Network based knowledgeable assistant

US6047053A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Wildfire Communications, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Richard A. Miner · Cambridge, US
• William J. Warner · Weston, US
• Anthony M. Lovell · Cambridge, US
• Eric R. Shienbrood · Concord, US
• Keith Michael Gabryelski · Cambridge, US
• Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold · Lexington, US
• Nicholas C. d'Arbeloff · Belmont, US
• Kee Hinckley · Somerville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 22, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 4, 2000
• Expiry date: May 22, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2203/2011
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method implemented by a computer-based electronic assistant to receive and manage incoming calls to a subscriber including the steps of receiving an incoming call to the subscriber from a caller; establishing a first connection between the electronic assistant and the caller; establishing a second connection between the electronic assistant and the subscriber; over the second connection, electronically notifying the subscriber of the incoming call; in response to receiving a call accept command from the subscriber over the second connection, linking the caller and the subscriber so that they may communicate with each other; upon linking the subscriber to the caller, switching the electronic assistant to a background mode in which said electronic assistant continues to monitor the subscriber over the second connection while the subscriber is linked with the caller; and in response to receiving a summoning command, switching the electronic assistant into a foreground mode, wherein the electronic assistant when in its background mode responds to a first set of commands including at least the summoning command and when in its foreground mode responds to a second set of commands where…