Intelligent call connection service

• US 6,792,094 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/863,477
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.16, 379/88.18, 379/88.21, 379/209.01, 379/210.01, 379/211.03, 379/216.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/904
• US Class Current: 379/209.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/904 Auto-calling

Abstract

At telecommunication service that takes caller mobility into account and allows the caller to connect to a destination on one attempt. The intelligent call connection service according to the present invention receives a call initiated by a caller/subscriber and dials the called party'"'"'s number identified by the subscriber. If the called party'"'"'s line is busy or unanswered, the connection service prompts the subscriber to hang up. Thereafter, the connection service continues calling the called party for a predetermined duration and, when the called party answers, calls the subscriber back at one or more of the telephone numbers supplied by the subscriber as part of the service subscription. Thus, the subscriber or caller mobility is not hampered when the called party'"'"'s line is busy or unanswered. The service-doesn'"'"'t require the caller/subscriber to reinitiate the call when the called party'"'"'s line is busy or unanswered. The call connection service takes a subscriber'"'"'s call and connects to a destination requiring only one calling attempt by the caller/subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a telephone connection between a caller and a callee, said method comprising:

receiving a first telephone call from said caller, wherein said first telephone call identifies a first telephone number for said callee;

placing a second telephone call to said callee at said first telephone number;

identifying whether one of the following conditions is present at a first telephone associated with said first telephone number;

said first telephone remains on-hook after receiving said second telephone call, and

said first telephone has been off-hook prior to receiving said second telephone call;

prompting said caller to indicate whether said caller wishes to continue calling said first telephone number despite said one of the conditions;

allowing said caller to disconnect after indicating said caller'"'"'s desire to continue calling said first telephone number at a time specified by the caller;

beginning at the specified time, placing one or more phone calls to said first telephone number until a predetermined time period runs out, wherein two consecutive phone calls from said one or more phone calls are spaced a predetermined interval apart;

requesting said callee to remain on line after said callee answers one of said one or more phone calls; and

placing a third telephone call to said caller using a reach list to establish said telephone connection between said caller and said callee, wherein said reach list includes a plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers that provides options for contacting said caller at more than one telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing said third telephone call to said caller includes:

selecting one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers in said reach list;

dialing said one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers;

determining whether said caller is available at said one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers; and

repeating said selecting and said dialing for each additional one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers when said caller is unavailable at a previously-dialed caller-specific telephone number from said reach list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers is selected in a predetermined order.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined order is specified by said caller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving said first telephone call from said caller includes receiving a speed-dial number from said caller, wherein said speed-dial number identifies said first telephone number for said callee.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving said first telephone call from said caller includes receiving digits from said caller constituting said first telephone number for said callee.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving said first telephone call from said caller includes:

prompting said caller to enter one of the following using a second telephone;

a speed dial number corresponding to said first telephone number, and

said first telephone number for said callee; and

receiving one of the following entered by said caller using said second telephone;

said speed dial number, and

said first telephone number for said callee.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting said caller to indicate whether said caller wishes to continue calling said first telephone number includes prompting said caller to leave a first voice message for said callee, and wherein allowing said caller to disconnect includes allowing said caller to disconnect after leaving said first voice message for said callee.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein requesting said callee to remain on line includes:

playing said first voice message for said callee; and

prompting the callee to indicate whether the callee wishes to remain online after playing said first voice message.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of the following after playing said first voice message for said callee:

playing said first voice message again after receiving an indication therefor from said callee;

receiving a second voice message from said callee and sending said second voice message to said caller; and

forwarding said first voice message to a second telephone number specified by said callee.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing said caller to set a value for at least one of the following:

said predetermined time period; and

said predetermined interval.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein allowing said caller to set said value includes at least one of the following:

allowing said caller to send said value over the Internet;

allowing said caller to enter said value from a keypad on a second telephone; and

allowing said caller to orally transmit said value to be set.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a fee to said caller for establishing said telephone connection between said caller and said callee.

14. A telecommunication system, wherein a caller communicates with a callee via said telecommunication system, and wherein said telecommunication system is configured to perform the following:

receive a first telephone call from said caller, wherein said first telephone call identifies a telephone number for said callee;

place a second telephone call to said callee at said telephone number;

identify whether one of the following conditions is present at a first telephone associated with said callee'"'"'s telephone number;

said second telephone call is unanswered at said first telephone, and

said first telephone has been off-hook prior to receiving said second telephone call;

prompt said caller to indicate whether said caller wishes to continue calling said callee'"'"'s telephone number despite said one of the conditions;

allow said caller to disconnect after indicating said caller'"'"'s desire to continue calling said callee'"'"'s telephone number at a time specified by the caller;

beginning at the specified time, place one or more phone calls to said callee'"'"'s telephone number until a predetermined time period runs out, wherein two consecutive phone calls from said one or more phone calls are spaced a predetermined interval apart;

request said callee to remain on line after said callee answers one of said one or more phone calls; and

place a third telephone call to said caller using a reach list to establish said telephone connection between said caller and said callee, wherein said reach list includes a plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers that provides options for contacting said caller at more than one telephone number.

15. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said telecommunication system is configured to place said third telephone call to said caller by:

selecting one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers in said reach list;

dialing said one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers;

determining whether said caller is available at said one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers; and

repeating said selecting and said dialing for each additional one of said plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers when said caller is unavailable at a previously-dialed caller-specific telephone number from said reach list.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said telecommunication system is configured to receive said first telephone call from said caller by:

prompting said caller to enter one of the following using a second telephone;

a speed dial number corresponding to said callee'"'"'s telephone number, and

a plurality of digits constituting said telephone number for said callee; and

receiving one of the following entered by said caller using said second telephone;

said speed dial number, and

said plurality of digits.

17. The telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein the telecommunication system is further configured to allow said caller to set a value for at least one of the following:

said predetermined time period; and

said predetermined interval.

18. The telecommunication system of claim 17, wherein said telecommunication system is configured to allow said caller to set said value in at least one of the following ways:

by sending said value over the Internet;

by entering said value from a keypad on a second telephone; and

by orally transmitting said value to said telecommunication system.

19. A data storage medium operable in a telecommunication system, wherein a caller communicates with a callee via said telecommunication system, and wherein said data storage medium contains program instructions, which, when executed by said telecommunication system, configure said telecommunication system to perform the following:

receive a first telephone call from said caller, wherein said first telephone call identifies a first telephone number for said callee;

beginning at the specified time, place a second telephone call to said callee at said first telephone number;

identify whether one of the following conditions is present at a first telephone associated with said first telephone number;

said second telephone call is unanswered at said first telephone, and

said first telephone has been off-hook prior to receiving said second telephone call;

prompt said caller to indicate whether said caller wishes to continue calling said first telephone number despite said one of the conditions;

allow said caller to disconnect after indicating said caller'"'"'s desire to continue calling said first telephone number at a time specified by the caller;

place one or more phone calls to said first telephone number until a predetermined time period runs out, wherein two consecutive phone calls from said one or more phone calls are spaced a predetermined interval apart;

request said callee to remain on line after said callee answers one of said one or more phone calls; and

place a third telephone call to said caller using a reach list to establish said telephone connection between said caller and said callee, wherein said reach list includes a plurality of caller-specific telephone numbers that provides options for contacting said caller at more than one telephone number.

20. The data storage medium of claim 19, wherein said program instructions, upon execution, further configure said telecommunication system to perform at least one of the following:

receive a first voice message from said caller and convey said first voice message to said callee;

receive a second voice message from said callee and send said second voice message to said caller; and

forward said first voice message to a second telephone number specified by said callee.