Telephone communications system including a digital telephone switch, a voice response unit and a stored program sequence for controlling both the switch and the voice response unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A telephone communications node comprising:
- a telephone switch having at least one incoming line and at least one outgoing line for switching calls therebetween;
an audio response unit for receiving incoming audio communications and for generating and transmitting other audio communications; and
single control means for executing a stored program sequence based upon the incoming audio communications received by said audio response unit, said control means and said program sequence directly controlling both said audio response unit and said telephone switch such that, based on said incoming audio communications and said stored program sequence, a call received by the telephone communications node may be switched to an outgoing line directed to a number other than that which the caller originally called,wherein said control means comprisesgenerating means for generating a user-interactive main menu;
access means for providing access to a user-defined speed dialing directory;
message means for delivering a vocal message to a particular person at a particular telephone number;
dialing means for providing direct dialing of user-chosen telephone numbers;
sponsor means for providing access to a sponsor database; and
business means for providing user-chosen business assistant functions.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a telephone communication system which includes a telephone switch having a plurality of incoming and outgoing lines for switching calls therebetween, an audio response unit for receiving audio communications from a user and for generating and transmitting voice communications, and a central processing unit for executing a stored program sequence based upon the audio communications received by the voice response unit to control both the voice response unit and the telephone switch. The central processing unit may be connected within the voice response unit or externally thereto.
331 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A telephone communications node comprising:
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a telephone switch having at least one incoming line and at least one outgoing line for switching calls therebetween; an audio response unit for receiving incoming audio communications and for generating and transmitting other audio communications; and single control means for executing a stored program sequence based upon the incoming audio communications received by said audio response unit, said control means and said program sequence directly controlling both said audio response unit and said telephone switch such that, based on said incoming audio communications and said stored program sequence, a call received by the telephone communications node may be switched to an outgoing line directed to a number other than that which the caller originally called, wherein said control means comprises generating means for generating a user-interactive main menu; access means for providing access to a user-defined speed dialing directory; message means for delivering a vocal message to a particular person at a particular telephone number; dialing means for providing direct dialing of user-chosen telephone numbers; sponsor means for providing access to a sponsor database; and business means for providing user-chosen business assistant functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A telephone communications node for providing telephone communication services to a subscriber, comprising:
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a telephone switch having at least one incoming and at least one outgoing line for switching calls therebetween; an audio response unit for receiving incoming audio communications from the subscriber and for generating and transmitting other audio communications to the subscriber; a stored program sequence programmed with information supplied by the subscriber; and single control means for executing said stored program sequence based upon the incoming audio communications received by said audio response unit from the subscriber, said control means and said program sequence directly controlling both said audio response unit and said telephone switch such that, based on said incoming audio communications and said stored program sequence, a call received from the subscriber may be switched to an outgoing line directed to a number other than that which the subscriber originally called. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of providing telephone communication services to a subscriber, comprising:
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programming a common stored program sequence in accordance with instructions from the subscriber; upon receipt of a call from the subscriber, producing audio messages according to a stored user script; accepting audio user commands from the subscriber in response to said audio messages; processing said accepted commands; and directly controlling, using said common stored program sequence, both a telephone switch and an audio response unit responsive to said processed commands such that, based on said audio user commands and said common stored program sequence, the received call is switched to an outgoing line directed to a number other than that which the subscriber originally dialed. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A telephone communications node comprising:
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a telephone switch having at least one incoming line and at least one outgoing line for switching calls therebetween; an audio response unit for receiving incoming audio communications and for generating and transmitting other audio communications; and single control means for executing a stored program sequence based upon the incoming audio communications received by said audio response unit, said control means and said program sequence directly controlling both said audio response unit and said telephone switch such that, based on said incoming audio communications and said stored program sequence, a call received by the telephone communications node may be switched to an outgoing line directed to a number other than that which the subscriber originally called, wherein said telephone switch includes a plurality of local network nodes, each having a plurality of incoming and outgoing telephone trunk lines, each of said local network nodes being connected to a regional network node, and wherein said audio response unit and said single control means are part of said regional network node. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification