Automatic processing of calls with different communication modes in a telecommunications system
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorMichael A. Yudkowsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multimode service system processes calls routed to it by a digital switch in a telecommunications system wherein choices are selectable by the user. Calls are processed by automatically determining the mode of communication utilized by the calling party and communicating with the calling party utilizing the calling party's communication mode to obtain information needed to route the call or implement user selectable features. A reply from the user provides information which determines feature selection or a call routing path. The multimode service system transmits a signal to the telecommunications system which defines the feature or path selection based on the reply from the user.
Claims20
In a telecommunications system in which a user selects a communication mode having an associated modulation format of signals, the improvement comprising:
- means for monitoring calls seeking operator assistance;
- means for automatically determining the communication mode used for communications by the user for said calls based on the modulation format of signals received from the user, said determining means making said determination independent of communication path completion to another party's customer premises equipment;
- means for sending at least one message to said user using the same modulation format of signals as said modulation format of signals received from the user.
A method for automatically processing calls in a telecommunications system in which a user can utilize different communication modes having corresponding signals of different modulation type comprising the steps of:
- monitoring calls seeking operator assistance;
- automatically determining a communication mode to be utilized for communications from said system to a user initiating one of said calls based on the modulation type of signal received from the user, said determination being made independent of communication path completion to another party's communication channel;
- sending at least one message to the user using said determined communication mode.
A telecommunication method for automatically preprocessing a call from a user over a channel in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call seeking operator assistance from the user over said channel;
- automatically determining a mode of communication used by said user based on a predetermined set of communication modes, said communication modes having signals of different modulation types, said determination being made independent of communication path completion to another party's customer premises equipment;
- sending to the user over said channel a menu of choices using said determined mode of communications;
- receiving a reply from the user over said channel indicating a choice selected from said menu;
- transmitting a signal to the telecommunications system which identifies a call process action to be taken corresponding to said selected choice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.