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:
Apr. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 22, 1997
Richard A Miner, Cambridge, MA (US);
William J Warner, Weston, MA (US);
Anthony M Lovell, Somerville, MA (US);
Eric R Shienbrood, Concord, MA (US);
Keith Gabryelski, Cambridge, MA (US);
Kenneth C Arnold, Lexington, MA (US);
Nicholas C d'Arbeloff, Belmont, MA (US);
Kee Hinckley, Winchester, MA (US);
Wildfire Communications, Inc., Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A method implemented by a computer-based electronic assistant to receive and manage incoming calls to a subscriber including the steps of receiving an incoming call to the subscriber from a caller; establishing a first connection between the electronic assistant and the caller; establishing a second connection between the electronic assistant and the subscriber; over the second connection, electronically notifying the subscriber of the incoming call; in response to receiving a call accept command from the subscriber over the second connection, linking the caller and the subscriber so that they may communicate with each other; upon linking the subscriber to the caller, switching the electronic assistant to a background mode in which said electronic assistant continues to monitor the subscriber over the second connection while the subscriber is linked with the caller; and in response to receiving a summoning command, switching the electronic assistant into a foreground mode, wherein the electronic assistant when in its background mode responds to a first set of commands including at least the summoning command and when in its foreground mode responds to a second set of commands where the second set of commands is larger than the first set of commands.