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:
Feb. 27, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1997
Jay W. Ridgley, Round Rock, TX (US);
Alcatel USA, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
After playing a message, a message delivery system prompts a message recipient with an option to automatically call back the calling party. If the recipient activates the callback feature, the message delivery system retrieves the calling party's telephone number and directs the telecommunications switch to connect the return telephone call from the called unit to the calling unit. If the return telephone call is answered by the calling unit, the message delivery system may optionally direct the billing system to charge the telephone number corresponding to the calling unit for the return telephone call initiated by the recipient. Additionally, the message delivery system may optionally include a feature whereby the calling party expressly provides the system with a telephone number to which a call is to be returned, i.e., a telephone number other than the one associated with the calling unit from which the calling party placed the call.