Method and apparatus for customer account servicing
US4894857A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q3/62
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for retrofitting and extending or upgrading an existing customer account servicing system to provide for automated handling and processing of both incoming and outgoing calls. A mainframe computer or host (16) contains customer or potential customer account records. A plurality of operator terminals (12) allow the operators to converse with the called or calling party and make changes to the customer account information via a data terminal (12a4). A system controller (11), trunk interface unit (10), operator terminals (12) and cross-point switch or PBX (13) provide a retrofit to an existing system, a mainframe computer (16), to provide for automated handling and processing of both incoming and outgoing calls. The system controller (11) and terminals (12) use the same command and data format structure as that already in use by the existing system and software or programs of mainframe (16). The system controller (11) is transparent to the operation of the mainframe (16) and the operator terminals (12) and allows the system to be upgraded without the necessity of purchasing different software or programs for the mainframe (16). This invention is useful with b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.