Methods, Systems, and Products for Providing Telephony Services

• US 20080226056A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James C.
• Application Number:
  US12/128,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20080226056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing telephony services to customers. A metaservice is associated with a directory number. The metaservice is provisioned as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number. When a request is received for an advanced telephony service for the directory number, then the metaservice is provided to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.

Claims

1. A method of providing telephony service, comprising:

associating a metaservice with a directory number;

provisioning the metaservice as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number;

receiving a request for an advanced telephony service for the directory number; and

providing the metaservice to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising provisioning the metaservice as a legacy-compatible telephony service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for a new service to be associated with the directory number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the metaservice on a server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the metaservice as a placeholder for advanced telephony services for the directory number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the metaservice with a signal to the directory number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a database to determine whether to provide the advanced telephony service to a call.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said advanced telephony service is at least one of an outbound call manager, an intercom, a personal dialing plan, a voice dialing service, and an originating call log.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a billing system so that a metaservice line item appears on a customer'"'"'s bill.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a web page on a server that explains advanced telephone services available via the metaservice.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a web page on a server that allows a customer to add new services through the metaservice.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a user interface for the metaservice.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a profile database that stores information describing the metaservice.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the metaservice on server prior to installing the advanced telephony service on the server.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the metaservice as a call-forwarding service for legacy systems.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the metaservice to determine when a called party subscribes to the advanced telephony service.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the metaservice with the directory number comprises associating the metaservice with a trigger.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising advertising the metaservice.

19. A system for providing telephony service, comprising:

means for associating a metaservice with a directory number;

means for provisioning the metaservice as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number;

means for receiving a request for an advanced telephony service for the directory number; and

means for providing the metaservice to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for provisioning the metaservice as a legacy-compatible telephony service.