Method and apparatus for receiving and processing an incoming call
US6021190A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S379/913
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for receiving a telephone call from a calling party preferably via a telephone exchange, which telephone call is placed to a called party apparatus. The receiving apparatus, on the basis of predetermined selection criteria, delivers predetermined messages to the calling party; screens the telephone call from the calling party; or re-routes the telephone call from the calling party. The receiving apparatus includes an interaction arrangement for receiving the telephone call, for obtaining identification information relating to the calling party, and for transferring the identification information to a processor. The processor is responsive to the interaction arrangement, for accessing a database which has stored the predetermined selection criteria, predetermined messages, predetermined screening information, and predetermined re-routing information, the processor using the indentification information as a retrieval key for the predetermined selection criteria, and for using the predetermined criteria to determine whether to (a) cause the interaction arrangement to have the calling party connected with the called party apparatus; (b) provide predetermined mes…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.