Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS), comprising:
- a central office switch connected to the VMS and customer premises equipment (CPE), the central office switch operative to receive a call to a called party number, forward the call to the VMS, receive a call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS, and in response to the call monitoring provisioned signal, to send an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the CPE; and
the VMS operative to send the call monitoring provisioned signal to the central office switch (CO).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A system for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS), comprising:
-
a central office switch connected to the VMS and customer premises equipment (CPE), the central office switch operative to receive a call to a called party number, forward the call to the VMS, receive a call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS, and in response to the call monitoring provisioned signal, to send an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the CPE; and
the VMS operative to send the call monitoring provisioned signal to the central office switch (CO). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:
-
receiving a forwarded call;
determining whether the call can be monitored;
if the call can be monitored, then sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring message to customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with a called party;
receiving an intercept tone from the CPE; and
causing the called party to be connected to a calling party. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system (VMS) comprising:
-
receiving a call to a called party number;
determining whether the call should be forwarded to the VMS;
if the determination is that the call should be forwarded to the VMS, then forwarding the call to the VMS;
receiving a call monitoring provisioned signal indicating that call monitoring is allowed; and
in response to receiving the call monitoring provisioned signal;
sending a call monitoring alert signal and sending an activate call monitoring data message indicating that call monitoring is available to customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with the called party number; and
connecting the VMS to the CPE. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system (VMS) comprising:
-
receiving a call forwarded to a voice mailbox associated with a called party number from a central office switch;
sending a start of greeting signal to the central office switch so that call monitoring is allowed if the central office switch is provisioned to begin call monitoring upon receipt of the start of greeting signal;
playing a voice message greeting associated with the called party number; and
sending an end of greeting signal upon completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch so that call monitoring is allowed if the central office switch is provisioned to begin call monitoring upon receipt of the end of greeting signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:
-
receiving a call monitoring alert signal from a central office switch (CO);
in response to receiving the call monitoring alert signal, providing an alert to a called party;
receiving an activate call monitoring data message from the CO; and
in response to receiving the activate call monitoring data message, going off-hook and engaging a speaker assembly to monitor the call. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification