Method and apparatus for establishing a connection between first and second communication devices

• US 6,608,886 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Contractor, Sunil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US09/995,153
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37-51, 379/127.01, 379/142.01
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services

Abstract

A method. The method includes receiving notification that an emergency communication was terminated, and transmitting a message to a second communication device. The message includes a voice prompt for connecting to a first communication device. The method also includes receiving a response to the voice prompt, and completing a connection between the first and second communication devices.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device having transmitted an emergency communication and the second communication device having received notification that the emergency communication was transmitted, the connection being established following termination of the emergency communication, the method comprising:

receiving notification that the emergency communication was terminated;

transmitting a message to the second communication device, wherein the message includes a voice prompt for connecting to the first communication device;

receiving a response to the voice prompt; and

completing the connection between the first and second communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving notification includes:

recognizing that the emergency communication has been terminated; and

transmitting a notification that the emergency communication has been terminated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein recognizing that the emergency communication has been terminated includes sensing a DC signal associated with a subscriber line connected to the first communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a response includes receiving a dual tone multi-frequency signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a response includes receiving a signal representative of an voice response.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein completing the connection includes:

interpreting the response to the voice prompt; and

placing a call to the first communication device.

7. An apparatus for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device having transmitted an emergency communication and the second communication device having received notification that the emergency communication was transmitted, the connection being established following termination of the emergency communication, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving notification that the emergency communication was terminated;

means for transmitting a message to the second communication device, wherein the message includes a voice prompt for connecting to the first communication device;

means for receiving a response to the voice prompt; and

means for completing the connection between the first and second communication devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving notification includes:

means for recognizing that the emergency communication has been terminated; and

means for transmitting a notification that the emergency communication has been terminated.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for recognizing that the emergency communication has been terminated includes means for sensing a DC signal associated with a subscriber line connected to the first communication device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving a response includes means for receiving a dual tone multi-frequency signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving a response includes means for receiving a signal representative of an oral response.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for completing the connection includes:

means for interpreting the response to the voice prompt; and

means for placing a call to the first communication device.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving notification that the emergency communication was terminated;

transmitting a message to the second communication device, wherein the message includes a voice prompt for connecting to the first communication device;

receiving a response to the voice prompt; and

completing the connection between the first and second communication devices.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the medium comprises at least one of a RAM, a ROM, a disk, an ASIC, and a PROM.

15. An apparatus for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device having transmitted an emergency communication and the second communication device having received notification that the emergency communication was transmitted, the connection being established following termination of the emergency communication, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a processor within the housing, wherein the processor includes a switching module for completing the connection between the first and second communication devices, and wherein the processor is for generating a message, that includes a voice prompt;

a first port in communication with the processor, wherein the first port is for receiving notification that the emergency communication was terminated; and

a second port in communication with the processor, wherein the second port is for transmitting the message to the second communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is for interpreting a response to the voice prompt.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is for placing an outgoing call.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is for placing an outgoing call to the first communication device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communication device processor is for placing an outgoing call to the second communication device.

20. A system for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device having transmitted an emergency communication and the second communication device having received notification that the emergency communication was transmitted, the connection being established following termination of the emergency communication, the system comprising:

a server for supplying information associated with a subscriber; and

an apparatus in communication with the server, wherein the apparatus includes;

a housing;

a processor within the housing, wherein the processor includes a switching module for completing the connection between the first and second communication devices, and wherein the processor is for generating a message that includes a voice prompt;

a first port in communication with the processor, wherein the first port is for receiving notification that the emergency communication was terminated; and

a second port in communication with the processor, wherein the second port is for transmitting the message to the second communication device.