Patent US6411682B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6411682B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer controlled paging and telephone communication system and method
Assignee: Aspect Communications Corp
•
Filing: 1995-09-21
•
Granted: 2002-06-25
•
Expires: 2015-09-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a method and an apparatus for placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber. A call from the caller, directed to the subscriber, is detected and, in response thereto, a page is initiated to the subscriber and at the same time a forward leg call is initiated to a stored telephone address. If the call on the forward leg is answered, the party answering that call is placed in telecommunication with the caller. A call from the subscriber is also detected the subscriber is placed in telecommunication with the caller together with any party on a forward leg call.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Fuller
- 👤 Richard P. Berg
- 👤 Daniel R. Kranzler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42229; H04M3/46; H04M3/465; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4563; H04M2203/65; H04M2203/658; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53308
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address; (iii) placing said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller, if answered; and (iv) detecting receipt of a call from said subscriber, and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address; (iii) placing said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller, if answered; and (iv) detecting receipt of a call from said subscriber, and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , and while said subscriber is in telecommunication with the first mentioned caller: detecting receipt of a new call from a new caller directed to said subscriber, sending a signal to said subscriber indicating that said new call has been detected, and, responsive to a command entered by said subscriber, disconnecting said subscriber from the first mentioned caller and connecting said subscriber instead with the new caller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 2 , further including detecting the receipt of a conference command signal to place the first mentioned caller and said new caller into a conference connection with said subscriber and, in response to receipt of said conference command signal, placing the first mentioned caller and said new caller into said conference connection with said subscriber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , and when said caller, said subscriber and a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by said subscriber to disconnect said party and disconnecting said party in response thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , and when said caller, said subscriber and a party an said forward leg are all in telecommunication with each other, allowing ant one of said party, said caller and said subscriber to disconnect thereby leaving two of said party, said caller and said subscriber in the telecommunication with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the sensing step senses a command entered by any party in the telecommunication to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said further forward leg is a connection made to a voice mail system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said further forward leg is an outbound telephone call made to a third party.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) a party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to record a voice memo and recording said voice memo in response to said command.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said subscriber is initially placed in half duplex communication with said caller and thereafter, in response to a command entered by said subscriber, the communication between the subscriber and the caller is changed to full duplex communication.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein a party answering a forward leg call may hang up before the subscriber is placed into communication with the caller without disconnecting the caller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system in response to a command entered by the caller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system after waiting for the subscriber for a period of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber as claimed in claim 13 , wherein, when the caller is connected to voice mail, the subscriber may listen to the caller's communications with voice mail in a listen mode wherein said subscriber cannot be heard by said caller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the caller is connected to a voice mail system in response to a command entered by the caller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said subscriber is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller in response to detecting receipt of a call from said subscriber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein multiple forward leg calls are initiated to different stored telephone addresses concurrently.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein in step (ii) multiple forward leg calls are initiated concurrently to different locations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the caller is connected to voice mail, the subscriber may listen to the caller's communications with voice mail in a listen mode wherein said subscriber cannot be detected by said caller.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address; (iii) connecting said call from said caller with a voice mail facility; (iv) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said voice mail facility; and (v) detecting receipt of a command from said party and, in response thereto, placing said party in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at the same time initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address; (iii) connecting said call from said caller with a voice mail facility; (iv) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said voice mail facility; and (v) detecting receipt of a command from said party and, in response thereto, placing said party in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said party is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said voice mail facility.