Automated call handling apparatus
April 3, 2010. 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.Patent ReferencesAutomatic call distribution system Call coverage arrangement Implied principal addressing in a call coverage arrangement Call message service Telephone line activity monitor Integrated packet switching and circuit switching system Multi-line telephone control system Telephone switching system adjunct call processing arrangement Agent communication arrangements for telecommunication systems Enhanced call-waiting service InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 504711 filed on 04/03/1990US Classes:370/270, Distribution of signal to multiple agent stations370/359, Input or output circuit, per se (i.e., line interface)370/384, Having a supervisory signaling feature370/524, Using a dedicated signaling channel (i.e., D-channel)379/93.06, Digital379/111, WITH USAGE MEASUREMENT (E.G., CALL OR TRAFFIC REGISTER)379/142.07, Routing an incoming call on multiple lines to a particular appliance (e.g., facsimile, computer, or telephone)379/142.08, Call waiting associated with caller ID information379/158, Conferencing379/207.05, Busy signal (e.g., off hook)379/211.02, Call forwarding379/215.01, Call Waiting379/909, ALTERNATIVES379/917VOICE MENUSExaminersPrimary: Olms, Douglas W.Assistant: Hsu, Alpus H. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesH04Q 011/04H04J 003/12 H04M 011/00 AbstractA computer connected to an ISDN switch via an ISDN digital subscriber line, has shared cell appearances with a number of telephone stations connected to the switch and on the basis of shared call appearance associated messages from the switch, controls the forwarding of calls directed to the stations with which it has a shared call appearance. The associated messages are interpreted by the computer, which generates station status information. The computer responds to messages associated with predefined ones of the stations to select an alternate destination for the call and to transmit ISDN messages to the switch to cause the call to be forwarded to the selected alternate destination. Calls may be forwarded depending on call type, called number or other criteria. The computer responds to calls forwarded to it in the event that an associated station is busy and connects a holding party to the principal phone when the principal phone is no longer busy. The computer may be connected simultaneously to several ISDN switches via ISDN subscriber lines to receive shared call appearance associated messages from the several switching systems and forward calls for a telephone station connected to one switch, to a telephone station connected to another switch.In order to handle voice message recording, an ISDN line shares the directory numbers of the analog lines connecting a switch to a message recording system. The ISDN line then receives all messages destined for the lines connected to the message switch. The ISDN line is connected to an interface for converting between ISDN messages and data messages for controlling the message recording system. Avdantageously, this permits an ISDN switch to provide an inexpensive interface to a voice message system.Other References
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