Automatically simultaneously ringing alternative telephone numbers

• US 20030063733A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Z. Zeeman, Levine, David A., Patterson, Gregory N., Worsham, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13388 Saturation signaling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A Service Control Point (SCP) has a call list associated with the main telephone number of a called party. When a calling party attempts to contact the called party by calling the main number, a Service Switching Point (SSP) or a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) fires a trigger. The trigger causes the SCP to access the call list and to cause the SSP/MSC to simultaneously ring the main (called) telephone number and at least one alternative telephone number associated with the main telephone number. A simultaneous ring service subscriber can remotely access the SCP to modify a call list, to add or delete a call list and to select an active call list. When a subscriber has multiple call lists, the subscriber can set account parameters to automatically select the active call list, based on various call factors, such as call time and calling party.

Claims

1. A simultaneous number ringing system for ringing a first alternative number associated with a main number, comprising:

a Service Control Point (SCP) with a simultaneous ring application (SRA) resident thereon; and

a first call list associated with the main number and containing the first alternative number; and

a Service Switching Point (SSP) operative to fire a simultaneous trigger in response to a determination that a call attempt has been made to the main number;

wherein the SRA is operative to retrieve the first alternative number from the first call list and to cause a Services Node (SN) to place a first out-bound call attempt to the main number and a second out-bound call attempt to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the simultaneous ring trigger has been fired.

2. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 1, further comprising a second call list containing a second alternative number.

3. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the first call list contains a second alternative number.

4. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 3, wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SN to cease ringing the main number and to cease ringing the first alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the first alternative number is answered.

5. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 3, wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SN to cease ringing the main number and to cease ringing the first alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the main number is answered.

6. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the first call list can be modified through a remote access point.

7. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 6, wherein the remote access point is a web site hosted by a web server.

8. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the main number is associated with a cellular telephone.

9. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 8, wherein the first alternative number is associated with a wireline telephone.

10. The simultaneous number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the first alternative number is associated with a cellular telephone.

11. A method for using a Service Control Point (SCP) to ring an alternative number associated with a main number, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call attempt to the main number;

causing the SCP to determine a first alternative number from a first call list associated with the main number;

causing the SCP to simultaneously ring a telephone associated with the first alternative number and a telephone associated with the main number; and

causing the SCP to cease ringing the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the telephone associated with the main number is answered.

12. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 11.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of causing the SCP to determine a second alternative number from a second call list associated with the main number.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of causing the SCP to simultaneously ring a telephone associated with the second alternative number, the telephone associated with the main number, and the telephone associated with the first alternative number.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of permitting third party access to the first call list through a remote access point.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of permitting the first call list to be modified through the remote access point.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of permitting a second call list to be created through the remote access point.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the remote access point is a web site hosted by a web server.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of causing the SCP to simultaneously ring a telephone associated with the first alternative number and a telephone associated with the main number comprises the steps of:

causing a Services Node (SN) to place an out-bound call to the main number; and

causing the SN to place an out-bound call to the first alternative number.

20. A method for ringing an alternative number associated with a main number, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call attempt directed to the main number;

causing a Service Switching Point (SSP) to fire a simultaneous ring trigger, in response to receiving the call attempt;

causing the SCP to retrieve the alternative number from a call list associated with the main number, in response to the firing of the simultaneous ring trigger;

causing the SSP to simultaneously ring the main number and the alternative number;

causing the SSP to cease ringing the alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is answered; and

causing the SSP to cease ringing the main number, in response to a determination that the main number is answered.