Telephone Network Messaging

Abstract

In a messaging system, a messaging server transmits signals over the telephone network to be received by equipment at, e.g., the customer premises. Upon receiving a specific signal, the receiving equipment automatically signals the telephone network to connect the call, such as by going off-hook or by performing a hook flash sequence. In the connected state, the receiving equipment can receive data over the network, such as data to provide the recipient with notification information such as emergency notification messages.

1 . An emergency information communication apparatus for connection to a telephone network having a caller-identification feature, wherein the caller-identification feature communicates data to a called party, the apparatus comprising:
 a data receiver receiving data communicated by the caller-identification feature;   a processor processing received data to determine an emergency message.   
     
     
         2 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a speaker announcing the emergency message. 
     
     
         3 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a display displaying the emergency message. 
     
     
         4 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is integrated into telephone equipment for receiving conventional telephone calls over the telephone network. 
     
     
         5 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a database of pre-programmed emergency messages wherein the processor is arranged to access the database to retrieve emergency messages from the database. 
     
     
         6 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the emergency message is not pre-programmed into the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a detector that automatically signals the telephone network to connect the call upon receipt of pre-determined data. 
     
     
         8 . The emergency information communication apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the detector that automatically signals the telephone network to connect the call by going off-hook. 
     
     
         9 . An emergency information communication method for use in a telephone network having a caller-identification feature, wherein the caller-identification feature communicates data to a called party, the method comprising:
 receiving data from the caller-identification feature at recipient telephone equipment;   processing the received data to determine an emergency message.   
     
     
         10 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 9  further comprising announcing the emergency message. 
     
     
         11 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 9  further comprising displaying the emergency message. 
     
     
         12 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 9  wherein the emergency message is retrieved from a database of pre-programmed emergency messages. 
     
     
         13 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 9  wherein the emergency message is not pre-programmed into the receiving equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 9  wherein the telephone network automatically connects the call upon receipt of pre-determined data. 
     
     
         15 . An emergency information communication method for use in a telephone network having a caller-identification feature, wherein the caller-identification feature communicates data to a called party, the method comprising:
 processing an emergency message to generate transmit data;   transmitting the transmit data using the caller-identification feature to recipient telephone equipment.   
     
     
         16 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 15  further comprising sending data to the recipient telephone equipment over the telephone network to instruct the recipient telephone equipment to automatically signal the telephone network to connect the call. 
     
     
         17 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 16  further comprising sending non-voice data to the recipient telephone equipment over the telephone network after the recipient telephone equipment automatically signals the telephone network to connect the call. 
     
     
         18 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 15  wherein the caller-identification feature provides a telephone number of an actual calling party. 
     
     
         19 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 15  wherein the caller-identification feature provides a telephone number of a simulated calling party. 
     
     
         20 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 15  wherein telephone number information corresponds to an emergency message in a database of pre-programmed emergency messages. 
     
     
         21 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 15  further comprising identifying plural recipients, each having a respective telephone equipment and telephone number. 
     
     
         22 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 21  wherein the recipients are identified on the basis of geographical location. 
     
     
         23 . The emergency information communication method of  claim 21  wherein the same emergency message is selected for each of the plural recipients. 
     
     
         24 . An emergency information communication apparatus for use in a telephone network having a caller-identification feature, wherein the caller-identification feature communicates data to a called party, the method comprising:
 a processor processing an emergency message to generate transmit data;   a data transmitter transmitting the transmit data using the caller-identification feature to recipient telephone equipment.