Call processor for facilitating call completions

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: causing the call processor to wait a predetermined period of time after transmitting said instructional message to the calling party; and causing the call processor to transmit to the switching system via a telephone subscriber line destination determining information associated with the call completion assistant if no destination determining information is received from the calling party during said predetermined period of time.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, further including communicating by the call processor to the switching system with ordinary telephone set signals.

Claim 7

A call processor for use with a telephone switching system for processing incoming calls to the telephone switching system to facilitate the completion of calls with or without the interception by a call completion assistant, comprising: a program-controlled call processor; said call processor including a receiver for receiving a request for service from a calling party; said call processor including a message storage unit for storing an instructional message, and having a message content instructing the calling party to input destination determining information; said call processor including a transmitter for transmitting the instructional message to the calling party; said call processor including an interface for communicating with said switching system using standard telephone signals; said call processor including a transmitter for transmitting destination determining information received from the calling party using said interface, and so that when said telephone switching system receives the destination determining information a communication path can be established between the calling party and a called party; and a controller for controlling said call processor in one mode for directing all incoming calls to the switching system for assistance by the call completion assistant, and a second mode for allowing said call processor to process incoming calls for completing calls directly to a called party without interception by the call completion assistant.

Claim 8

A call processor for use with a telephone switching system for processing incoming calls to the telephone switching system to facilitate the completion of calls with or without the interception by a call completion assistant, comprising: a program-controlled call processor; said call processor including a receiver for receiving a request for service from a calling party; said call processor including a message storage unit for storing an instructional message, and having a message content instructing the calling party to input destination determining information; said call processor including a transmitter for transmitting the instructional message to the calling party; said call processor including an interface for communicating with said switching system using standard telephone signals; said call processor including a transmitter for transmitting destination determining information received from the calling party using said interface, and so that when said telephone switching system receives the destination determining information a communication path can be established between the calling party and a called party; and a controller for controlling said call processor in one mode for directing all incoming calls to the switching system for assistance by the call completion assistant, and a second mode for allowing said call processor to process incoming calls for completing calls directly to a called party without interception by the call completion assistant.

Claim 9

A call processor for use in conjunction with a telephone switching system having provisions for a call completion assistant, for processing an incoming call directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to choose whether to complete the call directly to a destination through the switching system, or to complete the call through the call completion assistant, comprising: a detector for detecting a request for service from the calling party initiating the call to the telephone switching system; said call processor being responsive to the detection of a request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message announcer for generating a message for transmission to the calling party via said connection path; said call processor being responsive to said detector detecting a request for service for controlling the message announcer for transmitting said message to the calling party; said call processor issuing a request for service to the telephone switching system; a subscriber line interface for connecting said call processor via a subscriber line to the telephone switching system for communication therewith, said subscriber line carrying a tone from the switching system as an acknowledgment of said call processor request for service; said call processor inhibiting the transmission of the telephone switching system acknowledgment of request to the calling party; and said call processor being responsive to one of (a), a first type of response from the calling party for receiving from the calling party destination determining information, if transmitted, and for temporarily storing the destination determining information, and being responsive for transferring destination determining information to the telephone switching system, or (b), a second type of response from the calling party for transferring call completion assistant identifying information to the telephone switching system so that the call completion assistant can assist the calling party in completing the call through the telephone switching system, whereby the call can be completed through the telephone switching system with or without call completion assistance at the calling party's option.

Claim 10

A call processor for use in conjunction with a telephone switching system having provisions for a call completion assistant, for processing an incoming call directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to choose whether to complete the call directly to a destination through the switching system, or to complete the call through the call completion assistant, comprising: a detector for detecting a request for service from the calling party initiating the call to the telephone switching system; said call processor being responsive to the detection of a request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message announcer for generating a message for transmission to the calling party via said connection path; said call processor being responsive to said detector detecting a request for service for controlling the message announcer for transmitting said message to the calling party; said call processor issuing a request for service to the telephone switching system; a subscriber line interface for connecting said call processor via a subscriber line to the telephone switching system for communication therewith, said subscriber line carrying a tone from the switching system as an acknowledgment of said call processor request for service; said call processor inhibiting the transmission of the telephone switching system acknowledgment of request to the calling party; and said call processor being responsive to one of (a), a first type of response from the calling party for receiving from the calling party destination determining information, if transmitted, and for temporarily storing the destination determining information, and being responsive for transferring destination determining information to the telephone switching system, or (b), a second type of response from the calling party for transferring call completion assistant identifying information to the telephone switching system so that the call completion assistant can assist the calling party in completing the call through the telephone switching system, whereby the call can be completed through the telephone switching system with or without call completion assistance at the calling party's option.

Claim 11

The call processor of claim 6, further including means for preventing the tone from reaching the calling party by maintaining open a talking path extended to the calling party.

Claim 12

The call processor of claim 6, further including means for providing an instructional message to a plurality of calling parties placing concurrent calls, and means adapted for receiving a plurality of numbers input by the calling parties while at the same time transmitting said instructional message to each party.

Claim 13

The call processor of claim 6, further including a receiver for receiving destination determining information from the calling party and for storing said information for subsequent transferral to the telephone switching system.

Claim 14

The call processor of claim 9, further including a receiver for receiving destination determining information, and a transmitter for transmitting destination determining information to the switching system subsequent to the acknowledgment.

Claim 15

The call processor of claim 9, further including a translator for translating the destination determining information received from the calling party and for transferring the translated destination determining information to the telephone switching system.

Claim 16

A call processor for use in conjunction with a telephone switching system for processing an incoming call directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to complete the call directly to a destination associated with the switching system, comprising: means for receiving a telephone directory number call to a business entity utilizing the telephone switching system and for preventing the switching system from routing such call to a call completion assistant; a detector for detecting a request for service from the calling party initiating a call to the telephone switching system; said call processor being responsive to the detection of the request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message announcer for generating a message for transmission to the calling party via said connection path; said processor being responsive to said detector detecting said request for service for controlling said message announcer to transmit said message to the calling party; a receiver adapted for receiving a telephone number input by the calling party in response to said message; an interface for connecting a voice grade telephone line to said telephone switching system; a telephone line signaller for requesting service of said telephone switching system by signalling over said telephone line; waiting a period of time by said call processor to receive a tone on the telephone line to assure an acknowledgment of the request for service by the telephone switching system; and said processor transmitting said telephone number over the telephone line to said telephone switching system subsequent to the receipt on the telephone line of an acknowledgment of request for service of the switching system so that a communication path can be established between the calling party and the destination.

Claim 17

A call processor for use in conjunction with a telephone switching system for processing an incoming call directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to complete the call directly to a destination associated with the switching system, comprising: means for receiving a telephone directory number call to a business entity utilizing the telephone switching system and for preventing the switching system from routing such call to a call completion assistant; a detector for detecting a request for service from the calling party initiating a call to the telephone switching system; said call processor being responsive to the detection of the request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message announcer for generating a message for transmission to the calling party via said connection path; said processor being responsive to said detector detecting said request for service for controlling said message announcer to transmit said message to the calling party; a receiver adapted for receiving a telephone number input by the calling party in response to said message; an interface for connecting a voice grade telephone line to said telephone switching system; a telephone line signaller for requesting service of said telephone switching system by signalling over said telephone line; waiting a period of time by said call processor to receive a tone on the telephone line to assure an acknowledgment of the request for service by the telephone switching system; and said processor transmitting said telephone number over the telephone line to said telephone switching system subsequent to the receipt on the telephone line of an acknowledgment of request for service of the switching system so that a communication path can be established between the calling party and the destination.

Claim 18

A call processor for use with a telephone switching system receiving incoming calls via trunks and providing switching connections to called parties via extension lines, said call processor being adapted for preprocessing incoming calls directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to complete a call directly to a destination associated with the switching system, said call processor comprising: a detector for detecting a request for service carried on a trunk from the calling party initiating a call to the telephone switching system; said call processor receiving said request for service and preventing the switching system from initially connecting the calling party to a call completion assistant; said call processor being responsive to the detection of the request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message storage circuit for storing a plurality of instructional messages related to a time of day, and related to instructions to input destination determining information, including a message appropriate for night operations and a message appropriate for day operations; a message selection and transmission circuit adapted for selecting one said instructional message from said message storage circuit based on the time of day for transmission to the calling party; said call processor being adapted for receiving destination determining information input by the calling party; and said call processor transmitting said destination determining information to the telephone switching system for causing a communication path to be established between the calling party and a destination defined by the destination determining information.

