Systems and methods for providing answering services
First Claim
1. A system for providing answering services, comprising:
- a controller inside a public network comprising circuit switched networks and/or packet switched networks, wherein the controller provides call information for an incoming call directed to a user, said call information included in a signal accompanying the incoming call, said signal including an original called number and a redirecting number associated with said user;
an answering services provider that receives call information from the controller, the answering services provider including a telephone operator;
an answering services provider database, wherein said answering services provider database associates and stores information of said user, said stored user information comprising the manner in which incoming calls to said user should be answered by said telephone operator;
wherein said controller forwards said incoming call and said call information to said answering services provider, said forwarded call information including said original called number, said redirecting number, and further including redirection information relating to the forwarding of the incoming call;
wherein the call information in the signal is detected by the answering services provider based upon the original called number and/or the redirecting number and without the need to provide, in advance of the incoming call, a unique telephone number or identification code to the user distinct from the original called number and the redirecting number; and
wherein said answering services provider uses said call information to access said stored user information and instruct said telephone operator to answer the incoming call in a manner directed by said stored user information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible system whereby business information is correlated to a user'"'"'s telephone number is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of the called party can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In another exemplary embodiment, the identification information of the user called can be detected by the answering system. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services'"'"' responses on behalf of their users.
80 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for providing answering services, comprising:
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a controller inside a public network comprising circuit switched networks and/or packet switched networks, wherein the controller provides call information for an incoming call directed to a user, said call information included in a signal accompanying the incoming call, said signal including an original called number and a redirecting number associated with said user; an answering services provider that receives call information from the controller, the answering services provider including a telephone operator; an answering services provider database, wherein said answering services provider database associates and stores information of said user, said stored user information comprising the manner in which incoming calls to said user should be answered by said telephone operator; wherein said controller forwards said incoming call and said call information to said answering services provider, said forwarded call information including said original called number, said redirecting number, and further including redirection information relating to the forwarding of the incoming call; wherein the call information in the signal is detected by the answering services provider based upon the original called number and/or the redirecting number and without the need to provide, in advance of the incoming call, a unique telephone number or identification code to the user distinct from the original called number and the redirecting number; and wherein said answering services provider uses said call information to access said stored user information and instruct said telephone operator to answer the incoming call in a manner directed by said stored user information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing answering services, comprising the steps of:
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associating and storing information of a user at a database associated with an answering services provider; receiving, at a controller inside a public network comprising circuit switched networks and/or packet switched networks, an incoming call directed to said user, wherein said controller receives call information for said incoming call, wherein said call information is included in a signal accompanying the incoming call, said signal including an original called number and a redirecting number associated with said user; forwarding said incoming call and said call information from said controller to said answering services provider, wherein said answering services provider receives said call information, said forwarded call information including said original called number, said redirecting number, and further including redirection information relating to the diversion of the incoming call, wherein the call information in the signal is detected by the answering services provider based upon the original called number and/or the redirecting number and without the need to provide, in advance of the incoming call, a unique telephone number or identification code to the user distinct from the original called number and the redirecting number; and using said call information to access in said database said stored user information, said stored user information including instructions for a telephone operator to answer said incoming call on behalf of the user in a manner directed by the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method to facilitate providing answering services, comprising the steps of:
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(a) associating and storing, at an answering services provider database, information of a user; (b) receiving, at a controller inside a public network comprising circuit switched networks and/or packet switched networks, an incoming call directed to said user, wherein said controller receives call information for said incoming call, wherein said call information is included in a signal accompanying the incoming call, said signal including said original called number and a redirecting number associated with said user; (c) forwarding said incoming call and said call information from said controller to an answering services provider that receives call information from the controller, the answering services provider including a telephone operator, said forwarded call information including said original called number, said redirecting number, and further including redirection information relating to the diversion of the incoming call, wherein the call information in the signal is detected by the answering services provider based upon the original called number and/or the redirecting number and without the need to provide, in advance of the incoming call, a unique telephone number or identification code to the user distinct from the original called number and the redirecting number; and (d) using said call information to access in said database said stored user information and instruct said telephone operator to answer the incoming call on behalf of the user in a manner directed by said stored user information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification