System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 20040005045A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brand, Rodney T., Book, Nancy Ann, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Machacek, Michael Albert, Moss, John Wesley, Culli, Laura Kay, Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn, Sabinson, Richard Everett, Adams, Thomas Lee, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Mueller, Stephen Mark, Bi, Xiaolian Yang, Wilczynski, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2471 Configurable and interactive telephone terminals with subscriber controlled features modifications, e.g. with ADSI capability [Analog Display Services Interface] systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers H04M3/42; administration or customization of services H04M3/42136; by downloading data to substation equipment H04M3/42178
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 : Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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

Abstract

A system and method include implementing and accessing a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The system and method enable a subscriber to review, schedule and modify call forwarding information stored and implemented by a service control point (SCP) through a common server from any dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone and IVR system via the PSTN or any GUI and Web client via the Internet. The subscriber is able to build and edit call forwarding data, such as a scheduler and priority and rejection screening lists, by the GUI via the Internet for subsequent implementation.

Claims

1. A system for implementing an advanced intelligent network (AIN) service associated with a subscriber, the system comprising:

a processor that processes calls in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in accordance with the AIN service and call service data associated with the subscriber; and

an interface that interfaces a web server in a packet switched data network with the processor, enabling the subscriber to customize the call service data and to activate the AIN call service via the web server, and that interfaces an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the PSTN with the processor, enabling the subscriber to activate the AIN call service via the IVR platform.

2. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 1, in which the web server is accessible by the subscriber from a graphical user interface via the packet switched data network.

3. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 1, in which the AIN service comprises a call forwarding service.

4. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 3, in which the customized call service data comprises a schedule for activating and deactivating the call forwarding service, the processor providing instructions to route a call to a directory number of the subscriber to a predetermined forwarding number based on the schedule.

5. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 4, in which the schedule further comprises a forwarding number in association with each activating period of the schedule.

6. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 3, in which the customized call service data comprises a priority list having at least one priority telephone number.

7. The system for implementing the AIN service according to claim 6, in which the customized call service data further comprises at least one priority forwarding number corresponding to the at least one priority telephone number, the processor providing instructions to route a call placed from the at least one priority telephone number to a directory number of the subscriber to the corresponding at least one priority forwarding number.

8. A method for implementing an advanced intelligent network (AIN) service associated with a subscriber, in which a processor in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) processes calls involving a directory number of the subscriber in accordance with the AIN service and call service data customized by the subscriber for the AIN service, the method comprising:

receiving the customized call service data from a web server in a packet switched data network, the web server being accessible to the subscriber at a web client;

storing the customized call service data in a database accessible to the processor; and

receiving an instruction to activate the AIN service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the PSTN.

9. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 8, in which the customized call service data comprises a plurality of data sets created by the subscriber at the web client, the method further comprising:

receiving an instruction to activate one of the plurality of data sets, associated with the activated AIN service, via one of the web server and the IVR.

10. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 9, in which the AIN service comprises a call forwarding service.

11. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 10, in which the plurality of data sets comprise a plurality of forward-to numbers, the method further comprising:

forwarding a call to a directory number of the subscriber to the activated forward-to number.

12. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 10, in which the plurality of data sets comprise a plurality of schedules, each of the plurality of schedules comprising at least one time period during which call forwarding functionality is active, the method further comprising:

forwarding a call to a directory number of the subscriber to a forward-to number in accordance with the activated schedule.

13. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 12, in which each of the plurality of schedules has a corresponding forward-to number.

14. The method for implementing the AIN service according to claim 10, in which the plurality of data sets comprise a plurality of screening lists, each of the plurality of screening lists comprising at least one directory number, the method further comprising:

forwarding calls to a directory number of the subscriber, from the at least one directory number of the activated screening list, to a first forward-to number; and

forwarding calls made to the directory number of the subscriber, from a directory number other than the at least one directory number, to a second forward-to number.

15. A method for routing calls to a directory number of a subscriber, through a public switched telephone network (PSTN), in accordance with call forwarding service data of the subscriber, at least a portion of the call forwarding service data being customized by the subscriber, the method comprising:

storing the call forwarding service data and the customized portion of the service data in a database accessible to a processor in the PSTN, the customized portion of the service data being received from the subscriber through a web server in a packet switched data network;

receiving an instruction to activate the call forwarding service through at least one of the web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the PSTN; and

routing calls to the directory number of the subscriber in accordance with at least the customized portion of call service data when the call forwarding service is activated.

16. The method for routing calls according to claim 15, in which the customized portion of the service data comprises a schedule, defining at least one activation period during which calls to the directory number of the subscriber are routed to a forward-to number associated with the at least one activation period.

17. The method for routing calls according to claim 15, in which the customized portion of the service data comprises a screening list defining at least one screening list number, calls from the at least one screening list number to the directory number of the subscriber being routed to a forward-to number associated with the screening list.

18. The method for routing calls according to claim 15, in which the packet switched data network comprises the Internet.

19. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber when the subscriber is on-line on a packet switched data network, the system comprising:

a processor that processes calls in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in accordance with the call forwarding service and associated call service data, created by the subscriber through a web client and a web server in the packet switched data network;

an interface that interfaces the web server with the processor, enabling the subscriber to receive the call service data through the web server, to customize the call service data and to send control instructions to control the call forwarding service in accordance with the call service data through the web server, and that further interfaces an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the PSTN with the processor, enabling the subscriber to send control instructions to control the call forwarding service in accordance with the call service data via the IVR platform; and

a service node that detects an on-line status of the web client and transmits an on-line indication to the processor through the interface when the web client is on-line;

wherein, when the processor receives the on-line indication, the processor sends information about calls to the subscriber'"'"'s directory number to the web client through the web server, receives on-line instructions from the web client, and processes the call in accordance with the on-line instructions and the call service data.

20. The system for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 19, wherein the service node does not transmit the on-line indication to the processor when the service node does not detect an on-line status;

and

wherein the processor processes the calls to the subscriber'"'"'s directory number in accordance with the call service data.

21. The system for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 19, in which the on-line instructions comprise at least one of accepting the call, processing the call in accordance with the call service data, and forwarding the call to a specified forward-to number.

22. The system for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 21, in which the call service data comprises a schedule for activating and deactivating the call forwarding service, the processor providing instructions to route a call to a directory number of the subscriber to a predetermined forward-to number based on the schedule.

23. The system for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 21, in which the call service data comprises a priority list having at least one priority telephone number, the processor providing instructions to route a call placed from the at least one priority telephone number to a directory number of the subscriber to a priority forward-to number.

24. A method for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding service including customized call service data associated with a directory number of the subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving the customized call service data from the subscriber through a web server in a packet switched data network;

storing the customized call service data in a database accessible to a processor in a public switched telephone network;

receiving an instruction to activate the AIN service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the PSTN;

determining whether a web client, associated with the subscriber'"'"'s directory number, is on-line in the packet switched data network when a call is made to the subscriber'"'"'s directory number;

initiating a notice of the call, displayed at the web client, when the web client is determined to be on-line;

receiving on-line call processing instructions from the web client;

processing the call according to the on-line call processing instructions; and

processing the call according to the customized call service data when the web client is not determined to be on-line.

25. The method for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 24 in which the on-line instructions comprise at least one of accepting the call, processing the call in accordance with the call service data, and forwarding the call to a specified forward-to number.

26. The method for implementing the call forwarding service according to claim 25, in which the customized call service data comprises at least one of a schedule, a priority screening list and a rejection screening list.