Method and apparatus for processing an incoming call in a communication system
First Claim
1. A telephone call processor for processing a call from a caller to a called party'"'"'s extension within a communication system, comprising:
- a) means for receiving the call from the caller;
b) means for sending a notification to the called party indicating receipt of the call; and
c) means for receiving from the called party a selected response to the notification, the response being selected from two or more possible responses, the two or more possible responses including
1) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a first greeting presented to the caller, and
2) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a second greeting presented to the caller.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a telephone user with automated attendant functions with numerous selectable options. The options include selecting one of many greetings to be given to the caller before putting the caller on hold or sending the caller to voice mail, recording a new greeting for the caller after learning the caller'"'"'s identity, re-routing the call and adding an audio message to be delivered to the substitute called party before the call is connected. A display screen with a cursor is used to facilitate presentation of information and options to the telephone user and selection of options by the telephone user.
105 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A telephone call processor for processing a call from a caller to a called party'"'"'s extension within a communication system, comprising:
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a) means for receiving the call from the caller; b) means for sending a notification to the called party indicating receipt of the call; and c) means for receiving from the called party a selected response to the notification, the response being selected from two or more possible responses, the two or more possible responses including
1) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a first greeting presented to the caller, and
2) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a second greeting presented to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A call processor for processing a call from a caller to a called party, comprising:
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a) means for receiving the call from the caller; b) means for sending to the called party a notification of receipt of the call; c) means for receiving from the called party a command to re-route the call to a substitute telephone number; d) means for receiving from the called party a first audio message; e) means for recording the first audio message; and f) means for transmitting the recorded first audio message to one of the substitute telephone number or the caller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A telephone call processor for processing a call from a caller to a called party'"'"'s extension within a communication system, comprising:
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a) means for receiving the call from the caller; b) means for sending a notification to the called party indicating receipt of the call; and c) means for receiving from the called party a selected response to the notification, the response being selected from two or more possible responses, the two or more possible responses including
1) to place the caller on hold with a first greeting presented to the caller, and
2) to place the caller on hold with a second greeting presented to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for processing a call from a caller to a called party'"'"'s extension within a communication system, comprising:
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a) receiving the call from the caller; b) sending a notification to the called party indicating receipt of the call; and c) receiving from the called party a selected response to the notification, the response being selected from two or more possible responses, the two or more possible responses including
1) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a first greeting presented to the caller, and
2) to forward the call to a voice message recorder with a second greeting presented to the caller.
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17. A method for a communication system to process a call from a caller to a called party, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving the call from the caller; b) sending to the called party a notification of receipt of the call; c) receiving from the called party a command to re-route the call to a substitute telephone number; d) receiving from the called party an audio message; e) recording the audio message; and f) transmitting the recorded audio message to one of the substitute telephone number or the caller.
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18. A method for a communication system to process a call from a caller to a called party, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving the call from the caller; b) sending to the called party a notification of receipt of the call; c) receiving from the called party a selected response to the notification, the response being selected from two or more possible responses, the two or more possible responses including
1) to place the caller on hold with a first greeting presented to the caller, and
2) to place the caller on hold with a second greeting presented to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification