Interactive call-handling

Claim 1

A method of interactive call-handling in which calls to a receiving station (D) are set up from a multiplicity of terminals (T1-Tn) of a communication system (C), automated voice response to each call set up is made from the receiving station (D) to the calling terminal prompting the caller to transmit digital-signal data to the receiving station (D) via the communication system (C), digital-signal data transmitted via the communication system (C) by the caller in response to the voice prompting being received at the receiving station (D) and stored there (53, 58 in Fig. 2; 130-142 in Fig. 5; 206, 210 in Fig. 7) in relationship with other digital-signal data (62-66 in Fig. 2; 144 in Fig. 5; 201-204, 208 in Fig. 7) received or otherwise derived at the receiving station (D) in respect of that individual call, and at least part of the data stored (58 in Fig. 2; 140-142 in Fig. 5; 210 in Fig. 7) in respect of each individual call is for qualifying the caller in regard to the performance of a predetermined function for which the performance and/or outcome is dependent upon at least part of the data stored, characterised in that the function performed is one of a multiplicity of different predetermined functions performed according to different processing formats, and that digital signals transmitted from the calling terminals (T1-Tn) in setting up the calls to the receiving station (D) via the communication system (C) determine which of the functions are performed in respect of those individual calls.

Claim 4

A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein at least part of said other digital-signal data is data (58 in Fig. 2; 140-142 in Fig. 5; 210 in Fig. 7) received at the receiving station (D) in response to voice prompting of the caller during the call.

Claim 5

A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the step of qualifying each caller depends upon the caller signalling a key to the receiving station, and the key is effective only once, or some other limited number of occasions, for qualification in regard to performance of the relevant function.

Claim 6

A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein at least part of said other digital-signal data stored in respect of each individual call, includes data (62 in Fig. 2; 204 in Fig. 7) which is derived in dependence upon the timing or other sequence-order of that call in relation to other calls received.

Claim 7

A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the receiving station (D) prompts the caller to signal back to the receiving station (D) digital data (66 in Fig. 2; 144 in Fig. 5) derived at the receiving station (D), and the digital-signal data received from the caller in response to such prompting is checked at the receiving station (D) as part of the step of qualifying the caller.

Claim 8

A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein at least some of the processing formats include analysis of data stored in respect of a multiplicity of calls to identify a subset of the callers.

Claim 9

A system for interactive-call handling in which in which calls to a receiving station (D) are set up from a multiplicity of terminals (T1-Tn) of a communication system (C), automated voice response to each call set up is made from the receiving station (D) to the calling terminal prompting the caller to transmit digital-signal data to the receiving station (D) via the communication system (C), digital-signal data transmitted via the communication system (C) by the caller in response to the voice prompting being received at the receiving station (D) and stored there (53, 58 in Fig. 2; 130-142 in Fig. 5; 206, 210 in Fig. 7) in relationship with other digital-signal data (62-66 in Fig. 2; 144 in Fig. 5; 201-204, 208 in Fig. 7) received or otherwise derived at the receiving station (D) in respect of that individual call, and at least part of the data stored (58 in Fig. 2; 140-142 in Fig. 5; 210 in Fig. 7) in respect of each individual call is for qualifying the caller in regard to the performance of a predetermined function for which the performance and/or outcome is dependent upon at least part of the data stored, characterised in that the receiving station (D) includes a multiplicity of data processing means (P1-Pn) that are adapted to operate according to different processing formats for performing a multiplicity of different predetermined functions in respect of the calls, and that the interfacing of the receiving means (D) with the communication system (C) is such that the digital signals transmitted from the calling terminals (T1-Tn) in setting up the calls determine which of the functions are performed in respect of those individual calls.

Claim 12

A system according to any one of Claims 9 to 11 comprising encrypting means (102) for encrypting at least part of data received from the caller or otherwise derived in respect of the call, and the data as so encrypted is stored in relation to the call (208 in Fig. 7).