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:
Sep. 22, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 05, 1996
Craig Reding, Midland Park, NJ (US);
Suzi Levas, Yorktown, NY (US);
Nynex Science & Technology, Inc., White Plains, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for inputting telephone number information into an operator workstation are described. In accordance with the present invention, telephone number information may be entered as either alphabetic information using, e.g., the alphabetic keys on an IBM compatible keyboard, or as numeric information using the numeric keys on the keyboard or on a standard telephone keypad. When telephone number information is input as alphabetic information, the workstation automatically converts the alphabetic character of e.g., a vanity telephone number such as 'SKYTELL' into the actual numeric 759 8355 which is then used to complete the call. Error checking is performed as part of the data input and conversion process. If an operator attempts to enter the letters Q or Z into a telephone number field or enters a key other than an alphanumeric the input data is rejected and an error message is sent to the operator. The present invention reduces the number of operator errors associated with the servicing of calls involving vanity numbers while at the same time reducing the amount of time required to service the call involving the vanity number.