Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis – Message management
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-12-18
Smith, Creighton (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
Message management
C379S201010, C379S112030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telecommunications networks and more particularly to services provided by such networks.
The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is capable of providing customers with many services other than basic telephony. Digital networks such as that provided by BT in the United Kingdom have the ability to effect call connection very quickly. Thus dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signalling from customers before, during or on termination of telephone calls can be used to connect special services. Further, special service platforms may be called by customers requesting connection to specified network numbers to provide additional services.
One service provided by the PSTN in the United Kingdom allows customers to identify a calling party's telephone number either using a display unit which is signalled when a call is offered or by calling a code to be advised of the latest call made. The customer may wish to know more about the source of the received call prior to making a return call as a result of the caller display service or as a result of a mailbox or answering machine message requests a return call.
Similarly, prior to making a call to a known telephone number the customer may wish to consider the likely cost involved or special factors associated with the telephone number such as the type of destination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a telecommunications network including means to store data identifying a feature associated with at least a code portion of a telephone number, means responsive to signals transmitted from a customer line which signals identify the code portion, means to decode the data into a respective description of the feature associated with the transmitted code and means to transmit to the customer line an audible description of the decoded feature.
Preferably, the description associated with the code portion identifies a geographic location. Alternatively or additionally a charging rate identifier may be provided such that customers may be informed of the cost of making a call to the specified code. Further identifiers may include network type identity such that calls to a mobile network which may be insecure for certain purposes may be avoided.
Where the decoded feature is a changing rate identifier or denotes a call to a special service such as to an insecure network, control means may require confirmation signals to be transmitted from the customer line before completion of a call through the network.
In a further development of the invention, the data stored may be associated with a complete telephone number. Thus using a known telephone number a calling customer may obtain a post code or ZIP code for the address associated therewith.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4747124 (1988-05-01), Ladd
patent: 5148474 (1992-09-01), Haralambopoulos
patent: 5333180 (1994-07-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5930343 (1999-07-01), Vasquez
patent: 327 472 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 491 497 (1992-06-01), None
patent: 96 03000 (1996-02-01), None
Gardner David S
Morley Michael C
Sturgess Ian C. C
British Telecommunications public limited company
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Smith Creighton
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