Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services

• US 5,548,636 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Independence Manzanar LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Marchetti, Marco, Moghe, Dhawal B., Bannister, Cecil H., Switzer, Tod W., Mo, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/466,189
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/210, 379/211, 379/127, 379/233, 379/234, 379/372, 379/373, 379/374, 379/375, 379/376, 379/265, 379/266, 379/201, 379/112, 379/142, 379/252 , 379/111, 379/114, 379/393, 379/57, 379/58, 379/59, 379/63
• US Class Current: 379/390.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2038 Call context notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/248 for metering arrangements or prepayment telephone systems metering arrangements per se H04M15/00; prepayment telephone systems per se H04M17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• 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 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 : Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 : mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 : routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0033 : customer-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method of providing call screening to a subscriber of personal communication services facilitates the screening of incoming calls by associating the number dialed by a calling party with a function or role of the dialed number. This function or role is then sent to the subscriber when an incoming call is received. This way, the subscriber can decide whether to answer the incoming call based upon knowing the role or context associated with the dialed number. The subscriber is also provided with user controlled features which can be invoked by the use of DTMF codes. The subscriber can place a calling party on hold prior to answering the incoming call. In addition, the subscriber can proceed with a call transfer from a wireless telephone to a wired telephone and vice-versa, while the call is still in progress. Another feature allows the subscriber to implement a real-time call screening, while the calling party is leaving a message on voice mail. Yet another feature provides a wide area virtual extension to several subscribers such that an incoming call will be simultaneously routed to each subscriber in the group, as if their telephones were extensions of each other.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user controlled personal communication service (PCS) for users of call alerting devices, wherein specified communication services can be invoked by the users prior to answering incoming calls from calling parties, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a database, at least one respective directory number for each respective user;

storing, in the database, for each respective user, a respective network address associated with a respective alerting device;

storing, in the database, for each respective user, a respective list of DTMF codes and associated services that the respective user can invoke prior to answering the incoming calls;

accessing said database when a calling party dials a respective directory number stored in said database;

determining from the database the respective network address of the respective alerting device associated with the respective directory number;

establishing a voice path between the respective alerting device and the calling party if the respective alerting device goes off-hook;

accessing said list of DTMF codes in said database if a respective DTMF code is received from said respective alerting device, to identify a respective service corresponding to the respective DTMF code; and

enabling the respective service,

wherein one of said associated services comprises a call on hold feature which is activated during the ringing of a respective user'"'"'s alerting device by a call on hold DTMF code, wherein the calling party is placed on hold until the respective user of the respective alerting device is able to answer the calling party.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said database is stored at a service node;

said service node responds to receipt of said call on hold DTMF code by;

sending a recorded announcement to the calling party instructing the calling party to hold; and

instructing a host switch connected to said service node, to place the calling party on hold.