Method for handling telephonic messages

• US 5,717,741 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smets, Raymond J., Yue, Drina C., Moquin, Thomas Joseph, Kraus, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Application Number:
  US08/623,121
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142, 379/127, 379/265, 379/266, 379/309, 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/215, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/188, 379/199
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/436 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 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1327 : Release and resetting of connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 : authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 : mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 : routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/665 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method for taking a message for a subscriber, including the steps of: receiving a communication on a calling line from a source, identifying the calling line number associated with the calling line, identifying the source of the communication, recording the message from the source, and recording the calling line number and the source identity in association with the message, whereby the message is taken for the subscriber including identification of the source and the calling line number.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a subscriber of a communication received during the playing of a voice mail message for said subscriber by a voice mail service, comprising the steps of:

playing by said voice mail service said voice mail message for said subscriber;

receiving by said voice mail service said communication for said subscriber on a calling line from a source;

terminating by said voice mail service said playing of said voice mail message; and

announcing by said voice mail service the receipt of said communication to said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of resuming said playing of said voice mail message after announcing said receipt of said communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of interrupting occurs at a first point of said voice mail message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said communication for said subscriber comprises the steps of:

identifying the calling line number associated with said calling line; and

identifying said source of said communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of announcing said receipt of said communication comprises:

announcing said calling line number; and

announcing the identity of said source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving communication disposition information from said subscriber; and

disposing of said communication in accordance with said communication disposition information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said communication disposition information comprises an acceptance of said communication;

wherein said step of receiving communication disposition information comprises receiving said acceptance; and

wherein said step of disposing of said communication comprises routing said communication to said subscriber.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said communication disposition information comprises a rejection of said communication;

wherein said step of receiving communication disposition information comprises receiving said rejection; and

wherein said step of disposing of said communication comprises routing said communication to a voice mail service.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of announcing said receipt of said communication comprises requesting said communication disposition information from said subscriber.