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:
Jul. 08, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1994
Steven J Hogan, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Kristi T Feltz, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Douglas R Murdock, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Roy A Rhodes, Marion, IA (US);
Keith E Smith, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Todd A Goodman, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
LinkUSA Corporation, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Abstract
A message delivery sequence coordinates the scheduling and delivery of messages. When a user desires to send a message, the user contacts the message delivery system. An automated voice response unit prompts the user for message delivery information, including a delivery time and other delivery options and also prompts the user for the message itself. The message is stored in a message database and an access record corresponding to the message and containing message delivery information is stored in an access database. A delivery time is determined for the message and an event is stored in a scheduling database indicating the delivery time. At the scheduled delivery time, the message delivery system instructs a network control processor to start delivery of the message. The network control processor notifies the automated voice response unit that the message is to be delivered. The network control processor originates a call to the recipient and informs the automated voice response unit when the recipient answers. The automated voice response unit retrieves the message from the message database and initiates delivery of the message to the recipient.