Direct inward dial integration apparatus

Patent 4811381 Issued on March 7, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 10, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Call interceptor
Patent #: 4582957
Issued on: 04/15/1986
Inventor: Hayes , et al.

Series connected interceptor
Patent #: 4629831
Issued on: 12/16/1986
Inventor: Curtin , et al.

PBX Intercept and caller interactive attendant bypass system Patent #: 4696028
Issued on: 09/22/1987
Inventor: Morganstein , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Octel Communications Corporation

Application

No. 07/119395 filed on 11/10/1987

US Classes:

379/88.19, Call source identification379/213.01, Intercept (e.g., dead or changed number)379/233, Direct inward dialing379/286, Signal processing (e.g., dial pulse analysis)379/84, At switching facility (e.g., central office, switchboard)379/88.25Message storage in centralized location (e.g., central office, PBX, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: Brown, Thomas W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert

International Classes

H04Q 3/62 (20060101)
H04M 3/533 (20060101)
H04M 3/50 (20060101)

Abstract

A direct inward dial integration device is connected to the trunk side of a PBX in a business telephone system. The present invention permits a voice message system (VMS) to answer forwarded calls with a personal greeting of a called party. When a direct inward dial call is made, the identity of the extension (i.e., the extension number) being called is transmitted to the PBX by the telephone system. The integration device detects and stores the extension identity. If an incoming call is forwarded to the VMS, the VMS generates a query sigal, which causes the integration device to automatically transmit the stored extension number to the voice message system. Thus the voice message system can identify the called party. The VMS responds by answering the call with a personal greeting of the called party and inviting the outside caller to leave a recorded message.