On-Hold Message System

Abstract

A programmable in-the-skin or intelligently connected message on hold delivery system is disclosed which comprises a message storage system and a processor for generating prompts which are transmitted to a control device. The prompts are received at the control device and allow an operator to select from a number of options in order to select, among other things, certain ones of the messages stored on said message storage system for playback, as well as the sequence in which said messages are to be played back. The message playback devices are each provided with one or more libraries of messages, and comprise at least one or more audio and/or visual advertising messages. Said system enables the user to start a pre-recorded audio or visual message at the beginning each time a caller is placed on hold in the telephone system.

1 . An on-hold messaging system, comprising:
 a business telephone system comprising a plurality of lines or extensions on which a calling party from outside the system may be placed on hold;   a storage device for storing a plurality of messages;   a message playback device for playing said messages; and   a control device for permitting a user of said telephone system to select one or more messages from among said plurality of stored messages and one or more lines or extensions from among said plurality of lines or extensions on which said one or more selected messages are to be played by the message playback device when a caller or called party is placed on hold by said telephone system;   wherein the number of said one or more lines or extensions selected using said control device can be less than the total number of said plurality of lines or extensions.   
     
     
         2 . An on-hold messaging system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control device permits said user to select the order in which said one or more selected messages are to be played by said message playback device on said one or more selected lines or extensions. 
     
     
         3 . The on-hold messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said control device permits said user to select a first message from the plurality of messages to be played by said message playback device on a first line or extension from among said plurality of lines or extensions, and to select a second message from said plurality of messages to be played by said message playback device on a second line or extension from among said plurality of lines or extensions, wherein said first message is different from said second message. 
     
     
         4 . An on-hold message system of  claim 1 , wherein said control device is selected from the group consisting of a proprietary telephone instrument, a standard DTMF telephone, a general purpose computer, a cellular telephone, and a hand-held computer device. 
     
     
         5 . An on-hold message system of  claim 1 , wherein said message playback device comprises a processing device, and wherein said storage device stores said messages as respective files. 
     
     
         6 . An on-hold message system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said messages comprises at least one of an audio message, a video message and a multimedia message selectable to be played to the user. 
     
     
         7 . An on-hold message system, comprising:
 a telephone system comprising a plurality of lines or extensions; and   an on-hold message playback device intelligently connected to or integrated with said telephone system and playing messages to outside callers into said telephone system that are placed on hold on one of said lines or extensions;   wherein said on-hold message playback device is programmable through a communication device operatively communicating with said telephone system to selectively program at least one message for playback on a selected one of said lines or extensions.   
     
     
         8 . An on-hold message system of  claim 7 , wherein said on-hold message playback device provides prompts to a user of said telephone system, said on-hold message playback device further being operable to receive response signals from said user. 
     
     
         9 . An on-hold message system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said prompts includes a list of messages which said user can select for playing by said on-hold message playback device. 
     
     
         10 . An on-hold message system of  claim 8 , wherein said user response signals correspond to a playlist comprising data relating to said plurality of messages, and wherein said on-hold message playback device is operable in response to said user response signals to implement said playlist. 
     
     
         11 . An on-hold message system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said prompts comprises a portion of a message playable by said on-hold message playback device. 
     
     
         12 . An on-hold message system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said prompts includes a list of messages which said user can select for playing by said on-hold message playback device. 
     
     
         13 . An on-hold message system of  claim 12 , wherein said current playlist and said pending playlist comprise reference codes corresponding to selected messages. 
     
     
         14 . An on-hold message system of  claim 12 , wherein said pending playlist comprises a date and time corresponding to when said pending playlist is to be implemented by said message playback device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a message playback device to play on-hold messages through a telephone system, comprising the steps of:
 storing a library of discrete and individually accessible messages for playing by said message playback device;   storing information for uniquely identifying each of said messages in a memory of said message playback device;   selecting at least one of said messages from said library for playing by said message playback device;   selecting at least one line or extension of a telephone system on which said message playback device is to play said at least one selected message, wherein the number of lines or extensions selected can be less than the total number of lines or extensions of the telephone system; and   playing at least a portion of said at least one selected message on said message playback device to an outside party placed on hold on said at least one line or extension.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said stored information comprises at least one of a title and an identification code. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating and transmitting prompts relating to said stored messages to a control device; and   using said control device to transmit response signals to said message playback device corresponding to said at least one selected message.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving said response signals at said message playback device; and   accessing said at least one selected message from said library.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said messages are stored on at least one optical disc.