US5029196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated call screening
Assignee: Aspect Communications Corp
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Filing: 1988-07-11
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Granted: 1991-07-02
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Expires: 2008-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A method for facilitating call completions utilizing a call identification telephone number which is transmitted along with an incoming call. A user of the call processor of the invention can program a list of anticipated or preferred call identification telephone numbers, together with destinations to which it is desired to route the respective incoming calls. During an incoming call, the call processor matches the associated call identification telephone number with a preprogrammed number and thereby completes the call according to the programmed destination.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanford J. Morganstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/527; H04M3/436; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/58; H04Q3/62; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42059; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1309; H04Q2213/13091; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13194; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/1322; H04Q2213/13256; H04Q2213/13282; H04Q2213/13336; H04Q2213/1334; H04Q2213/13353; H04Q2213/13377; H04Q2213/13405; H04Q3/70; H04Q3/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party identity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party and a voice messaging facility; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party identity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party and a voice messaging facility; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further including providing a route directory for a plurality of telephone users of the switching system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2, further including allowing each said telephone user with a capability of modifying the route directory to reroute incoming telephone calls to different destinations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, further including accessing the route directory using a telephone number as the identity of the calling party, and executing a routine to connect the incoming call to a destination cross-referenced to the telephone number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further including arranging a message having a call identification number content, and transmitting the arranged message to the voice messaging facility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 further including causing the voice messaging facility to record the arranged message prior to a recording of a message deposited by the calling party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, further including connecting the incoming call to an alternate destination comprising a person other than a called party who has a destination defined in the route directory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
A call processor for carrying out the steps of claim 1.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving calling party location identifying information of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the location of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and transmitting to a called party a prerecorded voice message identifying the geographical area defining the area of origination of the incoming call.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving calling party location identifying information of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the location of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and transmitting to a called party a prerecorded voice message identifying the geographical area defining the area of origination of the incoming call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9, further including transmitting to the called party a voice message identifying the geographical area as a numerical area code.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and programming said call processor with an area code look-up table for cross-referencing a voice message which is transmitted to the called party concerning the geographical area of origination of the incoming call.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and programming said call processor with an area code look-up table for cross-referencing a voice message which is transmitted to the called party concerning the geographical area of origination of the incoming call.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: on the premises where an intended called party is located, generating in a call processor an accessible list of numbers uniquely identifying calling parties; associating each said number with a desired destination selected from a plurality of destinations including the intended called party; and accessing said accessible list of numbers in response to an incoming call and routing the call to the destination referenced in said accessible list of numbers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: on the premises where an intended called party is located, generating in a call processor an accessible list of numbers uniquely identifying calling parties; associating each said number with a desired destination selected from a plurality of destinations including the intended called party; and accessing said accessible list of numbers in response to an incoming call and routing the call to the destination referenced in said accessible list of numbers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, further including generating a look-up table for each of a pluraliy of potential called parties associated with the call processor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12, further including providing access to said call processor by a user thereof for generating said look-up table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14, further including providing capabilities in said call processor for allowing the user to modify the look-up table to thereby change said destinations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12, further including providing capabilities in said call processor for adding identification and deleting identification numbers from said list.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12, further includin providing a memory for storing voice prompts input to said call processor by a user thereof for subsequent use by the user in responding to an incoming call.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17, further including storing in the memory voice prompts which are transmitted to the called party in response to the incoming call.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
A call processor for carrying out the steps of claim 12.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to whom a call can be directed to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to said user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing said user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route destination associated with each said identifying indicia, the call route desitnation selected from a plurality of destinations including said user and a voice messaging facility.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to whom a call can be directed to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to said user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing said user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route destination associated with each said identifying indicia, the call route desitnation selected from a plurality of destinations including said user and a voice messaging facility.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 20 further including providing in said program a call processing routine for receiving incoming calls and associated call identification telephone numbers, and comparing the call identification telephone numbers with said preprogrammed calling party identifying indicia to determine the call route for the incoming call.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 20, further including recording a voice message of a user of the call processor to define a voice prompt for later use in assisting in the call routing of an incoming call.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to the user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing the user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route desitnation associated with each said identifying indicia; storing voice messages associated with respective geographical areas; matching the call identification number of an incoming call with one said message; and transmitting said matched message to a called party.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to the user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing the user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route desitnation associated with each said identifying indicia; storing voice messages associated with respective geographical areas; matching the call identification number of an incoming call with one said message; and transmitting said matched message to a called party.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23, further including storing an area code as an indication of the geographical area.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A call processor for carrying out the steps in accordance of the method of claim 20.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
131 words
A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising: a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia, said destination selected from a plurality of destination including the user and a voice messaging facility; a comparator for comparing a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; and call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-referenced in said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indica.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
131 words
A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising: a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia, said destination selected from a plurality of destination including the user and a voice messaging facility; a comparator for comparing a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; and call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-referenced in said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indica.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The call processor of claim 26, further including a look-up table for each of a plurality of users of said call processor such that each user can program the processor to define destinations of incoming calls based upon identities of respective calling parties.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The call processor of claim 26, further including a voice recording unit for recording voice messages to be transmitted to the users during incoming calls so that the users are informed of information concerning the call.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
178 words
A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising: a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia; a comparator for comapring a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-reference din said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indicia; a voice recording unit for recording voice messages to be transmitted to the users during incoming calls so that the users are informed of information concerning the call; and said voice recording unit comprising a plurality of messages each related to a geographical area, and further including means for cross-referencing an area code portion of a received call identification number with one said message.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
178 words
A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising: a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia; a comparator for comapring a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-reference din said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indicia; a voice recording unit for recording voice messages to be transmitted to the users during incoming calls so that the users are informed of information concerning the call; and said voice recording unit comprising a plurality of messages each related to a geographical area, and further including means for cross-referencing an area code portion of a received call identification number with one said message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The call processor of claim 29, wherein said voice recording unit includes a plurality of voice messages regarding area codes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The call processor of claim 26, further including a voice prompter for prompting a programmer during programming of the look-up table of plural optional destination for cross-referencing to the calling party identifying indicia.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party indentity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call without requiring a data link separate from the data line on which the incoming telephone call is being made; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of: programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party indentity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call without requiring a data link separate from the data line on which the incoming telephone call is being made; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 32, and further comprising the steps of: prerecording a voice message referenced to at least one of a plurality of potential caller identiries; and transmitting to the user the voice message during an incoming call from a caller having a corresponding identity so that the user is informed of the identity of the caller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-01 | 1994-12-31 | 1995-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-01 | 1998-12-31 | 1999-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-01 | 2002-12-31 | 2003-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |