Computer controlled paging and telephone communication system and method

• US 6,411,682 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Telecommunications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berg, Richard P., Kranzler, Daniel R., Fuller, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/809,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/207, 379/233, 379/88.15, 379/88.21, 379/70, 379/74, 379/93.35, 379/142.08, 379/170, 379/179, 379/201.01, 379/201.07, 379/208.01, 379/209.01, 379/214.01, 379/215.01, 455/31.2, 455/461, 455/445, 455/417
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/658 Combination of voice calls and paging
• 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 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber. A call from the caller, directed to the subscriber, is detected and, in response thereto, a page is initiated to the subscriber and at the same time a forward leg call is initiated to a stored telephone address. If the call on the forward leg is answered, the party answering that call is placed in telecommunication with the caller. A call from the subscriber is also detected the subscriber is placed in telecommunication with the caller together with any party on a forward leg call.

Claims

1. A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber;

(ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address;

(iii) placing said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller, if answered; and

(iv) detecting receipt of a call from said subscriber, and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, and while said subscriber is in telecommunication with the first mentioned caller:

detecting receipt of a new call from a new caller directed to said subscriber, sending a signal to said subscriber indicating that said new call has been detected, and, responsive to a command entered by said subscriber, disconnecting said subscriber from the first mentioned caller and connecting said subscriber instead with the new caller.

3. The method of claim 2, further including detecting the receipt of a conference command signal to place the first mentioned caller and said new caller into a conference connection with said subscriber and, in response to receipt of said conference command signal, placing the first mentioned caller and said new caller into said conference connection with said subscriber.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, and when said caller, said subscriber and a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by said subscriber to disconnect said party and disconnecting said party in response thereto.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, and when said caller, said subscriber and a party an said forward leg are all in telecommunication with each other, allowing ant one of said party, said caller and said subscriber to disconnect thereby leaving two of said party, said caller and said subscriber in the telecommunication with each other.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensing step senses a command entered by any party in the telecommunication to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said further forward leg is a connection made to a voice mail system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said further forward leg is an outbound telephone call made to a third party.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to record a voice memo and recording said voice memo in response to said command.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said subscriber is initially placed in half duplex communication with said caller and thereafter, in response to a command entered by said subscriber, the communication between the subscriber and the caller is changed to full duplex communication.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein a party answering a forward leg call may hang up before the subscriber is placed into communication with the caller without disconnecting the caller.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system in response to a command entered by the caller.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system after waiting for the subscriber for a period of time.

15. The method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber as claimed in claim 13, wherein, when the caller is connected to voice mail, the subscriber may listen to the caller'"'"'s communications with voice mail in a listen mode wherein said subscriber cannot be heard by said caller.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system in response to a command entered by the caller.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller in response to detecting receipt of a call from said subscriber.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple forward leg calls are initiated to different stored telephone addresses concurrently.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (ii) multiple forward leg calls are initiated concurrently to different locations.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the caller is connected to voice mail, the subscriber may listen to the caller'"'"'s communications with voice mail in a listen mode wherein said subscriber cannot be detected by said caller.

21. A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber;

(ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address;

(iii) connecting said call from said caller with a voice mail facility;

(iv) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said voice mail facility; and

(v) detecting receipt of a command from said party and, in response thereto, placing said party in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said party is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said voice mail facility.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said subscriber is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller in response to sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber.

24. The method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber as claimed in claim 21, further including the steps of:

(vi) initiating a page to a subscriber;

(vii) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber in response to said page, and placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; and

(viii) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.

25. The method of claim 21, and when said subscriber, said caller, and said party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by said subscriber to disconnect said party and disconnecting said party in response thereto.

26. The method of claim 21, and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) said party are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication and adding said further forward leg in response to said command.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said further forward leg is an outbound telephone call made to a third party.

28. The method of claim 21, and wherein at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) said party are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to record a voice memo and recording said voice memo in response to said command.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said party is initially placed in at least half duplex communication with said caller and thereafter, in response to a command entered by said party, the communication between the party and the caller is changed to full duplex communication.

30. A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber;

(ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at least one forward leg call to a telephone network address;

(iii) connecting said caller with a message service;

(iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said message service;

(v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller; and

(vi) providing a party answering said forward leg call with an opportunity to be put in half duplex telecommunication with said caller.

31. The method of claim 30, further including the steps of:

(vii) initiating at least a second concurrent forward leg call in response to receipt of the call from the caller; and

(viii) responding to a command by said subscriber to disconnect at least one of said forward leg calls.

32. A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber;

(ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address and initiating a page to a subscriber;

(iii) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller;

(iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; and

(v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.