Multiple format telephonic interface control system

Abstract

Call data signals actuated by a telephone terminal are provided from a telephone communication system to indicate call data as the called number, the calling number and the calling equipment. The call data signals address related control functions for selectively interfacing a live operator terminal or a multiple format multiple port data processing system. The interface connection involves providing a specific format as for automated processing or to prompt an operator. Screening tests and format selection are performed to make a determination. Individual telephone terminals and individual data formats are arranged and interfaced under controlled conditions specified by the call data. Time tests, history tests and demographic tests may be executed in addition to basic selection and qualification tests. Control may be executed from active data storage for assembled control words and record words. Record words for individual calls may be stored along with developed data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for interfacing a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats to concurrently process data, and (3) a plurality of live operator stations with prompting capability, for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising: 
 call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said terminals;    selection means for selecting one of said formats under control of said call data means to thereby further specify any defined conditions for a connection of a call either to said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations, at least one of said formats having at least one specified condition; and    interconnect switch means for providing format data and controlling connections from a calling remote terminal to a port of said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations under control of said selection means.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to    claim 1    further including test means to specify test conditions for certain of said formats and means to test compliance with said conditions to further control said interconnect switch means.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to    claim 2    wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the time of a call.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to    claim 2    wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the history of the calling remote terminal.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to    claim 2    wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the demographics of the calling remote terminal.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to    claim 1    wherein said selection means includes a look-up table for specifying said formats addressed by call data.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to    claim 1    wherein said selection means includes a control storage location and means for setting control data in said control storage location responsive to said call data.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to    claim 1    further including a voice generator means for prompting a caller.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to    claim 1    further including means for storing data representative of calls.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to    claim 9    wherein said means for storing includes means for storing billing data.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to    claim 1    further including means to provide an abort signal, the system being responsive to said abort signal to reactuate said interconnect switch means for providing alternative connections with format data.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to    claim 11    further including test means to specify test conditions for certain of said formats and means to test compliance with said conditions to further control said interconnect switch means.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to    claim 1    wherein said selection means selects under control of DNIS signals.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to    claim 1    wherein said selection means selects under control of ANI signals.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to    claim 1    wherein said selection means selects under control of equipment type signals.  
     
     
         16 . An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for interfacing a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats to concurrently process data, and (3) a plurality of live operator stations with prompting capability, for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising: 
 call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said terminals;    selection means for selecting one of said formats under control of said call data means to thereby further specify any defined conditions for a connection of a call either to said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations, at least one of said formats having at least one specified condition;    test means for testing the specified conditions to provide approval signals; and    interconnect switch means for providing connections from a calling remote terminal to a port of said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations under control of said selection means and conditional, in conditioned formats, on an approval signal from said test means under control of said approval signals from said test means.    
     
     
         17 . A process for interfacing a telephonic communication system including remote terminals either with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for a calling terminal, or one of a plurality of operator stations with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals, as to indicate called and calling numbers, said process including the steps of: 
 receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communication system for a calling remote terminal;    selecting a processing format either for said multiple port, multiple format processing system or one of said plurality of operator stations for the calling remote terminal under control of said data signals as the selected format;    testing the selected format in relation to said call data signals; and    conditionally interfacing said selected format to a calling terminal under control of said testing of call data signals.