Method and system using an out-of-band approach for providing value added services without using prefix

• US 20070254636A1
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John
• Application Number:
  US11/785,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0042 where the data service is a text-based messaging service H04M7/0054 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention proposes a method for providing Value Added Services (VAS) to a subscriber without using prefix. The method includes intercepting a call control associated with a call from the subscriber to a recipient, at an Interceptor unit, while a voice circuit associated with the call is held at a switch, without answering the voice circuit. The subscriber calls a recipient'"'"'s number without any prefix. Further, the method includes sending a message by an intelligent interactive unit to the subscriber for making an indication of a service selection by presenting a user interactive menu in the message. The separate channel is established in parallel with the voice circuit. The method further includes sending by the intelligent interactive unit, the indication of the service selection, received in an acknowledgment to the message, to the Interceptor unit. Furthermore, the method includes determining by the Interceptor unit, a service application using the indication of the service selection.

Claims

1. A method for providing non-prefix based value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network having an interceptor unit, the method comprising:

intercepting a non-prefix communication from the subscriber;

providing a prompt for service selection to the subscriber;

receiving an indication of service selection from the subscriber at the interceptor unit; and

determining a service application based on the received indication of service selection;

wherein the service application is a non-prefix based value added service; and

wherein the non-prefix communication and the prompt for service selection are provided over separate channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the service application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompt for service selection is received over an out-of-band channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate channels are functional in parallel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is related to the non-prefix communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is unrelated to the non-prefix communication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-prefix communication has an associated voice circuit, and wherein intercepting a non-prefix communication includes:

intercepting the associated voice circuit; and

holding the intercepted voice circuit for a pre-defined time interval.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the associated voice circuit is intercepted at a switch.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the interceptor unit, applying a filtering criterion to the non-prefix communication.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-prefix communication is initiated using a telephone number received from a group consisting of an address book, a number list, and a telephone pad.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interceptor unit is an Intelligent Service Control Point (ISCP).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompt for service selection is an interactive menu.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a prompt for carrier selection code to the subscriber.

14. A method for providing value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network, the method comprising:

intercepting a communication request from the subscriber, the communication request including an intended destination;

providing an option for selection of a communications service to the subscriber;

receiving an indication of selection of the communications service; and

operating a service application based on the received indication of selection of the communications service;

wherein the communication request and the option for selection of a communications service are provided over separate channels.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is voice Short Message Service (SMS).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is adding media to a subscriber communication.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is monitoring a communications session for voice analysis.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session to detect lies.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session for emotion.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is analyzing the language of a text message for meaning and adding media to that text message according to the meaning.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the service application is recognizing music.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the option is a visual indication of service selection choices.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the option is an audible prompt.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of selection is a character entered on a handset.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of selection is spoken by the subscriber.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the intended destination is a telephone number.

27. A system for providing non-prefix based value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network having an interceptor unit, the system comprising:

means for intercepting a non-prefix communication from the subscriber;

means for providing a prompt for service selection to the subscriber;

means for receiving an indication of service selection from the subscriber at the interceptor unit; and

means for determining a service application based on the received indication of service selection;

wherein the service application is a non-prefix based value added service; and

wherein the non-prefix communication and the prompt for service selection are provided over separate channels.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for initiating the service application.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the prompt for service selection is received over an out-of-band channel.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the separate channels are functional in parallel.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is related to the non-prefix communication.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is unrelated to the non-prefix communication.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the non-prefix communication has an associated voice circuit, and wherein the means for intercepting a non-prefix communication includes:

means for intercepting the associated voice circuit; and

means for holding the intercepted voice circuit for a pre-defined time interval.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the associated voice circuit is intercepted at a switch.

35. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for applying a filtering criterion to the non-prefix communication.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the non-prefix communication is initiated using a telephone number received from a group consisting of an address book, a number list, and a telephone pad.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein the interceptor unit is an Intelligent Service Control Point (ISCP).

38. The system of claim 27, wherein the prompt for service selection is an interactive menu.

39. The system of claim 27, wherein a standby interceptor unit is provided for failover support.

40. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

providing a prompt for carrier selection code to the subscriber.

41. A system for providing value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network, the system comprising:

means for intercepting a communication request from the subscriber;

means for providing an option for selection of a communications service to the subscriber;

means for receiving an indication of selection of the communications service; and

means for operating a service application based on the received indication of selection of the communications service;

wherein the communication request and the option for selection of a communications service are provided over separate channels.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is voice Short Message Service (SMS).

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is adding media to a subscriber communication.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is monitoring a communications session for voice analysis.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session to detect lies.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session for emotion.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is analyzing the language of a text message for meaning and adding media to that text message according to the meaning.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the service application is recognizing music.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the option is a visual indication of service selection choices.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein the option is an audible prompt.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the indication of selection is a character entered on a handset.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein the indication of selection is spoken by the subscriber.

53. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide non-prefix based value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network having an interceptor unit, the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for intercepting a non-prefix communication from the subscriber;

second computer readable program code means for providing a prompt for service selection to the subscriber;

third computer readable program code means for receiving an indication of service selection from the subscriber at the interceptor unit; and

fourth computer readable program code means for determining a service application based on the received indication of service selection;

wherein the service application is a non-prefix based value added service; and

wherein the non-prefix communication and the prompt for service selection are provided over separate channels.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code means for initiating the service application.

55. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the prompt for service selection is received over an out-of-band channel.

56. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the separate channels are functional in parallel.

57. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is related to the non-prefix communication.

58. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the non-prefix based value added service is unrelated to the non-prefix communication.

59. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the non-prefix communication has an associated voice circuit, and wherein the first computer readable program code means for intercepting a non-prefix communication includes:

fifth computer readable program code means for intercepting the associated voice circuit; and

sixth computer readable program code means for holding the intercepted voice circuit for a pre-defined time interval.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the associated voice circuit is intercepted at a switch.

61. The computer program product of claim 53, the control logic further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code means for applying a filtering criterion to the non-prefix communication.

62. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the non-prefix communication is initiated using a telephone number received from a group consisting of an address book, a number list, and a telephone pad.

63. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the interceptor unit is an Intelligent Service Control Point (ISCP).

64. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the prompt for service selection is an interactive menu.

65. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein a standby interceptor unit is provided for failover support.

66. The computer program product of claim 53, the control logic further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code providing a prompt for carrier selection code to the subscriber.

67. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide value added services to a subscriber of a mobile communications network, the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for intercepting a communication request from the subscriber, the communication request including an intended destination;

second computer readable program code means for providing an option for selection of a communications service to the subscriber;

third computer readable program code means for receiving an indication of selection of the communications service; and

fourth computer readable program code means for operating a service application based on the received indication of selection of the communications service;

wherein the communication request and the option for selection of a communications service are provided over separate channels.

68. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is voice Short Message Service (SMS).

69. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is adding media to a subscriber communication.

70. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is monitoring a communications session for voice analysis.

71. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session to detect lies.

72. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is monitoring a voice communications session for emotion.

73. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is analyzing the language of a text message for meaning and adding media to that text message according to the meaning.

74. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the service application is recognizing music.

75. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the option is a visual indication of service selection choices.

76. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the option is an audible prompt.

77. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the indication of selection is a character entered on a handset.

78. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the indication of selection is spoken by the subscriber.