Automated access telephone system

• US 6,553,115 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AIP Acquisition LLC
• Original Assignee: ANIP, Inc. (INNOVATE Corp.)
• Inventors: Mashinsky, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US08/885,585
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355.01
• US Class Current: 379/355.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• 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 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling 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 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• 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 3/54 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: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Computerized switching system provides a method of connecting a caller and a called party or target by a manual or automated dialer by informing a control station of a PIN or ID number and optionally the service type, and having the call routed based on preprogrammed numbers provided by the called party. The call is routed to a destination that may be based on many factors, including the hour of day, priority of call, service type, destination and origination of caller and other programmed commands. The called party has the ability to administer the routings and direct all call flows, including destination, scanning originator, time, etc. A dialer service pre-programmed with access and PIN numbers may be used to automate these procedures. A dialer may also be incorporated in a pager to permit automated access of pager messages.

Claims

1. An automated access system for use in a telephone network environment, comprising:

a control station having a predetermined access telephone number;

a caller telephone station;

a portable dialer adapted to transmit signals via said caller telephone station,

said signals including a first series of signals which represent said predetermined access telephone number, and

a second series of signals which represent a dialer ID number;

said control station comprising

a CPU associated with a router,

a database,

said database storing instructions associated with dialer ID numbers;

said control station being configured to receive said second series of signals and in response thereto to route the call to provide a specified service, wherein the specified service is a function of both said dialer ID number and the instructions associated with said dialer ID number.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said dialer includes dialer storage for storing information representing said signals and a switch for selectively actuating said dialer to transmit said signals via said caller telephone station.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a telephone station having a predetermined target telephone number.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a paging service having a predetermined telephone number.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a data service center.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a facsimile machine having a predetermined telephone number.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a telephone station having a predetermined telephone number selected as a function of the time that the call is made.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a telephone station having a predetermined telephone number selected as a function of the day of the week that the call is made.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instructions can be modified through a telephone call placed to said control station.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said instructions can only be modified upon presentation of an authorization code.

11. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said portable dialer pauses after transmitting said first series of signals before proceeding to transmit said second series of signals.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein said portable dialer pauses until an identified response from the control station is received.

13. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said instructions direct said control station to route the call to a telephone station having a second predetermined telephone number if the telephone station of the first predetermined target telephone number does not answer the call.

14. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said dialer includes a switch for selectively actuating said dialer to transmit said first series of signals and a switch for selectively actuating said dialer to transmit said second series of signals.

15. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first series of signals are DTMF signals corresponding to the predetermined access telephone number.

16. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said portable dialer transmits a third series of signals to said control station and wherein in response thereto said control station routes the call to provide a service which is a function of the third series of signals.

17. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control station detects the ANI of the caller telephone station and thereafter terminates said call, and wherein said instructions direct the control station to place a second call to a second telephone station having a predetermined telephone number, to detect if the second call is answered, and if it is, to place a third call based upon the ANI of the caller telephone station to connect the second telephone station with the caller telephone station.

18. A method of providing communication services comprising:

utilizing a portable dialer to transmit a first series of signals through the handset of a caller telephone station connected to a central station, wherein said first series of signals dial a predetermined access telephone number of a control station, whereby said caller telephone station is connected to the control station via the central station;

after being connected to said control station, utilizing said portable dialer to transmit a second series of signals through the handset of said caller telephone station to said control station, said second series of signals including signals which represent a dialer ID number;

receiving at said control station said second series of signals and thereafter said control station routing the call to provide a specified service as a function of the instructions associated with the dialer ID represented by said second series of signals received from said portable dialer.