Method and apparatus for obtaining telephone status over a network
US6175616A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13389
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A telephone status monitoring method an apparatus that monitors the status of a called party's telephone to maximize the probability of a calling party reaching the called party. The system uses a telephone status monitor to monitor the various characteristics and condition of consumer telephones such as on-hook/off-hook, number of rings to voice mail, call forwarding information and other consumer options for telephone service that are offered by telephone companies. A calling party that desires to know if a called party is available accesses a telephone status file over a network and determines if the called party is available. If the called party is available, a call can be placed. By periodically updating the telephone status file, the telephone status monitor keeps the file current for the telephones being monitored. Other capabilities allow for e-mail conversion to voice mail and "beeping" a calling party when a called party telephone is available for a call.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.