Telecommunications system with timed-do-not-disturb

• US 5,060,255 A
• Filed: 04/25/1990
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US07/514,472
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/214, 379/213, 379/207, 379/197, 379/198, 379/196
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/70 Identification of class of calling subscriber

Abstract

Disclosed in an apparatus and method for effecting timed-do-not-disturb services in telephone networks. An adjunct computer is associated with the Remote Memory Administration System (RMAS) for switches which include a facility for providing call forwarding services. The adjunct computer is inserted between the RMAS and the switches which it controls. The adjunct includes a processor responsive to subscriber identification and stored class of service information to recognize that timed-do-not-disturb service is to be provided to an identified subscriber station. The processor receives requests for timed-to-not-disturb service via a multiline hunt group associated with a do-not-disturb access number associated with a voice response unit which feeds request signals to the processor and voice prompts to the caller. The processor determines the identity of the subscriber station which is to receive the requested service and the time of the service and generates a programming signal and formats the signal for compatibility with the switch to which the station is connected. The processor also transmits to the switch recent change programming signals originating in the RMAS as well as the programming signals to effectuate the timed-do-not-disturb service. Following programming of the switch incoming calls for the do-not-dusturb subscribers are forward to the adjunct which provides announcement to the caller.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system having a plurality of switching means interconnected by trunks, a plurality of subscriber stations arranged in groups with each group being served by one of said switching means, a plurality of subscriber lines connecting each switching means with the group of subscriber stations served thereby, a switching network in each switching means for establishing communication paths between calling subscriber stations and called subscriber stations addressed by the calling stations, at least one of said switching means including means for providing call forwarding services to subscriber stations served thereby, computer means associated with said switching means and adapted to respond to input signals to generate recent change signals to program switch translation variables in said switching means, and terminals connected to said computer means for entering programming orders, the improvement comprising:

adjunct means associated with said computer means and connectable to at least one of said switching means which includes means for providing call forwarding services to subscriber stations served thereby;

a multiline hunt group associated with a do-not-disturb service access number;

said adjunct means including;

voice response means connected to said multiline hunt group; and

processor means responsive to subscriber identification and stored class of service information (a) for recognizing that a do not disturb service is to be provided to a subscriber station connected to one of said switch means including means for providing call forwarding services to subscriber stations served thereby, and (b) for generating a signal for programming said switch means in the circuit to said subscriber station so as to effect the modification necessary to provide the call forwarding and do not disturb service to that subscriber station; and

said processor means being connected between said computer means and at least one of said switch means for transmitting to said switch means signals from said computer means.

2. A telecommunications system according to claim 1 wherein said switch means connected to said processor means receives from said processor means first switch translation programming signals responsive to signals from said computer means to said processor means, and second switch translation programming signals from said processor means responsive to commands from said multiline hunt group.

3. A telecommunications system according to claim 2 including means associated with said processor means for multiplexing said first and second switch translation programming signals.

4. A telecommunications system according to claim 1 including a second multiline hunt group connectable between said adjunct means and said switching means which includes means for providing call forwarding services for providing do not disturb announcements in response to forwarded calls.

5. A telecommunication system according to claim 4 including a line means connectable between said adjunct means and said switching means which includes means for providing call forwarding services for providing deactivation announcements in response to deactivation of said call forwarding and do not disturb services.

6. A telecommunication system according to claim 1 including a line means connectable between said adjunct means and said switching means which includes means for providing call forwarding services for providing deactivation announcements in response to deactivation of said call forwarding and do no disturb services.

7. A telecommunication system according to claim 1 wherein said adjunct means buffers programming signals generated by said processor means responsive to signals received from said multiline hunt group with signals received from said computer means.

8. A telecommunication system according to claim 1 including terminal means connected to said computer means for entering programming orders to be processed by said computer means for programming said switching means, wherein said adjunct means buffers programming signals generated by said processor means responsive to signals received from said multiline hunt group with signals received from said computer means responsive to signals received from said terminal means.

9. A method for remotely programming for timed-do-not-disturb services switch means in a telecommunications system having a computer means associated therewith and adapted to respond to input signals to generate recent change signals to program switch translation variables in said switching means comprising the steps of:

detecting at a node between said switch means and said computer means the receipt of a remotely transmitted signal requesting timed-do-not-disturb service programming of said switch means;

storing at least a portion of said request signal at said node;

detecting at said node the receipt of recent change programming signals from said computer means;

storing at least a portion of said recent change programming signals at said node;

transmitting from said node to said switch means multiplexed programming signals for effecting recent change programming and special service programming of said switch means.

10. A method for remotely programming and providing timed-do-not-disturb services through switch means in a telecommunications system having multiple switch means and a computer means associated with said multiple switch means and adapted to respond to input signals to generate recent change signals to program switch translation variables in said switch means comprising the steps of:

detecting at a node connected between said switch means and said computer means the receipt of a remotely transmitted signal requesting timed-do-not-disturb service programming of at least one of said switch means;

storing at least a portion of said request signal at said node;

formatting said stored request signal into recent change programming format and storing said formatted signal ready for release;

detecting at said node the receipt of recent change programming signals for at least one of said switch means from said computer means;

storing at least a portion of said recent change programming signals at said node;

sequentially transmitting said stored programming signals from said node to said switch means to effect recent change programming and timed-do-not-disturb service programming of said switch means;

thereafter forwarding calls to a timed-do-not-disturb customer served by said one switch means through said switch means to said node;

retrieving at said node at least a portion of said stored request signal; and

transmitting from said node timed-do-not-disturb responses to said calls.

11. A method according to claim 10 including the steps of:

detecting at said node a remotely transmitted signal identifying the switch means in said multiple switch means for which a timed-do-not-disturb service request signal is intended;

storing said identifying signal; and

effecting said formatting responsive to the identity of the switch means for which the timed-do-not-disturb service request signal is intended.

12. A method according to claim 10 including the step of:

transmitting a recent change programming signal from said computer means directly through said node to one of said switch means in the absence of a timed-do-not-disturb service request signal in said node.