Patent · US Expired

Audible logo for identifying a common carrier

US5056134A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
2References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1990
Grant dateOct 8, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q3/0016
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to the application of an audible logo to a telecommunications call, for identifying the common carrier serving that call. A call is received in an operator assistance system. After applying a calling card prompt tone and prior to connecting the call to an operator position or receiving further digits such as those for a calling card number, the operator assistance system connects an audible logo, identifying a common carrier, to the call. Advantageously, a telephone customer receives the information necessary to identify whether his/her preferred common carrier is going to be used on this call at a sufficiently early time to make it convenient to disconnect and reoriginate. This information is particularly important for calls originated away from home or office, calls that are likely to be operator assistance (0 or 0+ directory number) calls. Subsequently, the operator assistance call is processed as in the prior art. Advantageously, this arrangement identifies the common carrier on the calls where this identification is most needed without adding holding time to all direct dialed station toll calls.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.