User invoked directed outdial method and apparatus

• US 7,190,774 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alvaria Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: McFarland, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US10/196,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.25, 379/93.14, 379/202.01, 379/88.22, 379/265.06, 379/244, 704/3, 705/10, 455/406
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method includes receiving an inbound call from a caller to a device. A plurality of outbound calls are initiated from the single device based on information received from the inbound call.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an inbound call from a caller to a device;

initiating a plurality of outbound calls from the device based on information received from the inbound call; and

connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

2. The method of claim 1, including detecting each of a plurality of called parties that answers a respective call of the plurality of outbound calls.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of outbound calls is initiated in parallel and operates independently from each of the other outbound calls.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of outbound calls are directed to the plurality of called parties.

5. The method of claim 1, including detecting when an error has occurred with respect to a first outbound call to a first called party.

6. The method of claim 5, including terminating the first outbound call for which the error has occurred.

7. The method of claim 2, including broadcasting a message from the caller to each called party that answers the outbound call.

8. The method of claim 2, including sending individual messages from the caller to each called party of the plurality of called parties that answers the outbound call.

9. The method of claim 1, including allowing the caller to initiate another call upon termination of the inbound call.

10. The method of claim 1, including accessing dialing information from memory to initiate the plurality of outbound calls.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of outbound calls are made to a plurality of called parties, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein initiating the plurality of outbound calls includes initiating a conference call.

13. The method of claim 12, including initiating the conference call utilizing an interactive voice response system to elicit input from the caller.

14. The method of claim 12, including initiating the conference call utilizing numeric input from the caller.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein initiating the plurality of outbound calls includes initiating the plurality of outbound calls to a single party at multiple locations.

16. A method comprising:

initiating a plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls from a device;

detecting which called parties answer the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls; and

connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting which called parties answer the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls includes detecting when an error has occurred with respect to a first outbound call and terminating the first outbound call for which the error has occurred.

18. The method of claim 16, including prompting each called party that answers one of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls to provide input to the device.

19. The method of claim 18, including utilizing an interactive voice response system to prompt each called party that answers to provide the input to the device.

20. The method of claim 18, including promptly each called party that answers to provide numeric input to the device.

21. The method of claim 16, including accessing dialing information from memory to initiate the plurality of outbound calls.

22. A device comprising:

an inbound communication system that receives an inbound call from a caller to a single device; and

an outbound communication system that initiates a plurality of outbound calls from the single device based on information received from the inbound call and that connects a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device detects each of a plurality of called parties that answers a respective call of the plurality of outbound calls.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of outbound calls is parallel and operates independently from each of the other outbound calls.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of outbound calls are directed to a plurality of called parties.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the device detects when an error has occurred with respect to a first outbound call to a first called party.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the first outbound call for which the error has occurred is terminated.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein a message from the caller is broadcast to each called party that answers the outbound call.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein the caller is allowed to initiate another call upon termination of the plurality of outbound calls.

30. The device of claim 22, wherein dialing information is accessed from memory to initiate the plurality of outbound calls.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of outbound calls are made to the plurality of called parties, respectively.

32. The device of claim 22, wherein initiating the plurality of outbound calls comprises initiating a conference call.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the conference call is initiated utilizing an interactive voice response system to elicit input from the caller.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the conference call is initiated utilizing numeric input from the caller.

35. The device of claim 22, wherein initiating the plurality of outbound calls includes initiating the plurality of outbound calls to a single party at multiple locations.

36. A device comprising:

an outbound communication system that initiates a plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls from a device, and detects which called parties answer the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls, and wherein the outbound communication system connects a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the device further detects when an error has occurred with respect to a first outbound call and terminates the first outbound call for which the error has occurred.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein each called party that answers the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls is prompted to provide input to the device.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein an interactive voice response system is utilized to prompt each called party that answers to provide numeric input to the device.

40. The device of claim 36, wherein dialing information is accessed from memory to initiate the plurality of outbound calls.

41. A computer system comprising:

means for receiving an inbound call from a caller to a device; and

means for initiating a plurality of outbound calls from the device based on information received from the inbound call; and

means for connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

42. A computer system comprising:

means for initiating a plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls from a device;

means for detecting which called parties answer the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls; and

means for connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

43. A device comprising:

means for receiving an inbound call from a caller to a device;

means for initiating a plurality of outbound calls from the device based on information received from the inbound call; and

means for connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.

44. A device comprising:

means for initiating a plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls from a device;

means for detecting which called parties answer the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls; and

means for connecting a first called party of a first outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls to a second called party of a second outbound call of the plurality of parallel and independent outbound calls or to the caller based upon information that is received from the first called party.