U.S. patent application number 13/970297 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-05 for systems and methods for using caller data to add a phone number to an outbound-call list.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Hank J. Hundemer.
Application Number | 20140153708 13/970297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49122428 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140153708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hundemer; Hank J. |
June 5, 2014 |
Systems and Methods For Using Caller Data To Add A Phone Number To
An Outbound-Call List
Abstract
Systems and methods for using caller data to add a phone number
to an outbound-call list. In one aspect, a method involves (i) a
record manager receiving caller data corresponding to a phone-call;
(ii) responsive to the record manager receiving the caller data,
the record manager retrieving from a data storage, a first
school-record corresponding to the received caller data, wherein
the first school-record is associated with a second school-record;
(iii) the record manager retrieving the second school-record; (iv)
the record manager making a determination that the first
school-record is associated with a closed operational-status; and
(v) responsive to the record manager making the determination that
the first school-record is associated with the closed
operational-status, the record manager causing an administrator
phone-number corresponding to the second school-record to be added
to an outbound-call list associated with a workstation
terminal.
Inventors: |
Hundemer; Hank J.;
(Bellevue, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tribune Broadcasting Company,
LLC
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
49122428 |
Appl. No.: |
13/970297 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13691294 |
Nov 30, 2012 |
8537998 |
|
|
13970297 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/207.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2242/02 20130101;
G06Q 10/00 20130101; H04M 3/42 20130101; H04M 3/53375 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/207.02 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/42 20060101
H04M003/42 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: a record manager receiving, via a
communication interface, caller data corresponding to a phone call
initiated by a phone terminal; responsive to the record manager
receiving the caller data, the record manager retrieving from a
data storage a first school-record corresponding to the received
caller data, wherein the first school-record is associated with a
second school-record; the record manager retrieving from the data
storage the second school-record; the record manager making a
determination that the first school-record is associated with a
closed operational-status; and responsive to the record manager
making the determination that the first school-record is associated
with the closed operational-status, the record manager causing an
administrator phone-number corresponding to the second
school-record to be added to an outbound-call list associated with
a workstation terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first school-record is
associated with a public school and the second school-record is
associated with a private school.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the private school is located
within a geographical district of the public school.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the record manager retrieving
from the data storage the second school-record occurs in response
to the record manager retrieving from the data storage the first
school-record.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the phone call is a first
phone-call, and wherein the phone terminal is a first
phone-terminal, the method further comprising: the workstation
terminal receiving a request to call the added phone-number; and
responsive to receiving the request, the workstation terminal
causing a second phone terminal to initiate a second phone-call to
the added phone-number.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller data comprises one of
caller identification data and automatic number identification
data.
7. A method comprising: receiving caller data corresponding to a
phone call; retrieving a first location-based-organization-record
(LBO-record) corresponding to the received caller data, wherein the
first LBO-record is associated with a second LBO-record; retrieving
the second LBO-record; making a determination that the first
LBO-record is associated with a type of operational-status; and
responsive to making the determination that the first LBO-record is
associated with the type of operational-status, causing a
phone-number corresponding to the second LBO-record to be added to
an outbound-call list.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first LBO-record is
associated with a public school and the second LBO-record is
associated with a private school.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the private school is located
within a geographical district of the public school.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein retrieving the second LBO-record
occurs in response to retrieving the first LBO-record.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the phone call is a first
phone-call and wherein the outbound-call list is associated with a
workstation terminal, the method further comprising: the
workstation terminal receiving a request to call the added
phone-number; and responsive to receiving the request, the
workstation terminal causing a phone terminal to initiate a second
phone-call to the added phone-number.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: the phone terminal
receiving the first phone-call.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the caller data comprises one of
caller identification data and automatic number identification
data.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving caller data
corresponding to the phone-call comprises a record manager
receiving, via a communication interface, caller data corresponding
to a phone-call initiated from a phone terminal, and wherein
retrieving the first LBO-record corresponding to the received
caller data comprises retrieving from a data storage the first
LBO-record corresponding to the received caller data.
15. A system comprising: a communication interface; a processor;
and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having
stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the
processor, cause the system to perform a set of functions, the set
comprising: receiving via the communication interface, caller data
corresponding to a phone call; retrieving a first
location-based-organization-record (LBO record) corresponding to
the received caller data, wherein the first LBO-record is
associated with a second LBO-record; retrieving the second
LBO-record; making a determination that the first LBO-record is
associated with a type of operational-status; and responsive to
making the determination that the first LBO-record is associated
with the type of operational-status, causing a phone-number
corresponding to the second LBO-record to be added to an
outbound-call list.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first LBO-record is
associated with a public school and the second LBO-record is
associated with a private school.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the private school is located
within a geographical district of the public school.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the phone call is a first
phone-call, and wherein the outbound-call list is associated with a
workstation terminal, the set further comprising: the workstation
terminal receiving a request to call the added phone-number; and
responsive to receiving the request, the workstation terminal
causing a phone terminal to initiate a second phone-call to the
added phone-number.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the set further comprises: the
phone terminal receiving the first phone-call.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the caller data comprises one
of caller identification data and automatic number identification
data.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This disclosure is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/691,294 filed Nov. 30, 2012.
USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY
[0002] Throughout this application, unless otherwise specified or
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, "a" or "an" is meant
to read as "at least one," and "the" is meant to read as "the at
least one."
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The disclosed systems and methods relate generally to phone
and broadcasting technologies.
BACKGROUND
[0004] A location-based organization (LBO) is an organization that
generally operates out of a physical location, and that generally
relies on the presence of people at that location to facilitate its
operation. At any given time, an LBO has an operational status such
as open or closed. When an LBO is open, the LBO generally expects
select people to travel to and attend the LBO to facilitate its
operation. When an LBO is closed, the LBO generally does not
expect, and may even discourage people from traveling to and
attending the LBO. Typically, an LBO maintains a schedule
indicating when the LBO is expected to be open or closed. However,
in some instances the LBO may decide to deviate from this schedule
and change its operational status with little or no notice.
[0005] An example of an LBO is a school. Generally, a school relies
on the presence of staff and students to facilitate its operation
of educating students. Typically, a school maintains a schedule
indicating on which days the school is expected to be open
(commonly referred to as "school days"), and on which days the
school is expected to be closed. As such, on any given school day,
most of the school's staff and students are likely to travel to and
attend the school. However, as discussed above, in some instances,
a school may deviate from its schedule. For example, in response to
weather conditions (e.g., a severe snowstorm), as a safety
precaution the school may close on a day that it was otherwise
expected to be open. The school may then cause dissemination of a
message, which indicates the school's closed operational-status.
The school may cause the message to be disseminated with the intent
that targeted recipients (e.g., the staff and students) receive the
message and as a result, refrain from traveling to the school. For
example, the school may initiate a phone tree to disseminate the
message or may provide the closed operational-status to a news
organization that may in turn, disseminate such a message, such as
via television-broadcast.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect, a method involves (i) a record manager
receiving, via a communication interface, caller data corresponding
to a phone call initiated by a phone terminal; (ii) responsive to
the record manager receiving the caller data, the record manager
retrieving from a data storage a first school-record corresponding
to the received caller data, wherein the first school-record is
associated with a second school-record; (iii) the record manager
retrieving from the data storage the second school-record; (iv) the
record manager making a determination that the first school-record
is associated with a closed operational-status; and (v) responsive
to the record manager making the determination that the first
school-record is associated with the closed operational-status, the
record manager causing an administrator phone-number corresponding
to the second school-record to be added to an outbound-call list
associated with a workstation terminal.
[0007] In another aspect, a method involves: (i) receiving caller
data corresponding to a phone call; (ii) retrieving a first
LBO-record corresponding to the received caller data, wherein the
first LBO-record is associated with a second LBO-record; (iii)
retrieving the second LBO-record; (iv) making a determination that
the first LBO-record is associated with a type of
operational-status; and (v) responsive to making the determination
that the first LBO-record is associated with the type of
operational-status, causing a phone-number corresponding to the
second LBO-record to be added to an outbound-call list.
[0008] In another aspect, a record manager includes a communication
interface, a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that,
upon execution by the processor, cause the record manager to
perform a set of functions. The set includes (i) receiving via the
communication interface, caller data corresponding to a phone call;
(ii) retrieving a first LBO record corresponding to the received
caller data, wherein the first LBO-record is associated with a
second LBO-record; (iii) retrieving the second LBO-record; (iv)
making a determination that the first LBO-record is associated with
a type of operational-status; and (v) responsive to making the
determination that the first LBO-record is associated with the type
of operational-status, causing a phone-number corresponding to the
second LBO-record to be added to an outbound-call list.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example
system.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example phone
switch of the system of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an example record
manager of the system of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4A shows a first part of a flow chart illustrating
functions in accordance with an example method.
[0013] FIG. 4B shows a second part of the flow chart of FIG.
4A.
[0014] FIG. 4C shows a third part of the flow chart of FIG. 4A.
[0015] FIG. 4D shows a fourth part of the flow chart of FIG.
4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
I. Overview
[0016] A school may face a challenging decision in deciding whether
to close in response to weather conditions. On one hand, the school
has an interest in remaining open to facilitate its operation of
educating students. However, on the other hand the school has an
interest in promoting the safety of the people who must travel to
the school and be exposed to the weather conditions. As such, a
school's closing decision involves the balancing of competing
interests, and may rely in large part on the nature and/or severity
of the weather conditions.
[0017] Since weather conditions constantly change, a school may
continually monitor such conditions and wait to make a closing
decision until shortly before the scheduled start time of the
corresponding school day. Particularly in these instances, the
school has an interest in quickly and effectively disseminating a
message indicating that the school is closed so that the intended
recipients may receive the message before traveling to the
school.
[0018] Historical data of school-closing activity suggests that in
some instances, one school may close only after another school has
closed. For example, where a private school and a public school are
located within the same geographic region (e.g., within the public
school's district), in many instances the private school closes
only after the public school closes. One potential explanation for
such a link is that a public school is more likely to have a bus
service as compared to a private school, and therefore the public
school may be more focused on how weather conditions affect the
roads. Accordingly, a private school may often defer and/or give
weight to the public school's decision.
[0019] Given the potential public and private school link described
above, a private school may have an interest in quickly receiving a
message indicating that the public school is closed such that the
private school can itself make a closing decision and cause
dissemination of its own message.
[0020] As noted above, one way in which a school may cause
dissemination of a message indicating that the school is closed is
with the assistance of a news organization. In this instance, a
person who is authorized to change the operational status of the
school (referred to herein as a "school administrator"), such as a
principle or superintendent, may make a phone call to a designated
recipient (referred to herein as an "operator") at the news
organization, and provide the operator with the school's closed
operational-status. The operator may then store the closed
operational status in a computing-device via a user interface. In
response, a notification system connected to the computing-device
may send a message with the operational status of the school to a
list of subscribers via email or text message. The notification
system may also publish the message on a website. Further in
response, the notification system may overlay the message on video
being broadcast. Such an overlayed message is commonly referred to
as a news ticker or crawl and may, for instance, be used in
connection with a television news show.
[0021] A news organization also has an interest in disseminating
such messages quickly and effectively so as to gain a reputation
from the public that the news organization is a reliable source for
important, breaking news. Indeed, as with any type of news or
related content, a news organization may obtain a competitive edge
over another news organization by being the first to disseminate
the message.
[0022] Schools and news organizations also have an interest in
ensuring that a message indicating that a school is closed is
disseminated only when properly authorized. Once the message is
disseminated to the public, as a practical matter its effect is
virtually irreversible. Indeed, once an intended recipient receives
the message, that person is likely to make and stick with a
decision not to go to the school that day, regardless of whether
the school is actually closed. While the school may subsequently
disseminate a correction message, the intended recipient may not
receive it and/or may simply ignore it given the perceived
reasonable reliance on the original message.
[0023] An unauthorized dissemination of a message indicating that a
school is closed may occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a
student may impersonate an administrator of his school, and may
call a news organization to improperly indicate a closed
operational-status. As another example, if a news organization uses
a computing-device to manage the dissemination of messages, a
student may infiltrate that system and again improperly cause
disseminated of a message. The use of technology to falsify
information such as this is often referred to as spoofing.
[0024] The disclosed systems and methods address at least some of
the issues discussed above. In one example, two school records are
linked together to indicate that the closing of a first school may
trigger the closing of a second school. A record manager retrieves
a first school-record, and then based on the link, the record
manager retrieves a second school-record. Responsive to the record
manager making a determination that the first school has closed
(e.g., based on a call from an administrator of the first school to
an operator), the record manager causes an administrator
phone-number corresponding to the second school-record to be added
to an outbound-call list of a workstation terminal that is used by
the operator. Therefore, in response to the first school closing,
the operator may proactively call an administrator of the second
school, inform the administrator that the first school has closed,
and determine whether the second school would also like to close.
If the second school closes, a notification system may immediately
disseminate a message indicating the same. Among other things, this
example assists school administrators with making school closing
decisions, and further helps to quickly disseminate messages
indicating those decisions.
II. Example Systems
[0025] FIG. 1 shows an example system 100. The system may include
several devices, including for example a phone switch 102, a phone
terminal 104, a record manager 106, a workstation terminal 108, and
a notification system 110.
[0026] A. Phone Switch
[0027] Generally, the phone switch 102 may function to receive a
phone call from one device and send the phone call to another
device. The phone switch 102 may also provide additional
functionality, such as that described in greater detail below.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing example components of the
phone switch 102. The phone switch 102 may include a user interface
202, a communication interface 204, a processor 206, and a data
storage 208, all of which may be electronically connected to each
other via a system bus 210 or other connection mechanism.
[0029] The user interface 202 may function to allow the phone
switch 102 to interact with a user, such as to receive input from
the user or to provide output to the user. The user interface 202
may include input components such as a microphone, keyboard,
touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive panel, computer mouse, or
trackball. The user interface 202 may also include output
components such as a display screen (which, for example, may be
integrated with a presence-sensitive panel) or a speaker.
[0030] The communication interface 204 may function to allow the
phone switch 102 to connect and communicate with other networks
and/or devices. The communication interface 204 may include a wired
interface or a wireless interface. The wired interface may take
various forms, including for example a T1 (also known as a DS1)
interface and/or an Ethernet interface. Likewise, the wireless
interface may take various forms, including for example, a wireless
wide area network (WWAN) interface (e.g., based on the long-term
evolution (LTE) protocol), or a wireless local area network (WLAN)
interface (e.g., based on the Wi-Fi protocol). Each wireless
interface includes a corresponding antenna.
[0031] The processor 206 may function to execute program
instructions. The processor may include a general purpose processor
(e.g., a microprocessor) and/or a special purpose processor (e.g.,
a digital signal processor (DSP) or an application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC)).
[0032] The data storage 208 may function to store program
instructions and/or other data. The data storage 208 may include a
volatile, non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage
component, such as magnetic, optical, flash, or organic storage,
and may be integrated in whole or in part with processor 206. The
data storage 208 may include a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that,
upon execution by the processor 206, cause the phone switch 202 or
another device to perform any of the set of functions disclosed
herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings. As such, the
phone switch 202 may be configured to perform any of such
functions. Program instructions may take various forms, including
for example, compiled or non-compiled program logic and/or machine
code.
[0033] An example phone switch is the Switchvox 355 utilizing the
Asterisk software framework, both provided by Digium, Inc. of
Huntsville, Ala.
[0034] B. Phone Terminal
[0035] Generally, the phone terminal 104 may function to receive
and answer a phone call for use by an operator, thereby causing the
phone call to become active. Generally, the phone terminal 104 may
also function to initiate and send a phone call. The phone terminal
104 may also provide additional functionality, such as that
described in greater detail below.
[0036] As with the phone switch 102, the phone terminal 104 may
include a user interface, a communication interface, a processor,
and a data storage, all of which may be electronically connected to
each other via a system bus or other connection mechanism. Each of
these components may be configured to provide functionality similar
to that described above in connection with the phone switch 102,
except with the functionality corresponding to the phone terminal
104 rather than the phone switch 102.
[0037] The phone terminal 104 may take the form of an analog or a
digital phone, including for example, a so-called "soft" or "hard"
voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) phone, or any other type of
communication device configured for use with the phone switch 102.
An example phone terminal is the Digium D70 phone provided by
Digium, Inc. of Huntsville, Ala.
[0038] C. Record Manager
[0039] Generally, the record manager 106 may function to receive
caller data and retrieve data based on the received caller data.
