Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services

• US 5,668,862 A
• Filed: 03/01/1996
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• 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: Bannister, Cecil H., Moghe, Dhawal Balkrishna, Switzer, Tod W., Marchetti, F. Marco, Mo, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/609,629
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265, 379/266, 379/201, 379/67, 379/58, 379/211, 379/233, 379/82, 379/207, 379/212, 379/142, 379/88, 379/89, 379/127, 379/118
• US Class Current: 379/207.14
• 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 for providing call screening to subscribers of a personal communications service, comprising the steps of:

defining a respective role for each of a plurality of directory numbers assigned to a subscriber of said personal communications service;

storing a list of said directory numbers and the respective role corresponding to each of said directory numbers in a subscriber database associated with said subscriber;

assigning a network address corresponding to a call alerting device used by said subscriber;

storing said network address in said subscriber database;

accessing said subscriber database when a calling party places a call to one of said directory numbers on said list;

identifying the respective role defined for said one of said directory numbers;

transmitting, via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a first signal indicating the identified role to said call alerting device via said network address; and

transducing said first signal at said call alerting device and presenting said identified role to said subscriber.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, via the PSTN, a second signal indicating a call source to said call alerting device via said network address; and

transducing said second signal at said call alerting device and presenting said call source to said subscriber.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said list of directory numbers and corresponding roles stored in said subscriber database includes a directory number to be associated with a personal role and a directory number to be associated with a business role.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said list of directory numbers and corresponding roles stored in said subscriber database further includes a directory number to be associated with a social role.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

for each respective subscriber of a plurality of subscribers, performing the steps of defining respective roles for directory numbers assigned to said each respective subscriber, storing a list of the directory numbers assigned to the respective subscriber and the respective roles corresponding to said directory numbers in a respective database associated with the respective subscriber, assigning a respective network address corresponding to a call alerting device used by the respective subscriber, and storing said respective network address in the respective subscriber database; and

responding to a call placed to a directory number stored in at least one subscriber database by a calling party by accessing each subscriber database containing said directory number to identify the respective role corresponding to said directory number in the respective subscriber database, transmitting a respective signal indicating the identified respective role to the respective call alerting device in the respective subscriber database, and transducing the respective signal at the respective call alerting device and presenting the identified respective role to the respective subscriber.