US5627875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method in a telephone system for reaching a subscriber under busy/no answer conditions and ring/no answer conditions
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-01
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2016-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A method for use in a telephone system, permitting a caller connected to a central platform to further attempt to reach a subscriber after the central platform initially attempted to establish a connection with the subscriber by dialing the subscriber's number and the subscriber's telephone was detected as being in either a Busy/No answer (BNA) condition or a Ring/No answer (RNA) condition at the subscriber's telephone station. Upon detection of either a BNA or RNA condition, a determination is then made as to whether an option associated with the detected condition is available for the subscriber. If an option is available and is selected by the caller, the subscriber is paged and the initial attempt to establish a connection with the subscriber from the platform is terminated. The caller is then informed of the progress of the further attempt to reach the subscriber by prerecorded messages associated with the detected condition. The subscriber is then redialed by the central platform, saving the expense of a separate telephone call.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Kapsales
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M1/00; H04M1/57; H04M3/487
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for use in a telephone system permitting a caller connected to a central platform to attempt to reach a subscriber under a Busy/No answer condition at the subscriber's telephone station, said method comprising the steps of: placing a call to said subscriber by dialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform; detecting at said central platform a Busy/No answer condition at said subscriber's telephone station; determining whether a Busy/No answer option is available for said subscriber; if said Busy/No answer option is available, informing said caller of said Busy/No answer condition and providing to said caller the option of paging said subscriber; if said caller elects said option, paging said subscriber by said central platform and providing a caller identification number to said subscriber; terminating said call; and redialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for use in a telephone system permitting a caller connected to a central platform to attempt to reach a subscriber under a Busy/No answer condition at the subscriber's telephone station, said method comprising the steps of: placing a call to said subscriber by dialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform; detecting at said central platform a Busy/No answer condition at said subscriber's telephone station; determining whether a Busy/No answer option is available for said subscriber; if said Busy/No answer option is available, informing said caller of said Busy/No answer condition and providing to said caller the option of paging said subscriber; if said caller elects said option, paging said subscriber by said central platform and providing a caller identification number to said subscriber; terminating said call; and redialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said informing step includes the step of giving the caller the option of continuing the attempt to reach the subscriber's telephone station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the call from the caller is terminated if the caller does not choose said option of continuing the attempt to reach the subscriber's telephone station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, further including the step of playing a prerecorded message to the caller at the time said Busy/No answer condition is detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, further including the step of connecting the subscriber's telephone station to the caller if the subscriber answers in response to redialing the subscriber's telephone station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, further including the step of providing an alternative sequence of communications to the caller if the subscriber does not answer in response to redialing the subscriber's telephone station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, further including the step of allowing the subscriber to select the number of attempts that a caller will be allowed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for use in a telephone system permitting a caller connected to a central platform to attempt to reach a subscriber under a Ring/No answer condition at the subscriber's telephone station, said method comprising the steps of: placing a call to said subscriber by dialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform; detecting at said central platform a Ring/No answer condition at said subscriber's telephone station; determining whether a Ring/No answer option is available for said subscriber; if said Ring/No answer option is available, informing said caller of said Ring/No answer condition and providing to said caller the option of paging said subscriber; if said caller elects said option, paging said subscriber by said central platform and providing a caller identification number to said subscriber; terminating said call; and redialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for use in a telephone system permitting a caller connected to a central platform to attempt to reach a subscriber under a Ring/No answer condition at the subscriber's telephone station, said method comprising the steps of: placing a call to said subscriber by dialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform; detecting at said central platform a Ring/No answer condition at said subscriber's telephone station; determining whether a Ring/No answer option is available for said subscriber; if said Ring/No answer option is available, informing said caller of said Ring/No answer condition and providing to said caller the option of paging said subscriber; if said caller elects said option, paging said subscriber by said central platform and providing a caller identification number to said subscriber; terminating said call; and redialing said subscriber's telephone station from said central platform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |