Telecommunication device and method for interactive voice and data

• US 5,592,538 A
• Filed: 03/10/1993
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Momentum, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Momentum, Inc.
• Inventors: Kosowsky, Michael R., Santullo, Michael P., Kosowsky, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Application Number:
  US08/028,959
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93, 379/94, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/100, 379/88, 379/89, 379/355, 379/356, 379/357, 379/142, 379/53, 379/54, 379/92, 379/354, 358/437, 395/575, 371/8.2, 374/222
• US Class Current: 379/93.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A telecommunication device permits mixed voice communication and data communication during a single telephone call. The device switches freely between bidirectional voice communication and bidirectional data communication, as required by the data to be communicated. The dynamic switching between voice communication and data communication is arranged so that voice communication is minimally interrupted. Data communication using the device includes creation, transmission, reception, storage, retrieval, display and use of data messages such as address and telephone number records. The device is inexpensive to produce and uses existing standards for signalling by telecommunications equipment. A complete interactive voice and data (IVD) system automatically performs data communication between IVD subscriber systems, or between an IVD subscriber system and an IVD host system. Further, in conjunction with a standard IVR, a complete IVR/IVD system automatically performs data communication with IVD subscriber systems and IVR voice communications with non-IVD subscriber systems.

Claims

1. An interactive voice and data response (IVD) system for alternately effecting voice communication and data communication between an IVD host system and an IVD subscriber system over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) having a plurality of subscriber loops, comprising:

the IVD subscriber system having

means for connecting the subscriber system to a PSTN subscriber loop;

means for selectively connecting the subscriber system to a voice communication means;

means for performing data communications, operatively connected to the means for connecting the subscriber system to the PSTN subscriber loop;

means for displaying data messages received by the means for performing data communications;

means for receiving dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals from the voice communication means, connected to the means for selectively connecting;

means for controlling subscriber system operation, including means for causing the means for selectively connecting to connect the subscriber system to the voice communication means when voice communication occurs, means for causing the means for selectively connecting to disconnect the subscriber system from the voice communication means when data communication occurs, means for creating data messages for sending by the means for performing data communications, means for encoding received DTMF signals as a response data message, operatively connected to the means for receiving DTMF signals, and means for transferring the response data message to the means for performing data communications to the IVD host system; and

the IVD host system for automatically recognizing the IVD subscriber system and performing data communication therewith and for performing voice communication when the IVD subscriber system is not recognized.

2. An IVD system as recited in claim 1, wherein said IVD host system further comprises:

means for connecting the host system to a PSTN subscriber loop;

means for selectively connecting the host system to a voice communication means;

means for performing data communications, operatively connected to the means for connecting the host system to the PSTN subscriber loop; and

means for controlling host system operation, for causing the means for selectively connecting to connect the host system to the voice communication means when voice communication occurs and for causing the means for selectively connecting to disconnect the host system from the voice communication means when data communication occurs, and for creating data messages for sending by the means for performing data communications.

3. An interactive voice and data response IVD host system for communicating with a plurality of callers over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the plurality of callers including at least one IVD subscriber system, the IVD host system alternately effecting voice communication and data communication with the at least one IVD subscriber system, the IVD host system comprising:

means for establishing a communication channel with a caller over the PSTN;

data communication means for establishing a full-duplex bidirectional data link over the communication channel, and for transferring data messages to and receiving data messages from the caller over the data link;

voice communication means for communicating voice messages with the caller over the .communication channel;

recognition means for recognizing whether the caller is the at least one IVD subscriber system;

means, coupled to the recognition means, for enabling the data communication means to transfer data messages to the caller when the caller is the at least one IVD subscriber system; and

means, coupled to the recognition means, for selecting an introductory message to be transferred to the caller so that the introductory message is a data message when the caller is the at least one IVD subscriber system and is a voice message when the caller is not the at least one IVD subscriber system.

4. An IVD host system as recited in claim 3,

wherein the recognition includes:

means includes;

means for transferring a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tone to the caller;

means for receiving a DTMF tone from the caller; and

means for recognizing the DTMF tone received from the caller as indicated whether the caller is the at least one IVD subscriber system.

5. A device for managing data which communicates with another device over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein said another device may enter one of a plurality of states, said device comprising:

a user interface that receives inputs from a user;

means, electrically connectable to the PSTN, for creating signals for establishing a communication channel between the device and the another device through the PSTN;

means for establishing a full-duplex bidirectional data link through the communication channel;

means for holding data in a database of records including telephone number data and other related information;

means for receiving a database record including telephone number data over the full-duplex bidirectional data link from the another device;

means, coupled to the user interface, for creating a database record including telephone number data for storage in the means for holding data based upon inputs received from the user;

means for merging, into the database held in the means for holding data, a database record of data created by the means for creating a database record and a database record received by the means for receiving a database record to form a merged database of records;

means for retrieving a database record from the merged database of records;

means for causing the means for creating signals to automatically dial a telephone number in accordance with telephone number data in the database record retrieved by the means for retrieving;

means for transmitting signals over the PSTN;

means for creating data;

means for sending data from a database record retrieved by the means for retrieving and for sending data created by the means for creating data using the means for transmitting signals;

means for ascertaining from said another device a desired state of said another device at one point in time; and

means for using the results of said ascertaining to cause said another device to return to said desired state at a later point in time at which said another device is not in said desired state.

6. A device as recited in claim 5, wherein said device further comprises:

means for receiving data representing the state using the means for receiving;

means for merging a database record of data representing the state received by the means for receiving into the database, forming merged database records;

means for retrieving a database record from the merged database of records held in the means for holding data; and

means for sending the retrieved database record using the means for transmitting.

7. A device for data communications over a voice and data network with at least one other device, comprising:

means, electrically connectable to the voice and data network, for establishing a communication channel between the device and the at least one other device through the voice and data network;

means for establishing a full-duplex bidirectional data link through the communication channel;

means for connecting the device to a voice communications means with a capability to generate dialing signals;

means for detecting each dialing signal from said voice communications means and for converting each dialing signal to a data signal for transmission over the full-duplex bidirectional data link, whereby the detection of each dialing signal results in the transmission of a corresponding data signal;

means for visually displaying information; and

means, electrically connectable to the voice and data network, for detecting a received signal over the voice and data network and for converting said received signal to a display signal to control the means for visually displaying information, whereby the detection of the received signal results in the display of corresponding information.

8. A device for data communications with at least one other device over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

means, electrically connectable to the PSTN, for establishing a communication channel between the device and the at least one other device through the PSTN;

means for establishing a full-duplex bidirectional data link through the communication channel;

means for connecting the device to a voice communications means with a capability to generate dialing signals;

means for detecting dialing signals from said means for voice communications and for converting each dialing signal to a transmit modem signal for transmission over the full-duplex bidirectional data link, whereby the detection of each dialing signal results in the transmission of a corresponding transmit modem signal;

means for visually displaying text communications; and

means, electrically connectable to the PSTN, for detecting receive modem signals for transmission over the PSTN and for converting said received modem signals to display signals to control the means for displaying text communications, whereby the detection of receive modem signals results in the display of corresponding text information.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for detecting dialing signals comprises:

means for detecting dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

10. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for detecting dialing signals comprises:

means for detecting and timing switch hook activity of the voice communications means.

11. A device for data communications with another device over a PSTN, wherein said another device may enter one of a plurality of states, said device comprising:

means for connecting the device to a voice communications means with data signal generation capability;

means for alternately performing voice and data communications, the voice communications being performed over a voice link through the PSTN, the data communications being performed over a full-duplex bi-directional data link through the PSTN;

means for creating signals for establishing a connection through the PSTN;

means, electrically connectable to the PSTN, for receiving signals from said another device over the PSTN, the signals received including data signals received over the full-duplex bi-directional data link;

means for receiving telephone number data over the full-duplex bi-directional data link from the means for receiving signals;

means for holding telephone number data received by the means for receiving telephone number data;

means for retrieving telephone number data from the means for holding telephone number data;

means for dialing a telephone number corresponding to the retrieved telephone number data using the means for creating signals;

means for ascertaining a desired state of said another device at one point in time; and

means for using the results of said ascertaining to cause said another device to return to said desired state at a later point in time.

12. A device for managing data and communicating with another device over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the another device may be in one of a plurality of states, the device for managing data comprising:

means, electrically connectable to a PSTN subscriber loop, for creating signals for establishing a connection through the PSTN;

means for receiving signals over the PSTN from the another device;

means for holding data in a database including telephone number data and other related information;

means for receiving data from the means for receiving signals;

means for storing in the database held in the means for holding data, data received by the means for receiving data;

means for retrieving data from the database;

means for causing the means for creating signals to dial a telephone number in accordance with telephone number data retrieved by the means for retrieving;

means for ascertaining from said another device a desired state of said another device; and

means for using the results of said ascertaining to cause said another device to return to said desired state at a later point in time at which said another device is not in said desired state.

13. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein said device further comprises:

means for receiving data representing said desired state using the means for receiving data.

14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said device further comprises:

means for transmitting signals over the PSTN; and

means for sending data retrieved by the means for retrieving using the means for transmitting signals.

15. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the first device having a storage element, the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

the second device from the storage element; and

J. transferring the retrieved data from the first device to the second device over the second communication channel so that the second device reenters the selected state.

16. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein the data identifying the selected state is a label recognized by the second device as identifying the selected state.

17. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein the data identifying the selected state includes a series of commands, each of which corresponds to an option presented during a respective state of the second device, so that execution of the series of commands causes the second device to enter the selected state.

18. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein:

step H includes establishing a second bidirectional data link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

19. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 18, further including the steps of:

K. breaking the second data link; and

L. establishing a voice link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

20. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, further including, prior to executing step J, the steps of:

establishing a voice link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel;

communicating over the voice link;

breaking the voice link; and

establishing a data link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

21. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein:

step J includes transferring the retrieved data from the first device to the second device prior to receiving any communication from the second device over the second communication channel.

22. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein the selected state represents an endpoint in a transaction between the first and second devices.

23. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein the second device has a telephone number that uniquely identifies the second device on the PSTN, and wherein:

step A includes dialing the telephone number of the second device.

24. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 15, wherein step C is performed before step B, wherein the at least one option is presented by the second device over the first bidirectional data link, and wherein step B includes a step of responding over the first bidirectional data link.

25. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device, the first device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

B. presenting at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first communication channel, the at least one choice defining at least two alternate states of the first device that can be entered in response to at least one command;

C. receiving at least one command from the second device over the first communication channel and entering a selected state of the first device in response thereto;

D. establishing through the first communication channel a first bidirectional data link that preserves data bits transferred over the data link;

E. transferring data bits identifying the selected state over the first bidirectional data link from the first device to the second device to be stored in the second device; and

F. breaking the first communication channel between the first and second devices.

26. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 25, wherein step D is performed before steps B and C, wherein step B includes a step of presenting the at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first bidirectional data link, and wherein step C includes a step of receiving the at least one command from the second device over the first bidirectional data link.

27. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device, the first device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

B. presenting at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first communication channel, the at least one choice defining at least two alternate states of the first device that can be entered in response to at least one command;

C. receiving at least one command from the second device over the first communication channel and entering a selected state of the first device in response thereto;

D. establishing through the first communication channel a first bidirectional data link that preserves data bits transferred over the data link;

E. transferring data bits identifying the selected state over the first bidirectional data link from the first device to the second device to be stored in the second device;

F. breaking the first communication channel between the first and second devices;

G. establishing a second communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

H. receiving from the second device data identifying the selected state over the second communication channel; and

I. entering the selected state of the first device.

28. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, wherein step E includes transferring a label recognized by the first device as identifying the selected state.

29. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, wherein:

step C includes storing the at least one command received from the second device; and

step E includes transferring data representing the at least one command received from the second device.

30. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, wherein:

step G includes establishing a second bidirectional data link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

31. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 30, further including the steps of:

J. breaking the second data link; and

K. establishing a voice link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

32. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, further including, prior to executing step H, the steps of:

establishing a voice link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel;

communicating over the voice link;

breaking the voice link; and

establishing a data link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.

33. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, wherein:

step H includes receiving from the second device the data identifying the selected state before communicating any message from the first device over the second communication channel.

34. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 27, wherein step D is performed before steps B and C, wherein step B includes a step of presenting the at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first bidirectional data link, and wherein step C includes a step of receiving the at least one command from the second device over the first bidirectional data link.

35. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device, the first device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

B. presenting at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first communication channel, the at least one choice defining at least two alternate states of the first device that can be entered in response to at least one command;

C. receiving at least one command from the second device over the first communication channel and entering a selected state of the first device in response thereto;

D. establishing through the first communication channel a first bidirectional data link that preserves data bits transferred over the data link;

E. transferring data bits identifying the selected state over the first bidirectional date link from the first device to the second device to be stored in the second device; and

F. breaking the first communication channel between the first and second devices;

wherein the selected state represents an endpoint in a transaction between the first and second devices.

36. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device, the first device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

B. presenting at least one choice of alternatives to the second device over the first communication channel, the at least one choice defining at least two alternate states of the first device that can be entered in response to at least one command;

C. receiving at least one command from the second device over the first communication channel and entering a selected state of the first device in response thereto;

D. establishing through the first communication channel a first bidirectional data link that preserves data bits transferred over the data link;

E. transferring data bits identifying the selected state over the first bidirectional data link from the first device to the second device to be stored in the second device; and

F. breaking the first communication channel between the first and second devices;

wherein the first device has a telephone number that uniquely identifies the first device on the PSTN, and wherein;

step A includes responding to the second device dialing the telephone number of the first device.

37. A method for telephonically communicating, via a first device, with a second device having a plurality of states, the first and second devices each being coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the first device having a storage element, the method comprising the steps of:

A. establishing a first communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

B. establishing through the first communication channel a first bidirectional data link that preserves data bits transferred over the data link;

C. responding to at least one option presented by the second device to cause the second device to enter a selected state of the second device;

D. receiving over the first bidirectional data link, at the first device, a plurality of data bits that includes data identifying the selected state;

E. storing the data identifying the selected state in the storage element;

F. breaking the first communication channel between the first and second devices;

G. establishing a second communication channel through the PSTN between the first and second devices;

H. retrieving the data representing the selected state of the second device from the storage element; and

I. transferring the retrieved data from the first device to the second device over the second communication channel so that the second device reenters the selected state.

38. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 37, wherein the data identifying the selected state is a label recognized by the second device as identifying the selected state.

39. The method for telephonically communicating as recited in claim 37, wherein:

step G includes establishing a second bidirectional data link between the first and second devices over the second communication channel.