Call forwarding to voice mail systems based on redirecting number

• US 20050117731A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• 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 method and system to route calls to a voicemail system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a call from an originating device at a first redirecting device and forwarding the call from the first redirecting device to a second redirecting device. The forwarded call has an associated data message that includes a calling number of the originating device and the first redirecting number of the first redirecting device. The method also includes forwarding the call from the second redirecting device to a destination voice mailbox. The destination voice mailbox is selected based on an evaluation of the first redirecting number and the second redirecting number.

Claims

1. A method of routing a call to a voice mailbox based on a redirecting number, the method comprising:

receiving a call from an originating device at a first redirecting device;

forwarding the call from the first redirecting device to a second redirecting device, the forwarded call having an associated data message that includes a calling number of the originating device, and a first redirecting number of the first redirecting device;

forwarding the call from the second redirecting device to a destination voice mailbox, the destination voice mailbox selected based on an evaluation of the first redirecting number and the second redirecting number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination voice mailbox is provided by a voicemail system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second redirecting numbers is compared to a set of predetermined authorized redirecting numbers and wherein the voice mailbox is selected from a group of available voice mailboxes based upon at least one of the first and the second redirecting numbers.

4. A method of processing an intelligent network communication, the method comprising:

receiving a query message at a switch control point;

determining that inbound call data includes a redirecting number;

formulating a response message to the query message, the response message to indicate an address for a destination voicemail account, the address determined based upon the redirecting number;

sending the response message to a service switching point;

routing a call to the destination voicemail account based upon the address.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing the redirecting number to a plurality of authorized redirecting numbers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the response message indicates forwarding the call to the destination voicemail account only when the redirecting number is found within the plurality of authorized redirecting numbers.

7. An intelligent network system comprising:

a switching control point;

a service switching point coupled to the switching control point;

wherein the service switching point sends a request message to the switching control point, the request message including a subscriber telephone number and a redirecting number; and

wherein the switching control point sends a response message to the service switching point, the response message including a field to identify a number associated with a voicemail account.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the service switching point is coupled to a second service switching point that is coupled to a destination voicemail system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the service switching point receives a data message associated with a call prior to sending the request message to the switching control point.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the service switching point is coupled to a signaling system 7 type of communication link.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the redirecting number is not found on an authorized list of redirecting numbers and wherein the call is routed to a default home voicemail system.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the second service switching point receives a message that includes a calling number, a called number, a first redirecting number, and a second redirecting number.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second service switching point includes a memory that stores data related to a plurality of different voicemail accounts.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the switching control point includes a memory, the memory including a first redirecting number entry associated with a first voice mailbox and a second redirecting number entry associated with a second voice mailbox.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first redirecting number is associated with a work phone and wherein the first voice mailbox is a designated work voicemail account.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second redirecting number is associated with a mobile communication device and wherein the second voice mailbox is a designated mobile communication device voicemail account.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a first greeting is presented upon access to the first voice mailbox and a second greeting is presented upon access to the second voice mailbox.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further includes a default voicemail account associated with a home phone.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the switching control point replaces an address of the default voicemail account with an address of at least one of the first voice mailbox and the second voice mailbox.