Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls
US5960064A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13513
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for providing personal communications services are disclosed. A bridging and signaling unit implements a bridge for connecting telephone calls between a caller, a called party, and an alternate destination. A caller who calls the personal telephone number associated with a called party is held at the bridging and signaling unit while waiting for a return telephone call from the called party. The called party is alerted to the existence of the call through a paging system. If the time period during which the caller is on hold exceeds a timeout period, the caller will be connected to an alternate destination, such as a secretary, an answering service, or a voice messaging system. If the called party places the return telephone call while the caller is connected to the alternate destination, the called party will be connected to the caller and the alternate destination in such a manner that the called party can hear the conversation between the caller and the alternate destination, but the caller and the alternate destination cannot hear the called party and do not know that the called party has connected, i.e. the called party is on mute mode. After screening the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.