Patent · US Expired

Telephone system providing personalized telephone features

US6185283A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
215References
119Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateFeb 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S379/913
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A telephone control system is disclosed which substantially enhances the accessibility of system subscribers by providing a variety of call-handling modes, and additionally provides various programming means by which those subscribers can tailor the system to suit their individual communications needs. In operation, subscribers are each assigned an individual unique telephone number (ACCESS NUMBER) which can be dialed from any location via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Subscribers then distribute this telephone number to persons who may wish to call them. Calls for a subscriber are routed to the control system via the PSTN. The control system determines which subscriber a call is intended for, and by referring to a database determines the method of call handling which has been preselected by that subscriber. Should the selected call handling method require that the call be delivered to another telephone number, then the control system will cause the call to be switched to that telephone. The switching function may be located in the control system itself, or alternately may be located in the PSTN but under the control of the control system. In this way, the ACCESS NU…

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