Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5438616?dq=5920316
Timestamp: 2017-07-22 11:56:47
Document Index: 471158958

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty 15', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 125', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 115', 'arty 125', 'arty 115']

Patent US5438616 - Method and apparatus for storing telephone numbers and for automatically ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsTechniques for establishing a connection with a calling party and a called party using the processing of an intermediary serving arrangement so as to minimize telephone costs and preserve privacy. During a first established telephony connection, the intermediary arrangement stores two telephone numbers...http://www.google.com/patents/US5438616?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5438616 - Method and apparatus for storing telephone numbers and for automatically calling the stored numbersAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS5438616 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/204,087Publication dateAug 1, 1995Filing dateMar 2, 1994Priority dateMar 2, 1994Fee statusLapsedPublication number08204087, 204087, US 5438616 A, US 5438616A, US-A-5438616, US5438616 A, US5438616AInventorsJohn T. PeoplesOriginal AssigneePeoples; John T.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (6), Referenced by (53), Classifications (64), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for storing telephone numbers and for automatically calling the stored numbers
US 5438616 AAbstract
Techniques for establishing a connection with a calling party and a called party using the processing of an intermediary serving arrangement so as to minimize telephone costs and preserve privacy. During a first established telephony connection, the intermediary arrangement stores two telephone numbers as remotely provided by the calling party. The calling party and serving arrangement are connected during a second established connection using the first telephone number. The called party and serving arrangement are connected during a third established connection using the second telephone number. Upon successfully establishing the second and third connections, the calling party and called party are bridged for conversation.
1. A method for interconnecting a first party and a second party with a controller wherein the controller is connected to a serving switching center by two separate telephone loops terminating at a subscriber premises, the first party being at a location remote from the second party and the controller, the second party also being at another remote location, the method comprising the steps ofestablishing a first connection between the first party and the controller over the first loop by the first party placing a telephone call to a telephone number to which the controller is responsive, receiving and storing in the controller a first call-back telephone number and a second call-back telephone number as provided by the first party, the first number causing a first telephony device accessible to the first party to respond, and the second number causing a second telephony device accessible to the second party to respond, taking down the first established connection on the first loop between the first party and the controller, establishing a second connection between the first party and the controller over the first loop by operation of the controller to initiate a telephone call to the first call-back telephone number, establishing a third connection between the second party and the controller over the second loop by operation of the controller to initiate a telephone call to the second call-back telephone number, and bridging the first party and the second party by coupling the second connection to the third connection within the controller located at the subscriber premises. 2. A method for interconnecting a first party and a second party with a controller located at a subscriber premises and connected to a serving switching center via first and second telephone loops having associated telephone numbers, the first party being at a location remote from the second party and the controller, the second party also being at a remote location from the controller, the method comprising the steps ofcalling the controller at the associated telephone number of the first telephone loop from a first telephone number by the first party to establish a connection with the first party and sending by the controller a signal indicative of this established connection, keying-in by the first party a confirmation code, and upon the controller receiving the correct code, activating the controller to receive telephone numbers and sending a signal indicative of this activation, keying-in by the first party a first telephone number for detection by the controller, the first telephone number being associated with the location of the first party, storing in the controller the first telephone number and signaling the first party to enter a second telephone number of a second party to be called, keying-in by the first party a second telephone number for detection by the controller, storing in the controller the second telephone number and signaling the first party of the successful reception of the second telephone number by signaling the first party to hang-up, terminating the established call and switching the operational mode of the controller to place outgoing calls to the two stored telephone numbers, initiating by the controller a first outgoing telephone call to the first telephone number by drawing dial tone on the first telephone loop and by "touch-toning" the first telephone number for processing by the serving switching center, answering the incoming call by the first party at the first telephone number and keying-in a confirmation code by the first party, detecting the confirmation code by the controller, initiating by the controller a second outgoing telephone call to the second telephone number by drawing dial tone on the second telephone loop and by "touch-toning" the second telephone number for processing by the serving switching center, bridging by the controller the first party to the second telephone loop so the first party may listen to the ring-back signal from the second outgoing call, if the second party answers the second outgoing call, completing a talking path between the first party and second party over the first and second loops by bridging the first and second loops within the controller to establish a bridged connection, if the second party does not answer the second outgoing call within an expected time interval, signaling the controller to drop both connections by the first party keying-in the confirmation code, upon completion of conversation between the first party and second party, dropping the bridged connection by the second party hanging up on the second telephone loop, signaling the controller to drop the connection to the first party by keying-in the confirmation code, and monitoring by the controller the first telephone loop for the confirmation code and, upon receipt of the code, hanging up the controller on the first telephone loop. 3. A method for interconnecting first and second subscriber loops with a controller located at a subscriber premises wherein both the loops terminate in the controller, the method comprising the steps ofreceiving input signals remotely applied to the first loop, storing two phone numbers remotely received in the controller, applying the first phone number to the first subscriber loop, applying the second phone number to the second subscriber loop, and bridging the first subscriber loop and the second subscriber loop within the controller after the application of the phone numbers to the loops. 4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the loops are served by a central office and the first loop provides a third-party calling function, the method further including,after the step of storing, the step of storing a third phone number remotely received in the controller, and after the step of applying the first phone number, the step of invoking the third-party calling function and applying the third party phone number to the first loop. 5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the second loop also provides the third-party calling function, the method further includingafter the step of storing a third phone number, the step of storing a fourth phone number remotely received in the controller, and after the step of applying the second phone number, the step of invoking the third party calling function on the second loop and applying the fourth phone number to the second loop. 6. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the loops are served by a central office and the second loop provides a third-party calling function, the method further including,after the step of storing, the step of storing a third phone number remotely received in the controller, and after the step of applying the second phone number, the step of invoking the third-party calling function and applying the third party phone number to the second loop. 7. A method for interconnecting first and second subscriber loops with a controller located at a subscriber premises wherein both the loops terminate in the controller, the method comprising the steps ofreceiving input signals remotely applied to the first loop, storing a first phone number remotely received in the controller, applying the first phone number to the first subscriber loop, storing a second phone number remotely received over the first loop in the controller upon the establishment of a call connection between the controller over the first loop and equipment terminating the first phone number, the second phone number being provided by the party responding to an alerting signal provided by the equipment, applying the second phone number to the second subscriber loop, and bridging the first subscriber loop and the second subscriber loop within the controller after the application of the phone numbers to the loops. 8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of applying the first phone number includes the step of applying the first phone number at a predetermined time.
9. A controller located at a subscriber premises for interconnecting first and second subscriber loops which terminate in the controller, the controller comprisinginput means connectable to the first subscriber loop for receiving input signals remotely applied to the first loop, output means connectable to the first and second subscriber loops for applying output signals independently to each of the loops, means, responsive to the input signals, for storing two phone numbers received from a remote location via the input means, for applying one of the phone numbers to the first subscriber loop via the output means, and for applying the other of the phone numbers to the second subscriber loop via the output means, and means, coupled to the input means and the output means, for bridging the first subscriber loop and the second subscriber loop within the controller after the application of the phone numbers to the loops. Description
This invention relates to telephony-type communication systems and, more particularly, to establishing calls between customers by remotely accessing each customer individually and then completing the connection between the customers.
The art is devoid of teachings or suggestions pertaining to customer-premises equipment in connection with techniques for: (1) minimizing the cost of toll-type calls to the customer by remotely utilizing the full capability of third-party calling service (i.e., third-party bridging using a single incoming telephone line) provided by an Local Exchange Carder (LEC), or two incoming telephone lines, serving the customer premises; or (2) preserving the privacy of a called telephone number and, hence, a called party, as placed by a calling party by remotely using either the third-party calling service or the two incoming telephone lines serving the given customer premises.
Thus, a need exists in the art for such services, encompassing both circuitry and methodology, for providing such cost-minimizing and/or privacy-preserving techniques.
A patent representative of the technological field of the present invention is U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,250 issued to Obata et al (Obata). In Obata, there is shown a method and circuitry for storing a caller's telephone number as data in a memory wherein callers' telephone numbers received during an automatic telephone answering state can suitably be retained as data. Later, a user having access to the memory bank can display the stored telephone numbers to learn about the callers' telephone numbers placed during the user's absence.
These shortcomings and other limitations and deficiencies are obviated in accordance with the present invention by circuitry which utilizes either the third-party calling feature or two customer premises lines to mitigate telephone cost and preserve privacy.
Broadly, in accordance with the method aspect of the present invention, a first party and a second party are interconnected with a controller, the first party being at a location remote from the second party and the controller, the second party also being at a remote from the controller. Initially, a first connection is established between the first party and the controller by the first party placing a telephone call to a telephone number to which the controller is responsive. Once this connection is established, the controller receives and stores a first call-back telephone number and a second call-back telephone number as provided by the first party, the first number causing a first telephony device accessible to the first party to respond, and the second number causing a telephony device accessible to the second party to respond. Then the first connection between the first party and the controller is torn down by initiating conventional hang-up procedures. A second connection is re-established between the first party and the controller by operation of the controller to initiate a telephone call to the first call-back telephone number. Then, a third connection is established between the second party and the controller by operation of the controller to initiate a telephone call to the second call-back telephone number. Finally, the first party and the second party are bridged to allow conversation by coupling the second connection to the third connection.
FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of the telephone switching network used to interconnect a calling party to a called party via third-party calling in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a high-level block diagram of the telephone switching network used to interconnect a calling party to a called party using two separate subscriber lines in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of one the two separate-line aspect of the present invention;
FIGS. 4 and 5 depict a flow diagram representative of the operation of the circuitry of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for an illustrative bridging network depicted in FIG. 4.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown high-level block diagram 100 illustrating public switched telephone network 140 for interconnecting calling party 15 at location 110 to called party 125 at location 120; FIG. 1 is useful for contrasting the conventional interconnecting arrangement with an arrangement in accordance with the present invention (which will be described shortly). Calling location 110 is connected to telephone network 140 via subscriber loop 111 terminating on switching center 141 (SC1), whereas called location 120 is connected to telephone network 140 via subscriber loop 121 terminating on switching center 142 (SC2). Illustratively, subscriber loop 111 is assigned a telephone number given by 201-386-1000 (area code-NNX-exchange number), whereas subscriber loop 121 is assigned telephone number 408-464-2000; for the sake of specificity, area code 201 is in New Jersey and area code 408 is in California.
Conventionally, if calling party 115 desires to communicate with called party 125, calling party 115 "keys-in" or dials the telephone number (408-464-2000) assigned to subscriber line 121, i.e., location 120, of called party 125, and the call is setup by linking serving center 141 with serving center 142 via INTER-LATA connection 145 which may be provided by an inter-exchange carder (IXC). The cost for such an established call generally depends upon the manner in which calling party 115 initiated the call. For example, calling party 115 may have directly "keyed-in" the telephone number assigned to the location of called party 125 (1-408-464-2000) from a private residence so the call will be billed to the calling telephone number (201-386-1000); on the other hand, calling party 115 may have arranged to have the called billed to his/her calling card by first "keying in" 0-408-464-200 and then "keying in" the credit card number to be billed. If the call was placed from a public "coin" telephone (not shown) at location 110, the total bill may also include a component charged by the local provider of the telephone "coin" telephone equipment.
It is now supposed, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, that calling party 115 desires to communicate with called party 125 but further desires to have the call automatically charged to another telephone number, say 908-582-3000, without intervention and/or knowledge on the part of the IXC or the local exchange carrier (LEC); this number is assigned to remote location 130 which is served from switching center 143 (SC3) of network 140 via subscriber line 131. It may be that calling party 115 is merely visiting a private residence assigned telephone number 201-386-1000 and does not wish to impose upon the owner of the residence by having a potentially large toll charge billed directly to such owner, but would rather shift the burden of the cost to himself/herself by having the call billed to his/her home telephone number, namely, 908-582-3000 (which is also in New Jersey). If switching center 143 provides the conventional service offered by the LEC called three-party or "3-way" calling, then it is possible to mitigate the telephone charges to 201-386-1000 by introducing remote controller 132 at location 130 and configuring controller 132 to operate generally according to the following steps:
(a) establishing a connection with calling party 115 (that is, calling party 115 "keys-in" 1-908-582-3000 from location 110, thereby interconnecting party 115 to remote controller 132 via INTER-LATA path 146 linking switching centers 141 and 143);
(b) receiving and storing call-back telephone number 1-201-386-1000 and called telephone number 1-408-464-2000 "eyed-in" by calling party 115;
(c) upon breaking the connection between calling party 115 and controller 132 (e.g. by party 115 hanging up), controller 132 initiates a return call to calling party 115 by "keying" 1-201-386-1000 (which call will be carried by INTRA-LATA path 146 to switching center 141 ) and then activates the standard third-party calling function to place another call to 1-408-464-2000 (which call is carded by INTER-LATA path 147 to switching center 142);
(d) whenever called party 125 answers the incoming call, the third-party service automatically bridges party 115 to party 125 for communication utilizing switching center 143's third-party service; and
(e), upon termination of the third-party call, controller 132 automatically resets to accept another incoming call.
From this description, it is clear that the only charge to the owner of telephone number 201-386-1000 is a short INTRA-LATA call to 908-582-3000. The significant cost is home by the party assigned to 908-582-3000 (in this example, visiting calling party 115) since simultaneous INTRA-LATA and INTER-LATA calls result from the desired connection between party 115 at location 110 and party 125 at location 120.
In another aspect of the present invention, it is supposed that location 110 is the work location of party 115, location 130 is party's 115 home premises, and party 125 at location 120 is someone whose identity party 115 desires to keep in confidence, that is, party 115 does not wish to have the telephone number (408-464-2000) of party 125 appear on any telephone log for the originating telephone number (201-386-1000); party 125 may be, for example, party's 115 doctor or lawyer. In accordance with the technique described above, the only number that will appear on the telephone log of party 115 at location 110 will be the home telephone number of party 115 because party 115 initiates call set-up by controller 132 by placing a call to the telephone number assigned to location 130. In turn, the call back to party 115 and the call to party 125 are listed in the telephone log of telephone number 908-582-3000.
Whereas the foregoing description has focused on providing "call-back" service using third-party bridging, it is possible to provide the equivalent service even if a customer does not subscribe to "third-party" calling, either because it is unavailable or the customer desires not to incur the cost of such "third-party" calling service. The equivalent service can be provided using two incoming telephone lines to a customer premises--often two such lines are available because a customer has a second line for use by children in the household (the so-called "teenager" line). In the illustrative embodiment discussed below, the two incoming line case is covered in detail; then the steps explicitly required to provide the service for the "third-party" case is contrasted to the two-line case.
With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown, in electrical block diagram form, MAnaginG Incoming Call (MAGIC) controller 300 connected to two separate incoming telephone lines. Telephone subscriber lines 301 and 302 are conventional loops that are connected to a conventional telephone central office (not shown) which offers standard "touch-tone" calling. To provide an operational description as well as a circuit description of controller 300, the operation of the components is described in one illustrative communication sequence as an incoming call arrives on line 301 (Line 1) from the calling party (such as party 115 in FIG. 1) so as to set-up and use controller 300. Other variations of the sequence are readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art once the teachings and suggestions of the circuitry of FIG. 3 are comprehended.
Line interface device 310 is composed of detection/logic circuitry 313 which detects the standard ringing signal appearing on line 301; the input from line 301 into circuitry 313 for ringing detection is provided by the RING port. When ringing is detected (typically after, say, 4-5 rings to allow a person at the location of the incoming call to answer any phone on line 301 in fewer rings to thereby override the controller and thus handle the incoming call as an ordinary call), logic 313 signals switch 311 to close via the C port of circuitry 313. When switch 311 closes, line 301 is effectively "answered" by providing the equivalent of an "off-hook" state, that is, line 301 is coupled through repeat coil 312 to DTMF (Dual-Tone, Multi-Frequency) receiver 320; receiver 320 is not yet activated to accept incoming digits keyed in by the calling party, but it will be activated shortly as discussed below. Initially, DTMF transmitter circuitry 340 is placed in a mode corresponding to the IN mode of register 333; this is accomplished by coupling the B port of register 333 to the IN/OUT port of DTMF circuitry 340. To initiate a process so as to inform the calling party that controller 300 is being activated to accept incoming digits, circuitry 313 sends a signal to DTMF circuitry 340, which is composed of DTMF transmitter 341 and logic circuitry 342, indicating that ringing has been detected and that switch 311 is closed; this initiation signal is emitted from the CLOSED port of circuitry 3 13 to DTMF circuitry 340 through OR gate 343 to the S1 port of logic 342. The first signal received on the S 1 port while DTMF circuitry is in the IN mode causes two operations, namely, (a) closing of switch 363 via a signal sent from port C3 of logic circuitry 342; and (b) emitting an audible signal (such as a "beep" tone) by DTMF transmitter 341 onto line 301 via switch 363 to alert the calling party that controller 300 is ready to sequentially accept the two telephone numbers of interest. In this mode of operation, DTMF 341 need not draw "dial tone" (since coil 312 completes the DC path) so DTMF 341 may be AC-coupled to line 301. Once the audible signal is discontinued (typically the tone would be active for a predetermined interval of say 3 seconds), a signal emanating from the DTMF OFF port of circuitry 342 is transmitted to OR gate 345 and, in turn, to the ON port of DTMF receiver 320 to activate receiver 320.
The first number keyed in by the calling party is the party's so-called confirmation code, referred to as the PASSWORD. The PASSWORD begins and ends with the same delimiter, such as the "star" (*) key of a touch-tone key pad, and is stored in register 335 in processor 330. The PASSWORD assigned to the controller is selected off-line beforehand and can be provided and stored in any conventional manner such as, for example, by the setting of a bank of DIP switches (not shown). Presuming the set of digits keyed in by the calling party corresponds to the correct PASSWORD, then an audible signal (such as the beep tone again) is supplied to the calling party by sending an enable signal from the P1 port of logic 337 coupled to register 335 to OR gate 343 and, in turn, to the S1 port of logic 342. An audible signal alerts the calling party that controller 300 is ready to accept telephone number-type information. If the set of digits representative of the PASSWORD provided by the calling party has the proper beginning and ending delimiter, but the intermediate digits are not correct, then a second audible signal (such as an interrupted "beep" tone) could provide an indication to the calling party to try again after the second audible signal is removed. This action is initiated by passing a signal from the NP1 port to OR gate 338 and, in turn, port $2 of logic 342. During the interval of application of either the first or second audible signal, DTMF receiver 320 is turned OFF via a signal from the DTMF ON port of logic 342 and OR gate 346. DTMF receiver 320 is turned back on once either audible signal is removed via the DTMF OFF port and OR gate 345. If the proper password is not received within a predetermined interval, controller 300 is typically reset to its initial IN mode.
This signal is initiated by device 331 passing an enable signal from its A port to 0R gate 343. The audible signal is emitted from DTMF transmitter 341 and passed through switch 363, which is still closed, to line 301. While the DTMF audible tone is present, DTMF receiver 320 is deactivated by a control signal passed from DTMF ON port of logic 342 to the OFF port of DTMF receiver 320; once audible tone is removed, then DTMF receiver 320 is reactivated by a signal passed from the DTMF OFF port of device 340 to the ON port of receiver 320. (As an option, not shown, the digits could be "voice synthesized" and repeated to the calling party to verify the correctness of the digits. If they are correct, a * key depression by the calling party could indicate this; if they are not correct, then a # key depression would allow register 331 to be reset to accept a new set of digits).
The calling party, upon momentarily hearing the audible signal, now keys in the digits representing the second telephone number, that is, the number of the called party. DTMF receiver 320 decodes each digit and passes the digits to the DIGIT REC port of processor 330. In turn, the digits are passed to TELEPHONE NO. 2 memory device 332. Once the digits stored in device 332 are determined as acceptable (the string of digits may again be delimited by *), a control signal is passed from the A port of device 332 to the S1 port of logic 342 via OR gate 343. Again, an audible signal is emitted from DTMF transmitter 341 to the calling party on line 301. DTMF receiver 320 is turned off during the presence of the audible tone. In addition, since two telephone numbers have been received correctly, logic circuitry 342 opens switch 363 by passing a control signal from the 03 port of circuitry 341 to the 0 port of switch 363. Also, logic 342 prepares device 310 for the next mode (OUT) by signaling device 3 10 to open switch 311 by passing a signal from the NEXT port of logic 342 to OR gate 314 and, in turn, to the OPEN port of logic 313. The calling party also hangs up after hearing this last audible signal.
The normal processing by the local central office brings down the connection between the calling party and the controller once the calling party and controller "hang up", in effect. Once a Direct Current voltage signal is sensed on line 301 which is above a predetermined threshold in magnitude at the DC port of logic 313, thereby indicating that the "on-hook" state of controller 300 has been re-established, an enable signal is emitted from the DC OUT port of logic 313 to the A port of the IN/OUT mode register 333 and OR gate 344--gate 344 connects to the open/close port associated with switch 363 (O/C3 port). This enable signal causes mode register 333 to switch to the OUT mode, that is, the mode for keying out the two stored telephone numbers, and causes logic 342 to: close switch 363; provide a DC path to draw dial tone from the central office over line 301 as initiated by DTMF transmitter 341; and extract TELEPHONE NO. 1 from device 331 for use by DTMF transmitter 341 to initiate an outgoing call over line 301. In addition, when register 333 raises the OUT flag, a signal is sent from its B port to the B port of devices 331,332, and 337 to prepare these devices for the keying out mode of operation. In this mode, the first expected response from the calling party when the party answers the first outgoing call is the PASSWORD, so device 335 is activated. Also, TELEPHONE NO. 1 is passed between device 331 and transmitter 34 1 over their respective T ports.
Once TELEPHONE NO. 1 has been keyed out, detection device 310 is reactivated to close switch 311 by passing an activation signal from the K#1 port of device 342 to the CLOSE port of device 310, and DTMF receiver 320 is turned on via its ON port coupled to OR gate 345. (In this mode, coil 312 can be AC-coupled to line 301 since DTMF transmitter 341 employs a DC path to draw dial-tone). Controller 300 is notified that the first party (the original calling party) has answered the outgoing call by the receipt of a string of digits representing the calling party's PASSWORD.
Presuming the set of digits keyed in by the first party upon answering the call back is the correct PASSWORD, then an audible signal (such as a beep tone) is supplied to the first party by sending an enable signal from the P2 port of logic 337. This alerts the first party that the second party will now to be called. If the set of digits representative of the PASSWORD has the proper beginning and ending delimiter, but the digits are not correct, then a second audible signal (such as an interrupted "beep" tone) would provide an indication to the first called party to try the PASSWORD again after the second audible signal is removed. This action is initiated by passing a signal from the NP2 port to OR gate 338 and, in turn, port S2 of logic 342. During the interval of application of the second audible signal, DTMF receiver 320 is turned OFF via OR gate 346. This action continues until the correct PASSWORD is received or a time-out occurs--if a time-out occurs, then controller 300 is completely reset.
The correct PASSWORD enables logic 342 to both close switch 361 and open switch 363. Switch 361 is connected to bridge 370 which serves the function of interconnecting lines 301 and 302 once both the first and second calls have been answered. Bridge 370 is a conventional device that couples a telephone-type receiver associated with line 301 to a telephone-type transmitter associated with line 302, and also couples a telephone-type receiver associated with line 302 to a telephone-type transmitter associated with line 301--such a bridge may be configured with hybrid networks that implement two-to-four wire conversion, and appropriate balancing networks. Bridge 370 is also arranged with DC paths at both ports to hold any connection that has been established. A block diagram of an illustrative bridge is shown in FIG. 6.
Presuming the called party has answered the incoming call at the remote location, and supplied the PASSWORD, DTMF transmitter 352 receives an enable signal to key-out the second telephone number; this enable signal is received by the K#2 port from the P2 port of logic 337. The enable signal causes logic 352 to close switch 364, DTMF transmitter 351 to draw dial tone, and then transmitter 351 keys TELEPHONE NO. 2 onto line 302 (Line 2). After the second party has been called, logic 352 causes switch 362 to close, via the C2 port, and switch 364 to open, via the 04 port. At this point in the operation, the first party can hear the ringing signal being applied to alert the second party at their remote location.
Assuming the second party answers the phone, the conversation between the parties may commence immediately via the bridge 370, which holds the DC connections of lines 301 and 302, and which also AC-couples the speech path of each party. DTMF receiver 320 stays activated to await touch-tone signals. When the conversation is complete, the second party is instructed to hang up their handset. The first party then keys in the PASSWORD which now acts as a disconnect signal. PASSWORD device 335 remains active to receive the keyed-in set of digits. If there is a match, then a signal emitted on port P3 of logic 337 enables both logic devices 342 and 352 to open all switches, namely, switches 361-364, via the 01-04 ports, respectively. If the PASSWORD is not correct, the first party is alerted to resubmit the PASSWORD by enabling port S2 of logic 342 via OR gate 338 and the NP3 port of logic 337 to ensure that the first party truly desires to tear down the connection. The enable signal on port P3 of logic 337 also is passed to the OPEN port on interface 310, via OR gate 314, to cause the opening of switch 311 and thereby the recoupling of DTMF receiver 320 from line 301.
If the second party does not answer the phone, the first party may signal their desire to disconnect by keying in the PASSWORD. Detection of the PASSWORD causes an enable signal to issue on port P3 of logic 337, again causing all switches 361-364 to open, as well as switch 311, as was describe above in detail.
1. call to MAnaginG Incoming Call (MAGIC) controller (controller) from a first telephone number by first or calling party (block 410) which establishes a connection with the calling party (block 4 15) and sends a signal indicative of this established connection (block 420);
Whereas the illustrative embodiment described in detail above utilized two customer premises lines, it is also possible to arrange controller 300 in an alternative embodiment (although each embodiment may be contained in the same physical package and only a toggle-type switch need be thrown in order to make the two-line version or the "third-party" version operative, at the discretion of the customer, depending on how the customer premises is wired for telephone service). Given the details presented above for one version of controller 300, it is obvious to one skilled in the art how such an alternative arrangement may be constructed. The following steps provide an operational description indicating the steps carried out by such a modified controller 300.
The succinct summary of steps of the process for "third party" calling (presuming that a confirmation code has initially been input and stored in controller) is as follows:
1. call to MAnaginG Incoming Call (MAGIC) controller (controller) from a first telephone number by first or calling party which establishes a connection with the calling party and sends a signal indicative of this established connection;
2. first party keys-in a confirmation code (PASSWORD), and upon correct confirmation code, controller is activated to receive telephone numbers and sends signal indicative of this activation;
3. first party keys-in the first telephone number for detection by the controller, which is presumed to be connected to a serving switching center offering third-party calling ("3 way calling");
4. the controller stores first telephone number and signals first party to enter a second telephone number of a second party to be called or called party;
5. first party keys-in the second telephone number;
6. the controller stores the second telephone number (option--controller "repeats" second telephone number such as by voice synthesis to first party and requests confirmation from first party before storing second telephone number) and signals the first party to terminate the original call;
7. the first party terminates the original call such as by hanging up the handset;
8. the controller initiates a first outgoing telephone call to the first telephone number by drawing dial tone and "touch-toning" the first telephone number for processing by the serving switching center;
9. the first party answers the incoming call to the first telephone number and keys-in a confirmation code;
10. the controller detects that the outgoing telephone call has been answered by the proper first party by sensing the confirmation code (or, as an alternative, the absence of ring-back signal);
11. the controller activates the third-party calling service provided by the serving switching center Coy a mechanical/electrical operation equivalent to "flash" depressing the switch-hook on the telephone instrument coupled to the controller, that is, momentarily breaking the DC current path of the controller's subscriber line);
12. upon activation of the third party connection as sensed by drawing a second dial tone, the controller initiates a second outgoing call to the second telephone number by "touch-toning" the second telephone number for processing by the serving switching center;
13. the controller bridges the second outgoing call to the first party so the first party may listen to the ting-back signal from the second outgoing call (bridging is again accomplished by a mechanical/electrical operation equivalent to again "flash" depressing the switch-hook of the telephone instrument coupled to the controller);
14. if the second party answers the second outgoing call, the first party and second party may immediately begin conversation since they are automatically bridged via the standard third-party service provided by the serving switching center;
15. if the second party does not answer the second outgoing call within an expected time interval, the first party signals the controller to drop both connections by keying-in the confirmation code;
16. whenever the first party and second party finish communicating, the second party drops off the connection such as by hanging up the telephone handset associated with the second telephone number;
17. the first party signals the controller to drop the connection to the first party by keying-in (or dialing) the confirmation code; and
18. the controller monitors the bridged call for the confirmation code and, upon receipt of such a code, disconnects the controller from the bridged call such as by performing a function equivalent to hanging up a telephone instrument associated with the controller.
The block diagram 600 of FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of bridge 370 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 6, incoming line 301 connects to hybrid 610. Hybrid 610 has at its input a DC hold path, and balancing network 611 couples to hybrid 610 to mitigate trans-hybrid transmission. Similarly, incoming line 302 connects to hybrid 620. Hybrid 620 has at its input a DC hold path, and balancing network 62 1 couples to hybrid 620 to mitigate trans-hybrid transmission. Echo canceler 630 reduces the trans-hybrid transmission that balancing networks 611 and 612 cannot completely eliminate. The arrangement of FIG. 6 is a typical 2-4 wire coupling arrangement well-known in telephony Of course, other arrangements may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art given the functionality that is desired, namely, to bridge lines 301 and 302 for two-way or hi-directional conversation.
There are other possible embodiments and/or configurations that are readily contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art; these include:
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4535199 *Jul 18, 1983Aug 13, 1985At&T Information Systems Inc.Data call transfer preindicationUS4724539 *Apr 15, 1985Feb 9, 1988Hiskes Edward VCall forwarding reprogramming deviceUS4899373 *Nov 28, 1986Feb 6, 1990American Telephone And Telegraph Company At&T Bell LaboratoriesMethod and apparatus for providing personalized telephone subscriber features at remote locationsUS5251250 *Aug 21, 1991Oct 5, 1993Alpine Electronics, Inc.Method of storing callers telephone numbers in during-absence automatic telephone answering stateUS5253288 *Sep 23, 1991Oct 12, 1993At&T Bell LaboratoriesAlternate destination call redirection for telecommunications systemsUS5291551 *Oct 23, 1991Mar 1, 1994At&T Bell LaboratoriesHome agent telecommunication technique* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5666405 *Jul 14, 1995Sep 9, 1997At&TTrue family telecommunication serviceUS5689548 *May 21, 1996Nov 18, 1997Ericsson, Inc.Emergency call back using MSC numbersUS5710809 *Oct 10, 1996Jan 20, 1998Snip, Inc.Method of and system for efficient use of telecommunication voice networksUS5712900 *May 21, 1996Jan 27, 1998Ericsson, Inc.Emergency call back for roaming mobile subscribersUS5719925 *Mar 30, 1995Feb 17, 1998Peoples; John T.Method for remotely controlling a telephone loop/channel from another telephone loop/channelUS5862473 *May 7, 1996Jan 19, 1999Rohm Co. Ltd.Relay apparatus for pagersUS5966660 *May 28, 1997Oct 12, 1999Telefonaktiebolaget L/M Ericsson (Publ)User controlled call setup through manual switchboardUS6005926 *Sep 11, 1997Dec 21, 1999Anip, Inc.Method and system for global communications network managementUS6014556 *Jul 15, 1997Jan 11, 2000Ericsson Inc.Method for priority in terminating call setupUS6078654 *Jan 16, 1998Jun 20, 2000Anip, Inc.Method of and system for efficient use of telecommunication networksUS6144727 *Dec 17, 1998Nov 7, 2000Anip, Inc.Method and system for global telecommunications network management and display of market-price informationUS6188756Oct 8, 1996Feb 13, 2001Alexander MashinskyEfficient communication through networksUS6226365Aug 5, 1998May 1, 2001Anip, Inc.Method and system for global communications network management and display of market-price informationUS6343073Dec 31, 1997Jan 29, 2002Anip, Inc.Method and system for efficient link utlizationUS6343115Feb 13, 1996Jan 29, 2002At&T CorpMethod of announcing an internet callUS6430282May 28, 1996Aug 6, 2002Nortel Networks LimitedMethods and apparatus for originating voice callsUS6442258Apr 17, 2000Aug 27, 2002Anip, Inc.Method and system for global telecommunications network management and display of market-price informationUS6496579Aug 9, 1999Dec 17, 2002Anip, Inc.Method of and system for efficient use of telecommunication networksUS6504918Jan 24, 1998Jan 7, 2003Deutsche Telekom AgMethod and circuit for operating a telecommunications networkUS6542588Oct 18, 2000Apr 1, 2003Anip, Inc.Method and system for global communications network management and display of market-price informationUS6895086Nov 12, 2002May 17, 2005Inmate Telephone, Inc.3-Way call detection system and methodUS6912277Aug 5, 1999Jun 28, 2005Anip, Inc.Assigning telecommunications services to matchable classesUS7123704Jan 14, 2005Oct 17, 2006Inmate Telephone, Inc.3-Way call detection systemUS7248685Aug 4, 2004Jul 24, 2007Inmate Telephone, Inc.Three-way call detection using steganographyUS7269247Sep 15, 2004Sep 11, 2007Anip, Inc.Efficient communication through networksUS7664243Oct 12, 2006Feb 16, 2010Inmate Telephone, Inc.3-way call detection system and methodUS7826604Jul 24, 2007Nov 2, 2010Dsi-Iti, LlcThree-way call detection using steganographyUS8406387 *Jul 6, 2005Mar 26, 2013Gigaset Communications GmbhMethod for the remote request of information which is stored in a telecommunication entity and a telecommunication entity having remote request functionality for stored informationUS8542802Feb 15, 2007Sep 24, 2013Global Tel*Link CorporationSystem and method for three-way call detectionUS8630726Feb 12, 2009Jan 14, 2014Value-Added Communications, Inc.System and method for detecting three-way call circumvention attemptsUS8731934Feb 15, 2008May 20, 2014Dsi-Iti, LlcSystem and method for multi-modal audio mining of telephone conversationsUS8942356Aug 20, 2013Jan 27, 2015Dsi-Iti, LlcSystem and method for three-way call detectionUS9225838Aug 2, 2013Dec 29, 2015Value-Added Communications, Inc.System and method for detecting three-way call circumvention attemptsUS9338190Jul 3, 2012May 10, 2016Aip Acquisition LlcSystem and method for managing multimedia communications across convergent networksUS9552417May 19, 2014Jan 24, 2017Global Tel*Link Corp.System and method for multi-modal audio mining of telephone conversationsUS9621732Jan 23, 2015Apr 11, 2017Dsi-Iti, LlcSystem and method for three-way call detectionUS20030091181 *Nov 12, 2002May 15, 2003Thomas Martin3-Way call detection system and methodUS20050058267 *Aug 4, 2004Mar 17, 2005Martin Thomas J.Three-way call detection using steganographyUS20070121828 *Oct 12, 2006May 31, 2007Martin Thomas J3-way call detection system and methodUS20070269033 *Jul 24, 2007Nov 22, 2007Martin Thomas JThree-way call detection using steganographyUS20080226045 *Jul 6, 2005Sep 18, 2008Igor JejinaMethod for the Remote Request of Information Which is Stored in a Telecommunication Entity and a Telecommunication Entity Having Remote Request Functionality for Stored InformationUS20100202595 *Feb 12, 2009Aug 12, 2010Value-Added Communictions, Inc.System and method for detecting three-way call circumvention attemptsDE19619521A1 *May 15, 1996Nov 27, 1997Deutsche Telekom AgTemporary telecommunication connection set=up methodDE19709240A1 *Mar 6, 1997Sep 10, 1998Deutsche Telekom AgVerfahren und Schaltungsanordnung zum Betreiben eines TelekommunikationsnetzwerkesDE19709240B4 *Mar 6, 1997May 4, 2005Deutsche Telekom AgVerfahren und Schaltungsanordnung zum Betreiben eines TelekommunikationsnetzwerkesDE19734276A1 *Aug 7, 1997Feb 11, 1999Global Business & ProfessionalElectronic data transmission method especially for GSM networkDE19858629A1 *Dec 18, 1998Jun 29, 2000Bosch Gmbh RobertVerfahren und Telefon zum Wählen von Telefonnummern mittels Callback-/Callthrough-ProviderWO1997013352A1 *Aug 28, 1996Apr 10, 1997Northern Telecom LimitedMethods and apparatus for originating voice callsWO1998032269A1 *Jan 14, 1998Jul 23, 1998Stenger Robert JAutomated call programming system and method of operationWO1998039903A1 *Mar 6, 1998Sep 11, 1998Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)Automatic call back service in a telephone answering systemWO1998054882A1 *May 8, 1998Dec 3, 1998Telefonaktiebolaget Lm EricssonUser controlled call setup through manual switchboardWO1999018707A1 *Oct 8, 1998Apr 15, 1999Helsingin Puhelin Oyj - Helsingfors Telefon AbpMethod and apparatus for connecting calls and passing announcements during calls to the a- and b-subscriberWO2006031200A1 *Oct 26, 2004Mar 23, 2006Crimsonlogic Pte LtdA call management system* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification379/210.01, 379/207.01, 379/207.06, 379/207.13, 379/201.11, 379/903, 379/207.1International ClassificationH04M15/00, H04M3/44, H04M3/42, H04Q11/04, H04M3/56, H04M3/00, H04M3/50, H04M3/48, H04M3/54, H04M3/38Cooperative ClassificationY10S379/903, H04Q2213/1318, H04M2215/62, H04Q2213/13091, H04Q2213/13152, H04M3/56, H04M2215/0184, H04M2215/202, H04Q2213/13349, H04M3/42195, H04M3/44, H04Q2213/13322, H04Q2213/13372, H04Q2213/13209, H04Q2213/13204, H04M3/002, H04Q2213/13282, H04M3/382, H04Q2213/13331, H04Q11/0457, H04M2215/016, H04Q2213/13097, H04M15/8083, H04Q2213/13103, H04M3/48, H04M15/56, H04Q2213/13095, H04M15/90, H04Q2213/1332, H04Q2213/1319, H04M3/54, H04M3/50, H04Q2213/13175, H04Q2213/13106, H04M15/00, H04Q2213/13092, H04M15/08European ClassificationH04M15/80L, H04M15/08, H04M15/56, H04M15/90, H04M3/48, H04M15/00, H04M3/50, H04Q11/04S1P, H04M3/42G, H04M3/38ALegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 23, 1999REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedAug 1, 1999LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 12, 1999FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19990801RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services