Apparatus and method for providing enhanced telecommunications services

• US 20080069327A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher Kingsley, Jeffrey Myint
• Original Assignee: Christopher Kingsley, Jeffrey Myint
• Inventors: Kingsley, Christopher, Myint, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/981,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Claims

1. A method for providing at least one enhanced telecommunications service, comprising:

receiving, at a service platform within a public telephone network, a call from a calling party number associated with a subscriber of said service platform;

obtaining subscriber profile information associated with the subscriber by the service platform; and

providing a voice-activated interface to the subscriber to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one enhanced telecommunications service includes basic virtual office phone services.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one enhanced telecommunications service includes advanced virtual office services.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the advanced virtual office services include at least one unified messaging service and a recording service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of a plurality of communication services.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the subscriber with a single access number through which the scriber can be reached regardless of the type of call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing further comprises performing a tutorial with the subscriber using said voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to know how to access the at least one enhanced telecommunications service.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein providing further comprises receiving, by said voice-activated interface, voice commands from the subscriber to initiate, activate, modify or delete one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

9. A method for implementing at least one enhanced telecommunications service, said method comprising:

receiving, at a service platform within a public telephone network, a call from a caller to a subscriber of said platform, a calling party number associated with the call not being associated with the subscriber;

obtaining subscriber profile information associated with the subscriber by the service platform;

providing a voice-activated interface to the caller to enable the service platform to retrieve caller information from the caller; and

routing the call using at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services based on said subscriber profile information and said caller information.

10. A method of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber, comprising:

incorporating an enhanced services platform capable of providing the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services into a public telephone network; and

using a voice-activated interface of said enhanced services platform to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services, and receiving, by said voice-activated interface, voice commands from the subscriber to initiate, activate, modify, or delete one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing, by said enhanced services platform, a call completion function for one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services based on said voice commands.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing, by said enhanced services platform, an administrative function for one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services, based on said voice commands.