US5799071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telecommunications cost-minimizing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-10-05
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2012-10-05
Abstract
Abstract The present invention features an automatic telecommunications system which includes a method for selecting the most economical carrier for the placement of a dialed telephone call. The telecommunications system attaches to a telephone number input device, such as a telephone dialer, a fax or computer/modem keyboard, a cellular phone, etc. The system captures the number dialed, while inhibiting or disconnecting the telephone from receiving incoming calls, thus preventing interruption of the data capture process. The captured number is fed to the user computer that accesses a first memory that has a database containing the carriers that provide service between the user service area and the area of the dialed number. The user computer contains an internal clock that ascertains the day of the week and the time of day. The computer is programmed to select a carrier providing the best (lowest) rate for the particular time of placement for the dialed call. The processor then appends the access code of the selected carrier to the dialed telephone number, and the number is fed into the telephone communication line for placement with the selected carrier. The telecommunications system accommodates multiple users and can communicate with the selected carrier via in-band or out-of-band signalling methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanjar Azar
- 👤 Babak Azar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8044; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/42; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/745
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A telecommunications cost-minimizing system having means for receiving a telephone number from at least one of a plurality of users at a point of origin, said system having means for storing carrier rates for a plurality of telecommunications carriers and corresponding access codes for each of said plurality of telecommunications carriers, comprising: a) dialing means for capturing a telephone number dialed at the point of origin; b) a processor operatively connected to said dialing means for processing said captured telephone number, said processor having a telephone number generating program, said processor comprising: i) first memory for storing the access codes of a plurality of telecommunications carriers providing service between said point of origin and a destination corresponding to said dialed telephone number; ii) access means operatively connected to said first memory means for accessing access codes of said plurality of telecommunications carriers; and iii) comparing means operatively connected to said first memory for determining least costly rates of said plurality of telecommunications carriers providing service between said point of origin and said destination; c) telephone number generating means operatively connected to said processor for appending an access code to said captured telephone number, said appended access code corresponding to a least costly telecommunications carrier; d) routing means operatively connected to said telephone number generating means for routing said telephone number with appended access code to a telecommunications line or system with both in-band and out-of-band signalling methods; and e) means operatively connected to said routing means for detecting an incoming call, wherein a dialed number can be interrupted during operator input dialing of the number to answer an incoming call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A telecommunications cost-minimizing system having means for receiving a telephone number from at least one of a plurality of users at a point of origin, said system having means for storing carrier rates for a plurality of telecommunications carriers and corresponding access codes for each of said plurality of telecommunications carriers, comprising: a) dialing means for capturing a telephone number dialed at the point of origin; b) a processor operatively connected to said dialing means for processing said captured telephone number, said processor having a telephone number generating program, said processor comprising: i) first memory for storing the access codes of a plurality of telecommunications carriers providing service between said point of origin and a destination corresponding to said dialed telephone number; ii) access means operatively connected to said first memory means for accessing access codes of said plurality of telecommunications carriers; and iii) comparing means operatively connected to said first memory for determining least costly rates of said plurality of telecommunications carriers providing service between said point of origin and said destination; c) telephone number generating means operatively connected to said processor for appending an access code to said captured telephone number, said appended access code corresponding to a least costly telecommunications carrier; d) routing means operatively connected to said telephone number generating means for routing said telephone number with appended access code to a telecommunications line or system with both in-band and out-of-band signalling methods; and e) means operatively connected to said routing means for detecting an incoming call, wherein a dialed number can be interrupted during operator input dialing of the number to answer an incoming call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first memory further comprises means for storing the geographical location of the dialed number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first memory is operatively connected to updating means for updating said stored telecommunication carrier rates, for deleting old carriers and for receiving new access codes for new carriers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first memory is operatively connected to updating means for updating, for storing and for deleting vertical and horizontal coordinates of said geographical location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first memory is operatively connected to updating means for updating, for storing and for deleting data representative of global positions of telephone transmitters and receivers used for personal communications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor has an internal clock for determining the day and time-of-day at which said telephone number is captured and is operative with said access means to determine said least costly rates for said plurality of telecommunications carriers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second memory operatively connected to said processor for storing telephone call duration information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dialing means further comprises a digit capture buffer board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said digit capture buffer board monitors when the telephone handset is functionally off the hook or disconnected from said dialing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said digit capture buffer board detects hang-ups of said dialing means and of the call receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said digit capture buffer board captures said dialed telephone number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising display means operatively connected to said processor for displaying at least one of the following: a) telephone carrier rate information; b) telephone call duration information; and c) incoming call information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising printing means operatively connected to said processor for providing electronic storage and display of the telephone bill and a printout of completed telephone calls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dialing means is seelected from a group of dialing mechanisms consisting of a touch-tone telephone, a fax keyboard, a computer/modem keyboard, a wireless telephone or computer, a cellular telephone, and an infrared or ultrasound dialer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The telecommunications cost-minimizing system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a stand-alone device for receiving said dialed telephone number and for determining least cost routing, whereby said stand-alone device appends said access code to said telephone number and retransmits said appended telephone number to said processor for subsequent processing of the call through said least costly telecommunications carrier.
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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) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |