The Telephone, like the TVM-app, is an integral part of operating the TV Messenger service. This documentation reviews the call and texting flow through calls to perform various functions.
The Telephone, like the TVM-app, is an integral part of operating the TV Messenger service. This documentation reviews the call and texting flow through calls to perform various functions.
TV Messenger supports both normal telephone voice calls into the service as well as the ability for the service to make outbound voice calls to loved-ones (cared-for members) and to their caregivers. SMS/Text messages may also be used to perform similar services to that of telephone voice calls.
Caregivers use voice and/or SMS/Text to send messages to thie loved ones. They may also receive telephone calls or SMS messages to alert them when a loved-one fails to respond to a message that is deemed important and requires a confirmation.
The loved-ones (Cared-for parties) use voice calls to confirm that they read important messages on the TV, and to remove them from the screen, returning the entire screen to live or streaming content. They may also receive telephone calls if an important message has not yet been confirmed, to make sure they do not miss such messages.
Phone Calls Into the Service
Both the Cared-For parties and the Caregivers all call the same TV Messenger telephone number to use the service. The first thing the caller will hear is: "Welcome to the TV Messenger Service". If their telephone number is registered with the service as a 'caller ID', that number is recognized as the call arrives. The flow of the rest of the call (how the call moves forward) would be based upon recognizing if it is the Caregiver or Care-For calling in.
If the phone number of the caller is not recognized, then the system will ask the caller for their account number and then for their PIN number. The combination of an account number and PIN number uniquely determines if it is the Caregiver calling in, or if one of the Cared-For parties are calling in.
But even if the caller ID is recognized, the system does give the caller the opportunity to move forward with the number recognized or to enter an account number and PIN combination. So, for example, the Caregiver might call in and the system recognizes them as a Caregiver of account '12345'. But they can decide to enter their same account number '12345' but then enter the PIN '98765', which is one of their loved-ones accounts, and conduct the rest of the call as the Cared-For associated with that PIN number rather than the Caregiver that has a different PIN number. Then the Caregiver could listen to the messages outstanding for that loved-ones TV.
SMS/Text into the Service
Both the Cared-For parties and the Caregivers all SMS/Text to the same TV Messenger voice telephone number to use the service. To start a SMS/Text session with TV Messenger, any text can be sent to the that phone number.
Like voice calls, the phone number that is texting into the service is recognized, and determines that account number and if this is a Caregiver sending the SMS or a Cared-For sending the SMS.
An SMS/Text message is returned which guides the caller through a similar path as voice callers, but via a series of SMS/Text messages.