WO1997026748A1

WO1997026748A1 - Multi-ring telephone method and system

Info

Publication number: WO1997026748A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/016584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stanley Kugell; David Silver
Original assignee: Pilgrim Telephone, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-01-19
Filing date: 1996-10-17
Publication date: 1997-07-24
Also published as: US5802160A; AU7446996A

Abstract

A method of and system for providing telephone service, whereby a list of telephone numbers are associated with a representative telephone number. A call to the representative telephone number is detected (300), a list in memory is accessed (303) and a plurality of telephone numbers on the list are simultaneously signalled (304). Thereafter, signalling is terminated at at least one of the plurality of telephone numbers (310), thereby allowing a connection to be established with one or more parties at telephone numbers among the plurality of telephone numbers. Each telephone number on the list may be a representative number which is associated with another list of telephone numbers.

Description

MULTI-RING TELEPHONE METHOD AND SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and

system for providing telephone service.

Telephones and telephone usage are

proliferating in today's society. People have more than

one telephone number in their home, a telephone number at

the office, in their boat, in their car, cellular phones

in their pocket, voice mail systems, answering systems

and beepers, all to ensure that they can be reached.

If a caller desires to find someone at any one

of a number of possible locations at which that person

might be found, this poses a problem. The current

telephone switch network does not provide any organized

way of carrying out this goal. While it is possible to

subscribe to a call forwarding service, it is a nuisance

to constantly call in to change the forwarding number if

one is moving from number to number. Moreover, if one

forgets to change the forwarding number or to enable the

call forwarding system, a call and perhaps an opportunity

will be lost.

It is, of course, possible to provide a caller

with all of the different telephone numbers at which the

called party might be located, however, the caller must then serially call each of the numbers until reaching the

desired party. Aside from being tiresome to the caller, the average caller would probably try only a few of the places before giving up. Additionally, if the called

party has a telephone voice mail system or an answering

machine installed at one of the numbers, after a caller

leaves one message, it is unlikely that the caller will call the other numbers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to

eliminate the disadvantages of the present telephone

system.

Another object of the present invention is to

provide a method and system for providing telephone

service wherein a plurality of telephone numbers are

simultaneously signalled to allow a calling party to find a called party at one of a plurality of numbers in an

organized manner and in as short a time as possible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method which automatically,

adaptively and dynamically seeks out a called party at a

plurality of different numbers. Still another object of the present invention

is a method and system for providing a conference call

telephone service.

In accordance with one embodiment of the

present invention, a list of telephone numbers is

associated with a representative telephone number. A

call to the representative telephone number from a

calling telephone number is detected and a plurality of

telephone numbers on the list are simultaneously

signalled. Thereafter, the signalling at at least one of

the plurality of telephone numbers is terminated.

The representative telephone number can be

either a geographic or non-geographic number. Non-

geographic numbers include NOO-XXX-XXXX numbers (where N

is, for example, 5, 7, 8 or 9) and the like, whereas

geographic numbers would be those with conventional area codes such as 202-XXX-XXXX (which includes the

Washington, D.C. area) and the like.

The list associated with the representative

telephone number can be a list stored at the telephone

company switch office of a party to be called and

submitted by that party. Alternatively, a party to be a

caller can submit a list of numbers to a telephone switching office for associating with a representative

number. This would be particularly useful in setting up

a conference call. Numbers can be added to the list at

any ti e.

In another embodiment of the present invention,

at least one of the numbers on the list can itself be a

representative number with its own list of associated

telephone numbers. In this way, a plurality of numbers

from a first list and a plurality of numbers from at

least one second list can be simultaneously signalled

upon the detection of a call to the first mentioned

representative telephone number. This would be

particularly useful in setting up periodic conference

calls where the called parties do not have fixed

locations. In this case, the caller sets up a main

representative number with its associated list of

intended called parties numbers, some of which may be

representative telephone numbers with their associated

lists. The caller simply calls the main representative

telephone number which signals at all of the telephone

numbers which at the time have been designated by each of

the called parties to be signalled.

The termination of the signalling at any of the plurality of telephone numbers that are being signalled

can be effected by detecting an off-hook indication at a

number, or by the off-hook indication together with

verification that the party that is reached is the party

being called. For example, the called party could enter

a pin code on the telephone instrument to verify that the

right party has been called. Alternatively, voice

recognition could be used to verify that the person

answering the phone is the proper party.

Telephone numbers also can be deleted from the

list by a variety of means. For example, the person

submitting the list to the telephone company could delete

a number from the list at any time. Numbers could be

placed on the list and automatically be removed after a

period of time, for example, 24 hours, or 3 months.

Additionally, if a called party at a called number on the

list desires to have the number taken off, the called

party can remove the telephone number from the list by

entering a code. Telephone numbers also can be removed

as a result of non-use, e.g., after a period of a certain

number of months, or in response to a security failure,

e.g., the answering party fails to enter the proper pin

code after a number of tries, or if the number has been disconnected or changed.

Numbers on the list also can be made ineligible for being called based upon transitory characteristics or parameters. For example, one number on the list may be

called only during daytime hours or during evening hours.

Another number on the list, for example, may be called only during certain days of the week, e.g., either Monday through Friday or Saturday and Sunday only. Certain

numbers could be called only during particular months out of the year, e.g., the summer months if the telephone number is for a vacation home.

The system also can be configured to terminate

signalling at all of the plurality of telephone numbers in response to a valid off-hook indication at any one of

the numbers. Alternatively, the termination could occur

after two or more or all of the numbers had valid off- hook indications. This would be particularly useful in setting up a conference call.

In accordance with another aspect of the

present invention, certain of the numbers on the list can be included or excluded from the numbers that are to be signalled depending upon characteristics of the calling

number. Since the telephone switching office can identify the calling number with Automatic Number

Identification (AND circuitry, it is possible to

determine the identity of the calling number before the signalling is commenced. Thus, each telephone number on

the list may have associated with it data in the form of

a table which includes calling numbers for which the

number on the list should or should not be signalled.

Thus, if a party's list consists of five numbers, the party additionally may designate, for example, that his

home number is to be signalled only for calls from a table of specified calling numbers and that his in-town

apartment's number is not to be signalled for calls from

another table of specified calling numbers.

In accordance with the present invention, when a caller dials a specific representative telephone

number, the picking up of the telephone (with

verification if required) at any of the simultaneously signalled numbers from the list establishes a connection among the caller and the other parties who have answered, but have not disconnected.

The list maker can change the list of numbers via a remote operation at any time, including adding or

deleting permanent or temporary numbers to the list, and can add or change the expiration parameters of numbers. Alternatively, expiration parameters including ring/no

answer or detect a never answered telephone number can be used to remove numbers from the list.

As can be seen from the above, an adaptive teleconferencing operation can be carried out by

simultaneously signalling all of the telephone numbers to

be teleconferenced and then establishing a conference call among all of those who answer.

The called party can establish a preference

table which prevents specific parties from reaching the called party at certain places by using the automatic number identification system to determine the number of

the calling party. The calling party's number is

compared against a table in storage which can include or exclude certain calling numbers from access to signalling

certain numbers on the list. This system also allows

selecting callers who get special treatment either by ANI

or by entry of a pin number or subscription number or the

like.

The present invention allows instant

subscription to a service of this type by calling a

geographic number or a non-geographic number, such as an 800 number, from a single line telephone, setting

configuration options and a list of telephone numbers.

Thereafter, the switching system is configured to

simultaneously signal all of the numbers on the list.

These and other objects and advantages of the

present invention will be described in more detail with

respect to the following description with reference to

the attached drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone system

according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of each switching

office of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram of an

alternative embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the memory of

Fig. 2;

Figs. 4-5 are flow charts of method steps

according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic of the relay net of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7A-7D are schematic diagrams of alternative embodiments of telephone systems according to

the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1, a calling party places a

call with an instrument at a calling telephone number 11

to a representative telephone number, which, for the

purposes of this description, is received at an

originating switch office 12. The representative

telephone number can be a geographic or non-geographic

telephone number. The representative telephone number

can be an instrument specific telephone number, or a

virtual telephone number (i.e., one not associated with a

specific telephone instrument) . In the example, the

representative telephone number is identified at the

originating switch office 12 as one associated with

destination switch offices 14, 15. In the general case,

the representative telephone number can be identified as

associated with one or more destination offices, one of

which could be the originating office itself. In the

exemplary embodiment, the representative number is 800-

555-1111, and it contains two numbers on its list, 800-

555-1234 serviced by destination switch office 14, and 202-555-6789 serviced by destination switch office 15.

In the example, the calling party is trying to make a

conference call at 10 AM, Tuesday, September 19, 1995 to

two parties, one of whom is on his customary extended

summer/fall vacation. The call from calling telephone

number 11 is routed through a subscriber line interface

card in the originating switch office 12, which sends

information including the caller identification through

the relay net 13 to the destination switch offices 14 and

15. Thus, in accordance with one embodiment of the

present invention, rather than signalling the

representative number itself, a call to the

representative number 800-555-1111 results in a plurality

of numbers being signalled simultaneously, namely

telephone number 26 (202-555-6789) and the representative

number for numbers 20-25 (800-555-1234) , both of which

are on the list associated with 800-555-1111, which, in the exemplary embodiment, is stored at a tandem switching

office within relay net 13.

Normally, the destination switch offices 14 and

15 would route the incoming call directly to a

destination telephone number by physically connecting an

incoming line to an appropriate outgoing line. However, according to the present invention, in the case of

destination switch office 14, the called number is itself

a representative number associated with a list of

telephone numbers including home telephone number 20,

vacation home telephone number 21, in-laws' home

telephone number 22, boat telephone number 23, cellular

telephone number 24, and voice mail telephone number 25.

This list could have been prepared by the party involved, for example, before leaving on extended vacation in July.

Thus, rather than signalling only one number

corresponding to the representative telephone number 800-

555-1234, a plurality of the numbers 20-25 are signalled

simultaneously in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the circuitry for each switch

office in more detail. As shown therein, the incoming

call is received at input port M, which is the next

available input port at the switching office and is

applied to telephone switch 144. Telephone switch 144 is

also connected to a calling number identification circuit

140, which is able to determine the ANI of the incoming

call. A called number detection circuit 141 is also

available for determining the identity of the number

being called. In the case of switch office 12, the number being called is the representative telephone

number 800-555-1111. In the case of switch office 14,

the number being called is the representative number 800-

555-1234. In the case of switch office 15, the number

being called is 202-555-6789.

Also receiving information from the telephone

switch 144 is the microprocessor 142 with its associated

memory 143. The microprocessor receives the called

telephone number from the called number detection circuit

141 and looks in memory 143 to see if there is a list of

numbers associated therewith. In the case of the

originating switch office 12, the list would include two

numbers which will connect via relay net 13 to

destination switch offices 14 and 15. In the case of

destination switch office 15, there is no list associated

with the number and only office telephone number 26 is

signalled. In the case of destination switch office 14,

as shown in Fig. 3, there are six telephone numbers on a

list associated with the representative telephone number.

The microprocessor then configures the telephone switch

to simultaneously signal at a plurality of the numbers on

the list via output ports Nl-Nn via subscriber line

interface cards Sl-Sn. All of the switch offices 12, 14 and 15, as well as those within relay net 13, could have

similar circuitry for signalling a plurality of telephone

numbers. In the case of originating switch office 12,

the output ports would be used for signalling the

telephone number 800-555-1111 at a tandem switching

office within relay net 13. In the case of that tandem

switching office, the output ports would be used for

signalling the telephone numbers 800-555-1234 and 202-

555-6789. In the case of destination switch office 14,

the output ports would be used for signalling the

telephone numbers 20-25. In the case of destination

switch office 15, the output ports would be used for

signalling the telephone number 202-555-6789.

Memory 143 also has other stored information

relating to the list of associated telephone numbers. In

the example, the information for the representative

telephone number 800-555-1234, which is stored at

destination switch office 14, is set forth in the first

column of Fig. 3, and includes the signalling termination

requirements and the signalling parameters for each

number on the list. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the

home telephone number would only be signalled only from

6:00 p.m. through 12:00 a.m. seven days a week, the vacation home number would be signalled only from 9:00

a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, the in-laws'

home telephone number would be signalled only from 6:00

p.m. through 10:00 p.m. during the summer month of

August, the boat telephone number would be signalled only

on Saturday and Sunday, the cellular telephone would be

signalled at all times and the voice mail telephone

number would be signalled only during a particular

fourteen day period.

Thus, if 800-555-1234, the representative

telephone number on the list of 800-555-1111, is called

on Tuesday, September 19, 1995 at 10:00 AM, there will be

simultaneous ringing at the vacation home telephone

number 21 and the cellular telephone number 24. If, on

the other hand, the call is made Saturday, August 19,

1995 at 9:00 p.m., signalling will occur at the home

telephone number 20, the in-laws' home telephone number

22, the boat telephone number 23, and the cellular telephone number 24.

The microprocessor also makes use of the ANI

from the calling number identification circuit 140. The

memory 143 stores ANI signalling parameters associated

with each number in the list. Telephone number 22 has a table B of telephone numbers which would be excluded from

signalling it. Thus, if the ANI identification of the

calling number matches a number on table B, the in-laws'

home telephone number would not be signalled, even if the

time parameters would allow it to be signalled.

Similarly, telephone number 23 has a table C of

permitted callers associated with it . The microprocessor

compares the ANI of the calling number with table C of

permitted callers, and, unless there is a match, the boat

telephone number would not be signalled, even if the time

parameters would allow it to be signalled.

The cellular telephone number 24 has no

exclusions and thus it can be reached by any calling

party.

It also should be noted that the in-laws' home

telephone number and the voice mail telephone number have

delay parameters associated with them. Thus, after a

predetermined time period of signalling, the

microprocessor will thereafter signal additionally the

in-laws' home telephone number 22 and the voice mail

telephone number 25, provided, of course, that the other

signalling parameters are satisfied.

The switching office circuitry also includes a verification circuit 145. The verification circuit is

used in order to verify that the party that is reached is

the party being called. Memory 143 contains verification

parameters to verify that the person answering the

telephone is the proper party. Verification circuit 145

compares the code or data in memory 143 with the code or

data received from the answering party to perform

verification.

The verification code can be a PIN code which

the answering party must key in in order to obtain

verification, it can be voice data which would then be

compared to a pre-recorded sample of the voice of the

answering party for a match and thus verification, or it

could be the name of a person which the verification

circuit would compare to a name keyed-in or said by an

answering party.

The switching station further comprises an off-

hook detector 146 which detects an off-hook signalling

indication from one or more of the numbers being

signalled.

Although a plurality of telephone numbers are

signalled simultaneously, the manner in which the

signalling is terminated is dependent upon the type of telephone service desired.

In the instance where the information set forth

in memory 143 is entered by a party to ensure that that

party be reached by a caller when the called party is at

one of various locations, memory 143 will preferably have

an instruction from the party making the list that the

signalling terminate at all of the plurality of telephone

numbers, upon the off-hook indication, with or without

verification, as determined by the verification

parameters, at any one of the plurality of telephone

numbers. This is indicated in the termination parameter

of the representative number, shown in Fig. 3 as "1 OFF-

HOOK" .

Alternatively, the called party may desire that

more than one person be involved in a telephone

conversation with a calling party, for example, for a

particular calling party such as a child away at school .

In this case, the called party may desire that the caller

talk to both the child's father and mother on the same

call. In that instance, the memory 143 would have

instructions to terminate signalling after an off-hook

indication at two of the plurality of telephone numbers,

again, with or without verification, as determined by the verification parameters. This would appear as "2 OFF-

HOOK" .

In another embodiment of the present invention,

the list is supplied by a party desiring to set up a

conference call, for example, a conference call among

various business associates. In that instance, the

representative telephone number has a plurality of

different numbers on the list and, upon the calling of

the representative number, a plurality of the numbers on

the list are simultaneously signalled. Because the

caller desires to speak to all of the persons on the

list, signalling will not terminate until there is an

off-hook indication at all of the plurality of telephone

numbers. Because there is a possibility that one of the

persons will not be available, the signalling could

terminate after a suitable number of rings.

Alternatively, one or more of the called numbers on the list may itself be a representative

telephone number with an associated list of telephone

numbers which would be called simultaneously and for

which signalling among those numbers would terminate

after an off-hook indication at one of the plurality of

those telephone numbers. Signalling among the numbers on the first list, however, would not terminate until the

requirements applicable to the first list are met.

Other alternative embodiments are possible in

accordance with the present invention. Thus, for

example, the signalling can be terminated when there is

an off-hook indication at a majority of the plurality of

telephone numbers, for example, three out of five. This

might be useful for a telephonic Board of Directors

meeting.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of

the present invention, a number of default templates can be available to a party storing a list at a switch

office. For example, if a party anticipating being

called, or a party attempting to reach a single party,

provides the list, a "one-party default" template could

include 1 OFF-HOOK or 10 rings for terminating

signalling, no verification, all numbers signal

simultaneously with no delay, and all numbers are

permanent. Similarly, if a party planning a conference

call provides the list, a "multiple-party default"

template could include all OFF-HOOK or 15 rings, no

verification, all numbers signal simultaneously with no

delay, and all numbers are permanent. By the use of default templates, the time for setting up a list is

greatly reduced.

An alternative embodiment of the present

invention is shown in Fig. 2A.

In this embodiment, fan out hardware in

accordance with the present invention can be an add-on 17

to an existing switch 16. After switch 16 receives an

incoming call at 161, add-on hardware 17 takes an

outgoing signal 162 from switch 16 and, if the signal is

to a representative number, breaks it into multiple

signals 171a-e and feeds those signals back into the

switch 16 as incoming signals which will be redirected as

outgoing signals 163a-e. Some of the outgoing signals

could be again multiplied and sent back to the switch 16.

The add-on hardware 17 includes those elements

140-146 which are not found in conventional switch

offices.

A more detailed description of the method of

using the apparatus shown in Figs. 1-3 is now described

in more detail with reference to the following flow

charts.

The method of the present invention is

described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 which, for the sake of clarity, illustrate the steps carried out in

switch office 14. However, the method steps are equally

applicable to all of the switching offices.

Referring now to Fig. 4, as applied to

destination office 14, in step 300, the calling number

identification circuit 140 and called number detection

circuit 141 determine from the information received over

the telephone network the identification of the telephone

number from which a call is being made and the number to

which a call is to be placed.

The identified numbers from circuits 140 and 141 are received by microprocessor 142 which accesses

memory 143 in step 301 to see if there is a list of

telephone numbers associated with the called number in

step 302. In the example, the called number, 800-555-

1234 is a representative number that has an associated

list including telephone numbers 20-25. If it were not a

representative number, then the number would be signalled

in step 312.

In step 303, microprocessor 142 applies the

parameters to update the list and to determine which

numbers from the updated list should be signalled. In

step 303, when the current time and date are compared to the deletion parameters, microprocessor 142, upon finding

a number which has expired, can remove the number from

the list automatically during that step. In the example,

assuming the call were made prior to August 31, 1995, the

deletion parameters would not require any updating of the

list. The time parameters and the ANI parameters would

then be reviewed, and based upon the information in

memory 143, the microprocessor 142 would determine which

numbers on the updated list are to be simultaneously

signalled. Assuming for the purposes of this example

that numbers 20, 22 and 24 meet all of the signalling

criteria, and further assuming that the signalling is not

terminated because the signalling termination

requirements are met, in step 304 numbers 20 and 24 would

be simultaneously signalled for five rings, after which

20 would cease to be signalled but 24 would continue to

be signalled for one ring, after which 22 would commence,

and 24 would continue, to be signalled, all in accordance

with the signalling delay parameters shown in Fig. 3.

In step 305, off-hook detector 146 looks for an

off-hook indication at any one of the signalled numbers.

Upon receiving an off-hook indication from home telephone

number 20 for example, the microprocessor looks to the verification parameters in memory 143 to see if

verification is required in step 306. If not, the call

is connected in step 308. If it is required,

verification circuit 145 then seeks verification in step

307 by means of, e.g., the input of a PIN number on the

key pad of the answering instrument. If the PIN number

is incorrect, the system will not make a connection, but

will continue to simultaneously signal the remaining

numbers of the plurality. If the verification is

correct, there will be a connection to the number in step

308.

If verification is not received, the system

determines in step 313, in accordance with the deletion

parameters, if the number should be deleted from the

list. If it should be deleted, it is deleted in step

314. Whether or not the number is deleted, signalling

continues in step 304.

Depending upon the signalling termination

requirements, i.e., the number of connections that must

be made before signalling termination (which can range

from 1 to all of the plurality of simultaneously

signalled numbers) , the number of signals (or rings) that

must be made before signalling termination, and the amount of time that must elapse, the signalling may or

may not be terminated at this time in step 309. For

example, if only a single connection is required to

terminate, then the signalling will be terminated in step

310 and the method ends. If on the other hand, two or

more connections must be made before termination, the

method returns to step 304 with the remaining numbers

signalled until another off-hook indication is received,

or the system times out in step 309.

The system also has the capability for either

the calling party or a called party (who has answered) to

manually terminate signalling at all of the other numbers

being signalled by entering a predetermined tone code,

such as "***". This code is recognized by detection

circuit 141 which applies a control signal to

microprocessor 142 which terminates signalling at the

other numbers.

It is also contemplated that the representative

number can be one that is a particular end user telephone

with the result that that particular telephone number

will be signalled simultaneously as one of the plurality

of numbers. Alternatively, the number can be a virtual

telephone number, that is, one which is not associated with any telephone instrument, as is the case in the

example.

The manner in which the information stored in

memory 143 is entered and later updated is disclosed with

regard to Fig. 5. The calling number identification

circuit 140 detects a call configuration telephone number in step 400 and the verification circuit 145 receives a password keyed in by the caller in step 401. The

microprocessor, upon receiving a favorable comparison

indication from the verification circuit 145, presents a verbal menu of various options which are available in step 402. For example, a configuration message would

play to the user a message such as press the pound key

"#" to add a new number to the list, press the star key "*" to remove a number from the list, press "S" to change

signalling parameters for a number on the list, press "V"

to change verification parameters for a number on the

list, press "X" to change signalling termination parameters for the list and press "E" to end. Depending

upon the tone received from the caller, the

microprocessor selects one of the six menus in steps 410, 420, 430, 440 450 and 460.

If a new number is to be added to the list, the caller is prompted to enter the new number in step 411

and the list is updated in step 414. When the caller is

finished in step 415, the caller returns to the menu step

402. Deletion information can also be included so that a

number can appear on the list, but be valid only until a

particular time, for example, August 31, 1995. This is

entered in steps 412 and 413.

If the caller chooses to remove a number in

step 420, the microprocessor will read through every stored number on the list in step 421 and the caller will

be prompted to hit the pound key to keep the number or

the star key to delete the number in steps 422 and 423.

If the number is to be kept, then the next number is read

out in sequence. If that number is to be not kept, it is

deleted in step 423. When the caller is finished in step

424, the caller returns to the menu step 402.

If the caller selects the change signalling parameters menu in step 430, the user will be prompted in

step 431 to enter time and date information relating to a

number. ANI and delay parameters can also be changed.

After the user is finished, the user is returned to menu

step 402.

When the caller selects the change verification parameters menu step 440, the user will be prompted in

step 441 to enter a code for each number on the list and

to indicate whether it is a PIN code, a name code or a

voice code. The menu returns the user to 402.

When the caller selects change signalling

termination requirements at step 450, the caller is

prompted to enter the signalling termination

requirements, i.e., the number of off-hooks, the amount

of time and the number of rings which will terminate

signalling. The user is then returned to the main menu

402.

The user can exit at any time by selecting the

end option in step 460.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the

present invention, the calling party enters a list of

numbers corresponding to persons with whom a conference

call will be set up. At this time, the caller will also

indicate as part of the stored information relating to

the representative telephone number, the number of off-

hook indications that will be required before the

signalling is terminated. In the case of a conference

call, it is desired that all of the plurality of numbers

have an off-hook indication if possible. Thus when the caller dials the representative number, the

microprocessor 142 effects the simultaneous signalling of

each of the plurality of numbers on the list so that they

are signalled simultaneously and does not terminate

signalling until each has an off-hook indication (or a

security failure) or there is a time out termination. As

was noted previously, each of the numbers that the caller

is calling for the conference call also can be a

representative number itself which simultaneously signals

an associated list of numbers determined by the called

party.

Numbers can also be removed from the list by

other than the person initially setting up the list. For

example, as was described above, the microprocessor 142

can remove a number from the list if its termination

parameter indicates that the number has expired.

Alternatively, the microprocessor can keep a record

stored in memory for each number of how long a period has

elapsed since an off-hook indication was received at a

particular number. After a suitable waiting time, for

example, six months or a year, the number can be

automatically removed from the list by the

microprocessor. In another situation, a person answering a call

can be prompted during the verification process to

request that the number be removed from the list. The

answering party can then enter the proper keying

information which will be understood by the

microprocessor to indicate that a number should be

removed from the list .

As used herein, the term "signalling" refers to

an indication of a call being sent, for example, ringing

a telephone. Between switching offices, signalling is

carried out without ringing.

Although various embodiments have been

described in detail above, those having ordinary skill in

the art will understand that modifications are possible

in the preferred embodiments without departing from the

teachings thereof.

While various configuration options have been

described herein, it should be understood that many other

configuration options can also be incorporated.

One option is what a calling party will hear

while the calls are being placed. At the option of the

provider, this may be a repeating message that the calls

are being placed, a synthetic ring tone or all of the actual ring tones at the same time.

As people answer a call, a temporary conference

call is obtained among those answering parties who stay

on the line. Because there is a possibility that two or

more parties may want to speak during the time they are

waiting for others to answer, the volume of whatever is

heard (after the first party answers) will be

automatically lowered.

While the system described herein has a local

office simultaneously signalling to two destination

offices via the relay net, it should be understood that

this system is not limited to such an operation and that

the local office could also signal numbers that it

serviced directly.

With respect to the possible modifications, the

relay net 13 shown in Fig. 1 will now be discussed in

more detail .

In current telephone systems, there are two

classes of switches: tandems and end offices. Tandems

connect to other switches, i.e., other tandems and end

offices, and end offices connect to tandems and end users

(subscribers) . In a given call, there is an originating

end office and a terminating or destination end office, although one physical end office may be both the

originating and terminating office for a particular call.

In the present configuration of the telephone system in

the United States, virtual telephone numbers are stored

at a tandem, while actual telephone numbers are stored at

an end office.

Referring to Fig. 6, the relay net 13 comprises

a plurality of tandems 130 connected to one another.

Each tandem is connected to one or more end offices 131,

which are connected to subscribers.

In Fig. 1, relay net 13 is shown connecting

switch offices 12, 14 and 15. In that embodiment, the

switch offices shown are all end offices, and fan outs

occur within relay net 13 and at end office 14. However,

other configurations are possible in accordance with the

present invention.

Figs. 7A-7D illustrate other configurations for

switches in accordance with the present invention. The

examples shown therein are not intended to be all

inclusive, rather they are shown by way of example.

Figs. 7A-7D show that the fanning out from a

single line to many lines can occur at any switch, i.e.,

at one or more tandems, at one or more end offices or at one or more of both tandems and end offices.

Fig. 7A illustrates one configuration where the

fan out is at an originating end office. In that

configuration, the end office 131a is the originating end

office and it fans out to three tandems 130a-130c and

directly to a subscriber line 132a (so that in this case,

it is also a destination end office) . Tandems 130a and

130b use the remainder of the relay net 13' to reach

subscribers at destination end offices 131b and 131c.

Tandem 130c communicates directly with destination end

office 131d to reach a subscriber.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7B, all of the

fanning out is done at a tandem 13Od which is connected

to the calling party via originating end office 131e.

Tandem 13Od fans out two lines directly to destination

end office 131h to reach two subscribers and one line

directly to destination end office 131i to reach one

subscriber. Tandem 130d also fans out three lines to the

remainder of the relay net 13 ' which connects one line to

destination end office 131f and two lines to destination

end office 13lg to signal two subscribers.

In Fig. 7C, the fanning out occurs at the

destination end office 131k. In this embodiment, the calling party is at an originating end office 13lj which

communicates via tandem 13Oe to the remainder of the

relay net 13 ' which then connects to destination end

office 131k, wherein the call is fanned out to four

lines, one of which is served by end office 1311.

Fig. 7D illustrates a combination of the

configurations of Figs. 7A-7C, wherein fanning out occurs

at the originating end office 131m, the tandem 130h and

destination end offices 131o and 131q. As shown, the end

office 131m fans out to three tandems 130f-h and directly

to a subscriber line 132b. Tandem 13Of connects to end

office 131n which also receives one connection from the

remainder of the relay net 13' . Tandem 130g connects to

the remainder of the relay net 13' and tandem 13Oh takes

in the single line and fans it out to eight numbers

including a direct connection to end office 13lo, four

connections to the remainder of the relay net 13 ' , two

lines to end office 131r and one line to end office 131s.

The remainder of the relay net 13 ' connects to end

offices 131n, 131o, 131p and 131q. End office 131o fans

out one incoming line to two lines, and end office 131q

fans out one incoming line to four lines.

It should be recognized that the fan outs can cause routings at a switch office that start out for

different end offices to end up at the same end office,

and vice versa, as is shown in Fig. 7C.

It is understood that the embodiments described

hereinabove are merely illustrative and are not intended

to limit the scope of the invention. It is realized that

various changes, alterations, rearrangements and

modifications can be made by those skilled in the art

without substantially departing from the spirit and scope

of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing telephone service

comprising the steps of:

associating a list of telephone numbers with a

representative telephone number;

detecting a call to the representative

telephone number from a calling telephone number;

simultaneously signalling at a plurality of

telephone numbers on the list; and

thereafter terminating the signalling at at

least one of the plurality of telephone numbers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers and thereafter adding at least one

telephone number to the stored list.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers and thereafter deleting at least one

stored telephone number from the list.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of deleting comprises deleting one stored telephone

number at a predetermined time.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the

step of deleting comprises deleting one stored telephone

number after a predetermined period of non-use.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the

step of deleting comprises deleting one stored telephone number in response to a security failure at said one

te1ephone number.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the

step of deleting comprises deleting one stored telephone

number in response to a request by a called party at said

one telephone number.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

list of telephone numbers includes a telephone number

which is a representative number.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

representative telephone number is one of a geographic and non-geographic telephone number.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

representative telephone number is one of a virtual

telephone number and a telephone instrument specific telephone number.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers including at least one telephone number

valid for a preselected time period and wherein the step

of simultaneously signalling comprises simultaneously

signalling at a plurality of valid telephone numbers on

the list.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers and a table of telephone numbers for

which calls from at least one telephone number in said

table to at least one telephone number on the list are

blocked and wherein the step of simultaneously signalling

comprises simultaneously signalling at a plurality of

non-blocked telephone numbers on the list.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of associating comprises storing the list of

telephone numbers including at least one telephone number

valid only after a preselected elapsed time period of

signalling and wherein the step of simultaneously

signalling comprises simultaneously signalling at a

plurality of valid telephone numbers on the list.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of terminating comprises terminating the signalling

at all of the plurality of telephone numbers in response

to an off-hook indication at one of the plurality of

telephone numbers.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of terminating comprises terminating the signalling

at all of the plurality of telephone numbers in response

to an off-hook indication at one of the plurality of

telephone numbers and receiving verification thereat.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the

step of receiving verification comprises receiving a

given pin code.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the

step of receiving verification comprises receiving given

response tones.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the

step of receiving verification comprises receiving

predetermined verbal responses.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the

step of receiving verification comprises voice

recognition analysis of an answering party.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of terminating comprises terminating the signalling at remaining ones of the plurality of telephone numbers in response to an off-hook indication at more than one of

the plurality of telephone numbers.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of terminating comprises terminating the signalling at one of the plurality of telephone numbers in response to an off-hook indication thereat and continuing

signalling at remaining ones of the plurality of

telephone numbers until an off-hook indication is received at each.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

step of terminating comprises terminating the signalling

at one of the plurality of telephone numbers in response to no off-hook indication thereat within a predetermined

time period.

24. A system for providing telephone service

comprising:

means for storing a list of telephone numbers associated with a representative telephone number;

means for detecting a call to the representative telephone number from a calling telephone

number; means for simultaneously signalling at a plurality of telephone numbers on the list; and

means for thereafter terminating the signalling

at at least one of the plurality of telephone numbers .

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing comprises a memory.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing the list of telephone numbers further

comprises a processor for thereafter adding at least one

telephone number to the stored list .

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing the list of telephone numbers further

comprises a processor for thereafter deleting at least

one stored telephone number from the list.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the

processor deletes one stored telephone number at a

predetermined time.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the

processor deletes one stored telephone number after a

predetermined period of non-use.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the

processor deletes one stored telephone number in response

to a security failure at said one telephone number.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the processor deletes one stored telephone number in response

to a request by a called party at said one telephone

number.

32. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

list of telephone numbers includes a telephone number

which is a representative number.

33. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

representative telephone number is one of a geographic

and non-geographic telephone number.

34. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

representative telephone number is one of a virtual

telephone number and a telephone instrument specific

telephone number.

35. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing the list of telephone numbers includes

data for at least one telephone number indicating a

preselected time period wherein said at least one

telephone is valid and wherein the means for

simultaneously signalling simultaneously signals at a

plurality of valid telephone numbers on the list.

36. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing the list of telephone numbers includes

a table of telephone numbers for which calls from at least one telephone number in said table to at least one

telephone number on the list are blocked and wherein the

means for simultaneously signalling simultaneously

signals at a plurality of non-blocked telephone numbers

on the list.

37. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing the list of telephone numbers includes

data for at least one telephone number indicating a

preselected elapsed time period of signalling only after

which the at least one telephone number is valid and

wherein the means for simultaneously signalling

simultaneously signals at a plurality of valid telephone

numbers on the list.

38. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for terminating terminates the signalling at all of

the plurality of telephone numbers in response to an off-

hook indication at one of the plurality of telephone

numbers.

39. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for terminating terminates the signalling at all of

the plurality of telephone numbers in response to an off-

hook indication at one of the plurality of telephone

numbers and includes means for receiving verification thereat .

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the

means for receiving verification comprises means for

receiving a given pin code.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein the

means for receiving verification comprises means

responsive to given tones.

42. The system according to claim 39, wherein the

means for receiving verification comprises means

responsive to predetermined verbal responses.

43. The system according to claim 39, wherein the

means for receiving verification comprises a voice recognition analyzer for analyzing the voice of an

answering party.

44. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for terminating terminates the signalling at

remaining ones of the plurality of telephone numbers in

response to an off-hook indication at more than one of

the plurality of telephone numbers.

45. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for terminating terminates the signalling at one of

the plurality of telephone numbers in response to an off-

hook indication thereat and continues signalling at remaining ones of the plurality of telephone numbers

until an off-hook indication is received at each.

46. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for terminating terminates the signalling at one of

the plurality of telephone numbers in response to no off-

hook indication thereat within a predetermined time

period.

47. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing, means for detecting, means for

simultaneously signalling and means for terminating are

disposed in at least one tandem switch.

48. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing, means for detecting, means for

simultaneously signalling and means for terminating are

disposed in at least one end office switch.

49. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing, means for detecting, means for

simultaneously signalling and means for terminating are

disposed in at least one tandem switch and at least one

end office switch.

50. The system according to claim 24, wherein the

means for storing, means for detecting, means for

simultaneously signalling and means for terminating are at least partly add-on circuitry to a telephone switch.