US5404400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outcalling apparatus
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1993-03-01
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2013-03-01
Abstract
Abstract An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for placing a telephone call over a telephone line and for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, a facsimile machine, or a data apparatus such as a modem and, depending on the manner in which the telephone call was answered, for connecting: (a) either a human agent or a telephone dialogue application to the telephone line to speak to a live person; (b) a voice message delivery system to the telephone line to send a voice message to an answering machine; (c) a facsimile message delivery system to the telephone line to send a facsimile message to the facsimile machine; and (d) a data message delivery system to the telephone line to send a data message to the data machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris A. Hamilton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/46; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/5158; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/902; Y10S379/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
An outcalling apparatus which comprises: a telephone outcalling apparatus for placing a telephone call over a telephone line; a voice detector: (a) for receiving telephone signals from the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, and for generating a voice identification signal; an answering machine detector: (a) for receiving telephone signals from the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine, and for generating an answering machine identification signal; a fax detector: (a) for receiving signals from and sending signals to the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine, and for generating a fax identification signal; a data set detector: (a) for receiving signals from and sending signals to the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set, and for generating a data set identification signal; a controller, responsive to the voice, answering machine, fax, and data set identification signals, for transmitting an identification signal to the telephone outcalling apparatus which indicates whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, a facsimile machine, or a data set; and the telephone outcalling apparatus further comprising means, responsive to the identification signal, for connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine; and (d) a fourth signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
An outcalling apparatus which comprises: a telephone outcalling apparatus for placing a telephone call over a telephone line; a voice detector: (a) for receiving telephone signals from the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, and for generating a voice identification signal; an answering machine detector: (a) for receiving telephone signals from the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine, and for generating an answering machine identification signal; a fax detector: (a) for receiving signals from and sending signals to the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine, and for generating a fax identification signal; a data set detector: (a) for receiving signals from and sending signals to the telephone line, (b) for detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set, and for generating a data set identification signal; a controller, responsive to the voice, answering machine, fax, and data set identification signals, for transmitting an identification signal to the telephone outcalling apparatus which indicates whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, a facsimile machine, or a data set; and the telephone outcalling apparatus further comprising means, responsive to the identification signal, for connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine; and (d) a fourth signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first signal producing means comprises a telephone dialogue application.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second signal producing means comprises a voice delivery system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third signal producing means comprises a facsimile message delivery system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fourth signal producing means comprises a data message delivery system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first signal producing means comprises a telephone apparatus which is utilized by a live person.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The outcalling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first signal producing means comprises a voice message delivery system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the voice, answering machine, fax, and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, a facsimile machine, or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine; and (d) a fourth signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the voice, answering machine, fax, and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, a facsimile machine, or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine; and (d) a fourth signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the answering machine and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the answering machine and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the voice and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the voice and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the voice, answering machine and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; and (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; responsive to the voice, answering machine and fax identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person, an answering machine, or a facsimile machine and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person; (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine; and (c) a third signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the voice and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a live person and generating a voice identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the voice and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a live person or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a live person and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the answering machine and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and generating an answering machine identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the answering machine and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by an answering machine or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by an answering machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the fax and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set facsimile machine.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for outcalling which comprises the steps of: placing a telephone call over a telephone line; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and generating a fax identification signal; detecting whether the telephone call was answered by a data set and generating a data set identification signal; responsive to the fax and data set identification signals, determining whether the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine or a data set and generating an identification signal; and connecting the telephone line to: (a) a first signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a facsimile machine and (b) a second signal producing means if the identification signal indicates that the telephone call was answered by a data set facsimile machine.
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) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |