US5818912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fully digital call processing platform
Assignee: Intervoice LP
•
Filing: 1995-11-01
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Granted: 1998-10-06
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Expires: 2015-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A fully digital voice response system is disclosed. The system comprises a digital processor and a circuit for coupling the digital processor to a digital computer and a digital telephone network, the coupling circuit being a fully digital communications path. The system receives digital data from an instrument coupled to the digital telephone network, translates the received data into a digital computer query and transmits the query to the digital computer via the digital telephone network. The processor also receives digital data from the digital computer, translates the digital data into digital data representing a voice, facsimile or data for a digital computer and transmits the data via digital telephone lines to the instrument. In this manner, the system receives a command from a person and responds to the command with data retrieved from the digital computer, the system presenting the data to the person in voice or facsimile form or in a form suitable for reception by another digital computer. Because the system operates entirely with data in digital form, it is free from the slowness, inefficiency, error and infidelity inherent in fully analog or hybrid analog/digital systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel D. Hammond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A circuit for interconnecting a data communications processor and a communication line, the circuit comprising: an interactive network interface for receiving and transmitting digital data over at least one channel of the communication line and for communicating the data to and from the data communications processor; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the interactive network interface to the data communications processor for the passage of the data therebetween; wherein the processor treats the interface as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A circuit for interconnecting a data communications processor and a communication line, the circuit comprising: an interactive network interface for receiving and transmitting digital data over at least one channel of the communication line and for communicating the data to and from the data communications processor; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the interactive network interface to the data communications processor for the passage of the data therebetween; wherein the processor treats the interface as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1, wherein the data communications processor provides certain layers of industry standard data communication protocols.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit set forth in claim 2, wherein the protocols include X.25 telecommunications protocols.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1, wherein the communication line is a trunk having a plurality of channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit set forth in claim 4, wherein the trunk is a T1 trunk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit set forth in claim 5, wherein the T1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit set forth in claim 4, wherein the trunk is an E1 trunk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit set forth in claim 7, wherein the E1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein the bit rate is at least 64 k bits per second for each channel of the bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein the bit rate is a multiple of 64 k bits per second for each channel of the bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1, wherein: the data communications processor is a first daughter board coupled to a motherboard; and the interactive network interface is a second daughter board coupled to the motherboard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1, wherein: the data communications processor is a daughter board coupled to a motherboard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit set forth in claim 1, wherein: the interactive network interface is a daughter board coupled to a motherboard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A communications system for moving digital data from a first processor to a second processor, one of the processors having connected thereto a circuit for controlling the movement of the data, the circuit comprising: a network interface for bi-directionally moving digital data over at least one channel of a communication line and for moving the data to and from the one processor having the data controlling circuit connected thereto; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the network interface to the one processor for the movement of the data therebetween; wherein the one processor treats the interface as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A communications system for moving digital data from a first processor to a second processor, one of the processors having connected thereto a circuit for controlling the movement of the data, the circuit comprising: a network interface for bi-directionally moving digital data over at least one channel of a communication line and for moving the data to and from the one processor having the data controlling circuit connected thereto; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the network interface to the one processor for the movement of the data therebetween; wherein the one processor treats the interface as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein the multichannel bus carries a bit rate of at least 64 k bits per second on each channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein the bus carries one or more layers of an industry standard telecommunications protocol as controlled by the one processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein the communication line is a trunk having a plurality of channels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system set forth in claim 17, wherein the trunk is a T1 trunk.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communications system set forth in claim 18, wherein the T1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system set forth in claim 17, wherein the trunk is an E1 trunk.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communications system set forth in claim 20, wherein the E1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein: said one of the processors is a first daughter board coupled to a motherboard; and the network interface is a second daughter board coupled to the motherboard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein: said one of the processors is a daughter board coupled to a motherboard.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications system set forth in claim 14, wherein: the network interface is a daughter board coupled to a motherboard.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
69 words
A voice processing unit, comprising: a motherboard having a processor and a standard PC bus; a voice response board coupled to the motherboard via the PC bus and coupled to a telecommunications network; an interface board coupled to the motherboard via the PC bus; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the voice response board and the interface board, the digital bus supporting industry standard telecommunication protocols.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
A voice processing unit, comprising: a motherboard having a processor and a standard PC bus; a voice response board coupled to the motherboard via the PC bus and coupled to a telecommunications network; an interface board coupled to the motherboard via the PC bus; and a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate bus linking the voice response board and the interface board, the digital bus supporting industry standard telecommunication protocols.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the voice response board is in communication with a remote computer system via the telecommunications network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications network comprises at least one channel of a T1 trunk.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The voice processing unit of claim 27, wherein the T1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications network comprises at least one channel of an E1 trunk.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The voice processing unit of claim 29, wherein the E1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the protocol supports data transmission of 64 k bits per second.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the protocol supports the transmission of data of at least 64 k bits per second and multiples thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein each channel of the bus is capable of processing data of at least 64 k bits per second.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The voice processing unit of claim 33, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a multichannel digital telephone trunk.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The voice processing unit of claim 34, wherein the telecommunications network is a T1 trunk.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The voice processing unit of claim 35, wherein the T1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The voice processing unit of claim 34, wherein the telecommunications network is an E1 trunk.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The voice processing unit of claim 37, wherein the E1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
51 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the voice response board receives a signal from a caller via the telecommunications network and wherein the voice processing unit responds to the signal with data retrieved over the digital bus from the processor via the interface board and the voice response board.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The voice processing unit of claim 39, wherein the data is presented to the caller in voice form.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein the telecommunications network includes at least a part of a public communications network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein: the interface board treats the voice response board as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein: the voice response board is a first daughter board; and the interface board is a second daughter board.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein: the voice response board is a daughter board.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The voice processing unit of claim 25, wherein: the interface board is a daughter board.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer system having a motherboard having a bus, the computer system comprising: a voice response board coupled to the bus, the voice response board adapted to communicate with a remote computer system via a digital link; and a host interface board coupled to the bus and also coupled to the voice response board via a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate protocol bus.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer system having a motherboard having a bus, the computer system comprising: a voice response board coupled to the bus, the voice response board adapted to communicate with a remote computer system via a digital link; and a host interface board coupled to the bus and also coupled to the voice response board via a digital multichannel telecommunications bit rate protocol bus.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein software executing on the computer system communicates with the remote computer system using standard telecommunications protocols operating in at least the 64 k bit per second range and multiples thereof.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein the computer system comprises a voice response system.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein the voice response board receives a signal from a caller via the digital link and wherein the computer system responds to the signal with data retrieved from the remote computer system over the digital link.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 49, wherein the data is presented to the caller in voice form.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein the digital link comprises a multichannel digital telephone trunk.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 51, wherein the digital link is a T1 trunk.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 52, wherein the T1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 51, wherein the digital link is an E1 trunk.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 54, wherein the E1 trunk utilizes ISDN primary rate interface signalling.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein the digital link comprises at least part of a public communications network.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein: the interface board treats the voice response board as a modem during communication therewith.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein: the voice response board is a first daughter board; and the host interface board is a second daughter board.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein: the voice response board is a daughter board.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 46, wherein: the host interface board is a daughter board.
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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) | 2001-10-05 | 2002-04-06 | 2002-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-05 | 2006-04-06 | 2006-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-05 | 2010-04-06 | 2010-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |