Customer account online servicing system
US4797911A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/5166
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for direct and immediate updating of customer account information, handling inquiries, and initiating communications is disclosed. A mainframe computer (16) contains customer or potential customer account information such as customer name, customer telephone number, customer account code, customer order status, etc. Mainframe computer (16) sends batches of customer account information to a system controller (11) via a data controller (15). System controller (11) directs trunk interface units (10a-10d) to dial the customer's telephone number and monitor the status of the outgoing calls. The trunk interface units (10a-10d) advise the system controller (11) when an outgoing call has been answered and, if an operator is available at an operator terminal (12a-12j), the system controller (11) directs a switch (13) to connect the answered trunk (T1-T16) to the available operator terminal and sends abbreviated customer account information to the operator terminal. The operator terminal then requests the full customer account information from the mainframe computer ( 16) via the data controller (15). The operator at the operator terminal 12 then conducts the necess…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.