The record manager 106 may also provide additional functionality,
such as that described in greater detail below.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing example components of the
record manager 106. As with the phone switch 102, the record
manager 106 may include a user interface 302, a communication
interface 304, a processor 306, and a data storage 308, all of
which may be electronically connected to each other via a system
bus 310 or other connection mechanism. Each of these components may
be configured to provide functionality similar to that described
above in connection with the phone switch 102, except with the
functionality corresponding to the record manager 106 rather than
the phone switch 102.
[0041] In one example, the data storage 308 may include a package
of hardware and/or software components to implement functionality
of the record manager 106, and may include an operating system
(e.g., a Windows operating system provided by Microsoft Corporation
in Redmond, Wash.), a web server (the Apache HTTP server provided
by the Apache Software Foundation of Los Angeles, Calif.), a
database (e.g., MySQL provided by Oracle of Redwood Shores,
Calif.), and a set of program instructions in the form of scripts
based on a scripting language (e.g., the PHP language).
[0042] D. Workstation Terminal
[0043] Generally, the workstation terminal 108 may function to
provide and receive data from a user. The workstation terminal 108
may also provide additional functionality, such as that described
in greater detail below.
[0044] As with the phone switch 102, the workstation terminal 108
may include a user interface, a communication interface, a
processor, and a data storage, all of which may be electronically
connected to each other via a system bus or other connection
mechanism. Each of these components may be configured to provide
functionality similar to that described above in connection with
the phone switch 102, except with the functionality corresponding
to the workstation terminal 108 rather than the phone switch
102.
[0045] In one example, the phone terminal 104 and the workstation
terminal 108 may be physically arranged proximate to each other,
such as in an office or another work area 114 (e.g., at a news
organization) where a single operator may use both the phone
terminal 104 and the workstation terminal 108 in unison. For
example, this arrangement may allow a user to talk on an active
phone call while viewing data via a user interface of the
workstation terminal 108. In one example, the workstation terminal
108 may take the form of a desktop or laptop computer.
[0046] E. Notification System
[0047] Generally, the notification system 110 may function to
electronically disseminate messages. For example, the notification
system may send a message as an email or a short message service
(SMS) text message to a list of subscribers. As another example,
the notification system 110 may publish the message on a website.
As yet another example, the notification system 110 may overlay the
message on video being broadcast. The notification system 110 may
also provide additional functionality, such as that described in
greater detail below.
[0048] As with the phone switch 102, the notification system 110
may include a user interface, a communication interface, a
processor, and a data storage, all of which may be electronically
connected to each other via a system bus or other connection
mechanism. Each of these components may be configured to provide
functionality similar to that described above in connection with
the phone switch 102, except with the functionality corresponding
to the notification system 110 rather than the phone switch
102.
[0049] In some instances, such as where the notification system 110
is configured to overlay a message on video being broadcast, the
notification system may include additional components. For example,
the notification system 110 may include a character generator such
as the Viz engine provided by Vizrt in Bergen, Norway, or the
ChannelBox2 provided by Chyron Corporation.
[0050] F. Network and/or Device Connections
[0051] As discussed above, each of the devices in the system 100
may include a communication interface for connecting and
communicating with other networks and/or devices. As shown in FIG.
1, the phone switch 102 may be connected, such as via a T1
interface to the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) 116. A T1
interfaces may provide for a T1 connection that supports 24 voice
channels (each for a different phone call), and a data channel
(commonly referred to as a "D-channel") that includes corresponding
caller data, among other things, as described in greater detail
below.
[0052] The phone switch 102 may also be connected to the phone
terminal 104 and to the record manager 106, in each instance via
respective Ethernet interfaces. Similarly, the record manager 106
may be connected to the workstation terminal 108, and the
notification system 110, again in each instance via respective
Ethernet interfaces. However, other types of communication
interfaces and connection arrangements are possible.
[0053] G. Variations
[0054] The system 100 described above is just one example of the
disclosed systems. Indeed, variations to the system 100 are
possible as the described components and devices may be arranged
and/or configured in a variety of ways. For example, the phone
terminal 104 may take the form of a "soft" VOIP phone that is
integrated with the workstation terminal 108. As another example,
the phone switch 102 and the record manager 106 may be integrated
as a single device.
