Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for conducting a dial-in telephone poll prompts callers at remote terminals to participate in the poll by selectively dialing a telephone number corresponding to a specific response to the poll. Each call from a poll participant is received at a switch that is the originating switch for that call. The originating switch also receives caller data indicating the dialed number associated with the call. This caller data is forwarded to a processor associated with the originating switch for counting the number of calls placed to each telephone number associated with the poll. The associated processor may also include a polling table containing a list of telephone numbers associated with the poll and a corresponding list of message IDs. Upon receiving caller data from an originating switch, the associated processor increments a counter for the dialed number and returns a corresponding message ID to the originating switch. The message ID indicates the address of a prerecorded voice message stored at the originating switch. The voice message, which is played for the caller just prior to termination of the call, typically confirms that the caller's response has been recorded. After the polling session has ended, the results of the poll may be obtained from the associated processor.

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First Claim