Sending urgent messages to multiple recipients via a single call

• US 20070201627A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Chieh-Chien, Lin, Mei-Jong
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services

Abstract

A first call is received at a reserved address and is forwarded based on the reserved address. A second call is placed to a designated address, and a message is played to the designated address.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first call to a reserved address;

forwarding the call based on the reserved address;

placing a second call to a designated address, and

playing a message to the designated address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating a caller placing the first call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating an alert flag based on the first call.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a third call;

checking the alert flag to determine an alert status; and

processing the third call according to the alert status.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a call identifier with the first call prior to the forwarding step.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising checking the call identifier, and playing the message only if the call identifier is validated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reserved address and the designated address are telephone numbers.

8. A system, comprising:

a central office configured to receive a first call to a reserved address and to forward the first call based on the reserved address;

a voice response unit/intelligent peripheral connected to the central office and configured to (a) receive the first call, (b) place a second call to a designated address, and (c) play a message to a recipient of the second call.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a service control point connected to the central office and configured to receive the first call from the central office and to cause the first call to be forwarded to the voice response unit/intelligent peripheral.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the service control point further comprises an alert flag, wherein the service control point is configured to check the alert flag upon receiving a third call.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a call identifier, wherein the service control point is configured to associate the call identifier with the first call before the first call is forwarded.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the voice response unit/intelligent peripheral is configured to check the call identifier, and further wherein the voice response unit/intelligent peripheral is configured to play the message only if the call identifier is validated.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the voice response unit/intelligent peripheral is further configured to validate a caller placing the first call.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the reserved address and the designated address are telephone numbers.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising a set of computer-executable instructions, the instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a first call;

determining that the first call was to a reserved address;

placing a second call to a designated address, and

playing a message to the designated address.

16. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for validating a caller placing the first call.

17. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for causing an alert flag to be updated based on the first call.

18. The medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a third call;

checking the alert flag to determine an alert status; and

processing the third call according to the alert status.

19. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for checking a call identifier associated with the first call, and for playing the message only if the call identifier is validated.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the reserved address and the designated address are telephone numbers.