III. Example Methods
[0055] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating functions in
accordance with an example method. At block 402, the method may
involve the phone switch 102 receiving a first phone-call and
corresponding caller data. The first phone-call may be one
initiated by a first school-administrator (or perhaps someone
impersonating a school administrator) who dials a designated phone
number associated with the phone switch 102. The first phone-call
may therefore be routed through the PSTN 116 to the phone switch
102, and therefore the phone switch 102 may receive the first
phone-call and corresponding caller data from the PSTN 116.
[0056] Caller data functions to identify the caller of a phone
call, such as by the caller's phone number. Examples of caller data
include automatic number identification (ANI) data and caller
identification data (commonly referred to as "called ID" data).
[0057] At block 404 the method may involve the phone switch 102
sending to the phone terminal 104, the received first phone-call.
Notably, in instances where the phone switch 102 is connected to
multiple phone terminals, the phone switch 102 may determine an
appropriate phone terminal to send the first phone-call to by using
a priority queue, round-robin, or other determination
technique.
[0058] At block 406, the method may involve the phone terminal 104
receiving and answering the sent first phone-call, thereby causing
the sent first phone-call to become active. In one example, the
phone terminal 104 answering the first phone-call may involve the
operator lifting a handset of the phone terminal 104 or pushing a
button on a user interface of the phone terminal 104. Once the
first phone-call is active, it may then be terminated. In one
example, terminating the first phone-call may involve the operator
hanging up the handset of the phone terminal 104 or pushing a
button on the user interface of the phone terminal 104.
[0059] At block 408, the method may involve the phone switch 102
sending the corresponding caller data to the record manager 106. At
block 410, the method may involve the record manager 106 receiving
the sent caller data. The record manager 106 may use the sent
caller data to retrieve an administrator record and/or a school
record.
[0060] An administrator record includes data associated with an
administrator. For example, an administrator record may include (or
otherwise be associated with) an administrator phone-number,
administrator verification-data, and an indication of a school
record (for a school that the administrator is authorized to change
the operational status of).
[0061] A school record includes data associated with a school. For
example, a school record may include a school identifier (e.g., a
school name) and an indication of another "linked" school
record.
[0062] This link between two school records represents a logical
relationship between the respective schools, namely that there is a
reasonable likelihood that one school will change its operational
status in response to another school changing its operational
status. For example, consider a public school and a private school
located within the same geographic region (e.g., within the public
school's district). As discussed above, in response to the public
school changing its operational status to closed, the private
school (with such knowledge) may be likely to change its
operational status to closed as well. Such links between schools
may be defined based on historical data, such as historical
school-closing data as discussed above.
[0063] At block 412, the method may involve responsive to the
record manager 106 receiving the sent caller data, the record
manager 106 retrieving from the data storage 208, a first
school-administrator record corresponding to the received caller
data. As such, in response to a first school-administrator calling
the designated phone number from his office or mobile phone, the
record manager 106 may automatically retrieve the first
school-administrator record.
[0064] In some instances a school-administrator record may include
multiple indications of school records. As such, in one example
when a superintendent of a public school district calls the
designated phone number from his office or mobile phone, the phone
server 106 may retrieve school records for all of the public
schools in the superintendent's district.
[0065] The first school-administrator record may include an
indication of a first school-record, which the record manager 106
may also retrieve. As such, the function at block 412 may involve
responsive to the record manager 106 receiving the sent caller
data, the record manager 106 retrieving from the data storage 208,
a first school-record corresponding to the received caller
data.
[0066] The data described above in connection with
school-administrator records and school records need not be
organized in the particular manner described. As such, at block
412, the method may involve the record manager 106 retrieving any
of the described data (e.g., a school-administrator record, a
school record, or data included therein) that corresponds to the
received caller data.
[0067] The first school-record may include an indication of a
second school-record. At block 414, the method may involve the
record manager 106 retrieving the second school-record. In one
example, the record manager 106 retrieving the second school-record
may occur in response to the record manager 106 retrieving the
first school-record. In another example, the record manager 106
retrieving the second school-record may occur in response to the
record manager 106 receiving an operational status of a first
school associated with the first school-record as described
below.
[0068] At block 416, the method may involve the phone switch 102
sending to the record manager 106, a phone-terminal identifier for
the received first phone call. The phone-terminal identifier
indicates to which phone terminal 104 the phone switch 102 has sent
(or will send) the received phone call. At block 418, the method
may involve the record manager 106 receiving the sent
phone-terminal identifier.
[0069] At block 420, the method may involve the record manager 106
determining a workstation terminal 108 that corresponds to the
phone terminal 104. In one example, the workstation terminal 108 is
determined based on the received phone-terminal identifier. A table
or other data structure in the data storage 308 may provide a
mapping of phone-terminal identifiers to corresponding
workstation-terminal identifiers.
[0070] Recall that a school-administrator record may include
administrator verification data. As noted, this may be used by an
operator to verify the identity of the caller. This may be
particularly beneficial in instances where a caller has spoofed the
called data corresponding to the caller's phone call (e.g., where a
student makes it appear as though he is calling from his
principal's phone). In one example, the administrator verification
data may include facts such as the names of board members for a
particular school, which the operator may request that the caller
confirm to verify the caller's identify. In one example, if the
caller stumbles or cannot confirm such facts, the operator may
attempt to call the presumed school administrator at the
administrator phone-number included in the school-administrator
record to verify the caller's identity.
[0071] At block 422, the method may involve the record manager 106
sending to the determined workstation terminal 108, the retrieved
first school-administrator record and the retrieved first
school-record. At block 424, the method may involve the workstation
terminal 108 receiving the sent first school-administrator record
and the sent first school-record. At block 426, the method may
involve the workstation terminal 108 displaying via its user
interface the received first school-administrator record and the
received first school-record for use by the operator when talking
to the first administrator. Displaying such data in this manner is
sometimes referred to as a "screen pop."
[0072] At block 428, the method may involve the workstation
terminal 108 receiving via its user interface (e.g., from the
operator) a first operational-status associated with the first
school (corresponding to the first school-record). This function
may occur as a result of the first school-administrator providing
the operational-status to the operator who in turn provides it to
the workstation terminal 108 via the user interface. As discussed
above, an operational-status may be open or closed. However, other
types are possible. For example, a school may have an open with a
delayed start time operational-status or an open with limited bus
service operational-status.
[0073] At block 430, the method may involve the workstation
terminal 108 sending to the record manager 106, the received first
operational-status. At block 432, the method may involve the record
manager 106 receiving the sent first operational-status. At block
434, the method may involve responsive to the record manager 106
receiving the sent first operational-status, the record manager 106
electronically disseminating a first message. The first message may
indicate the received first operational-status associated with the
first school. This indication may be explicit or implicit. For
example, the second message may state that "School ABC will be
closed today," or that "School ABC will open at 11:00 am
today."
[0074] At block 436, the method may involve the record manager 106
making a determination that the first school-record is associated
with a closed operational-status (i.e., that the first school has a
closed operational-status). In one example, the record manager 106
may make the determination based on the received
operational-status.
[0075] At block 438, the method may involve responsive to the
record manager 106 making the determination that the first school
is associated with the closed operational-status, the record
manager 106 causing a second administrator phone-number to be added
to an outbound-call list associated with the workstation terminal
108. In one example, the second administrator phone-number may be
one included in a second school-administrator record that includes
an indication of the second school-record. As such, the second
administrator phone-number is a phone number of a second
administrator who is authorized to change the operational status of
the second school.
[0076] In one example, additional data (e.g., from the second
school-record) may be sent to the workstation terminal 108 such
that it may be displayed in connection with the outbound-call list.
This may allow the operator to select a displayed school identifier
and cause a phone call to be initiated to the second administrator
phone-number.
[0077] At block 440, the method may involve the workstation
terminal 108 receiving a request to call the added second
administrator phone-number.
[0078] At block 442, the method may involve responsive to the
workstation terminal 108 receiving the request, the workstation
terminal causing the phone terminal 104 to initiate a second
phone-call to the second administrator phone-number. In one
example, the request received by the workstation terminal 108 is
sent to the record manager 106, and then the phone switch 102,
which causes the phone terminal 104 to initiate the call.
[0079] Therefore, as soon as the record server 106 determines that
the first school is closing, the operator is provided with an
opportunity to easily initiate a second phone-call to the
school-administrator of the linked second school that is likely to
close as well. In the example provided above, the operator who
receives the first phone-call from the first school-administrator
is the same operator who calls the second school-administrator.
This may provide a particular benefit in that the operator may
refer to his conversation with the first school-administrator as he
speaks to the second school-administrator. In some instances, this
provides reassurance to the second school operator that he is
justified in deciding to the close the second school. However, in
other examples a different operator (i.e., using a different phone
terminal and workstation terminal) may initiate the second
phone-call. Accordingly, the record server 106 and the phone switch
102 may be configured to send data and phone calls to the other
phone terminal and workstation pairs.
[0080] Notably, in the instance where the same operator receives
the first phone-call and initiates the second phone-call, the
record manager 106 may send a timely request to the phone switcher
102 requesting that the phone terminal be temporarily deemed
unavailable after it terminates the first phone-call (i.e., such
that the phone terminal 104 may be available to initiate the second
phone call). In yet another example, the second phone-call may
simply be a recorded or dynamically created message that indicates
that the first school has closed and that allows the administrator
to close the second school such as via a phone keypad input.
[0081] At block 444, the method may involve the workstation
terminal 108 receiving via its user interface (e.g., from the
operator) a second operational-status associated with the second
school-record (i.e., an operational-status of the second school).
At block 446, the method may involve the workstation terminal 108
sending to the record manager 106, the received second
operational-status. At block 448, the method may involve the record
manager 106 receiving the sent second operational-status. At block
450, the method may involve responsive to the record manager 106
receiving the sent second operational-status, the record manager
106 electronically disseminating a second message. The second may
indicate the received second operational-status associated with the
second school. Therefore, as with the first school, as soon as the
second school decides to close, a message indicating the same may
be disseminated.
IV. Example Variations
[0082] While examples have been provided in connection with a
particular type of LBO, namely a school, the disclosed systems and
methods are not so limited and may be adapted for use with any type
of LBO, including for example, a business. Indeed, a business such
as a manufacturing plant generally relies on the presence of
employees to facilitate its operation of manufacturing goods. As
with a school, typically a plant maintains a schedule indicating on
which days the plant is expected to be open (commonly referred to
as "work days"), and on which days the plant is expected to be
closed. However, again, weather conditions may cause the plant to
close, and therefore the plant may disseminate a message indicating
that the business has closed with the intent that targeted
recipients (e.g., plant employees) refrain from traveling to the
manufacturing plant. As such, any of the terms used herein that
have a "school" modifier may be more broadly referred to with an
"LBO" modifier (e.g., a school-record may more broadly be referred
to as an LBO-record).
[0083] While examples of linked schools (i.e., public and private
schools) have been provided, it should be noted that schools (or
other LBOs) may be linked for other reasons. In some instances
schools may be linked based simply on trends found in historical
data. Also, in some instances, three or more LBO records may be
linked in linear fashion so as to create a cascading effect for
adding administrator phone-numbers to an outbound call list.
Further, while the example provided focuses on schools being
associated with a closed operational status, the disclosed systems
and methods are no so limited and may be adapted for use with any
operational status.
[0084] While the examples provided above involve the use of caller
data to retrieve corresponding school-administrator and school
records, in some instances such records may be retrieved based on
other data. For example, rather than a school-administrator calling
the designated phone number, the school-administrator may login to
a website (or other portal). Similar to the use of caller data, in
one example, the record manager 106 may use login data (or other
data) provided by the administrator to retrieve corresponding
school-administrator and/or school records. As such, rather than
the school-administrator providing an operational status of the
first school to an operator over a phone call, the
school-administrator may provide the operational status via the
website. Accordingly, the record manager 106 may make the
determination that the first school is associated with a closed
operational-status based on the received login data, and therefore
cause an administrator phone-number to be added to an outbound call
list in the same manner as described above. As another example, the
administrator may provide an operational status via an automated
phone system.
[0085] While the functions have been described as being performed
by the certain devices (e.g., the record manager 106), the
functions may be performed by any device, such as any of those
included in the system 100. Further, the functions described
throughout this disclosure need not be performed in the disclosed
order. Also, not all functions need to be performed to achieve the
desired advantages of the disclosed systems and methods, and
therefore not all functions are required (i.e., other example
methods may include any subset of the functions described
herein).
[0086] While select example systems and methods have been
described, other changes, substitutions, alterations, and
permutations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
without departing from the broader aspects as set forth in the
following claims.
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