Patent · US Expired

System and method for adding and integrating outbound calling and overall system control to an existing inbound telephone system

US5586179A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
4References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1995
Grant dateDec 17, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M3/5158
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for adding and integrating outbound calling and overall system control to an existing inbound telephone system. The existing inbound telephone call distribution system is coupled to a number of telephone lines, and connects incoming calls to an available operator having a voice signal processing unit. The present system detects at least one available operator and an absence or a threshold condition of incoming calls to connect to the operator. An automated telephone dialer, coupled to the inbound call distributor, is also provided. The automated telephone dialer is responsive to the detection of at least one available operator and the absence or threshold condition of incoming calls to connect to the operator, for placing an outbound telephone call. The system directs that the voice portion of an answered outbound telephone call be connected to the existing voice signal processing unit of the available operator. Additionally, data associated with and concerning a called party presently being connected to the operator is made available to the operator answering the call at a data display unit provided at the workstation of the available operator.

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