Telephonic communications – Supervisory or control line signaling – Substation originated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-10
2001-03-13
Isen, Forester W. (Department: 2644)
Telephonic communications
Supervisory or control line signaling
Substation originated
C379S355020, C379S354000, C379S356010, C379S216010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201864
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a system for automatically dialing a dialed number and a switching code, which is used for routing calls and may include 1+, area codes, international access codes, including foreign country and foreign city codes, and other information that is determinative of the routing of a telephone call. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for automatically selecting and dialing the proper switching code for a dialed number. Still more particularly, when a number is dialed, the system of the present invention utilizes an internal table or data base to determine the proper switching code for the dialed number.
With current technology, there are several ways to automatically select the proper switching code for a dialed number. One relatively simple way is to use phones that utilize a memory dialer. Under this system, a long distance or local number can be automatically selected from a pre-entered directory by dialing an abbreviated name, telephone number or code. Other systems have data bases that are constructed based on manually preentered names and addresses.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,341,929, 4,633,041, 4,723,265, 4,736,410, 4,800,582, 4,839,919, 4,908,853, 5,134,653, and 5,157,719 provide an overview of patented devices relating to the subject matter of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,719 teaches a system that stores the last area code dialed and displays that area code after the system detects the start of the next call. The caller may then select the last area code dialed, not use it so that the call becomes local, or enter a new area code. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,653 teaches an automatic speed dialing device for facsimile machines. The device utilizes coded numbers to represent larger string telephone numbers that are stored in the system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,853 teaches a speed dialing apparatus that displays selected names and numbers stored in a memory. The operator can use a selector key to instruct the apparatus to dial the desired number appearing on the display. U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,410 teaches a system that cross links a stored telephone number with a coded number.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises four principle elements: (1) a telephone instrument; (2) a computer; (3) an automatic dialer; and (4) a telephone line. The present invention may be used for a particular telephone subscriber or a particular telephone number. The means to effect the present invention can be located near or in a caller's telephone instrument, a PBX, or a telephone company central office. Additionally, the present invention can be used with both wireless and wire telephones. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a system for automatically dialing local and long distance calls in the United States. However, the same system could also be used for dialing international calls as well.
The computer contains the system of the present invention which includes a data base grouped into N—files. These files may be searched by the computer system during and after the caller dials a number. The system first determines during dialing whether the dialed number exactly corresponds to any of the restricted numbers in File
2
, which stores numbers that have been selected for special handling. If the dialed number matches one of the restricted numbers, the system will either automatically out-dial the dialed number or the system will abort the call, depending on whether the dialed number is subject to automatic dialing.
If the dialed number does not match one of the restricted numbers, the system determines whether the first digit dialed was a 1. If the first digit dialed was a 1, the system will then determine whether ten additional digits have been dialed. In the event that ten additional digits were not dialed, the system will abort the call. On the other hand, if ten additional digits were dialed, the system out-dials the eleven digit number and stores the out-dialed number in the front of File
1
, which stores one of each of the numbers that previously has been dialed. In this manner, File
1
is continuously and automatically updated as numbers are out-dialed.
If the system determines that the first digit dialed is not a 1, the system will then determine whether seven digits have been dialed. In the event that seven digits were not dialed, the system will abort the call. On the other hand, if seven digits were dialed, the system determines whether the right hand most seven digits of any number in File
1
match the dialed number. If there is a match and the caller approves the number to be dialed, the system out-dials the number and moves the out-dialed number to the front of File
1
.
If there is a match and the caller rejects the number but elects to continue the search or if there is no match, the system will then determine whether the prefix of the seven digit dialed number is located in File
3
, which stores all of the prefixes in the caller's local area code. If the prefix of the dialed number appears in File
3
and the caller approves the number to be dialed, the system out-dials the number and moves the out-dialed number to the front of File
1
. If there is a match and the caller rejects the number but elects to continue the search or if there is no match, the system will then determine whether the prefix of the dialed number is located in the highest priority outside area code file, which stores the prefixes of the highest priority outside area code. The system proceeds through each of the N—priority outside area code files, in the same manner described above, until a match is approved and the 1+area code with the number dialed is out-dialed and stored in File
1
or until the last file has been searched without a match. The process may be interrupted, of course, if the caller hangs up or the telephone line is no longer available.
In accordance with the above description, the data base of the system of the present invention need only contain area codes and telephone numbers, and the system need not cross link any of these numbers with a caller selected name, abbreviated name or code number. Additionally, the system continually updates and alters the data base by storing previously dialed numbers in File
1
. The concept of linking a particular telephone number to its area code based on (1) the combination of the number and area code having been previously dialed, and (2) based on the available exchange prefix in selected area codes is novel.
These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
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Illinois Technology Transfer LLC
Isen Forester W.
Kassatly Samuel A.
Saint-Surin Jaques
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