Method and system for providing nonpublished number messaging service

• US 5,450,476 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Parascandolo, Andrea, D'Apuzzo, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US08/156,117
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/70, 379/84, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/214
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A Nonpublished Number Messaging (NPNM) system allows a caller to leave a message for a party having a nonpublished telephone number. When a caller calls directory assistance to request a telephone number, an operator service system (OSS) switch routes the call to a directory assistance operator. The operator enters the requested listing into an operator console and a search is made in an OSS database (DB). When it is determined that the requested telephone number is nonpublished, the OSS switch routes the call to an audio response unit (ARU), which plays a recorded message, and then routes the call to a voice mail service (VMS) provider. The VMS Provider records a message left by the caller and then delivers it to the appropriate party.

Claims

1. A method for providing a Nonpublished Number Messaging service in a telephone system which establishes connections between a calling party and a voice message system for a party having a non-published number, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from a calling party requesting a telephone number corresponding to a called party the calling party desires to call;

accessing telephone information about the called party, said information including the requested telephone number, a first indicator that the requested telephone number is nonpublished, and a second indicator that the called party wishes to receive messages from callers requesting its telephone number;

determining that the requested telephone number is nonpublished; and

responsive to said first and second indicators, routing the call to a voice message system and then recording a message from the calling party for the called party if the called party'"'"'s telephone number is unpublished and the called party wishes to receive messages.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

prompting the calling party to indicate an interest to leave a message for the called party prior to routing the call to said voice message system.

3. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

determining that the call is an Intra-Local Access Transport Area call prior to routing the call to said voice message system.

4. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

playing a recorded message to the caller prior to routing the call to said voice message system.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said recorded message describes the Nonpublished Number Messaging service to the caller.

6. A system for providing a Nonpublished Number Messaging (NPNM) service comprising:

a switch;

a database connected to said switch and storing directory assistance information about telephone customers;

an operator console connected to said switch and said database for accessing said directory assistance information and determining whether a particular telephone customer for whom directory assistance is requested has a nonpublished telephone number; and

a voice mail service (VMS) connected to said switch for recording a message from a caller when the particular telephone customer has a nonpublished telephone number.