The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 1990
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1989
Elliott Baral, Chicago, IL (US);
Percy B Brown, East Brunswick, NJ (US);
Reuben D Hauptman, Marlboro, NJ (US);
Richard J Jaeger, Jr, West Chicago, IL (US);
Frank C LaPorta, Millington, NJ (US);
Pamela J Lauber, Middletown, NJ (US);
Richard E LeCronier, New Monmouth, NJ (US);
Randall H Nelson, Ocean, NJ (US);
Thomas L Russell, Jr, Colts Neck, NJ (US);
Wen-Ping Ying, East Brunswick, NJ (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
This invention relates to arrangements for providing a new spontaneous voice message service to any telephone customer at any telephone station when that customer encounters any destination that is busy or that does not answer. When a customer having a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) station calls any destination that is busy or does not answer, the customer is invited, via an announcement identifying the new service, to record the caller's voice message. The announcement accompanies the returned busy tone or audible ring signal. The customer keys *867(=*VMS) and is then connected to a Voice Message Operations Center (VMOC) which prompts the customer to record the message. Advantageously, customers need not redial a VMOC number, their own number, and a destination number to reach a VMOC for storing the video message; the added convenience of this arrangement should stimulate substantial additional use of voice message service. The announcement, at very low cost, makes the customers aware of the service at the time they are most likely to use the service.