US6253069B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for providing information in response to telephonic requests
Assignee: Xylon LLC
•
Filing: 1999-04-09
•
Granted: 2001-06-26
•
Expires: 2019-04-09
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus provide a reply to a telephone caller in response to an abbreviated input string. A message is received from a telephone caller during a telephone call, and supplemental information is derived which relates to at least one of the telephone caller and the telephone call. Using the message from the caller in combination with the supplemental information, an appropriate reply to the message is identified, which is then provided to the caller. The invention is applicable to various telecommunications infrastructures, including cellular telephony. The message may be provided by the caller in response to a request forming part of a radio or television broadcast, in which case the message might relate to channel number or broadcast frequency, with the system storing a channel map to identify the station responsible for the broadcast, if so required. The supplemental information relating to the caller would typically include at least a portion of the telephone number of the caller, or may additionally relate to the date or the time of the telephone call. Depending upon the circumstances, the date/time of the call may form part of the message. The reply to the caller may occur during the telephone call, wherein the system might place an additional telephone call to identify the appropriate reply. Such a call may be toll-free, in which case the user may be patched-in to receive the information. Alternatively the reply may be in the form of a facsimile or electronic mail later directed to the caller.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy J. Mankovitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/20; H04W4/23; G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/10; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/61; H04H60/66; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/90; H04H60/91; H04H60/93; H04H60/94; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42348; H04M3/487; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/002; H04N7/025; H04H60/35; H04H60/38; H04H60/39; H04H60/45; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/18; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/14; H04M3/42195; H04W4/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing a reply to a telephone caller, comprising the steps of: receiving a communication from a telephone caller during or following a radio or television broadcast, wherein at least a portion of the communication relates to the broadcast; deriving supplemental information relating to the telephone caller or the telephone call; using the communication from the caller to identify the station responsible for the broadcast; using the station identification in combination with the supplemental information to formulate an appropriate reply; and providing the reply to the caller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing a reply to a telephone caller, comprising the steps of: receiving a communication from a telephone caller during or following a radio or television broadcast, wherein at least a portion of the communication relates to the broadcast; deriving supplemental information relating to the telephone caller or the telephone call; using the communication from the caller to identify the station responsible for the broadcast; using the station identification in combination with the supplemental information to formulate an appropriate reply; and providing the reply to the caller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the telephone call is a cellular telephone call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication includes an alphanumerical code entered by the caller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is provided by the caller in response to a request.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication relates to a channel number or broadcast frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental information includes the identity of the caller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental information includes at least a portion of the telephone number of the caller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental information includes the date or time of the communication.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the current time forms a part of the communication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the reply to the caller occurs during the telephone call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further including the step of placing an additional telephone call to identify the appropriate reply.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the caller is patched into the additional telephone call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reply is sent through the mail, by facsimile, or via electronic mail later directed to the caller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the caller receives a bill, the method further including the step of adjusting the bill in response to the communication.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is received in response to an automated prompt supplied to the caller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein: the communication is received in data form; and data recognition is used to interpret the communication.