Universal call control systems and methods

• US 20050204030A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Lin, Shiejye Geoffrey, Hensey, Robert G. Jr., Scott, David Archie
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing a user with control over telecommunications services provided by a service provider. Using almost any type of communications device, a user may gain access to, view, and make changes or modifications to profile information related to the services. The changes may be made quickly and efficiently, but accuracy and thoroughness in the implementation of the changes are not sacrificed. Further, the changes to the communications services are implemented almost immediately and without involvement by the service provider. Particularly, profile information about the telecommunications service is stored on a server in a data network. A change action relating to the profile information may be received at the server from a data device (such as a wireless unit) operating on the network. The change action is implemented on the profile information to result in changed profile information, which may be provided from the server via the data network to the telecommunications system.

Claims

1. A method for direct access to change a telecommunications service in a telecommunications system, the method comprising:

storing profile information about the telecommunications service on a server in a data network;

receiving at the server a change action relating to the profile information;

implementing the change action on the profile information to result in changed profile information being stored on the server; and

causing the changed profile information to be provided from the server via the data network to the telecommunications system for use in providing the telecommunications service,

whereby the telecommunications service may be changed by the change action to the server so as to result in the changed profile information, which is then provided via the data network to the telecommunications system for use in providing the telecommunications service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed profile information is provided to the telecommunications system by the server only in response to a request from the telecommunications system received at the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the change action is received at the server from a data device operating on the data network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data device comprises a wireless unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change action is received at the server from a user using a wireless unit operating on the data network.

6. With respect to an implementation of a telecommunications service in a telecommunications system of a service provider, a system for directly changing the implementation of the telecommunications service without intervention by the service provider, the system comprising:

a service platform in a data network being in a communicating connection with the telecommunications system, the service platform storing profile information relating to the implementation of the telecommunications service provided by the service provider, and the service platform being operative to receive an instruction from a wireless unit, to change the profile information based on the instruction, and to send the profile information to the telecommunications system,

whereby the implementation of the telecommunications service is changed without the intervention of the service provider providing the telecommunications service.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

the wireless unit operative for sending the instruction relating to a change in the implementation of the telecommunications service to a service platform in a data network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless unit comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless unit comprises an interactive pager (IP).

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless unit comprises an interactive television (TV).

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless unit comprises a wireless application protocol (WAP) phone.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the telecommunications service is provided to a customer;

and

wherein the wireless unit is operative to respond to input from the customer in sending the instruction relating to the change in the implementation of the telecommunications service to the service platform in the data network,

whereby the implementation of the telecommunications service is changed by the customer without the intervention of the service provider providing the telecommunications service.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the service platform stores the profile information as-a-whole.

14. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

the telecommunications system being operative to receive the profile information from the service platform and to use the profile information to change the implementation of the telecommunications service.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the service platform uniquely stores the profile information relating to the implementation of the telecommunications service provided by the service provider;

and wherein the telecommunications system in providing the telecommunications service queries the service platform for the profile information relating to the telecommunications service.

16. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing the following steps of:

storing profile information about a telecommunications service on a server in a data network;

receiving at the server a change action relating to the profile information;

implementing the change action on the profile information to result in changed profile information being stored on the server; and

causing the changed profile information to be provided from the server via the data network to the telecommunications system for use in providing the telecommunications service,

whereby the telecommunications service may be changed by the change action to the server so as to result in the changed profile information, which is then provided via the data network to the telecommunications system for use in providing the telecommunications service.