WO2001011792A1

WO2001011792A1 - Telecommunications voice prompt

Info

Publication number: WO2001011792A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/021612
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Stupica; Yong Seok Cho; Stephen Shireman
Original assignee: Semax Wireless, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-08-06
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: AU6529300A

Abstract

A wireless local loop (WLL) apparatus (10) that locally analyzes the digits dialed on a phone (14); determines if the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; completes the call if the digits dialed are sufficient; and prompts the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if the digits dialed are not sufficient to complete the call. The prompt preferably consists of a voice message that is locally generated and played by the WLL apparatus to the user before the call is connected to the telecommunications network (12) serving the WLL apparatus. The WLL apparatus may also prompt a caller to indicate whether a call is being originated from a conventional voice phone or from other devices such as a facsmile machine. The WLL apparatus may then transmit this information as out-of-band or in-band signaling accompanying the call for use by the telecommunications network in providing service options to the originating and destination phones.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS VOICE PROMPT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing voice or other types of prompts in a wireless local loop system to instruct a caller that additional information is needed to complete a call or to perform other functions.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Wireless local loop (WLL) systems provide wireless connection between telephone subscribers' premises and a telecommunications provider's point of presence (POP). These systems are often used instead of conventional wired local loops in areas where it is difficult and costly to install telecommunications wires, such as in rocky or soggy terrain or in developing countries that lack telecommunications infrastructure. WLL systems are also commonly deployed by competitive local exchange carriers that wish to bypass incumbent local exchange carriers in a particular service area. WLL systems do not connect an outgoing call to a telecommunications network until the caller completely dials a phone number and then presses a call connection key (typically the # button). If the caller fails to completely dial a number and/or press the call completion key, nothing happens and nothing instructs the caller to complete the dialing process. This is because WLLs, unlike conventional landline local loops, do not connect a caller to a central office when the caller takes the phone off hook. Therefore, the central office cannot provide a prompt to the caller if the caller incompletely or incorrectly dials a number. Many users of WLL systems, especially new users, find this confusing because they are accustomed to conventional landline local loop systems which do provide prompts if a number is incompletely or incorrectly dialed. Another limitation of existing WLL systems is that they cannot determine the type of call being made or prompt a caller to provide such information. For example, existing WLL systems cannot distinguish between calls destined for conventional voice phones and calls destined for other devices such as fax machines or modem-equipped computers. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of WLL systems. More particularly, the present invention provides a WLL apparatus that locally analyzes the digits dialed on a phone; determines if the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; completes the call if the digits dialed are sufficient; and prompts the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if the digits dialed are not sufficient to complete the call. The prompt preferably consists of a voice message that is locally generated and played by the WLL apparatus to the user before the call is connected to the telecommunications network serving the WLL apparatus.

The WLL apparatus may also prompt a caller to indicate whether a call is destined to a conventional voice phone or to other devices such as a facsimile machine.

The WLL apparatus may then transmit this information as out-of-band or in-band signaling accompanying the call for use by the telecommunications network in providing service options to the originating and destination phones.

To further verify that a caller correctly dials a phone number or to determine the type of call being requested (i.e., voice or fax), the WLL apparatus may also store the phone numbers and call identifying information for all successfully completed calls in a database. Alternatively, a prompt can ask the user if the completed set of call digits should be stored in the database. The WLL apparatus may then reference the database each time the caller dials digits to determine if the dialed digits match a number in the database. If they do, the apparatus automatically connects the call and transmits the corresponding call identifying information without prompting the caller to indicate what type of call is being originated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a WLL apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram generally depicting the steps performed while operating the WLL apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawing figures, and particularly Fig. 1 , a WLL apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The WLL apparatus is configured to route calls between a telecommunications network 12 and one or more telecommunications devices 14 connected to the apparatus and to provide prompt features as described herein.

The WLL apparatus 10 broadly includes a wireless transceiver 16, a telecommunications device connection port 18, a processor 19, and a subscriber loop interface circuit 20 coupled therewith. The components of the apparatus may be housed in a suitable enclosure 22 and/or mounted to a circuit board as a matter of design choice.

The wireless transceiver 16 is operable to transmit outgoing calls and other information to the telecommunications network 12 and to receive incoming calls and other information from the network. The transceiver includes conventional transceiver components such as an antenna 24 and internal RF circuitry and also includes a processor 19 and internal memory (not shown) for providing the prompt functionality of the present invention. The preferred wireless transceiver is a model no. MSM 2300 transceiver manufactured by Qualcomm. Other wireless transceivers that may be used with the present invention are those manufactured by VLSI or Motorola. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the processor 19 is programmed or otherwise configured for analyzing digits dialed on the telecommunications device; determining if the digits dialed are sufficient to complete a call; completing the call if the digits dialed are sufficient; and prompting the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if necessary. The processor 19 is preferably an integral component of the wireless transceiver such as a Model 80C186EC (Intel design) processor provided with the Qualcomm MSM2300 transceiver described above. The processor may also be a standalone device that is coupled with the wireless transceiver.

The internal memory of the wireless transceiver is used to store a database of successfully completed phone numbers and to store voice messages. The database of numbers and the voice messages may be stored in the same or separate memory. The memory is preferably non-volatile memory provided as an internal component of the wireless transceiver but may also be external memory coupled with the wireless transceiver.

The telecommunications port 18 is provided for coupling the telecommunications device 14 with the WLL apparatus 10. The port is preferably a conventional female-type telecommunications coupler such as an RJ-11 jack operable for coupling with a corresponding male-type jack connected to the telecommunications device.

The subscriber loop interface circuit 20 is coupled between the wireless transceiver 16 and the port 18 for interfacing the transceiver with the telecommunications device 14 connected to the port. The subscriber loop interface circuit permits the WLL apparatus to operate as a wireless local loop so that a POTS telecommunications device coupled with the apparatus can send communications to and receive communications from the wireless network 12. When the POTS telecommunications device is taken off-hook, this off-hook condition is detected by the subscriber loop interface circuit. A subscriber loop interface circuit that may be used with the present invention is the model L8560A C low-power subscriber loop interface circuit manufactured by Lucent Technologies.

The telecommunications network 12 serving the WLL apparatus 10 may be any conventional network such as a landline or wireless telecommunications network, wide area network, local area network, internet, or intranet. For example, the network may be a digital cellular system or the digital, PCS, CDMA wireless network owned and operated by Sprint Spectrum L.P., a multipoint, multichannel distribution service known as Sprint PCS.

The telecommunications device 14 coupled with the WLL apparatus 10 may be any communication device that is operable to send and receive communications over a wireless, landline or satellite communication network such as a wireless phone, landline phone, computer modem, fax machine, teleconferencing unit, cordless phone, combination landline/wireless phone, etc. The preferred telecommunications device is a POTS device such as a phone or facsimile machine. Operation

The operation of the WLL apparatus 10 in implementing the method of the present invention is generally depicted in the flow diagram of Fig.2. The method begins when a user attempts to make an outgoing call from the telecommunications device 14 by taking the device off-hook as depicted in step 200. The subscriber loop interface circuit 20 senses the off-hook condition and signals the wireless transceiver 16. In response, the processor of the wireless transceiver monitors digits being dialed by the user as depicted in step 202. Specifically, the processor 19 determines if the user presses a key on the telecommunications device 14 within 5 seconds, or any other selected time period, after the telecommunications device is taken off-hook or after the last key was pressed in steps 202 and 204. If no key is pressed during this time interval, the processor moves to step 206 where it delivers a prompt to the telecommunications device to instruct the user to complete a dialing sequence. This prompt is preferably a voice or audio prompt or may be any type of prompt used to alert the user. For example, the processor may deliver an audio message to the telecommunications device that tells the user that he or she must enter a complete phone number and then strike the # key before a call can be connected. After delivering this voice message, the processor returns to step 202 to continue to monitor for the dialing of digits.

If the processor determines in step 202 that a key has been pressed, it moves to step 208 where it determines if the last key pressed was the # key. If it was, thus indicating that the user has completed the dialing of a phone number, the processor moves to step 214 to instruct the wireless transceiver to transmit the call request to the telecommunications network in a conventional manner.

However, if the answer to step 208 is no, indicating that the user has not completed dialing, the processor moves to step 210 where it determines whether the number of keys pressed since the telecommunications device was taken off-hook is greater than or equal to 6. If the answer to step 210 is no, the processor loops back to step 202 to await the dialing of additional digits. The threshold of 6 digits in step 210 was selected because the minimum number of digits needed to complete a call in some countries is 6. Any other reasonable threshold number may be selected for applications requiring a different number of dialed digits.

If the answer to step 210 is yes, the processor moves to step 212 where it compares the dialed digits to the database of successfully completed numbers stored in the memory of the wireless transceiver to determine if the dialed digits match any of the stored numbers. If they do, the processor determines that the user has completed the dialing of a phone number even though he or she did not press the # key, or any other designated call completion key. The processor therefore instructs the wireless transceiver to transmit the call request to the telecommunications network in step 214 without requiring the caller to press a call completion key. However, if the dialed digits do not match any of the stored numbers in the database so that the answer to step 212 is no, the processor returns to step 202 to continue analyzing the dialing of digits as described above.

Once the processor has determined that a complete phone number has been dialed and has instructed the wireless transceiver to transmit a call request, it moves to step 216 where it monitors the length of the call to determine if the call duration exceeds a selected time period. For example, the processor may monitor the duration of the call to determine if it exceeds 30 seconds as depicted in step 216. If it does, the processor moves to step 218 where it stores the dialed number in the database of successfully completed numbers and records the date and time that the number was stored. If the call is not completed or the duration of the call is less than the selected time period, however, the processor bypasses step 218. The processor may also be configured to send a prompt to the telecommunications device inquiring whether the user wishes to store a number in the database after a call has been completed, regardless of the duration of the call.

Once the database of successfully dialed numbers becomes full, the processor may selectively delete stored numbers in several ways. For example, the processor may merely delete the number that has been in the database the longest or may count how often the stored numbers match dialed digits and then delete entries that match dialed digits the least often. The database can be accessed locally by the telecommunications device 14 or remotely by other devices to change certain parameters thereof.

In addition to prompting the user to completely dial a phone number, the processor may also prompt the user to indicate whether a call is destined for a conventional voice phone or another type of device such as a facsimile machine. For example, the processor may prompt the user to merely press the # key if a voice call is being made but to press another sequence of keys such as ^*329 if a call is being made to a facsimile machine. The processor and wireless transceiver can then send this call- type designation information to the network along with the call as a part of in-band or out-of-band signaling so that the network can transmit the information to the receiving telecommunications device.

The processor may also consult the database of successfully dialed numbers to determine the type of call being made. For this embodiment, the database includes a code for each stored number indicating whether the number is for a conventional voice phone or for another type of device such as a facsimile machine. Then, once the processor determines that a dialed number matches one of the numbers in the database in step 212 as described above, the processor may automatically connect the call and provide the call-type designation code to the network without requiring the user to enter this information.

When connecting a call to a facsimile machine, the WLL apparatus can simulate a Called Station Identification tone (CED) as an audio prompt to the user. A prompt can also be sent from the WLL apparatus to instruct the user to initiate facsimile transmission. The WLL apparatus 10 may also be configured to operate as an answering machine. Specifically, if a call directed to the telecommunications device 14 is not answered, the processor may store a voice message in the internal memory of the wireless transceiver. The user may then play back messages from the memory either locally or remotely. The prompting features of the present invention may also be used in other applications. For example, prompting may be used to assist a user in activating a wireless phone without requiring the user to physically visit an activation center or to read the activation instructions accompanying the phone.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, a user can respond to prompts from the system with keyed input or user generated sounds. Furthermore, the WLL apparatus can deliver messages to the user without prompting the user for further action. Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of prompting a user of a telecommunications device to provide information necessary to complete a call before the telecommunications device is connected to a telecommunications network serving the telecommunications device, the method comprising the steps of: analyzing a plurality of digits dialed on the telecommunications device by the user; determining if the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; completing the call if the digits dialed are sufficient; and prompting the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if the digits dialed are not sufficient to complete the call by delivering a prompt to the user before the call is connected to the telecommunications network.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the analyzing, determining, completing, and prompting steps are performed by a wireless local loop apparatus coupled with the telecommunications device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further including the steps of: analyzing the additional information provided by the user to determine if the additional information along with the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; completing the call if the additional information and the digits dialed are sufficient; and re-prompting the user to provide information necessary to complete the call if the additional information and the digits dialed are still not sufficient to complete the call by delivering a prompt to the user before the call is completed.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes determining if a proper number of digits have been dialed by the user.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the determining step further includes determining if a call connection key has been pressed after a proper number of digits have been dialed by the user.

6. A wireless local loop apparatus comprising: a wireless transceiver for transmitting calls to and receiving calls from a telecommunications network; a port for coupling with a telecommunications device; interface circuitry operatively coupled between the wireless transceiver and the port for interfacing operation of the telecommunications device with the wireless transceiver; and call completion software resident in the apparatus and including - a code segment for analyzing a plurality of digits dialed on the phone by the user; a code segment for determining if the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; a code segment for completing the call if the digits dialed are sufficient; and a code segment for prompting the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if the digits dialed are not sufficient to complete the call by delivering a prompt to the user before the call is connected to the telecommunications network.

7. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 6, the call completion software further including - a code segment for analyzing the additional information provided by the user to determine if the additional information along with the digits dialed are sufficient to complete the call; a code segment for completing the call if the additional information and the digits dialed are sufficient; and a code segment for re-prompting the user to provide information necessary to complete the call if the additional information and the digits dialed are still not sufficient to complete the call by delivering a prompt to the user before the call is completed.

8. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further configured to operate as an answering machine.

9. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the code segment for determining if the digits dialed are sufficient includes a code segment for determining if a proper number of digits have been dialed by the user.

10. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the code segment for determining if the digits dialed are sufficient further includes a code segment for determining if a call connection key has been pressed after a proper number of digits have been dialed by the user.

11. A wireless local loop apparatus comprising: a wireless transceiver for transmitting calls to and receiving calls from a telecommunications network; a port for coupling with a telecommunications device; interface circuitry operatively coupled between the wireless transceiver and the port for interfacing operation of the telecommunications device with the wireless transceiver; and call completion software resident in the apparatus and including - a code segment for analyzing a plurality of digits dialed on the phone by the user; a code segment for comparing the digits dialed to a plurality of digits in a database; a code segment for automatically completing the call if the digits dialed match the digits in the database; a code segment for prompting the user to provide additional information necessary to complete the call if the digits dialed do not match the digits in the database.

12. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the code segment for prompting includes delivering a prompt to the user before the call is connected to the telecommunications network.

13. The wireless local loop apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the additional information includes and indication by the user that the call is to be sent.