System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 20030228011A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A call forwarding service is accessible through a common service management system using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet and an interactive voice response system via the public switched telephone network. Using the GUI, the subscriber builds and edits service data, including a screening list and weekly schedule. The GUI displays a forward-to number field and multiple activation fields. The call forwarding service is activated in response to an ON indication of a first activation field, implementing call forwarding functionality to forward calls to the forward-to number; the screening list is activated in response to an ON indication of a second activation field, forwarding only calls from the listed telephone numbers to the forward-to number; and the weekly schedule is activated in response to an ON indication of a third activation field, enabling the call forwarding functionality only during the listed time periods.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an interface with a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding service including call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber and comprising at least one of a screening list indicating at least one telephone number and a schedule indicating at least one activation period, the method comprising:

transmitting display data from a call forwarding service server to display a first screen on a graphical user interface, the first screen comprising a forward-to number field and at least one of a plurality of activation fields, the activation fields comprising a first activation indication corresponding to the call forwarding service, a second activation indication corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indication corresponding to the schedule.

2. The method for enabling the interface with the call forwarding service according to claim 1, the first screen further comprising a list creation field corresponding to the screening list.

3. The method for enabling the interface with the call forwarding service according to claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting additional display data from the server to display a second screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the list creation field, the second screen comprising a screening table including a name column and a priority telephone number column.

4. The method for enabling the interface with the call forwarding service according to claim 1, the first screen further comprising a schedule creation field corresponding to the schedule.

5. The method for enabling the interface with the call forwarding service according to claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting additional display data from the server to display a third screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the schedule field, the third screen comprising a schedule table including a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days in a week, each of the plurality of columns comprising at least one start field and a corresponding stop field.

6. A method for interfacing with a call forwarding service that forwards calls placed to a telephone number of a subscriber to a forward-to number and that includes call forwarding service data comprising at least one of a screening list, indicating at least one telephone number, and a schedule, indicating at least one activation period, the method comprising:

transmitting display data from a call forwarding service server to display a first screen on a graphical user interface of the subscriber, the first screen comprising a forward-to number field and at least one of a plurality activation fields, the activation fields comprising a first activation indicator corresponding to the call forwarding service, a second activation indicator corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indicator corresponding to the schedule;

receiving data indicating the forward-to number entered in the forward-to number field;

receiving selection data entered by the subscriber in response to the first screen, the selection data indicating one of an ON condition and an OFF condition corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of activation fields;

activating the call forwarding service in response to an ON condition corresponding to the first activation indicator, and implementing call forwarding functionality, subject to the screening list and the schedule, to forward calls to the forward-to number;

activating the screening list in response to an ON condition corresponding to the second activation indicator, forwarding only calls from the at least one number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding functionality is active; and

activating the weekly schedule in response to an ON condition corresponding to the third activation indicator, enabling the call forwarding functionality only during the at least one activation period.

7. The method for interfacing with the call forwarding service according to claim 6, in which the first screen further comprises a list creation field corresponding to the screening list, the method further comprising:

transmitting additional display data from the server to display a second screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the list creation field, the second screen comprising a screening table including a name column and a priority telephone number column;

receiving additional selection data indicating at least one name, entered in the name column, and a corresponding priority telephone number, entered in the priority telephone number column; and

forwarding only calls from the at least one priority telephone number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding functionality is active and when the screening list is activated in response to the ON condition corresponding to the second activation indicator.

8. The method for interfacing with the call forwarding service according to claim 6, in which the first screen further comprises a schedule creation field corresponding to the schedule, the method further comprising:

transmitting additional display data from the server to display a third screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the schedule field, the third screen comprising a schedule table including a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days in a week, each of the plurality of columns comprising at least one start field and a corresponding stop field;

receiving schedule data indicating the at least one activation period, comprising at least one start time and a corresponding stop time during one of the plurality of days, the start time and the corresponding stop time corresponding to the start field and the stop field of the column corresponding to the one of the plurality of days; and

activating the call forwarding functionality only during the at least one activation period when the schedule is activated in response to the ON condition corresponding to the third activation indicator.

9. A method for accessing data relating to a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding data being implemented by a service control point in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and stored in a database associated with the subscriber and accessible by the service control point, the call forwarding service including a screening list, which identifies at least one calling party directory number that is forwarded to a forward-to number when a call forwarding function of the call forwarding service is active, and a schedule, which identifies at least one activation period during which the call forwarding function is active and calls may be forwarded to the forward-to number, the method comprising:

receiving a query relating to the call forwarding data, via a web server in a data network, in response to an instruction from the subscriber at a web client, the web client comprising a graphical user interface; and

displaying a portion of the call forwarding data in a status web page at the graphical user interface via the web server, the status web page comprising a first ON field and a first OFF field associated with the call forwarding service, a second ON field and a second OFF field associated with the priority screening list, a third ON field and a third OFF field associated with the schedule, and a forward-to number field.

10. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying additional call forwarding data in a screening list web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the priority screening list.

11. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 10, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the screening list web page comprises:

displaying a table comprising a plurality of columns, a first column displaying at least one name of a priority caller and a second column displaying the directory number associated with the name, the call forwarding service routing calls from the directory number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding function is active.

12. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 11, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the screening list web page further comprises:

displaying a third column of the plurality of columns, the third column displaying a deletion field corresponding to the at least one name and the associated directory number of the priority caller, wherein the at least one name and the associated directory number are removed from the screening table in response to receiving a deletion indication from the corresponding deletion field.

13. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying additional call forwarding data in a schedule web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the schedule.

14. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 13, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the schedule web page comprises:

displaying a table comprising a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days of the week, each day column comprising a start time column and a stop time column, the start time column displaying at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function and the stop time column displaying a corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function during the day of the week corresponding to the day column, the call forwarding service routing calls to the forward-to number only when the call forwarding function is active in accordance with the schedule table.

15. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 14, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the schedule web page further comprises:

for each day column, displaying a preestablished number of start time fields in the start time column and corresponding stop time fields in the stop time column;

wherein the at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function occupies one of the preestablished number of start time fields and the corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function occupies a corresponding one of the preestablished number of stop time fields, the remaining unoccupied start time fields and stop time fields continuing to be displayed in the schedule table.

16. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding service including call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber and comprising a screening list indicating at least one telephone number and a schedule indicating at least one activation period, the system comprising:

a service control point that processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, the service control point being configured to communicate with a database comprising the call forwarding service data; and

a web server, enabling a communications interface between the database and a graphical user interface of the subscriber via a packet switched data network;

wherein the web server transmits display data relating to the call forwarding service to display a first screen on the graphical user interface, the first screen comprising a forward-to number field and a plurality activation fields, the activation fields comprising a first activation indicator corresponding to the call forwarding service, a second activation indicator corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indicator corresponding to the schedule.

17. The system for implementing the call forwarding service of the subscriber according to claim 16, wherein the database receives data entered at the graphical user interface, the entered data indicating the forward-to number entered in the forward-to number field and a plurality of selection conditions corresponding to the activation indicators of the plurality of activation fields, the database updating the call forwarding service data in accordance with the entered data;

and

wherein the service control point retrieves the updated call forwarding service data and processes calls to the subscriber telephone number in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data, including activating the call forwarding service in response to an ON condition corresponding to the first activation indicator to implement call forwarding functionality to forward calls to the forward-to number, activating the screening list in response to an ON condition corresponding to the second activator indication to forward only calls from the at least one number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding functionality is active, and activating the schedule in response to an ON condition corresponding to the third activation indicator to enable the call forwarding functionality only during the at least one activation period.

18. The system for implementing the call forwarding service of the subscriber according to claim 17, wherein the first screen further comprises a list creation field corresponding to the screening list;

and

wherein the web server further transmits additional display data to display a second screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the list creation field, the second screen comprising a screening table including a name column and a priority telephone number column.

19. The system for implementing the call forwarding service of the subscriber according to claim 18, wherein the database receives screening data indicating at least one name, entered in the name column, and a corresponding priority telephone number, entered in the priority telephone number column;

and

wherein the service control point retrieves the screening data from the database and forwards only calls from the at least one priority telephone number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding functionality is active and when the screening list is activated in response to the ON condition corresponding to the second activation indicator.

20. The system for implementing the call forwarding service of the subscriber according to claim 17, wherein the first screen further comprises a schedule creation field corresponding to the schedule;

and

wherein the web server further transmits additional display data to display a third screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the schedule field, the third screen comprising a schedule table including a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days in a week, each of the plurality of columns comprising at least one start field and a corresponding stop field.

21. The system for implementing the call forwarding service of the subscriber according to claim 20, wherein the database receives schedule data indicating the at least one activation period, comprising at least one start time and a corresponding stop time during one of the plurality of days, the start time and the corresponding stop time corresponding to the start field and the stop field of the column corresponding to the one of the plurality of days;

and

wherein the service control point retrieves the schedule data from the database and activates the call forwarding functionality only during the at least one activation period when the schedule is activated in response to the ON condition corresponding to the third activation indicator.

22. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program that enables accessing data relating to a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding data being implemented by a service control point in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and stored in a database associated with the subscriber and accessible by the service control point, the call forwarding service including a screening list, which identifies at least one calling party directory number that is forwarded to a forward-to number when a call forwarding function of the call forwarding service is active, and a schedule, which identifies at least one activation period during which the call forwarding function is active and calls may be forwarded to the forward-to number, the computer readable medium comprising:

a receiving source code segment that receives a query relating to the call forwarding data, via a web server in a data network, in response to an instruction from the subscriber at a web client, the web client comprising a graphical user interface; and

a display enabling source code segment that displays a portion of the call forwarding data in a status web page at the graphical user interface via the web server, the status web page comprising a first ON field and a first OFF field associated with the call forwarding service, a second ON field and a second OFF field associated with the priority screening list, a third ON field and a third OFF field associated with the schedule, and a forward-to number field.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, in which the display enabling source code segment further displays additional call forwarding data in a screening list web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the priority screening list, the screening list web page including a table comprising a plurality of columns, a first column displaying at least one name of a priority caller and a second column displaying the directory number associated with the name, the call forwarding service routing calls from the directory number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding function is active.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, in which the table further comprises a third column of the plurality of columns, the third column displaying a deletion field corresponding to the at least one name and the associated directory number of the priority caller, wherein the at least one name and the associated directory number are removed from the screening table in response to receiving a deletion indication from the corresponding deletion field.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, in which the display enabling source code segment further displays additional call forwarding data in a schedule web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the schedule, the schedule web page including a table comprising a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days of the week, each day column comprising a start time column and a stop time column, the start time column displaying at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function and the stop time column displaying a corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function during the day of the week corresponding to the day column, the call forwarding service routing calls to the forward-to number only when the call forwarding function is active in accordance with the schedule table.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 25, in which a preestablished number of start time fields in the start time column and corresponding stop time fields in the stop time column are displayed for each day column, wherein the at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function occupies one of the preestablished number of start time fields and the corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function occupies a corresponding one of the preestablished number of stop time fields, the remaining unoccupied start time fields and stop time fields continuing to be displayed in the schedule table.