Method, system, and articles for providing a family telecommunication service

• US 20060227954A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Thornberry, Robert Joseph Jr., Jackson, Vanessa Besteda
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/254 where the visual mode comprises menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

A menu is provided in a first telephone call. The menu provides a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence. A selection of one of the destination options is received in the first telephone call. A second telephone call is initiated to a telephone number corresponding to the selection. The first telephone call and the second telephone call are connected.

Claims

1. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

with a server in a telephone network, providing a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence;

receiving a first selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call;

initiating a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the first selection; and

connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option to reach the second family member at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, receiving an input from the calling party during the first telephone call; and

after receiving the input;

disconnecting the first telephone call from the second telephone call;

receiving a second selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call; and

initiating a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

connecting the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first telephone call is placed to a telephone number associated solely with the menu.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a server in a telephone network to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence;

the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the first selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option to reach the second family member at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the server, after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, is to receive an input from the calling party during the first telephone call, and after receiving the input, the server is to disconnect the first telephone call from the second telephone call, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, and to initiate a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the server is to connect the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

24. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

11. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a server in a telephone network to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence, the contents causing the server to initiate a second telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to a received selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, and to connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option to reach the second family member at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the second destination option is for a mobile telephone.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the contents further cause the server, after connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call, to receive an input from the calling party during the first telephone call, and after receiving the input, to disconnect the first telephone call from the second telephone call, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, and to initiate a third telephone call to a telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the contents further cause the server to connect the third telephone call and the first telephone call.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

16. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

with a server in a telephone network, providing a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence; and

receiving a first selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call;

initiating a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection;

determining that the second telephone call is unanswered;

receiving a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call;

initiating a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection; and

connecting the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a server in a telephone network to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence;

the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection, to determine that the second telephone call is unanswered, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

18. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a server in a telephone network to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option to reach a third family member at a second location other than the residence;

the contents causing the server to receive a first selection of one of the destination options during the first telephone call, to initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection, to determine that the second telephone call is unanswered, to receive a second selection of one of the destination options in the first telephone call, to initiate a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection, and to connect the first telephone call and the third telephone call.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

19. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

providing a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

receiving a selection of the broadcast option during the first telephone call;

substantially simultaneously initiating a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option;

determining that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered; and

connecting the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call,

wherein the first telephone call is placed to a third telephone number not corresponding to any of the plurality of destination options.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a server to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

the server responsive to a selection of the broadcast option during the first telephone call to substantially simultaneously initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option, to determine that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered, and to connect the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call, wherein the first telephone call is placed to a third telephone number not corresponding to any of the plurality of destination options.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.

21. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a server to provide a menu during a first telephone call, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option to reach a first family member at a residence of a family, a second destination option to reach a second family member at a first location other than the residence, and a broadcast option;

the contents causing the server, in response to receiving a selection of the broadcast option in the first telephone call, to substantially simultaneously initiate a second telephone call to a first telephone number corresponding to the first destination option and a third telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second destination option, to determine that one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call is answered, and to connect the first telephone call and the one of the second telephone call and the third telephone call, wherein the first telephone call is placed to a third telephone number not corresponding to any of the plurality of destination options.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein all of the plurality of destination options are for members of a family.