US 2001/0040950 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSUMER-INITIATED BUSINESS SOLICITATION CALLING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention discloses a telecommunications system initiating telephone connections between, for example, a consumer and a service provider based on the criteria provided by the consumer and the services available from the service provider. The system is suitable for consumers requiring direct communication with a staff member of a service provider capable of meeting the consumer's service requirements. The system compiles a prioritized list of service providers matching the consumer's criteria. Starting with the first service provider on the list, the system rings the service provider and determines whether or not a staff member answers the call. If the line is busy or the call is not answered by a staff member, the system moves on to the next service provider on the list until a service provider having a staff member is located. Once such a service provider is located, the system rings the consumer and connects the two parties. If the system cannot locate such a service provider, the consumer is given an opportunity to repeat or modify the search.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for selecting a service provider based on a subscriber's service requirements and for establishing a telephone connection between the subscriber and the service provider comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a database comprising records of service providers, wherein each record comprises at least one telephone number and a plurality of data fields;
(b) collecting a plurality of subscriber requirements;
(c) selecting a subset of records from the database, wherein the plurality of subscriber requirements matches at least one of the data fields in the subset of records selected;
(d) creating a list comprising the at least one telephone number from each record in the subset of records;
(e) selecting a first telephone number from the list;
(f) initiating a call to the first telephone number;
(g) determining if the call is answered by a person;
(h) if the call is answered by a person, connecting the subscriber to the call;
and
(i) if the call is not answered by a person, selecting a next telephone number from the list and repeating steps (f), (g), (h) and (i) until a person answers a call or the list is exhausted.

7 more elements

A telephone system for selecting a service provider based on a subscriber's service requirements and establishing a telephone connection between the subscriber and the service provider comprising:

(a) a service switching point connected to a plurality of telephone lines;
(b) a service node communicating with the a service switching point;
and
(c) a service control point communicating with the service switching point and communicating with the service node, having a database comprising a plurality of records for a plurality of service providers, wherein each record of the plurality of records comprises a telephone number and a plurality of data fields storing information for each service provider of the plurality of service providers;
wherein, the service switching point routes a subscriber's call to the service node;
the service node collects a first plurality of service requirements;
the service node sends the first plurality of service requirements to the service control point;
the service control point selects a second plurality of service providers from the database matching the first plurality of service requirements;
the service control point instructs the service switching point to create a first call between the service node and a first service provider from the second plurality of service providers;
the service switching point notifies the service control point when the first call is answered, busy or unanswered;
the service control point determines if a first answered call should be connected to the subscriber;
and, the if the first answered call should be connected, the service control point instructs the service switching point to connect the first answered call to the subscriber, otherwise, the service control point instructs the service switching point to create a second call between the service node and a next service provider from the second plurality of service providers.

9 more elements

A telephone system for selecting a service provider based on a subscriber's service requirements and for establishing a telephone connection between the subscriber and the service provider comprising:

(a) a telephone service switching point;
(b) a service node communicating with the telephone service switching point, comprising a first computer-readable medium encoded with a first computer-readable program code for causing the service node to collect from the subscriber information regarding services required;
(c) a service control point communicating with the telephone service switching point, comprising a second computer-readable medium encoded with at least one computer-readable data structure for storing records of service providers, wherein each record of the database of records of service providers comprises at least one telephone number and a plurality of data fields;
(d) a third computer-readable medium encoded with a second computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to select a subset of records from the at least one data structure, wherein the information collected from the subscriber matches at least one data field in the subset of records selected;
(e) a fourth computer-readable medium encoded with a third computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to create a list identifying the at least one telephone number from each record in the subset of records;
(f) a fifth computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to select a first telephone number from the list;
(g) a sixth computer-readable medium encoded with a fifth computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to initiate a call to the first telephone number;
(h) a seventh computer-readable medium encoded with a sixth computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to determine if the call is answered by a person;
(i) an eighth computer-readable medium encoded with a seventh computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to connect the subscriber to the call if the call is answered by a person;
and
(j) a ninth computer-readable medium encoded with an eighth computer-readable program code for causing the service control point to select a next telephone number from the list and to repeat steps (f), (g), (h) and (i) if the call is not answered by a person until a person answers a call or the list is exhausted.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for consumer-initiated business solicitation calling system

Life of this patent

System and method for consumer-initiated business solicitation calling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22