Control of telemetry interface gateway for a voice call
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsStuart Mandel Garland, David B. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Relates to apparatus and methods for permitting an agent of a utility or service bureau to access customer metering equipment before or during a conversation with the customer. For accessing before a call, while the customer is still on-book, an alert signal is sent to activate the telemetering equipment prior to establishing a voice connection. For accessing during the call, an alert signal is sent while the customer is off-hook. Advantageously, the measurement can be made in conjunction with the oral contact with the customer, thus making customer contacts more efficient and providing better service to customers.
Claims11
A method of communicating between an agent of a service company and a customer wherein the customer has a Telemetering Interface Gateway (TIG) connected to the customer's telephone line comprising the steps of:
- responsive to the customer's dialing a predetermined telephone number establishing a connection between the TIG of said customer and control equipment for one or more agent positions of said service company;
- sending control signals to said TIG for controlling operations of said TIG;
- sending response signals from said TIG for reporting responses to said control signals;
- subsequently establishing a voice connection between said agent position and said customer telephone station.
A TIG (Telemetering Interface Gateway) for communicating with an agent position comprising a control processor;
- said control processor comprising memory and a central processing unit;
- said memory for storing a program for controlling said control processor;
- said control processor responsive to on-hook suppressed ringing voice band signals received from a control computer over a telephone line connected to said TIG for becoming activated for controlling customer premises equipment;
- said control processor further being activated responsive to receipt of voice band signals received over said telephone line wherein said signals are sent while a subscriber telephone connected to said line is in an off-hook supervisory state;
- said TIG being deactivated without sending a signal for disconnecting a call to said subscriber telephone.
Apparatus connected to the customer's telephone line for communicating with a service company, comprising:
- means, responsive to the customer's dialing a pre-determined telephone number for controlling establishment of a connection between a TIG (Telemetering Interface Gateway) of said customer and control equipment for one or more agent positions of said service company;
- means for receiving control signals for controlling operations of said TIG;
- means for sending response signals from said TIG for reporting responses to said control signals;
- and
- means for subsequently establishing a voice connection between said agent position and said customer telephone station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.