US6400808B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing call subject information to a called party
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-26
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Granted: 2002-06-04
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Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A system and method is provided for providing call subject information to a called party. A call subject platform receives a call from a calling party. The call subject platform prompts the calling party to provide call subject information. If call subject information is received at the call subject platform from the calling party, then the call subject platform sends at least part of the call subject information to the called party. The call subject platform then determines if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Murray Burg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/436; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53316; H04M1/57; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for providing call subject information from a calling party to a called party, comprising the steps of: receiving call from a calling party; prompting the calling party to provide call subject information, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal and if call subject information is received from the calling party, then summarizing the call subject information; translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; sending the summary of the call subject information to the called party; and determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for providing call subject information from a calling party to a called party, comprising the steps of: receiving call from a calling party; prompting the calling party to provide call subject information, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal and if call subject information is received from the calling party, then summarizing the call subject information; translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; sending the summary of the call subject information to the called party; and determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if no call subject information is received from the calling party, providing an indication to the called party that no call subject information was provided by the calling party.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if no call subject information is received from the calling party, then automatically determining that the called party does not desire to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party does not desire to communicate with the calling party, then handling the call by forwarding the call to another telephone number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party does not desire to communicate with the calling party, then forwarding the call to a Messaging service.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party does not desire to communicate with the calling party, then terminating the call from the calling party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party desires to communicate with the calling party, then establishing communications between the calling party and the called party.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party desires to communicate with the calling party, then establishing communications between the calling party and the called party by bridging the call from the calling party with a call to the called party.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the called party desires to communicate with the calling party, then establishing communications between the calling party and the called party by sending a message to a switch instructing the switch to bridge the call from the calling party with the call to the called party.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein prompting a calling party to provide call subject information comprises the step of requesting the calling party to select an item of call subject information from a plurality of items of call subject information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein call subject information is received from the calling party using an interactive voice response system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein call subject information pertains to the subject matter of the communication desired by the calling party.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the summary of the call subject information to the called party comprises the steps of: processing at least part of the call subject information received from the calling party; and sending the summary of the processed call subject information to the called party.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as text, and further comprising the step of translating at least a part of the text into an audio message adapted to be played to the called party.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as an audio signal, and further comprising the step of translating at least a part of the audio signal into a text message adapted to be displayed to the called party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party comprises the steps of: i. prompting the called party to indicate if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party; ii. receiving a response from the called party that indicates if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein summarizing the call subject information includes extracting keyword from the call subject information provided by the caller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein summarizing the call subject information includes truncating the call subject information provided by the caller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein multimedia call subject information is received from the calling party.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for providing call subject information from a calling party to a called party over a network, comprising: a processor; a memory that stores call subject instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to prompt a calling party for call subject information, at least part of the call subject information from the calling party being received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal, receive call subject information from the calling party, summarize the call subject information, translate at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party, and determine if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party; and a port adapted to be connected to the network, said port and said memory coupled to said processor.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for providing call subject information from a calling party to a called party over a network, comprising: a processor; a memory that stores call subject instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to prompt a calling party for call subject information, at least part of the call subject information from the calling party being received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal, receive call subject information from the calling party, summarize the call subject information, translate at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party, and determine if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party; and a port adapted to be connected to the network, said port and said memory coupled to said processor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said call subject instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to send a summary of the call subject information to the called party.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said call subject instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to establish communications between the calling party and the called party.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said call subject instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to translate call subject information received from a calling party from a first format to a second format.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
113 words
A medium that stores instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform the steps of: receiving call from a calling party; prompting the calling party to provide call subject information, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal and if call subject information is received from the calling party, then sending a summary of the call subject information to the called party; translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; and determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
113 words
A medium that stores instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform the steps of: receiving call from a calling party; prompting the calling party to provide call subject information, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal and if call subject information is received from the calling party, then sending a summary of the call subject information to the called party; translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; and determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
101 words
A system that provides call subject information from a calling party to a called party, comprising: means for receiving call subject information from a calling party, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal; means for sending a summary of the call subject information to the called party; means for translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; and means for determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
101 words
A system that provides call subject information from a calling party to a called party, comprising: means for receiving call subject information from a calling party, wherein at least part of the call subject information from the calling party is received as a dual tone modulated frequency signal; means for sending a summary of the call subject information to the called party; means for translating at least part of the dual tone modulated frequency signal into an audio message to be played to the called party; and means for determining if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 25 , further comprising means for completing a call between the calling party and the called party.
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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) | 2005-06-03 | 2005-12-03 | 2006-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | 2010-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-03 | 2013-12-03 | 2014-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |