US5991382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer telephone system
Assignee: Wilmington Trust NA
•
Filing: 1998-04-07
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2018-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeanne A. Bayless
- 👤 William B. Black
- 👤 Gary L. Brannick
- 👤 Gene W. Lee
- 👤 Lora M. Lloyd
- 👤 Larry P. Mason
- 👤 Amy L. Mathis
- 👤 James E. Steenbergen
- 👤 Mark R. Stoldt
- 👤 Garrett C. Young
- 👤 Gary C. Young
- 👤 James E. Fissel
- 👤 Robert W. Withers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2473; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/27475; H04M1/56; H04M1/57; H04M1/575; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for monitoring hold times for a plurality of telephone calls, comprising: associating a hold timer with each of a plurality of call objects, at least one object per telephone call; displaying a call object for each one of two or more telephone calls in progress; and displaying on said call object for each of said telephone calls placed on hold, the amount of time for which said telephone calls have been on hold by accessing each said hold timer associated with said telephone calls.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for monitoring hold times for a plurality of telephone calls, comprising: associating a hold timer with each of a plurality of call objects, at least one object per telephone call; displaying a call object for each one of two or more telephone calls in progress; and displaying on said call object for each of said telephone calls placed on hold, the amount of time for which said telephone calls have been on hold by accessing each said hold timer associated with said telephone calls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said call objects are displayed on a computer monitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: ceasing displaying said amount of time for one of said telephone calls when said call is taken off hold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: logging in a database the amount of time one of said telephone calls was on hold when said call is taken off hold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising: logging in a database the amount of time one of said telephone calls was on hold when said call is terminated if said call was on hold when it was terminated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said hold timer is started at zero each time said telephone call associated with said hold timer is placed on hold, and wherein said amount of time displayed is the amount of time for which said telephone call has been on hold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said amount of time displayed is a cumulative amount of time for which said telephone call has been on hold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A hold time monitoring system, for monitoring hold times for a plurality of telephone calls in a computer telephone system, said hold time monitoring system comprising: means for generating a call status object for each telephone call in progress, each said call status object for displaying status information about one associated telephone call in progress, wherein at least one of said telephone calls in progress is placed on hold; means for associating a hold timer with each said at least one call status object corresponding to said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold; and means for displaying each said at least one call status object for said telephone calls in progress, and for displaying by each said call status object for said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold, the amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls in progress has been on hold by accessing said hold timer associated with said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A hold time monitoring system, for monitoring hold times for a plurality of telephone calls in a computer telephone system, said hold time monitoring system comprising: means for generating a call status object for each telephone call in progress, each said call status object for displaying status information about one associated telephone call in progress, wherein at least one of said telephone calls in progress is placed on hold; means for associating a hold timer with each said at least one call status object corresponding to said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold; and means for displaying each said at least one call status object for said telephone calls in progress, and for displaying by each said call status object for said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold, the amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls in progress has been on hold by accessing said hold timer associated with said at least one of said telephone calls in progress placed on hold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The hold time monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said hold timer is started at zero each time said telephone call associated with said hold timer is placed on hold, and wherein the amount of time displayed is the amount of time for which said telephone call has continuously been on hold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hold time monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the amount of time displayed is a cumulative amount of time for which said telephone call has been on hold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 8, further comprising: means for logging in a database the amount of time said at least one telephone call was on hold when said telephone call is taken off hold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 8, further comprising: means for logging in a database the amount of time said at least one telephone call was on hold when said call is terminated if said call was on hold when it was terminated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
225 words
A computer telephone system comprising: a private branch exchange (PBX) for establishing telephone calls; at least one server computer system connected to said PBX; a plurality of client computer systems connected to said at least one server computer system by way of a network, for providing a graphical user interface to users such that said users receive and place telephone calls and control telephone functions using said client computer systems; a plurality of telephone units associated with respective ones of said client computer systems and connected to said PBX for use by said users to communicate with parties to said telephone calls; and at least one of said server computer system and said client computer systems comprising: means for generating at least one call object for telephone calls in progress; means for causing said PBX to place at least one of said telephone calls in progress on hold; means for timing said at least one of said telephone calls in progress on hold; and means for displaying each said at least one call object for said telephone calls in progress, and for displaying within a call status object of each said call object for said at least one of said telephone calls placed on hold, the amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls in progress has been on hold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
225 words
A computer telephone system comprising: a private branch exchange (PBX) for establishing telephone calls; at least one server computer system connected to said PBX; a plurality of client computer systems connected to said at least one server computer system by way of a network, for providing a graphical user interface to users such that said users receive and place telephone calls and control telephone functions using said client computer systems; a plurality of telephone units associated with respective ones of said client computer systems and connected to said PBX for use by said users to communicate with parties to said telephone calls; and at least one of said server computer system and said client computer systems comprising: means for generating at least one call object for telephone calls in progress; means for causing said PBX to place at least one of said telephone calls in progress on hold; means for timing said at least one of said telephone calls in progress on hold; and means for displaying each said at least one call object for said telephone calls in progress, and for displaying within a call status object of each said call object for said at least one of said telephone calls placed on hold, the amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls in progress has been on hold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer telephone system of claim 13, further comprising: a database; and means for logging in said database the amount of time said at least one telephone call was on hold when said call is taken off hold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer telephone system of claim 13, further comprising: a database; and means for logging in said database the amount of time said at least one telephone call was on hold when said call is terminated if said call was on hold when it was terminated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer telephone system of claim 13, wherein said means for timing is started at zero each time said at least one of said telephone calls is placed on hold, and wherein the amount of time displayed is the amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls has continuously been on hold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The computer telephone system of claim 13, wherein said means for timing stops when said at least one of said telephone calls is taken off hold and resumes when said at least one of said telephone calls is placed on hold, and wherein the amount of time displayed is a cumulative amount of time for which said at least one of said telephone calls has been on hold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer telephone system of claim 13 wherein said at least one call object includes at least one call information/control object associated with said means for causing said PBX to place at least one of said telephone calls on hold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
The computer telephone system of claim 18, wherein said at least one call information/control object displays an "Off Hold" option when said at least one of said telephone calls is on hold such that said user can take said at least one of said telephone calls off hold by activating said at least one call information/control object, and wherein said at least one call information/control object displays an "Hold" option when said at least one of said telephone calls is not on hold such that said user can place said at least one of said telephone calls on hold by activating said at least one call information/control object.
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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) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |