System and method for processing telephone communication

• US 5,077,788 A
• Filed: 09/28/1990
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taro, Inc. (EAT Club, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Taro, Inc. (EAT Club, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Joseph C., Lavoie, Bill D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/591,670
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/269, 379/201, 379/207, 379/214, 379/247, 379/245, 379/94, 379/96, 379/97, 379/88, 379/67, 379/142, 379/32
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and method for processing telephone calls for special services, such as emergency service calls. One or more answering station units may receive calls through a telephone network. The number of the calling station is automatically identified and used to seek calling station location information in a computer memory forming part of the answering station unit. The call is then conferenced with an agency station associated with the services needed, and the location information is dispatched to the agency station. Each service answering station unit is a stand-alone unit.

Claims

1. A method for processing telephone calls, utilizing an answering station, said answering station having a telephone instrument, a computer with a display, and a memory unit, and utilizing at least one agency station to which information is to be conveyed, comprising the following steps:

(a) connecting a caller station with an answering station;

(b) automatically receiving the number of said caller station at said answering station;

(c) utilizing the number of said caller station to seek a set of data stored in said memory unit which concerns the address of said caller station;

(d) displaying said set of data obtained from said memory unit;

(e) initiating communication to an agency station and incorporating said agency station in said call, and dispatching said set of data to said agency station; and

(f) automatically restarting said method at step (c) after a temporary failure affecting said answering station.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the following step:

stepping a counter in response to said restart.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said restart includes automatically redialing the number of said caller station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said restart includes automatically redialing the number of said agency station.