Claim 19

A call processor for use with a telephone switching system receiving incoming calls via trunks and providing switching connections to called parties via extension lines, said call processor being adapted for preprocessing incoming calls directed to the switching system and allowing a calling party to complete a call directly to a destination associated with the switching system, said call processor comprising: a detector for detecting a request for service carried on a trunk from the calling party initiating a call to the telephone switching system; said call processor receiving said request for service and preventing the switching system from initially connecting the calling party to a call completion assistant; said call processor being responsive to the detection of the request for service by said detector for causing a connection path to be established to the calling party; a message storage circuit for storing a plurality of instructional messages related to a time of day, and related to instructions to input destination determining information, including a message appropriate for night operations and a message appropriate for day operations; a message selection and transmission circuit adapted for selecting one said instructional message from said message storage circuit based on the time of day for transmission to the calling party; said call processor being adapted for receiving destination determining information input by the calling party; and said call processor transmitting said destination determining information to the telephone switching system for causing a communication path to be established between the calling party and a destination defined by the destination determining information.

Claim 20

The call processor of claim 13, wherein said message storage circuit comprises a digital memory for storing each said message, and further including means for reading said memory to generate said selected message skewed in time so that calling parties placing substantially concurrent calls can receive the entire same message.

Claim 21

The call processor of claim 13, further including a trunk interface for connection to the trunk for receiving incoming calls, and a subscriber line interface for connection to a subscriber line for transmitting said destination determining information to the switching system.

Claim 22

Auxiliary telephone equipment for connection to a private branch exchange (PBX) switching system for facilitating the completion of calls to telephone sets associated with the PBX, comprising: an interface circuit for connection to a subscriber line of said PBX for communicating with said PBX by signals conventionally carried over a telephone set subscriber line; a call processor responding to routine incoming telephone directory number calls to complete the calls directly to desired telephone sets so that the PBX does not initially direct the calls to a call completion assistant associated with the PBX; said call processor being responsive to calls directed to said auxiliary equipment for transmitting a greeting to a calling party regarding procedures for completing a call to one said telephone set, including transmitting an instruction to input an extension number of a telephone set to which the calling party desires communications; a receiver for receiving from the calling party digits representative of a telephone set; a signaller for signalling on said subscriber line a signal requesting service of said PBX, said signal being conventional to telephone set signalling so that said auxiliary equipment operates in a manner substantially transparent to the PBX; said call processor receiving a tone transmitted on said subscriber line by said PBX in response to said request for service; after receiving the tone, said call processor transmitting said extension number to said PBX via said subscriber line; and said call processor being adapted for causing a telecommunication path to be established between said calling party and said called telephone set.

Claim 23

Auxiliary telephone equipment for connection to a private branch exchange (PBX) switching system for facilitating the completion of calls to telephone sets associated with the PBX, comprising: an interface circuit for connection to a subscriber line of said PBX for communicating with said PBX by signals conventionally carried over a telephone set subscriber line; a call processor responding to routine incoming telephone directory number calls to complete the calls directly to desired telephone sets so that the PBX does not initially direct the calls to a call completion assistant associated with the PBX; said call processor being responsive to calls directed to said auxiliary equipment for transmitting a greeting to a calling party regarding procedures for completing a call to one said telephone set, including transmitting an instruction to input an extension number of a telephone set to which the calling party desires communications; a receiver for receiving from the calling party digits representative of a telephone set; a signaller for signalling on said subscriber line a signal requesting service of said PBX, said signal being conventional to telephone set signalling so that said auxiliary equipment operates in a manner substantially transparent to the PBX; said call processor receiving a tone transmitted on said subscriber line by said PBX in response to said request for service; after receiving the tone, said call processor transmitting said extension number to said PBX via said subscriber line; and said call processor being adapted for causing a telecommunication path to be established between said calling party and said called telephone set.

Claim 28

The method of claim 18, further including connecting plural telephone lines between the call processor and the PBX switching system to accommodate the processing of concurrent telephone calls.

Claim 35

The method of claim 22, further including accessing one of said first or second digital memories based upon a time of day.