Method for automatically returning voice mail messages

• US 5,857,013 A
• Filed: 06/24/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• 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: Berke, Lawrence R., Smets, Raymond J., Yue, Drina C., Moquin, Thomas Joseph, Kraus, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/881,620
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/209, 379/216, 379/355
• US Class Current: 379/88.2
• 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 returning a voice mail message for a subscriber of a voice mail service. The method includes the steps of accessing the voice mail service on a second calling line on the public switched telephone network, playing a first voice mail message for the subscriber, the first voice mail message having been received on a first calling line from a source and the first calling line number having been recorded, receiving a call back indication from the subscriber, automatically generating a call to the source, connecting the subscriber to the first calling line, monitoring the call to determine when the call is terminated, and returning the subscriber to the voice mail service.

Claims

1. A method for disposal of a voice mail message for a subscriber using a mobile telephone, said voice mail message having been received on a first calling line from a source, comprising the steps of:

accessing a voice mail service in response to an instruction from said subscriber received on a second calling line from said mobile telephone;

playing said voice mail message for said subscriber;

receiving a call back indication from said subscriber;

automatically generating a call to the calling line number associated with said first calling line in response to said call back indication from said subscriber; and

connecting the subscriber to said first calling line if said call is successful.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of monitoring said call to determine when said call is terminated and returning said subscriber to said voice mail service, in response to said call being terminated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of announcing the number of voice mail messages received for said subscriber in response to said step of accessing said voice mail service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of playing said first voice mail message comprises determining source identification information for said subscriber, said source identification information including said first calling line number associated with said first calling line as determined by automatic number identification and the identity of said source as determined by comparison with information in a reverse white pages database and playing said source identification for said subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of playing a voice mail message for said subscriber comprises playing source information separately from said voice mail message for said subscriber, said source information including said calling line number associated with said first calling line and the identity of said source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said voice mail service resides within a telephone network platform.

7. A method for returning a voice mail message for a subscriber of a voice mail service, comprising the steps of:

accessing said voice mail service in response to an instruction from said subscriber received on a second calling line on a public switched telephone network;

playing a first voice mail message for said subscriber, said first voice mail message having been received on a first calling line from a source and said first voice mail message and the first calling line number having been recorded;

receiving a call back indication from said subscriber;

automatically generating a call to said source of said first voice mail message in response to said call back indication by calling said first calling line number associated with said first calling line;

connecting the subscriber to said first calling line if said call is successful;

monitoring said call to determine when said call is terminated; and

returning said subscriber to said voice mail service, in response to said call being terminated.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of playing a second voice mail message for said subscriber in response to said step of returning said subscriber to said voice mail service.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of announcing the number of voice mail messages received for said subscriber in response to said step of accessing said voice mail service.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of playing said first voice mail message comprises determining source identification information for said subscriber, said source identification information including said first calling line number associated with said first calling line as determined by automatic number identification and the identity of said source as determined by comparison with information in a reverse white pages database and playing said source identification for said subscriber.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said call back indication from said subscriber is received at a subscriber-selected point in said first voice mail message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said subscriber-selected point of said first voice mail message is the conclusion of said first voice mail message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of calling said first calling line number comprises leaving said voice mail service at said subscriber-selected point of said first voice mail message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of returning said subscriber to said voice mail service comprises returning said subscriber to said voice mail service at said subscriber-selected point of said first voice mail message.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein said subscriber accesses said voice mail service via a mobile telephone.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein said voice mail service resides within a telephone network platform.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first calling line number is recorded in a database associated with said network platform.

18. A method for returning a plurality of voice mail messages for a subscriber by a voice mail service residing within a telephone network platform, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first communication with a voice mail message for said subscriber on a first calling line;

recording said calling line number in a database associated with said network platform;

receiving a second communication with a request from said subscriber to play said voice mail message;

playing said voice mail message for said subscriber;

receiving a call back indication from said subscriber;

retrieving said first calling line number from said database associated with said network platform;

automatically generating a third communication to the calling line number associated with said first calling line; and

connecting said subscriber with said calling line associated with said first calling line number if said call is successful.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring said third communication to determine when said communication is terminated; and

returning said subscriber to said voice mail service, in response to said communication being terminated.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said subscriber accesses said voice mail service via a mobile telephone.