Automatic voice/data messaging enhancements

• US 5,134,647 A
• Filed: 03/19/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Messager Partners
• Original Assignee: Messager Partners
• Inventors: Nimon, Robert E., Pugh, Joel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US07/495,469
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 379/89, 379/88, 379/67, 379/212, 379/207, 379/214, 379/230, 370/61
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link

Abstract

A multi-node telephone network having at least caller-controlled interfaces for providing automatic voice messaging. A first caller-controlled interface unit is preferably located in a trunk or line between the calling station and a first switch for providing intercept and redirect functions associated with automatic voice messaging. The first switch is connected to a second switch via one or more digital communication links. A second caller-controlled interface unit is located in one of the digital communication links for providing intercept and redirect functions associated with automatic voice messaging. According to the invention, each of the interface units includes arbitration control circuits responsive to predetermined signaling to determine which of the interface units will provide the intercept and redirect functions upon call initiation to the called station by a caller at the calling station. The predetermined signaling is preferably provided in a common channel signaling No. 7 (SS7) protocol.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling receipt and delivery of voice messages over a telephone system having a host computer connectable to at least one calling station and a called station via a switch means, the calling station connectable to the switch means by a digital communication link having at least first and second channels dedicated to the calling station, comprising:

interface means for monitoring call progress signals in the first channel of the digital communication link upon call initiation to the called station on the first channel by a caller at the calling station;

detection means connected to the interface means for detecting receipt, during call progress, of a predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a voice message for the called station at the caller'"'"'s expense; and

control means connected to the detection means for connecting the calling station to the switch means and the host computer via the second channel of the digital communication link upon detection of the predetermined code to enable the caller to record, at the host computer, a message for the called station.

2. In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means connected by digital communication link, the improvement comprising:

an interface unit in a trunk between the calling station and the first switch means for providing intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions associated with automatic voice messaging;

an interface unit in the digital communication link for providing intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions associated with automatic voice messaging;

wherein each of the interface units includes control means responsive to predetermined signaling to determine which of the interface units will provide the intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions upon call initiation to the called station by a caller at the calling station.

3. In the telephone network as described in claim 2, wherein the predetermined signaling is provided in a common channel signaling No. 7 (SS7) protocol.

4. In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means connected by digital communication link, the improvement comprising:

an interface unit in a trunk between the calling station and the first switch means for providing intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions associated with at least one predetermined service;

an interface unit in the digital communication link for providing intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions associated with at least one predetermined service;

wherein each of the interface units includes control means responsive to predetermined signaling to determine which of the interface units will provide the intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions upon call initiation to the called station by a caller at the calling station.

5. In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means connected by digital communication link, the improvement comprising:

at least two interface means connected in the digital communication link each for monitoring signals on the link upon call initiation from the calling station to the called station and for providing intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions associated with a predetermined service;

a database associated with each said interface means; and

control means connected to each said interface means and each said database for controlling offer and acceptance of said predetermined service controlled and paid for at the calling station and for redirecting the call to a station other than said called station;

wherein said control means of each said interface means is responsive to predetermined signaling to determine which of the interface means will provide the intercept and caller-controlled redirect functions upon call initiation to the called station by the calling station.

6. In the telephone network as described in claim 5, wherein some of the signals on the link are in the in-band frequency range and some of the signals on the link are in the out-of-band frequency range.

7. In the telephone network as described in claim 5, wherein the signals on the link are in the in-band frequency range.

8. In the telephone network as described in claim 5, wherein the signals on the link are in the out-of-band frequency range.