COLLECTING DATA FROM TELEPHONE USERS BY MID-CALL EVENT SIGNALING

摘要

A method for collecting information from a user (22) of a telephone (30) includes receiving a request at a switch (40) in a telephone network (34) to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number. Responsively to the request, a voice call is initiated by opening a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone, and a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device (44). The second leg is disconnected after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open. After disconnecting the second leg, signals are received over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone.