System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 20060203986A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,227,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.20
• 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 forwards calls placed to a subscriber'"'"'s number to a forward-to number. Enabling an interface with the call forwarding service includes transmitting display data from a call forwarding service server through a packet switched data network to the subscriber'"'"'s graphical user interface. At least a portion of the display data is displayed on a first screen of the graphical user interface, which includes a forward-to number field and at least one of multiple activation fields. The activation fields include 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. Selection data is 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 activation fields.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a call service associated with calls involving a directory number of a subscriber, and that includes call service data comprising at least one of a screening list, indicating at least one directory number, and a schedule, indicating at least one activation period, the method comprising:

transmitting display data from a call service server through a packet switching network to display a first screen comprising a plurality of activation fields on a graphical user interface of the subscriber, the activation fields comprising a first activation indicator corresponding to the call service, a second activation indicator corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indicator corresponding to the schedule;

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 each of the plurality of activation fields;

activating the call service in response to an ON condition corresponding to the first activation indicator, and implementing associated call service functionality, subject to the screening list and the schedule;

activating the screening list in response to an ON condition corresponding to the second activation indicator, processing calls to or from the at least one directory number differently from directory numbers not on the screening list when the call service functionality is active; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call service comprises a call forwarding service.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first screen further comprises a forward-to number field and 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.

4. The method according to claim 1, in which the call service comprises one of an incoming call control service or an outgoing call control service.

5. The method according to claim 4, 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 directory number column;

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

allowing only calls to or from the at least one priority directory 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.

6. The method according to claim 1, 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 service 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.

7. A web server for implementing a call service of a subscriber, the call service including call service data corresponding to a directory 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 first interface for communicating with a call processor that processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, the call processor being configured to communicate with a database comprising the call service data; and

a second interface for communicating with a graphical user interface of the subscriber via a packet switching network, display data relating to the call service being transmitted through the second interface to display a first screen on the graphical user interface, the first screen comprising a plurality of activation fields, the activation fields comprising a first activation indicator corresponding to the call service, a second activation indicator corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indicator corresponding to the schedule, each of the activation indicators enabling selection of one of an ON and an OFF condition.

8. The web server according to claim 7, wherein data entered at the graphical user interface is received through the second interface, the entered data indicating a plurality of selection conditions corresponding to the activation indicators of the plurality of activation fields;

wherein the entered data is provided to the call processor through the first interface, the call processor updating the call service data in the database in accordance with the entered data, and subsequently processing calls to and from the subscriber telephone number in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data, including activating the call service in response to the ON condition corresponding to the first activation indicator to implement call service functionality, activating the screening list in response to the ON condition corresponding to the second activator indication, to process calls to or from the at least one number differently from calls to or from other numbers when the call service functionality is active, and activating the schedule in response to the ON condition corresponding to the third activation indicator to enable the call service functionality only during the at least one activation period.

9. The web server according to claim 8, wherein the first screen further comprises a list creation field corresponding to the screening list;

and

wherein additional display data is transmitted through the second interface 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.

10. The web server according to claim 9, wherein the call service comprises a call forwarding service, and the first screen further comprising a forward-to number field.

11. The web server according to claim 10, wherein the screening data is received through the second interface and provided to the call processor through the first interface, the 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 call processor updates the database, and subsequently 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.

12. The system according to claim 9, in which the call service comprises one of an incoming call control service or an outgoing call control service.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the screening data is received through the second interface and provided to the call processor through the first interface, the 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 call processor updates the database and subsequently retrieves the screening data from the database to allow only calls to or from the at least one priority telephone number to the subscriber number when the call service functionality is active and when the screening list is activated in response to the ON condition corresponding to the second activation indicator.

14. The web server according to claim 8, wherein the first screen further comprises a schedule creation field corresponding to the schedule;

and

wherein additional display data is transmitted through the second interface to display a third screen on the graphical user interface in response to selection of the schedule creation 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.

15. The web server according to claim 14, wherein schedule data is received through the first interface and provided to the call processor through the second interface, the 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 call processor updates the database with the schedule data and subsequently retrieves the schedule data from the database and activates the call service 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.

16. A computer readable medium that stores a computer program for interfacing with a call forwarding service that forwards calls placed to a 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 directory number, and a schedule, indicating at least one activation period, the computer readable medium comprising:

a displaying code segment that transmits display data through a packet switching network to a graphical user interface, the display data causing the graphic user interface to display at least a portion of the display data on a first screen, 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 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;

a receiving code segment that receives forward-to number data and selection data through the packet switching network to the graphical user interface, the forward-to number data indicating the forward-to number entered in the forward-to number field, and 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; and

an activating code segment that causes activation of the call forwarding service in response to an ON condition corresponding to the first activation indicator in order to implement call forwarding functionality, subject to the screening list and the schedule, to forward calls to the forward-to number;

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

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

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, in which the first screen further comprises a list creation field corresponding to the screening list, the displaying code segment further transmitting 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;

and

the receiving code segment further 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;

wherein only calls from the at least one priority telephone number are forwarded 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.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, in which the first screen further comprises a schedule creation field corresponding to the schedule, the displaying code segment further 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;

and

the receiving code segment further 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;

wherein the call forwarding functionality is activated 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.