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:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
May. 11, 1995
Robert M Fuller, Redmond, WA (US);
Frederick A Epler, Issaquah, WA (US);
Maxwell E Manowski, Enumclaw, WA (US);
Acessline Technologies, Inc., Bellevue, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides method and apparatus processing incoming telephone calls directed to a user. Signals representative of telephone network addresses are stored in a memory. An incoming telephone call from a caller is processed, including communicating information to the caller indicating that the incoming call can be routed to any one of at least two telephone network addresses. The transmission by the caller of a command corresponding to the desired telephone network address is detected and, in response thereto, the incoming call is routed to a telephone network address represented in the memory corresponding to the command transmitted by the caller. Predetermined signals are generated, which to the caller indicate normal call processing operation, but which to the user indicate that the user can transmit a signal to gain access to system provided functions. Receipt of that signal from the user is detected, and, upon receipt of that signal, routing of the call to the telephone network address is terminated (if initiated) and instead the user is transferred to a system command mode.