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the telephone is a non-cellular phone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reply includes digital audio or video information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the communication from the telephone caller is entered in response to an advertisement; and the caller receives a credit toward a purchase as a result of the call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for providing a reply to a telephone caller in response to a telephone call received over a telephone network, comprising: a database storing information relating to a plurality of replies correlated to radio or television broadcasts; and programmed computer means including interfaces to the database and the telephone network, the programmed computer means being operative to perform the following functions: a) receive communication from the telephone caller, the communication including information identifying a radio or television broadcast, b) formulate an appropriate reply from the information stored in the database based upon the broadcast identified in the communication, c) derive supplemental information relating to at least one of the telephone caller and the telephone call, and d) provide the reply to the caller using the supplemental information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for providing a reply to a telephone caller in response to a telephone call received over a telephone network, comprising: a database storing information relating to a plurality of replies correlated to radio or television broadcasts; and programmed computer means including interfaces to the database and the telephone network, the programmed computer means being operative to perform the following functions: a) receive communication from the telephone caller, the communication including information identifying a radio or television broadcast, b) formulate an appropriate reply from the information stored in the database based upon the broadcast identified in the communication, c) derive supplemental information relating to at least one of the telephone caller and the telephone call, and d) provide the reply to the caller using the supplemental information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the telephone network is a cellular telephone network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the programmed computer means is operative to identify an appropriate reply in the database in accordance with a alphanumerical code entered by the caller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further including means for soliciting the communication from the caller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the radio or television broadcast is used to solicit the communication from the caller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the supplemental information includes the identity of the caller.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the supplemental information includes at least a portion of the telephone number of the caller.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the supplemental information includes the time or date of the communication.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the current time forms a part of the communication.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the response is provided during the telephone call.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further including means for placing an additional telephone call to identify the appropriate reply.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 30 , further including switching means for patching the caller into the additional telephone call.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the programmed computer is further interfaced to a facsmile or electronic mail to direct a reply to the caller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further including accounting means for adjusting a caller's bill in conjunction with providing a reply.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further including an automated prompting capability to obtain at least a portion of the communication from the caller.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the supplemental information includes the caller's location.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further including an automated prompting system for communicating with the caller.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the supplemental information is in the form of data responses from the caller, the apparatus further data recognition circuitry to interpret the responses.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the reply includes digital audio or video information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the communication from the telephone caller is entered in response to an advertisement, the apparatus further including a database with billing information to ensure that the caller receives a credit toward a purchase as a result of the call.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reply includes at least a portion of the broadcast.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the reply includes at least a portion of the broadcast.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USRE17023E
Cited
US3764747A
Cited
US3911446A
Cited
US4361851A
Cited
US4337463A
Cited
US4528643A
Cited
US4695869A
Cited
US4630143A
Cited
US4592546A
Cited
US4622583A
Cited
US5759101A
Cited
US4864604A
Cited
US4718106A
Cited
US4788682A
Cited
US4870515A
Cited
US4956768A
Cited
US4847886A
Cited
US4887308A
Cited
US5081680A
Cited
US4920432A
Cited
US4943963A
Cited
US5155762A
Cited
US5136644A
Cited
FR2630536A1
Cited
US4953039A
Cited
US5191573A
Cited
US5675734A
Cited
US4977455A
Cited
US4977455B1
Cited
US5036500A
Cited
US4989234A
Cited
US5073931A
Cited
US5083800A
Cited
US5063610A
Cited
US5214792A
Cited
US5120076A
Cited
US5013038A
Cited
WO1991011602A1
Cited
US5313408A
Cited
US5195134A
Cited
US5162905A
Cited
US5355302A
Cited
US5262940A
Cited
US5237157A
Cited
US5963916A
Cited
US5119711A
Cited
US5054360A
Cited
US5303393A
Cited
US5455823A
Cited
US5185786A
Cited
US5132992A
Cited
US5189630A
Cited
US5119507A
Cited
US5262964A
Cited
US5216703A
Cited
US5815814A
Cited
US5357505A
Cited
US5418844A
Cited
US5907793A
Cited
US5457739A
Cited
US5703795A
Cited
US5689245A
Cited
US5444499A
Cited
US5448625A
Cited
US5469431A
Cited
US5758286A
Cited
US5629867A
Cited
US5809246A
Cited
US5570295A
Cited
US5592511A
Cited
US5559878A
Cited
US5857149A
Cited
US5539635A
Cited
US5572442A
Cited
US5721584A
Cited
US5661787A
Cited
US5774534A
Cited
US5689081A
Cited
US5867780A
Cited
US5752186A
Cited
US5864804A
Cited
US5835583A
Cited
US5880386A
Cited
US5870710A
Cited
US5991737A
Cited
US5867155A
Cited
US5907322A
Cited
US5892171A
Cited
US5900564A
Cited
US5734119A
Cited
US5913258A
Cited
US5886274A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-25 | 2004-12-25 | 2005-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-25 | 2008-12-25 | 2009-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-25 | 2012-12-25 | 2013-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |