Secure valet telephone system

Abstract

A secure valet telephone system is provided having a computer accessible by a live operator, a private encrypted database containing a plurality of contact numbers for one or more parties, with the contact numbers accessible by the computer, a telephone number through which a caller may contact the live operator and be connected by the live operator to a preferred contact number of a party chosen by the computer based upon data in said database, wherein the preferred contact number is hidden from the live operator. This system facilitates more efficient calling by connecting the calling party with the call location at which the contact party is most likely to be reached. The actual number dialed is concealed from the operator in the interests of privacy and security.

1 . A secure valet telephone system comprising: 
 a computer accessible by a live operator;    a private encrypted database containing a plurality of contact numbers for one or more parties, said contact numbers being accessible by said computer;    a telephone number through which a caller may contact said live operator and be connected by said live operator to a preferred contact number of a party chosen by said computer based upon data in said database, wherein said preferred contact number is hidden from said live operator.    
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said private encrypted database is updated to include a record of said call from said caller to said party via said operator.  
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said preferred contact number comprises a number at which a previous connection was made if said previous connection occurred within a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       4 . A secure valet telephone system comprising: 
 a computer accessible by a live operator;    a private encrypted database containing a plurality of contact numbers for subscribers to said system and being accessible by the computer;    a telephone number through which a user may contact said live operator and be connected by said live operator to a preferred contact number of a selected subscriber to said system chosen by said computer based upon data in said database, wherein said preferred contact number is hidden from said live operator.    
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said user contacts said operator by placing a call to a phone number associated with said subscriber and wherein said call is forwarded via a call forwarding feature to said operator.  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said private encrypted database is updated to include a record of said call from said user to said subscriber via said operator.  
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said preferred contact number comprises a number at which a previous connection was made if said previous connection occurred within a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       8 . A secure valet telephone system comprising: 
 a private encrypted database containing one or more contact numbers for a party;    a telephone access number through which a subscriber can obtain access to the system;    means accessible by a live operator to connect the subscriber to the live operator and operable by the live operator to connect the subscriber to a preferred contact number for said party based upon data contained in said database, wherein said preferred contact number is hidden from said live operator.    
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said subscriber contacts said operator via an autodialer feature.  
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said subscriber contacts said operator via a phone having one-touch feature for connecting to said operator.  
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said subscriber contacts said operator via a voice activated command.  
   
   
       12 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said private encrypted database is updated to include a record of said call from said subscriber to said party via said operator.  
   
   
       13 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said preferred contact number comprises a number at which a previous connection was made if said previous connection occurred within a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       14 . A method for connecting a caller with of a secure valet telephone system to a user comprising the steps of: 
 placing a call to said system by said caller;    connecting said caller to said system, said system comprising a computer accessible by a live operator;    searching a private encrypted database accessible by said computer in response to a request by said caller to contact a party;    retrieving from said database a preferred contact location for said party; and    connecting said caller to said party at said preferred contact location.    
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said preferred contact location is determined in accordance with the time of the call.  
   
   
       16 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said preferred contact location comprises a location at which a previous connection was made if said previous connection occurred within a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       17 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein a phone number associated with said preferred contact location is hidden from said operator.  
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said placing step further comprises the step of: 
 placing a call to a phone number associated with a subscriber to the system; and    forwarding said call to said system via a call forwarding feature.    
   
   
       19 . A secure valet telephone system for connecting a caller to a party comprising: 
 means for connecting a caller to a computer system accessible by a live operator;    means for determining a preferred contact location for said party; and    means for directing a call from said caller to said party at said preferred contact location.    
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising means for hiding a phone number associated with said preferred contact location from said operator.