Abstract

A telephone advertising service provides a short advertising message through a telephone receiver as a telephone call is initiated. The advertising message is stopped after a predetermined run time, and an invitation-to-dial tone is added. The advertising message is stopped when a subscriber starts to dial numbers. The method provides the advertising messages in lieu of invitation-to-dial tones. Differentiated subscribers are individually provided with distinct advertising messages. Subscribers are distinguished by characteristics of exchange number, monthly call volume, call type, geographical location and time of day. The advertising messages are provided by a message system rack connected to a digital or analog telephone exchange. Each rack has plural message recorders and plural cards connected to multiple users. Software controls a connection network. Subscriber lines are sampled to sense when a call is being initiated and to signal to a controller that a telephone call is being initiated. A PCM audio interface is activated. An available message channel is switched to the subscriber line, and a corresponding message is played over the subscriber line. Soon the subscriber line is connected to the telephone exchange, and an invitation-to-dial tone is provided. Several different messages are offered in different sets of channels, changing the messages depending on the time of day. When a prohibit service signal is active, the subscriber line is switched directly to the telephone exchange.

Other References

• Tanguy et al., "Repondeur Telephonique Collectif Gaston et Machine Parlante Statique", Comm. & Transmission, vol. 5, No. 2 (France 1992)
• "Serving Customers With Automatic Speech Recognition--Human Factor Issues", Wattenberger et al., AT&T Technical Journal, May/Jun. 1993, p. 3