Method for providing a menu to a subscriber on a switched communications network

• US 5,933,484 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Partridge, B. Waring III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,065
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/355, 379/386, 379/93.25
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/254 where the visual mode comprises menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/45 using multi-frequency signalling H04Q1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for providing a menu to a subscriber on a switched telecommunications network is provided. In a first step, a menu of service options is provided to a subscriber. The menu includes a menu modification option. In a second step, a service request code corresponding to one of the service options is received from the subscriber. And, in a third step, the corresponding service option is provided to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for providing a menu to a subscriber on a switched telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

providing a menu of service options to said subscriber, in the course of establishing a communication path between said subscriber and another subscriber or in the course of communication after establishing the communication path;

receiving from said subscriber a service request code corresponding to one of said service options; and

providing said one of said service options to said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said menu further comprises a call completion option with respect to said communication between said subscriber and said another subscriber, that affects capabilities of said communication, and said step of providing said one of said service options comprises establishing a communication path between said subscriber and said another subscriber in response to a receiving a service request code from said subscriber that corresponds to said call completion option.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing said menu comprises:

providing said menu visually to said subscriber.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing said one of said service options comprises:

modifying said menu service options after a request code corresponding to said menu modification option is received during said step of receiving.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of modifying comprises:

adding a service option to said menu.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of adding comprises the steps of:

establishing a communication path between said subscriber and a repository of service options;

providing a choice of service options to said subscriber;

receiving a selection of a service options from said subscriber; and

modifying said menu to include said selected service options.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing a choice to said subscriber comprises:

providing an option to browse through said repository.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing a choice comprises:

providing a plurality of telephone numbers stored in at least one database.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of modifying comprises:

deleting a service option from said menu.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of deleting comprises the steps of:

receiving a selection of one or more of said service options from said subscriber; and

modifying said menu to exclude said selection of service options.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a menu comprises:

providing a nested menu.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a menu comprises:

providing a menu including a selection of service options, said selection being based on demographic information pertaining to said subscriber.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a menu further comprises:

providing a menu of service options including establishing a communication path to a destination corresponding to a destination that a communication path has previously been established by said subscriber.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a menu further comprises:

providing a menu of service options including establishing a communication path to a destination corresponding to a destination that a communication path has frequently been established by said subscriber.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

before said step of providing a menu, selecting destinations to be included in said menu in response to a calling history of said subscriber.

3. A method for providing a menu to a subscriber on a switched telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

providing a menu of service options to said subscriber comprising a menu modification option, and an option of a call completion to a destination;

receiving from said subscriber a service request code corresponding to one of said service options; and

providing said one of said service options to said subscriber including, with reference to said call completion option, establishing a communication path between said subscriber and said destination in response to a receiving a service request code from said subscriber corresponding to said call completion option;

where said step of providing a menu further comprises including in said menu a marker corresponding to said destination characterizing a communication capability of said destination.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of including comprises:

including a marker that distinguishes said destination between a POTS service and an enhanced service.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of including comprises:

including a marker that distinguishes between a real time transmission service and a non-real time transmission service.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of including comprises:

including a marker that distinguishes between a voice communication service and a data communication service.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of including comprises:

including a marker that distinguishes between a broad band transmission service and a narrow band transmission service.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of including said marker comprises:

including a visual icon.