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said subscriber is placed in half duplex telecommunication with said caller in response to sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber as claimed in claim 21 , further including the steps of: (vi) initiating a page to a subscriber; (vii) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber in response to said page, and placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; and (viii) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 21 , and when said subscriber, said caller, and said party on said forward leg are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by said subscriber to disconnect said party and disconnecting said party in response thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 21 , and when at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) said party are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to add a further forward leg to said telecommunication and adding said further forward leg in response to said command.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein said further forward leg is an outbound telephone call made to a third party.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 21 , and wherein at least two of (i) said caller, (ii) said subscriber and (iii) said party are in telecommunication with each other, sensing a command entered by at least one of said two to record a voice memo and recording said voice memo in response to said command.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said party is initially placed in at least half duplex communication with said caller and thereafter, in response to a command entered by said party, the communication between the party and the caller is changed to full duplex communication.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at least one forward leg call to a telephone network address; (iii) connecting said caller with a message service; (iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said message service; (v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller; and (vi) providing a party answering said forward leg call with an opportunity to be put in half duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a page to said subscriber and at least one forward leg call to a telephone network address; (iii) connecting said caller with a message service; (iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in half duplex telecommunication with said caller while said caller is connected to said message service; (v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller; and (vi) providing a party answering said forward leg call with an opportunity to be put in half duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 30 , further including the steps of: (vii) initiating at least a second concurrent forward leg call in response to receipt of the call from the caller; and (viii) responding to a command by said subscriber to disconnect at least one of said forward leg calls.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address and initiating a page to a subscriber; (iii) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; (iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; and (v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of placing a caller into telecommunication with a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: (i) detecting receipt of a call from said caller directed to said subscriber; (ii) in response to receipt of said call, initiating a forward leg call to a stored telephone network address and initiating a page to a subscriber; (iii) connecting a party answering said forward leg call in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; (iv) sensing receipt of a call from said subscriber and placing said subscriber in at least half duplex telecommunication with said caller; and (v) detecting receipt of a command from said subscriber and, in response thereto, placing said subscriber in full duplex telecommunication with said caller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2272947A
Cited
US2966554A
Cited
US2957047A
Cited
US3182134A
Cited
US3178516A
Cited
US3506791A
Cited
US3614328A
Cited
US3800283A
Cited
US3627955A
Cited
US3704346A
Cited
US3676603A
Cited
US3739329A
Cited
US3784721A
Cited
US3809824A
Cited
US3973200A
Cited
US3925622A
Cited
US3854013A
Cited
US3898390A
Cited
US4028500A
Cited
US4028498A
Cited
US3963873A
Cited
US4069397A
Cited
US3997731A
Cited
US4209787A
Cited
US4065642A
Cited
US3959600A
Cited
DE2522758A1
Cited
USRE32365E
Cited
DE2542834C2
Cited
US4187498A
Cited
US4071699A
Cited
US4072824A
Cited
US4242539A
Cited
US4057757A
Cited
US4144409A
Cited
US4054756A
Cited
US4086438A
Cited
US4266102A
Cited
US4107473A
Cited
US4188507A
Cited
US4154988A
Cited
US4150255A
Cited
US4162377A
Cited
US4191860A
Cited
US4266098A
Cited
US4352955A
Cited
US4298775A
Cited
US4278844A
Cited
US4336524A
Cited
DE2929961A1
Cited
US4342882A
Cited
US4602129A
Cited
US4652700A
Cited
US4580012A
Cited
US4581486A
Cited
US4640991A
Cited
US4585906A
Cited
US4371752A
Cited
US4420656A
Cited
US4361851A
Cited
US4345113A
Cited
US4277649A
Cited
US4313035A
Cited
US4326123A
Cited
US4332985A
Cited
US4313025A
Cited
US4296282A
Cited
EP0046623B1
Cited
US4393278A
Cited
US4613730A
Cited
US4369339A
Cited
US4459434A
Cited
US4481384A
Cited
US4424418A
Cited
US4442321A
Cited
US4503288A
Cited
US4538031A
Cited
US4439636A
Cited
US4413158A
Cited
US4488005A
Cited
US4618860A
Cited
US4649385A
Cited
US4783796A
Cited
US4761807A
Cited
US4757525A
Cited
US4475009A
Cited
US4591664A
Cited
US4625081A
Cited
US4578540A
Cited
US4601064A
Cited
US4608458A
Cited
US4672660A
Cited
FR2541020B1
Cited
US4447676A
Cited
US4587379A
Cited
US4567323A
Cited
US4625276A
Cited
US4577062A
Cited
US4584434A
Cited
US4577067A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |