US5946378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information on hold telephony service
Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-26
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2016-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An on hold telephone service that allows a subscriber to the service to place a call on hold and make information services available to the party placed on hold. The on hold service can be implemented on a central office switch or an enhanced services platform connected to the switch. The on hold service is accessed by the subscriber to the service through a transfer function that causes the call to be maintained by the on hold service. The party so placed on hold by the subscriber can then interactively acquire the various types of information made available by the service, such as news, weather and stock market information. The subscriber to the service can then send a message to the other party or cause him to be reconnected to the subscriber either immediately or when the other party is finished using the service and is ready to be reconnected to the subscriber.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Joseph Farfan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/428; H04M7/00; H04M7/0024; H04M7/0036; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/25; H04M2203/251; H04M2203/253; H04M2203/254; H04M3/4285; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
432 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, and a reconnection now signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, and a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said reconnection now signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection now signal, to decouple said information services program, to send a message to said switching system advising said first party that the first party will now be reconnected to the subscriber, and to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
432 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, and a reconnection now signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, and a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said reconnection now signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection now signal, to decouple said information services program, to send a message to said switching system advising said first party that the first party will now be reconnected to the subscriber, and to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An information-on-hold system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprises separate instances of information-on-hold software for each port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An information on hold system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing means is a microcomputer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing means is in the switching system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing mean is accessed directly by said subscriber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing means is further operated to send to said first party a message recorded by said subscriber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
524 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, and a reconnection now signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said information-on-hold system, and a second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said reconnection now signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection now signal, to decouple said information services program, to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up, to send a message to said switching system advising said first party that the first party will now be reconnected to the subscriber, and to send a signal to said switching system requesting said subscriber's telecommunication device be reconnected to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from and said second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to, one of said ports, to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
524 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, and a reconnection now signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said information-on-hold system, and a second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said reconnection now signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection now signal, to decouple said information services program, to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up, to send a message to said switching system advising said first party that the first party will now be reconnected to the subscriber, and to send a signal to said switching system requesting said subscriber's telecommunication device be reconnected to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from and said second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to, one of said ports, to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An information-on-hold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processing means comprises separate instances of information-on-hold software for each port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An information on hold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the processing means is a microcomputer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the processing means is in the switching system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the processing mean is accessed directly by said subscriber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processing means is further operated to send to said first party a message recorded by said subscriber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
548 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, a reconnection when ready signal, and a ready for reconnection signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said information-on-hold system, and a second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to request said switching system to provide said reconnection when ready signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection when ready signal, to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up, and to send a message to said switching system advising said first party to provide a particular response when he is ready to be reconnected; said processing means being further operated in response to said ready for reconnection signal to decouple said information services program, and to send a signal to said switching system requesting that said subscriber's telecommunication device be reconnected to said information-on-hold system; said processing means being further operated in response to said disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and said second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to, one of said ports, to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
548 words
An information-on-hold system for use with an information services program, and a switching system which is connected to both a first party's telecommunication device and the telecommunication device of a subscriber to information-on-hold service, said subscriber's telecommunication device being operated to cause said switching system to provide an information-on-hold access signal, an information-on-hold activation signal, a reconnection when ready signal, and a ready for reconnection signal, said switching system being further operated to provide a connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to, specific parts of said information-on-hold system, a reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, a disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said information-on-hold system, and a second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to a specific part of said information-on-hold system, said information-on-hold system comprising; processing means; and a network having a plurality of ports; said processing means being operated in response to said information-on-hold access signal to send a signal to said switching system requesting said switching system to connect said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to cause said switching system to provide said information-on-hold activation signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said information-on-hold activation signal to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up to cause said switching system to provide a combination disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from said one of said ports and connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports; said processing means being further operated in response to said connection of said first party's telecommunication device to one of said ports to cause said information services program to be coupled to said connection to said first party's telecommunication device; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to one of said ports to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to provide a particular response to request said switching system to provide said reconnection when ready signal; said processing means being further operated in response to said reconnection when ready signal, to send a message to said switching system instructing said subscriber to hang up, and to send a message to said switching system advising said first party to provide a particular response when he is ready to be reconnected; said processing means being further operated in response to said ready for reconnection signal to decouple said information services program, and to send a signal to said switching system requesting that said subscriber's telecommunication device be reconnected to said information-on-hold system; said processing means being further operated in response to said disconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device from, and said second reconnection of said subscriber's telecommunication device to, one of said ports, to connect the port connected to said subscriber's telecommunication device to the port connected to said first party's telecommunication device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An information-on-hold system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processing means comprises separate instances of information-on-hold software for each port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An information on hold system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processing means is a microcomputer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processing means is in the switching system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processing mean is accessed directly by said subscriber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An information hold system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processing means is further operated to send to said first party a message recorded by said subscriber.
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) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |