Methods, systems, and products for providing a service to a telephony device

• US 20070121868A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert, Bedingfield, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing a service to a telephony device. A call is routed to a virtual number in a service-providing network. The call is directed to a dialed telephone number in a native transport network, wherein the virtual telephone number is associated with the dialed telephone number. An advanced telephony service is received from the service-providing network.

Claims

1. A method for providing a service to a telephony device, comprising:

routing a call to a virtual number in a service-providing network, the call directed to a dialed telephone number in a native transport network, wherein the virtual telephone number is associated with the dialed telephone number; and

receiving an advanced telephony service from the service-providing network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising billing a provider of the native transport network for provision of the advanced telephony service.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising billing a subscriber for provision of the advanced telephony service.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the advanced telephony service comprises receiving a service selected from the group consisting of a call delivery service, a call forwarding service, a call rescue service, a custom ring-pattern service, a call logging service, a call reporting service, a voice mail service, a custom messaging service, a message waiting indicator service, a message notification service, a caller identification (caller ID) service, a privacy director service, an anonymous call rejection service, an a personal identification number (PIN) override service.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the service-providing network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the native transport network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising modifying a caller identifier associated with the call.

8. A system for providing an advanced telephony service to a telephony device, comprising:

a server communicating with a database,

the system routing a call to a virtual number in a service-providing network, the call directed to a dialed telephone number in a native transport network, wherein the virtual telephone number is associated with the dialed telephone number, and

the system receiving an advanced telephony service from the service-providing network.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system bills a provider of the native transport network for provision of the advanced telephony service.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system bills a subscriber for provision of the advanced telephony service.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system receives a service selected from the group consisting of a call delivery service, a call forwarding service, a call rescue service, a custom ring-pattern service, a call logging service, a call reporting service, a voice mail service, a custom messaging service, a message waiting indicator service, a message notification service, a caller identification (caller ID) service, a privacy director service, an anonymous call rejection service, an a personal identification number (PIN) override service.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the service-providing network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the native transport network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system modifies a caller identifier associated with the call.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable media storing instructions for:

routing a call to a virtual number in a service-providing network, the call directed to a dialed telephone number in a native transport network, wherein the virtual telephone number is associated with the dialed telephone number; and

receiving an advanced telephony service from the service-providing network.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for billing a provider of the native transport network for provision of the advanced telephony service.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for billing a subscriber for provision of the advanced telephony service.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a service selected from the group consisting of a call delivery service, a call forwarding service, a call rescue service, a custom ring-pattern service, a call logging service, a call reporting service, a voice mail service, a custom messaging service, a message waiting indicator service, a message notification service, a caller identification (caller ID) service, a privacy director service, an anonymous call rejection service, an a personal identification number (PIN) override service.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the service-providing network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the native transport network is a network selected from the group consisting of a wireline network, a wireless network, and a packet-switching network.