Phone batch calling task management system

Abstract

A system and method for postponing and managing outgoing calling tasks for on or off-site retrieval are presented. More precisely a system and method are presented to compile a list of pending calling tasks, transfer a task to a calling device and prompt a user to make a call. Optionally the list may contain synchronized sublists, one sublist on personal computer and a second sublist on a mobile calling device. At the completion of a calling task or other event, the list is automatically updated and the

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 a shows a first embodiment of the current invention to store and effect a postponed call including a first list management device and a second calling device both devices being contained in a laptop computer;

FIG. 1 b shows a second embodiment of the current invention to store and effect a postponed call including a list management device in a desktop computer and a calling device in a cordless phone;

FIG. 1 c shows a third embodiment of the current invention wherein multiple authorized persons upload call lists onto a server, and a user makes calls from a traditional telephone;

FIG. 1 d shows a fourth embodiment of the current invention wherein a first sublist is stored by an authorized person on an office computer and a second synchronized sublist is stored on a smartphone;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an office work session according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an offsite calling session according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a list (including two sublists) of postponed calling tasks according to the fourth embodiment of the current invention;

FIG. 5 is an overview of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for management of a calling task for a user comprising: a) a list that contains only at least one record, each said record including a name and each said record representing a pending calling task to a party associated with said name and at least one said record representing a postponed calling task;b) a first device configured to create and maintain said list, andc) a second device configured to initiate a new call to an active party associated with an active name included in an active record from said list.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is configured to facilitate adding of a new record containing a particular name to said list by dragging and dropping an object associated with said particular name into an icon associated with said list.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a contact from a contact list, a received e-mail message, a sent e-mail message, a dialed Voice over IP telephone conversation, a segment of text, an Outlook task, and an Outlook appointment.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said new record includes a telephone number and said telephone number is associated with said new record using inclusion and linking.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is configured to maintain said list by performing at least one maintenance operation selected from the group consisting of deleting a defunct record, adding a new record, downloading a new record from said second device, and downloading a new record from a third device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is further configured to convert a reminder of an approaching appointment into said active record.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said record further includes an alternative telephone number.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said party is a plurality of people and said postponed and pending calling task includes a conference call.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second device is configured to present said active name to the user and said second device is further configured to receive a response, from the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said response is selected from the group consisting of initiating said new call, skipping said active record and deleting said active record from said list.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said second device is further configured to change a method of presentation of said active name in response to a state of said second device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is configured to add a new record to said list according to an instruction of a person from a plurality of authorized persons.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said first device is further configured to receive said instruction over a network.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising d) A third device configured to convey said instruction to said first device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said active record further includes a time interval acceptable to initiate said new call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first device is configured to skip said new call when a current time is outside of said time interval.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said current time is adjusted according to a caller time zone and a time zone of said party.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is further configured to perform a maintenance operation on said list in response to an incident.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said incident is selected from the group consisting of initiation of said new call, initiating of an independent call to said party, receiving a call from said party, receiving an SMS message from said party, receiving an e-mail from said party, receiving an instruction conveyed via a data communication service from an authorized person, receiving an instruction from an automatic list cleaning algorithm, receiving by said second device of an unanswered telephone call, initiating on said second device of an unanswered call, initiating on said second device of a call to said party, downloading an information from a third device and a receiving a scheduled instruction.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is configured to add a new record to said list in response to an occurrence.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said occurrence is selected from the group consisting of an Outlook scheduled notice, a time lapse since a previous call, a missed call, and an unanswered call.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device and said second device are included in a mobile phone.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said second device is a mobile device and said first device is separate from said mobile device, the system further comprising: d) a communication channel for transferring said active name from said first device to said mobile device.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said first device is located at a site and said second device is configured to initiate said new call off said site, the system further comprising: d) a communication channel for transferring said active record from said first device to said second device.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said second device is independent from said first device and wherein said list includes a first sublist residing in said first device and a second sublist residing in said second device the system further comprising: d) a communication channel for synchronizing said first sublist and said second sublist.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said first device is configured to detect an instance of said record which is contained only in said first sublist and said first device is configured to effect said synchronizing by performing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of copying said instance from said first sublist to said second sublist, moving said instance from said first sublist to said second sublist and deleting said instance from said first sublist.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said second device is configured to maintain said second sublist.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said second device is configured to perform a maintenance operation in response to an incident.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said first device is a personal computer and said second device is a mobile phone.

30. A method for postponing an outgoing calling task for a user, the method comprising the steps of: a) compiling in an electronic device a list containing only at least one record, wherein each said record includes a name and wherein each said record represents a pending calling task to a party associated with said name and at least one of said records represents a postponed calling task;b) transferring an active record of said records to a second device, andc) initiating, automatically via said second device, a new call to an active party associated with said active record.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: d) adding a record to said list by dragging and dropping an object associated with said name into an icon associated with said list.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: d) instructing said second device by the user to initiate said new call, andwherein said step of initiating follows said step of instructing.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of: e) prompting by said second device of the user to initiate said new call, andwherein said step of instructing is a response to said step of prompting.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of instructing includes giving at least one directive selected from the group consisting of initiating said new call, skipping said active record without initiating said new call, and deleting said active record.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said second device is a mobile device.

36. A method for postponing an outgoing calling task for a user, the method comprising the steps of: a) compiling in an electronic device a list containing at least two records;b) transferring an active record of said records to a second device;c) initiating, automatically via said second device, a new call to an active party associated with said active record, andd) designating a new active record from said at least two records automatically upon completion of said new call.