Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party;
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a first portion of the voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call;
providing at least the following call handling options to the called party;
accept the call on the first communication device;
transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with screening, wherein at least one portion of the voice communication from the calling party will be transmitted to the first alternate destination and the calling party will be prevented from hearing the called party for at least a first amount of time;
transfer the call to a second alternate destination with screening;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction.
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Abstract
The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
309 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party; playing a greeting to the calling party; placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party; transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a first portion of the voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call; providing at least the following call handling options to the called party; accept the call on the first communication device; transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with screening, wherein at least one portion of the voice communication from the calling party will be transmitted to the first alternate destination and the calling party will be prevented from hearing the called party for at least a first amount of time; transfer the call to a second alternate destination with screening; receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party; placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party; transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of a voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call; providing at least the following call handling options to the called party; accept the call on the first communication device; transfer the call to a first alternate destination; receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party; placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party; transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of a voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call; providing at least the following call handling options to the called party; transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with supervision, wherein the call processing system maintains the call to the first communication device until the at least one alternate destination is answered; transfer the call to the first alternate destination, without supervision, wherein the call processing system terminates the call to the first communication device after receiving the call handling instruction from the called party and before the at least one alternate destination is answered; receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
,processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification