System and method for effecting prearranged notification following placing of a call using a predetermined number

• US 9,088,648 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Marics, Monica Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US13/096,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 379/22.06, 379 37- 51, 379/254, 379/312, 379/316, 379/332, 379/350, 379/433.05, 379/438, 379/9.06, 379 8819- 8821, 379/93.03, 379/118, 379/120, 379/127.01, 379/127.06, 379/167.11, 379/183, 37920713-20715, 379/245, 379/413.04, 379/413.03, 455/404, 455/404.1, 455/521
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number; the system including: (a) a jack unit for coupling the calling instrument with an outgoing telecommunication connection; and (b) a server unit coupled with the outgoing telecommunication connection. The server unit is coupled with a plurality of notification media. The jack unit detects when the calling instrument places the call using the predetermined number. When the call is completed, the jack unit alerts the server unit of a completion of the call to the predetermined number. The server unit responds to the alerting by effecting the at least one prearranged notification via at least one notification medium of the plurality of notification media.

Claims

1. A system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection;

the system comprising;

(a) a jack unit for coupling between an installed phone connection and said outgoing telecommunication connection, said installed phone connection coupled to said calling instrument, said jack unit configured to detect when said calling instrument makes a call using said predetermined number, configured to detect when said outgoing telecommunication connection is idle immediately after said call, and configured to transmit an alert signal upon detection of said outgoing telecommunication connection becoming idle immediately after said call; and

(b) a server unit coupled with said outgoing telecommunication connection;

said server unit being coupled with a plurality of notification media;

said server unit configured to receive said alert signal from said jack unit and configured to respond to said alert signal by effecting said at least one prearranged notification via at least one notification medium of said plurality of notification media.

2. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of notification media includes at least one of a public switched telephone network, a wireless network, and an Internet Protocol network.

3. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.

4. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 1 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

5. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.

6. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 2 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

7. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 5 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

8. A system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection:

the system comprising;

(a) a jack unit for coupling with an installed phone connection and said outgoing telecommunication connection said jack unit configured to detect when said calling instrument places said emergency call, configured to detect when the outgoing telecommunication connection is idle immediately after said emergency call and configured to generate an alert signal after detecting that said calling instrument placed said emergency call and detecting that said outgoing telecommunication connection is idle immediately after said emergency call; and

(b) a server unit coupled with said outgoing telecommunication connection;

said server unit being coupled with a plurality of notification media;

said jack unit detecting when said calling instrument places said emergency service call;

when said outgoing telecommunication connection is idle after said emergency service call is completed, said jack unit alerting said server unit of occurrence of said emergency service call;

said server unit responding to said alerting by effecting said at least one prearranged notification via at least one notification medium of said plurality of notification media.

9. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of notification media includes at least one of a public switched telephone network, a wireless network, and an Internet Protocol network.

10. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 8 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.

11. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 8 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

12. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency sen lice callusing an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.

13. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 9 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

14. The system for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places an emergency service call using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 12 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

20. The method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 12 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

15. A method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection;

the method comprising;

(a) in no particular order;

(1) providing a jack unit for coupling with an installed phone connection with said outgoing telecommunication connection; and

(2) providing a server unit coupled with said outgoing telecommunication connection and coupled with a plurality of notification media;

(b) operating said jack unit to effect detecting when said calling instrument places said call using said predetermined number;

(c) when said outgoing telecommunication connection is idle after said call is completed, operating said jack unit to effect alerting said server unit of occurrence of said call to said predetermined number; and

(d) operating said server unit to effect responding to said alerting by effecting said at least one prearranged notification via at least one notification medium of said plurality of notification media.

16. The method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of notification media includes at least one of a public switched telephone network, a wireless network, and an Internet Protocol network.

17. The method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.

18. The method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 15 wherein said outgoing telecommunication connection supports communication with said server unit employing at least one of a wired conveyance, a cable conveyance and a wireless conveyance.

19. The method for effecting at least one prearranged notification after a calling instrument places a call using a predetermined number using an outgoing telecommunication connection as recited in claim 16 wherein said at least one prearranged notification is carried out according to instructions stored in said server unit.