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US6681008B2
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Automated toll-free telecommunications information service and apparatus
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 2001-06-01
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Granted: 2004-01-20
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Expires: 2021-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An automated toll-free telecommunications information service may be provided responsive to a user sending an E-Mail request via the Internet or by a caller dialing a toll-free telephone number and announcing a voice request. A service node interprets the request and collects matches to the request from a database. A match to a request may comprise the identity of an entity corresponding to the match, a toll-free number for the match and a brief information sketch describing the entity. The matches are announced and played for the caller. The caller may barge in with a predetermined voice announcement such as “please dial” when they wish to select an item of the list. In response, the service node initiates the launch of a call to the selected entity.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond L. Bolduc
- 👤 Steven Charles Salimando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04M3/42306; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/4931; H04M7/00; H04M7/0024; H04M7/0036; H04M7/0054; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for providing automated toll-free telecommunications information comprising the steps of receiving E-Mail data representing a request for toll-free telecommunications information, routing the E-Mail to a service node for providing the toll-free telecommunications information service, collecting a number of data matches to the request, initiating a call to a user corresponding to said request for toll-free information, announcing a voice synthesized announcement corresponding to data representing the data matches, receiving a user selection of at least one of the data matches, launching a toll-free call to a business entity corresponding to the user selection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for providing automated toll-free telecommunications information comprising the steps of receiving E-Mail data representing a request for toll-free telecommunications information, routing the E-Mail to a service node for providing the toll-free telecommunications information service, collecting a number of data matches to the request, initiating a call to a user corresponding to said request for toll-free information, announcing a voice synthesized announcement corresponding to data representing the data matches, receiving a user selection of at least one of the data matches, launching a toll-free call to a business entity corresponding to the user selection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for providing automated toll-free telecommunications information as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of forwarding automatic number identification data to said service node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of collecting data matches to the request comprises the step of querying a database for matches to the request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said database comprises a plurality of databases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said database is queried via an Internet link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said step of collecting data matches further comprises the step of the database returning a match to said query via an Internet link.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said match is returned in the form of audio clip data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said match is returned in the form of binary data and said data is processed to form said voice synthesized announcement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said step of collecting data matches comprises the step of receiving match data including the identity of a match, a toll-free telephone number representing the match, and business information describing the match.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of receiving a user selection comprises the step of receiving a predetermined caller announcement.
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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) | 2007-01-19 | 2007-07-21 | 2008-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | 2012-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-19 | 2015-07-21 | 2016-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |