Methods and systems for multiuser selective notification

• US 20040156491A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rajagopalan, Mahesh, Reding, Craig L., Helbling, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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

Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user. Additionally, the methods and systems are capable of receiving from the communications network information regarding a call received on the communications line associated with the two or more users, determining handling of the call based on the received first user and second user line management information, and forwarding to the communications network instructions regarding the handling of the call, such that the communications network handles the call in accordance with the determined handling.

Claims

1. A method for managing a communications line associated with a plurality of users of a communications network, comprising:

receiving first user line management information specifying handling of calls directed to the communications line from a contact in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user;

receiving second user line management information specifying handling of calls to the communications line from a contact in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user;

receiving from the communications network information regarding a call directed to the communications line;

determining a handling procedure for the call based on the received first and second user line management information; and

transmitting to the communications network instructions regarding the determined handling procedure, such that the communications network handles the call in accordance with the determined handling procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the communications network information regarding a call received on the communications line includes receiving information from a service control point providing services to a switch associated with the communications line.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the communications network information regarding a call includes receiving information identifying an origination of the call;

and wherein determining a handling procedure includes determining a handling procedure based on the information identifying the origination of the call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding forwarding calls to a different communications line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding handling calls based on the time the call is received.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding forwarding calls to one or more processors providing voice mail services.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding forwarding calls to at least one processor for playing an audible signal indicating unavailability of the communications line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving first user line management information includes receiving a request to forward a notification regarding a call to a first device associated with the first user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, in response to the notification, an instruction regarding handling of the call; and

wherein the determined handling procedure is based on the received instruction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding a first handling procedure, information regarding a secondary handling procedure, and information useful for determining whether to apply the primary or secondary handling procedure;

and wherein determining a handling procedure of the call includes determining whether to handle the call using the primary or secondary handling procedure.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving line management information includes receiving information regarding handling of calls based upon information regarding a location of the first or second user.

12. A system for managing a communications line associated with a plurality of users, comprising:

a first interface for connecting to a data network;

a second interface for connecting to a communications network

at least one processor capable of receiving first user line management information specifying handling of calls directed to the communications line from a contact in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user, receiving second user line management information specifying handling of calls to the communications line from a contact in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user, receiving from the communications network information regarding a call directed to the communications line, determining a handling procedure for the call based on the received first and second user line management information, and transmitting to the communications network instructions regarding the determined handling procedure for the call, such that the communications network handles the call in accordance with the determined handling procedure.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving information from a service control point providing services to a switch associated with the communications line.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving from the communications network information identifying an origination of the call, and determining the handling procedure based on the information identifying the origination of the call.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving line management information including information regarding forwarding calls to a different communications line.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving line management information including information regarding handling calls based on when the call is received.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving line management information including information regarding forwarding calls to one or more processors providing voice mail services.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving line management information including information regarding forwarding calls to one or more processors for playing an audible signal indicating unavailability of the communications line.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving first user line management information including a request to forward a notification regarding a call to a first device associated with the first user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the set of one or more processors are further capable of receiving, in response to the notification, an instruction regarding handling of the call, and determining the handling procedure based on the received instruction.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving line management information including information regarding a first handling procedure, information regarding a secondary handling procedure, and information useful for determining whether to apply the primary or secondary handling procedure, and wherein in determining a handling procedure of the call, the set of processors are capable of determining whether to handle the call using the primary or secondary handling procedure.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of processors are capable of receiving information regarding a location of the first or second user and receiving line management information including information regarding handling of calls based upon the information regarding a location of the first or second user.

23. A system for managing a communications line associated with a plurality of users of a communications network, comprising:

means for receiving first user line management information specifying handling of calls directed to the communications line from a contact in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user;

means for receiving second user line management information specifying handling of calls to the communications line from a contact in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user;

means for receiving from the communications network information regarding a call directed to the communications line;

means for determining a handling procedure of the call based on the received first and second user line management information; and

means for transmitting to the communications network instructions regarding the handling procedure, such that the communications network handles the call in accordance with the determined handling procedure.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving from the communications network information regarding a call includes means for receiving information from a service control point providing services to a switch associated with the communications line.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the means for receiving from the communications network information regarding a call includes means for receiving information identifying an origination of the call; and

the means for determining handling of the call includes means for determining the handling based on the information identifying the origination of the call.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the received line management information includes information regarding forwarding calls to a different communications line.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the received line management information includes information regarding handling calls based on when the call is received.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the received line management information includes information regarding forwarding calls to one or more processors providing voice mail services.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the received line management information includes information regarding forwarding calls to one or more processors for playing an audible signal indicative of the communications line being unavailable.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the first user received line management information includes a request to forward a notification regarding a call to a first device associated with the first user.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for receiving, in response to the notification, an instruction regarding handling of the call;

and

wherein the determined handling is based on the received instruction.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the first user received line management information includes information regarding a first handling procedure, information regarding a secondary handling procedure, and information useful for determining whether to apply the primary or secondary handling procedure;

and wherein the determined handling is based on the primary or secondary handling procedure.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the first user received line management information includes information regarding handling of calls based upon information regarding a location of the first or second user.

34. A system for managing a communications line associated with a plurality of users of a communications network, comprising:

a switch for receiving calls directed to the communications line and generating a trigger in response to receiving a call directed to the communications line;

a service control point for receiving the trigger and transmitting information regarding an origination of the call;

a storage storing a disposition list specifying handling of calls from one or more contacts in an address book for a first user and one or more contacts in an address book for a second user;

a set of processors connected to a data network and the communications network, the set of processors capable of receiving from the service control point the information regarding the origination of the call, determining based on the disposition list and the information regarding the origination of the call a handling procedure for the call; and

transmitting an instruction to the service control point to handle the call in accordance with the determined handling procedure; and

a user device connected to the data network, the user device capable of transmitting information to the set of processors regarding handling of calls directed to the communications line originating from a contact in a first address book associated with a first user such that the information regarding handling of the call from the contact is stored in the disposition list.