Apparatus, System and Method for Monitoring a Call Forwarded to a Network-Based Voice Mail System

• US 20080317221A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Anita Hogans, Silver, Edward Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,064,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.08
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch scads an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Claims

1. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:

receiving a forwarded call;

determining whether the call can be monitored;

if the call can be monitored, then sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring message to customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with a called party;

receiving an intercept tone from the CPE; and

causing the called party to be connected to a calling party.

14. The method of Claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a voice mail code sent by the called party; and

acting on the voice mail code.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein the voice mail code is a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) sequence.

16. The method of Claim 13, wherein determining if the call can be monitored comprises:

determining if the call was forwarded prior to being received as a forwarded call; and

if the call was previously forwarded, then to deny call monitoring.

17. The method of Claim 13, wherein the intercept tone is a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone.

18. -29. (canceled)

30. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:

receiving a call monitoring alert signal from a central office switch (CO);

in response to receiving the call monitoring alert signal, providing an alert to a called party;

receiving an activate call monitoring data message from the CO; and

in response to receiving the activate call monitoring data message, going off-hook and engaging a speaker assembly to monitor the call.

31. The method of Claim 30, wherein providing an alert comprises generating a sound.

32. The method of Claim 30, wherein providing an alert comprises providing a distinctive ring pattern.

33. The method of Claim 30, wherein providing an alert comprises providing a visual indicator.

34. The method of Claim 30, further comprising:

receiving an intercept indicator; and

in response to receiving the intercept indicator, sending an intercept signal to the CO.

35. The method of Claim 34, wherein the intercept signal comprises a DTMF signal.

36. The method of Claim 34, wherein a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) adapted to support call monitoring is connected to the called party'"'"'s line, further comprising:

receiving an intercept indicator; and

in response to receiving the intercept signal, sending an intercept signal to the CO and sending an on-hook signal to all other CPEs.

37. The method of Claim 36, wherein the intercept signal and the on-hook signal are the same signal.

38. The method of Claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a voice mail code; and

sending the voice mail code to the VMS.