Automated attendant for any combination of PBX, centrex, and single-line telephones
US5402472A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/527
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automated attendant service supports any combination of single-line telephones, CENTREX telephones and one or more PBXs in a single logical configuration. Multiple access numbers can be used to call the automated service and calls forwarded from DID lines can also be handled. The appropriate transfer codes are determined for the switch connecting a caller to the automated attendant service. Subscribers to the automated attendant service may be connected via different types of switches using different call progress signals. Analysis of the call progress signals is performed using parameters specific to the switch used for each call to an extension. The types of transfers supported by the automated attendant service include screened calls in which the caller is prompted to give a name providing identification. The name given by the caller may be stored, together with the time of the call and the phone number of the caller, so that a subscriber may return calls even if the caller does not leave a message.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.