Apparatus and systems for utilizing caller ID data to automate return call processing

• US 6,721,399 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Scott L.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20020076006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/70, 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 379/88.19, 379/80.2, 379/80.21, 379/142.01, 379/142.17, 379/210.01
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus and systems for recording Call ID data and transmitting the Caller ID data to remote telecommunications devices on demand, to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender.

Claims

1. A telephone answering device, comprising:

(a) voice message recording means for recording messages from callers calling said answering device;

(b) Caller ID data recording means for recording Caller ID data from the callers calling said device; and

(c) interface means for transmitting the recorded Caller ID data to a remote location when the recorded messages are retrieved;

wherein said interface means is adapted to transmit the recorded Caller ID data to an apparatus in a call control system;

wherein said call control system includes a Caller ID storage and retrieval unit configured to cause a number corresponding to received Caller ID data to be called by said call control system.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said call control system is a PBX.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said call control system is a telephony-over-LAN (ToL) Gatekeeper.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said call control system is a wireless carrier system.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said call control system is a central office.

6. A telephone message storage and remote retrieval system, comprising:

(a) voice message recording means for recording messages from callers calling said telephone message storage and remote retrieval system;

(b) Caller ID data recording means for recording Caller ID data from the callers calling said system;

(c) Interface means for transmitting the recorded Caller ID data to a remote location when the recorded messages are retrieved; and

(d) a call control system for receiving the transmitted Caller ID data;

wherein said call control system includes Caller ID storage and retrieval means for causing a number corresponding to received Caller ID data to be called by said call control system.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said call control system is a PBX.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said call control system is a telephony-over-LAN (ToL) Gatekeeper.

9. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said call control system is a wireless carrier system.

10. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said call control system is a central office.