out-dialed number if the call was not completed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the call is completed only if it approximately exceeded an approximate length.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the determination of whether the call was completed is based on call completion information.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if a caller hangs up before the call is answered.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if the number out-dialed is not a voice number.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number based on a signal transmitted after a call was answered.

31. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number dialed is not out-dialed automatically if not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

32. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number dialed is not selected automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

33. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the call is aborted if the number dialed is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

34. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number dialed is not out-dialed automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

35. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number dialed is not selected automatically if it is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

36. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the call is aborted if the number dialed is not stored as a previously out-dialed number.

19. An apparatus for maintaining a database of numbers, each number having a plurality of digits, comprising:

a device for recognizing at least one of said dialed digits, and for recognizing the sequence and positions of said recognized at least one of said dialed digits within the number to be out-dialed;

said device automatically searching a database before the number is out-dialed, said database including at least portions of a plurality of previously out-dialed numbers, for said recognized at least one of said dialed digits, for the recognized sequence of said recognized at least one of said dialed digits, and for the recognized positions of said recognized at least one of said dialed digits within said at least portions of a plurality of previously out-dialed numbers;

said device automatically matching at least a portion of a previously out-dialed number in said database to said recognized at least one of said dialed digits, and the sequence and positions of said recognized at least one of said dialed digits before the number is out-dialed;

said device automatically identifying said previously out-dialed number containing said matched at least one of said dialed digits and the sequence and positions of said recognized at least one of said dialed digits;

said device causing said identified previously out-dialed number to be out-dialed; and

said device preventing said number to be out-dialed from being added to said database as a previously out-dialed number if the call was not completed.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the call is completed only if it approximately exceeded a predetermined period of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the determination of whether the call was completed is based on call completion information.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if a caller hangs up before the call is answered.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number if the number out-dialed is not a voice number.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the number out-dialed is not stored in said database as a previously out-dialed number based on a signal transmitted after a call was answered.