Method and apparatus for handling incoming telephone calls

US5276731A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rolm Company · US

Inventors

• Ygal Arbel · معلمی نژاد, US
• Timothy L. Wilson · Austin, US
• Gordon D. Ford · Round Rock, US
• Cathy Arledge · Austin, US
• Tracy L. Rust · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 26, 1991
• Grant date: Jan 4, 1994
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04Q2213/13541
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for handling incoming telephone calls and, in particular: (a) for delivering predetermined messages to predetermined calling parties; (b) predetermined, prioritorized screening of incoming telephone calls; and (c) for re-routing incoming telephone calls on the basis of predetermined selection criteria. The predetermined selection criteria include information such as the calling parties, call origination information, call origination information with wildcards, time, date, or a combination of these factors. Call origination information includes, but is not limited to, Automatic Number Identification ("ANI"), private network tie line identification, trunk ID, Wide Area Telephone Service ("WATS"), and extension numbers.