More efficient call handling for operator assistance calls

US4899375A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Bell Laboratories · US
• American Telephone and Telegraph, Co. · US

Inventors

• Thomas Michael Bauer · Madison, US
• Richard W. Hemmeter · Naperville, US
• Robert Petrelli · East Brunswick Township, US
• Richard J. Piereth · Naperville, US
• Cyrenus M. Rubald · Naperville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 1988
• Grant date: Feb 6, 1990
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M15/00
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing operator assistance calls with minimum expenditure of operator work time. For collect and person-to-person calls, a first operator at a first operator position determines the type of call and, optionally, the name(s) of the calling and called parties. These are recorded in the memory of a program controlled processor system for controlling an operator assistance switching system. The first operator then disconnects from the call while the call is being set up and the call party being alerted. When the called party answers, a second operator position and second operator, having a display of the call information previously recorded, are unattached to the call to determine whether a connection between the calling and called parties should be established and, if so, to cause that connection to be so established. Advantageously, no operator position and operator need be attached to the call while the called party is being alterted; even more operator work time is saved if the called party never answers.