System for providing personalized telephone calling features

• US 5,544,229 A
• Filed: 01/23/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Papazian, Carol J., Rulon, James M., Creswell, Carroll W., Lanning, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US08/376,501
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/112, 379/114, 379/127, 379/100, 379/91, 379/94
• US Class Current: 379/114.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A common adjunct switch in association with a communications network provides a number of functionalities, one of which allows associated subscribers to customize the way in which they receive telephone calls and access enhanced services, such as a facsimile service. In particular, each subscriber may dynamically specify a number of caller identifiers and a different call treatment for each such identifier as well as a particular billing mode. A call treatment may include, for example, a specification to forward an associated call to a (a) particular telephone number, (b) default telephone number, or (c) messaging service.

Claims

1. A communication system for providing personalized calling services comprising

means for storing a caller identifier for each of a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers,

means for answering a telephone call directed to a particular one of said subscriber telephone numbers,

means, responsive to receiving a caller identifier after said telephone call has been answered, for prompting said caller to select one of a number of different personalized calling services, and

means, responsive to receiving an indication that said caller has selected a particular one of said calling services, interacting with said caller for the purpose of receiving a telephone number identifying a destination of a facsimile,

means, responsive to receipt of said telephone number, for transmitting a carrier tone to said caller, for then interacting with the caller'"'"'s facsimile machine for the purpose of receiving a facsimile from said machine and for then retransmitting said facsimile to said destination.

2. A platform for providing personalized calling services, said platform being disposed in a telecommunications system and being associated with a plurality of different telephone numbers, said platform comprising

means for storing a caller identifier for each of said telephone numbers, said caller identifier being associated with a selectable call treatment defined by a respective specification,

means for answering a telephone call directed to one of said telephone numbers,

means, responsive to receiving a caller identifier after said telephone call has been answered, for presenting to the caller in accordance with the specification associated with the received identifier a selectable option of sending a facsimile via said platform, and

means, responsive to receipt of an indication that the caller has selected said option and responsive to receipt of a destination telephone number for a facsimile to be supplied by said caller, for then interacting with the caller'"'"'s facsimile machine to receive said facsimile and for then retransmitting the received facsimile to the destination telephone number.