Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system

• US 20070041518A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Anita, Silver, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A system for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS), comprising:

means for receiving a call directed to a called party;

means for forwarding the call to the VMS if the call is not answered;

means for receiving a call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS, wherein the call monitoring provisioned signal indicates that call monitoring is allowed;

in response to receiving the call monitoring provisioned signal, means for sending a message to a customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with the called party to alert the called party that call monitoring is available; and

if the call was forwarded prior to being forwarded to the VMS, means for denying call monitoring.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the VMS is operative to:

determine if a calling party exits the VMS; and

if the calling party exits the VMS, then send a deny call monitoring signal to a central office switch.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the call monitoring provisioned signal is a start of greeting signal sent by the VMS when the VMS plays a called party'"'"'s voice mail greeting.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the call monitoring provisioned signal is an end of greeting signal sent by the VMS upon the completion of a called party'"'"'s voice mail greeting.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the end of greeting signal also acts as a record message indicator.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the CPE associated with the called party is operative to generate an alert to the called party in response to receiving the call monitoring alert signal.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the alert comprises a distinctive sound generated by the CPE associated with the called party.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the alert comprises a visual indicator on the CPE associated with the called party.

47. The system of claim 39, wherein the CPE associated with the called party is operative to go off-hook and to activate a speaker assembly in response to receiving the activate call monitoring data message.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the CPE associated with the called party is operative to send an on-hook signal to a second CPE and an intercept tone to a central office switch, if the CPE associated with the called party number receives an intercept indicator, further comprising:

the second CPE connected to the central office switch and the CPE associated with the called party, the second CPE operative to go on-hook in response to receiving the on-hook signal.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the intercept tone is a Dual-Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) signal.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein one signal has the dual function of indicating on-hook to the second CPE and indicating interception to the central office switch.

51. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party directed to a telephone number associated with a called party;

forwarding the call to the voice mail system when the call is not answered;

after forwarding the call to the voice mail system, determining whether the call was forwarded prior to being forwarded to the voice mail system;

sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring message to customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with the called party to alert the called party that call monitoring is available if the call was not forwarded prior to being forwarded to the voice mail system;

receiving a request to monitor the call; and

causing the CPE associated with the called party to be connected to the calling party.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

detecting a voice mail code sent by the called party; and

acting on the voice mail code.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the voice mail code is a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) sequence.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

after sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring message, connecting the voice mail system with the CPE associated with the called party to allow call monitoring;

after connecting the voice mail system with the CPE associated with the called party, receiving an intercept tone from the CPE; and

in response to receiving the intercept tone, causing the CPE associated with the called party to be connected to the calling party.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the intercept tone is a Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) tone.

56. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system (VMS) comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party;

forwarding the call to the VMS; and

after forwarding the call to the VMS, receiving a call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS indicating that call monitoring is allowed.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring data message to customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with the called party in response to receiving the call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

playing a voice message greeting;

sending a start of greeting signal from the VMS to a central office switch upon receipt of the start of greeting signal.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

sending an end of greeting signal upon completion of the voice message greeting from the VMS to the central office switch upon receipt of the end of greeting signal.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

receiving a voice mail code associated with a voice mail function; and

performing the voice mail function in response to receiving the voice mail code.

61. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party;

forwarding the call to the VMS; and

after forwarding the call to the VMS, receiving a call monitoring provisioned signal from the VMS indicating that call monitoring is allowed.