Telephone system integrated text based communication processes, apparatus and systems

• US 6,735,286 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonner, Robert J., Jennings, Darrell L., Hansen, Frederic W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/424,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88-2-, 379/88-2-, 379/93-2-, 379/93.15, 379/93-7-, 379/93.24, 379/100.06, 379/100.08, 358/402, 358/440, 358/444, 704/266
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

System are generally comprised of a (“PBX”) module, a text server, a voice mail system, at least one telephone, at least one terminal device, and in some cases, a computer network. Communication paths are used to selectively couple the above elements together, as needed to execute or implement the particular application or feature. Calls (TDD or otherwise) are initiated over the Internet or the world wide web to the text server, which is preferably in communication with the PBX module. The PBX module is in communication with a text server via modem. The text server is directly or indirectly in communication with a voice mail system and with the PBX module. The text server may be in communication with the voice mail system via voice card and PBX module or directly with certain voice mail system with specialized software. The PBX module is in communication with at least one telephone. The text server is in communication with at least one terminal device via local area network, the Internet, or some other form of a network. Processes use a bulletin board system which presents a number of options (e.g. (i) leave a message; (ii) transfer to a persons telephone number; and/or (iii) log on to a specific mailbox) to direct a call through the voice mail system, computer network, telephone system, PBX, and tax server. At each stage, a first party (a calling party) is generally prompted to provide needed information to identify a second party (the called party) or instruction to instruct the preferred system what to do. Depending upon the instruction provided by the first and second parties, voice messages are left in voice mail, chat discussion are set-up, e-mail messages are sent, and voice mail boxes are set up etc. Message or signals can be sent to and from the voice mail system, the computer system, and text server.

Claims

1. A process of answering a TTY call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

(a) receiving said TTY call in a port adapted to receive said TTY call along with identification information identifying said called party;

(b) checking a database to determine whether said called party is in said database;

(c) if said called party is in said database, then

(c1) automatically connecting said calling party to a voice mail system;

(c2) automatically calling said called party with said voice mail system;

(c3) automatically prompting said called party with a first option which allows said calling party to leave a message and a second option which allows said called party to accept said TTY call; and

(c4) if said called party selects said first option, then storing said message once said message is provided; and

(c5) if said called party selects said second option, then establishing a communication link between said calling party and said called party.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the following step if said second option is selected, after step (c5)

(c6) notifying said calling party that said communication link between said calling party and said called party is being established.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said called party has a computer electrically coupled to said port adapted to receive said TTY call and further wherein said communication link is established by loading software on said computer to establish said communication link.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein said communication link is established by accessing and utilizing network browser software on a computer, said computer connected via network with a text server, said text server is electrically coupled to said port.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein said identification information is selected from a group consisting of said called party'"'"'s first name, said called party'"'"'s employee number, said called party'"'"'s social security number, said called party'"'"'s computer address, said called party'"'"'s mailbox number, said called party'"'"'s log in name, said called party'"'"'s last name, said called party'"'"'s full name, and said called party'"'"'s individual telephone number.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein said database is comprised of a list of individuals having access to a text server and said database is stored in memory accessible by said text server.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein said called party is an entity, said entity is selected from a group consisting of automated phone answering system, automatic call distribution queue, and universal call distribution queue.