Telephonic-interface statistical analysis system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals comprises a telephonic instrument including a voice communication device, and a digital input device in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing caller data signals, said control system comprising:
- a processor unit for processing said caller data signals supplied by individual callers via said remote terminals;
interface structure for interfacing said communication facility to said processor unit wherein said interface structure receives data signals prior to the close of communication with the caller, including called number data signals (DNIS) and calling number identification data signals automatically provided by said communication facility and said caller data signals supplied by the individual callers via said remote terminals;
voice generator for providing prompts to said individual callers in response to which said individual callers provide said caller data signals, said caller data signals including caller qualification data for qualifying said individual callers;
testing caller customer number data as part of said caller qualification data supplied by the individual callers as at least certain of said caller data signals against a file of stored customer number data;
means for controlling said processor unit in accordance with said called number identification data signals (DNIS) to process at least certain of said caller data signals in accordance with a select format from a plurality of formats identified by said called number identification data signals (DNIS); and
a switch that transfers the individual callers to a manual operation in the event the individual callers do not qualify during the testing step.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller'"'"'s identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed. Different program formats variously control the processing of statistical data as for auction sales, contests, lotteries, polls, commercials and so on.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals comprises a telephonic instrument including a voice communication device, and a digital input device in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing caller data signals, said control system comprising:
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a processor unit for processing said caller data signals supplied by individual callers via said remote terminals;
interface structure for interfacing said communication facility to said processor unit wherein said interface structure receives data signals prior to the close of communication with the caller, including called number data signals (DNIS) and calling number identification data signals automatically provided by said communication facility and said caller data signals supplied by the individual callers via said remote terminals;
voice generator for providing prompts to said individual callers in response to which said individual callers provide said caller data signals, said caller data signals including caller qualification data for qualifying said individual callers;
testing caller customer number data as part of said caller qualification data supplied by the individual callers as at least certain of said caller data signals against a file of stored customer number data;
means for controlling said processor unit in accordance with said called number identification data signals (DNIS) to process at least certain of said caller data signals in accordance with a select format from a plurality of formats identified by said called number identification data signals (DNIS); and
a switch that transfers the individual callers to a manual operation in the event the individual callers do not qualify during the testing step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An analysis control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals comprises a telephonic instrument including a voice communication device and digital input device in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing data and wherein said communication facility has a capability to automatically provide terminal digital data, indicating a calling telephone number, said analysis control system comprising:
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interface structure coupled to said communication facility to interface said remote terminals for voice and digital communication and including means to provide caller data signals representative of data relating to said individual callers provided from said remote terminals or automatically provided by the communication facility with respect to the remote terminals prior to the close of communication with the callers including caller personal identification data entered by the caller via the digital input device and said terminal digital data indicative of a calling telephone number;
record testing structure connected to receive and test said caller data signals indicative of said terminal digital data representative of said calling telephone number and said caller personal identification data against previously stored terminal digital data and caller personal identification data;
storage structure for storing certain of said data provided by said individual callers including item data for ordering particular items; and
analysis structure for receiving and processing said caller data signals under control of said record testing structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27)
receiving calling number identification signals automatically provided by said communication facility as a part of said data signals.
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21. A method for implementing a service for controlling an order of an item or items for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals comprises a telephonic instrument including a voice communication device and a digital input device in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing data, said method comprising the steps of:
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interfacing said remote terminals for voice and digital communication and receiving data signals prior to the close of communication from callers at said remote terminals including said caller data signals developed by said remote terminals;
providing prompts to said individual callers in response to which said individual callers can provide said caller data signals including caller qualification data for qualifying callers;
receiving from said callers customer number data in addition to one other form of identification data as a part of the caller qualification data;
verifying said customer number data and said other form of identification data entered by said callers;
receiving from said callers order data including item data entered by said callers via said digital input device;
receiving from said callers additional data relating to said item data;
processing said caller entered data to implement said order; and
providing individual callers with computer generated data to identify said order for individual callers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
receiving called number identification signals (DNIS) automatically provided by said communication facility as a part of said data signals.
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28. A method according to claim 21, wherein the receiving step includes receiving calling number identification signals automatically provided by said communication facility as a part of said data signals.
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29. A method according to claim 21, wherein in response to prompts said individual callers enter credit card data.
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30. A method according to claim 29, wherein in response to prompts said individual callers enter data on a type of credit card.
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31. A method according to claim 29 wherein said callers enter credit card number data as credit card data.
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32. A method according to claim 31 wherein in response to said prompts said callers enter credit card expiration data as credit card data.
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33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of:
verifying on-line the credit card number data and the credit card expiration data.
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34. A method according to claim 31, wherein said credit card number data is received as billing data.
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35. A method according to claim 21 wherein said order is a television initiated order.
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36. A method according to claim 35, wherein at least certain of the data relating to the order entered by said callers is coded data displayed on the television.
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37. A method according to claim 21, wherein the customer number data provided by the callers is associated with a limit restricting use of the service to an extent of a dollar value.
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38. A method according to claim 21, wherein the customer number data provided by the callers is associated with a limit restricting use of the service up to a certain number of uses.
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39. A method according to claim 21, wherein the customer number data provided by the callers is associated with a limit restricting use of the service to a limited period of time.
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40. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:
controlling inventory of items with certain order data.
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41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the controlling step controls the inventory of items on-line.
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42. A method according to claim 21 wherein the verifying step further comprises the step of:
verifying the customer number data provided by the callers against a list of negative customer numbers.
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43. A method according to claim 21 wherein said other form of identification data is social security number data.
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44. A method according to claim 21 wherein said other form of identification data is PIN data.
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45. A method according to claim 21 wherein the callers order multiple items during the course of a call.
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46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the facility operating the service is a mail order house.
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47. A method according to claim 21, wherein the data identifying the order identifies the order for a facility operating the service.
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48. A method according to claim 21, wherein the additional data provided by the callers includes the size of the item.
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49. A method according to claim 21, wherein the additional data provided by the caller includes the color of the item.
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50. A method according to claim 21, wherein the additional data provided by the caller includes the size and color of the item.
Specification