Call monitoring

• US 20080069313A1
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hong, Simpson, Anita
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network-based voice mail system. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the call should be routed to the voice mail system. If call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber. The subscriber is bridged into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring calls routed to a voice mail system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from a calling party directed to a subscriber directory number;

determining whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system;

if the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system, querying a first network element for call monitoring services;

at the first network element, providing call monitoring instructions to a second network element;

at the second network element, setting up a communication between the calling party and the voice mail system;

at the second network element, calling the subscriber via the subscriber directory number; and

if the subscriber answers the call from the second network element, setting up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber without input from the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of setting up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber without input from the subscriber, includes allowing the subscriber to listen only to a voice message while the voice message is being recorded by the calling party into the voice mail system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing an announcement to the subscriber providing the subscriber instructions for interrupting the three-way communication in order to accept the call from the calling party;

interrupting the three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber; and

connecting the call from the calling party to the subscriber at the subscriber directory number to allow a two-way communication between the calling party and the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3, whereby the step of connecting the call from the calling party to the subscriber at the subscriber directory number to allow a two-way communication between the calling party and the subscriber includes the steps of:

removing the voice mail system from the three-way communication; and

transferring the two-way communication away from the second network element.

5. The method of claim 1,

whereby the step of receiving a call from a calling party directed to a subscriber directory number, includes receiving the call at a subscriber switch;

and

whereby the step of querying a first network element for call monitoring services includes firing a public office dialing plan (PODP) trigger at the subscriber switch to launch a query to the first network element.

6. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of determining whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system includes determining whether the call is answered.

7. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of providing call monitoring instructions to a second network element includes the step of:

routing from the first network element to the second network element the subscriber directory number, a calling party directory number, and a voice mail system access number.

8. The method of claim 1, whereby the first network element is an advanced intelligent network service control point.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby the second network element is an advanced intelligent network service node.

10. The method of claim 1, prior to the step of setting up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber without input from the subscriber, providing the subscriber a calling party identification associated with the call monitoring services to alert the subscriber that an incoming call from the second network element is associated with call monitoring services.

11. The method of claim 1, prior to the step of setting up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber without input from the subscriber, providing the subscriber a distinctive ring to alert the subscriber that an incoming call from the second network element is associated with call monitoring services.

12. A system for monitoring calls routed to a voice mail system, comprising the steps of:

a switch operative

to receive a call from a calling party directed to a subscriber directory number;

to determine whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system;

to query a first network element for call monitoring services if the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system;

the first network element operative

to provide call monitoring instructions to a second network element;

the second network element operative

to set up a communication between the calling party and the voice mail system;

to call the subscriber via the subscriber directory number; and

to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber without input from the subscriber if the subscriber answers the call from the second network element.

13. The system of claim 12, whereby the second network element is further operative to allow the subscriber to listen only to a voice message while the voice message is being recorded by the calling party into the voice mail system.

14. The system of claim 13, whereby the second network element is further operative

to provide an announcement to the subscriber providing the subscriber instructions for interrupting the three-way communication in order to accept the call from the calling party;

to interrupt the three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber; and

to connect the call from the calling party to the subscriber at the subscriber directory number to allow a two-way communication between the calling party and the subscriber.

15. The system of claim 14, whereby the second network element is further operative

to remove the voice mail system from the three-way communication;

and

to transfer the two-way communication away from the second network element.

16. The system of claim 12, whereby the switch is further operative

to fire a public office dialing plan (PODP) trigger at the switch to launch a query to the first network element for call monitoring services if the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system.

17. The system of claim 12, whereby first network element is further operative to route to the second network element the subscriber directory number, a calling party directory number, and a voice mail system access number.

18. The system of claim 12, whereby the first network element is an advanced intelligent network service control point;

and whereby the second network element is an advanced intelligent network service node.

19. The system of claim 12, whereby the first network element is further operative to provide the subscriber a calling party identification associated with the call monitoring services to alert the subscriber that an incoming call from the second network element is associated with call monitoring services.

20. The system of claim 12, whereby the first network element is further operative to cause the switch to provide the subscriber a distinctive ring to alert the subscriber that an incoming call from the second network element is associated with call monitoring services.