Automated right-party contact telephone system

• US 6,621,900 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Recovery Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blake Rice
• Inventors: Rice, Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/416,299
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265-1-2, 379/266-1-2, 379/309
• US Class Current: 379/266.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5232 Call distribution algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5236 Sequential or circular distribution

Abstract

A system is provided for routing telephone calls between at least first and second groups of call-handling stations. A dialer is configured to automatically place telephone calls. Once the call is placed, the dialer routes the call to a first-level hunt group. The first-level hunt group searches for an available first-level call-handling station and routes the call to the available first-level call-handling station. Once the first-level call-handling station establishes contact with the right-party, the first-level call-handling station sends a routing signal to the dialer. The dialer then routes the call to a second-level hunt group, which searches for an available second-level call-handling station. Then the second-level hunt group routes the call to the available second-level call-handling station. The first and second-level call-handling station may be at locations separate from each other.

Claims

1. A system configured to route calls, the system comprising:

a call routing signal for transferring call information;

a dialer responsive to the call routing signal;

first and second hunt groups in electrical communication with the dialer; and

wherein the dialer first routes the call information to the first hunt group and then to the second hunt group upon receiving the call routing signal.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising first- and second-level call-handling stations, the first-level call-handling stations being in electrical communication with the first hunt group and the second-level call-handling stations being in electrical communication with the second hunt group, further wherein;

the call information includes voice information from an outside party;

the first hunt group electrically connects the voice information to one of the first-level call-handling stations;

the dialer automatically routes the voice information to the second-level hunt group upon receiving the call routing signal; and

the second hunt group electrically connects the voice information to one of the second-level call-handling stations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the dialer automatically routes the voice information without voice communication between the first-level call-handling stations and the second-level call-handling stations.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first-level call-handling stations are located remotely from the dialer and the first and second hunt groups.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second-level call-handling stations are located remotely from the dialer and the first and second hunt groups.

6. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations, the method comprising:

placing a telephone call;

routing the telephone call placed by a dialer to first-level call-handling stations upon receiving a call routing signal; and

automatically routing the telephone call from the first-level call-handling station to second-level call-handling stations, wherein at least one of the first- or second-level call-handling stations are located at a site remote from the dialer.

7. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations according to claim 6, wherein the telephone call is routed without voice communication between the first and second-level call-handling stations.

8. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations according to claim 6, wherein the telephone call is automatically routed to both the first and second hunt groups.

9. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations according to claim 8, wherein the routing to both the first and second hunt groups further comprises the second hunt group routing the call information to a second call-handling station upon receiving the call routing signal from the first-level call-handling station, wherein the first-level call-handling station will receive a release signal in response to the call information.

10. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations according to claim 6, wherein the routing further comprises differentiating between the first and second hunt group locations.

11. A method for routing telephone calls between call-handling stations according to claim 10, wherein the different locations are connected via a media.