Methods, systems, and articles for providing a family telecommunication service

• US 20020064268A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Thornberry, Robert Joseph Jr., Jackson, Vanessa Besteda
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/254 where the visual mode comprises menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

A menu is provided in a first telephone call. The menu provides a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence. A selection of one of the destination options is received in the first telephone call. A second telephone call is initiated to a telephone number corresponding to the selection. The first telephone call and the second telephone call are connected.

Claims

1. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

receiving, at a telephone network switch, a telephone number for accessing the telecommunication service for a subscriber, the telephone number provided by a calling party within a first local access and transport area;

determining an interexchange carrier associated with the subscriber;

initiating, via the interexchange carrier, a first telephone call between the calling party and a server which serves the subscriber, the server within a second local access and transport area other than the first local access and transport area;

using the server to provide a subscriber menu to the calling party in the first telephone call, the subscriber menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family and a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence;

receiving a selection of one of the destination options from the calling party;

initiating a second telephone call between the server and a telephone number corresponding to the selection; and

connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing information absent in the first telephone call to pass a privacy manager device associated with the telephone number for the second telephone call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriber menu further provides a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the residence is located within the second local access and transport area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second destination option has a telephone number within a third local access and transport area other than the first local access and transport area and the second local access and transport area, wherein the selection is of the second destination option, and wherein the second telephone call is carried by the interexchange carrier.

6. A system for providing a telecommunication service, the system comprising:

a database for determining an interexchange carrier associated with a subscriber of the telecommunication service;

a server to serve in providing the telecommunication service to the subscriber; and

a telephone network switch to receive a telephone number for accessing the telecommunication service for the subscriber, the telephone number provided by a calling party within a first local access and transport area other than a second local access and transport area of the server, the telephone network switch responsive to the database to initiate, via the interexchange carrier, a first telephone call between the calling party and the server;

wherein the server is to provide a subscriber menu to the calling party in the first telephone call, the subscriber menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family and a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence;

wherein the server is to receive a selection of one of the destination options from the calling party and to initiate a second telephone call between the server and a telephone number corresponding to the selection; and

wherein the server is to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a privacy manager device associated with the telephone number for the second telephone call;

wherein the second telephone call provides information absent in the first telephone call to pass the privacy manager device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the subscriber menu further provides a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the residence is located within the second local access and transport area.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the second destination option has a telephone number within a third local access and transport area other than the first local access and transport area and the second local access and transport area, wherein the selection is of the second destination option, and wherein the second telephone call is carried by the interexchange carrier.

11. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

receiving, at a telephone network switch, a telephone number for accessing the telecommunication service for a subscriber, the telephone number provided by a calling party within a first local access and transport area;

initiating a first telephone call between the calling party and a server which serves the subscriber, the server within the first local access and transport area;

using the server to provide a subscriber menu to the calling party in the first telephone call, the subscriber menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family and a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, wherein the residence is within the first local access and transport area, and wherein the first location is within a second local access and transport area other than the first local access and transport area;

receiving a selection of the second destination option from the calling party;

determining an interexchange carrier associated with the subscriber;

initiating, via the interexchange carrier, a second telephone call between the server and a telephone number corresponding to the second destination; and

connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing information absent in the first telephone call to pass a privacy manager device associated with the telephone number for the second telephone call.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the subscriber menu further provides a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a privacy manager device associated with the telephone number for the second telephone call;

wherein the second telephone call provides information absent in the first telephone call to pass the privacy manager device.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the subscriber menu further provides a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option for the first member of the family at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, receiving an input from the calling party in the first telephone call; and

after receiving the input;

disconnecting the first telephone call from the second telephone call;

receiving a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call; and

initiating a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

connecting the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

14. A system for providing a telecommunication service, the system comprising:

a server to serve in providing the telecommunication service to a subscriber, the server within a first local access and transport area;

a database for determining an interexchange carrier associated with the subscriber of the telecommunication service; and

a telephone network switch to receive a telephone number for accessing the telecommunication service for the subscriber, the telephone number provided by a calling party within the first local access and transport area, the telephone network switch to initiate a first telephone call between the calling party and the server;

wherein the server is to provide a subscriber menu to the calling party in the first telephone call, the subscriber menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family and a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, wherein the residence is within the first local access and transport area, wherein the first location is within a second local access and transport area other than the first local access and transport area;

wherein the server receives a selection of the second destination option from the calling party, and initiates, via the interexchange carrier indicated by the database, a second telephone call between the server and a telephone number corresponding to the selection; and

wherein the server is to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

17. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

providing a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

receiving a first selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call;

initiating a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the first selection; and

connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the first selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option for the first member of the family at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the server, after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, is to receive an input from the calling party in the first telephone call, and after receiving the input, the server is to disconnect the first telephone call from the second telephone call, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, and to initiate a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the server is to connect the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option for the first member of the family at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the contents further cause the server, after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, to receive an input from the calling party in the first telephone call, and after receiving the input, to disconnect the first telephone call from the second telephone call, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, and to initiate a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the contents further cause the server to connect the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

27. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence, the contents causing the server to initiate a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to a received selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, and to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

32. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

providing a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

receiving a first selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call;

initiating a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection;

determining that the second telephone call is unanswered;

receiving a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call;

initiating a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection; and

connecting the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection, to determine that the second telephone call is unanswered, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

34. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

the contents causing the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection, to determine that the second telephone call is unanswered, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

35. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

providing a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

receiving a selection of the broadcast option in the first telephone call;

substantially simultaneously initiating a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option;

determining that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered; and

connecting the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

the server responsive to a selection of the broadcast option in the first telephone call to substantially simultaneously initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option, to determine that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered, and to connect the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call.

37. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a server to provide a menu in a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

the contents causing the server, in response to receiving a selection of the broadcast option in the first telephone call, to substantially simultaneously initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option, to determine that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered, and to connect the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call.