EP0434239A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voice announcement device for improving functionality of multi-line telephones
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1990-11-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-11-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus that allows a called party, while engaged in a first call, to indicate to a second calling party that he/she is aware of the second call and will respond to the second call within a waiting time interval. The second calling party is given a "personal answer" message indicating that the called party will answer the second call within the waiting time Interval. The second calling party is then placed on hold so that when the called party terminates the first call, the called party can answer the second call.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Joe Grimes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/428; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of communicating between a calling party and a called party already engaged in a first call and said called party utilizing a communication terminal, and said method comprising the steps of: notifying said called party via said communication terminal of the origination of a second telephone call from said calling party; activating an automatic response to said calling party by said called party via said communication terminal in response to the notification; said step of activating said automatic response comprises the steps of automatically indicating to said calling party that said called party is aware of said second call; and automatically placing said second call in a standby mode for said called party in response to the activation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said indicating step comprises the step of transmitting a voice message to said calling party.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said voice message specifies that said called party will respond to said calling party within a waiting time interval; and said placing step comprises the steps of timing for said waiting time interval; and connecting said second call to a message taking service upon said waiting time interval elapsing without said called party answering said second call thereby allowing said calling party to leave a message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising activating, by said called party, another automatic response to said calling party; said transmitting step further retransmitting another voice message to said calling party in response to the actuation of said other automatic response; and said timing step comprises the step of initializing said timing step to time for the entirety of said waiting time interval in response to the actuation of said other automatic response.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said timing step further comprises the step of displaying the time remaining of said waiting timing interval to said called party.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for communicating between a calling party and a called party already engaged in a first call and said called party utilizing a communication terminal, and said apparatus comprising: means (153,142,145) for notifying said called party via said communication terminal of the origination of a second telephone call from said calling party; means (141,143,148) for activating an automatic response to said calling party by said called party via said communication terminal in response to the notification; said means (607) for activating said automatic response comprises means for automatically indicating to said calling party that said called party is aware of said second call; and means (602, 603, 608) for automatically placing said second call in a standby mode for said called party in response to the activation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said indicating means comprises the means for transmitting a voice message to said calling party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said voice message specifies that said called party will respond to said calling party within a waiting time interval; and said placing means comprises means for timing for said waiting time interval; and means for connecting said second call to a message taking service upon said waiting time interval elapsing without said called party answering said second call thereby allowing said calling party to leave a message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprises activating, by said called party, another automatic response to said calling party; said transmitting means further retransmitting another voice message to said calling party in response to the actuation of said other automatic response; and said timing means comprises means for initializing said timing means to time for the entirety of said waiting time interval in response to the actuation of said other automatic response.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said timing means further comprises means for displaying the time remaining of said waiting timing interval to said called party.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.