Method and system for posting messages to callers based on caller identity

• US 5,963,626 A
• Filed: 09/25/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), US West, Inc. (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nabkel, Jafar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US08/937,577
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.04, 379/127, 379/142, 379/76, 379/68, 379/80, 379/84, 379/88.09, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.2, 379/88.21 , 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/130, 379/243, 379/245
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system for generating and posting a message to callers based on a caller'"'"'s identity includes a communication station for determining whether a calling party is attempting to connect with the subscriber. An adjunct processor determines an identity of the calling party based on the calling party'"'"'s calling number and optional personal identification number (PIN). An intelligent peripheral unit generates a voice or textual message for receipt by the calling party based on the identity of the calling party according to instructions provided by the adjunct processor. Each message may be received by one or more callers, i.e. individuals or groups.

Claims

1. A method for generating a plurality of predetermined messages associated with a subscriber, each of the plurality of predetermined messages for receipt by at least one authorized calling party, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of lists of calling parties authorized to receive one of the plurality of predetermined messages, wherein each list of calling parties is associated with a respective one of the plurality of predetermined messages;

determining whether a calling party is attempting to connect with the subscriber;

if so, determining an identity of the calling party, wherein determining the identity of a calling party includes determining a telephone number of the calling party;

determining if the calling party is authorized to receive one of the plurality of messages by comparing the identity of the calling party with the plurality of lists of calling parties;

generating the one of the plurality of predetermined messages for receipt by the calling party based on the identity of the calling party and the list of calling parties associated with the one of the plurality of predetermined messages;

generating information for receipt by the subscriber indicating the number of authorized calling parties that have received the one of the plurality of predetermined messages, wherein generating information further includes determining the identity of each of the authorized calling parties that have received the one of the plurality of predetermined messages; and

determining an automatic expiration of the one of the plurality of predetermined messages.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the telephone number includes:

prompting the calling party for a calling party identification number; and

receiving a response signal from the calling party.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the identity of the calling party further includes prompting the calling party to input a personal identification number (PIN) signal associated with the calling party.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating the one of the plurality of predetermined messages further includes prompting the calling party to generate an acknowledgment signal indicating receipt of the one of the plurality of predetermined messages.

5. A system for generating a plurality of predetermined messages associated with a subscriber, each of the plurality of predetermined messages for receipt by at least one authorized calling party, the system comprising:

a communication station for determining whether a calling party is attempting to connect with the subscriber and for determining an identity of the calling party and generating a corresponding identity signal, wherein the communication station, in determining the identity, is further operative to determine a telephone number of the calling party;

an adjunct processor coupled to the communication station for generating a plurality of lists of calling parties authorized to receive one of the plurality of predetermined messages, wherein each list of calling parties is associated with a respective one of the plurality of predetermined messages, the adjunct processor further operative for receiving the identity signal and then determining if the calling party is authorized to receive one of the plurality of messages by comparing the identity of the calling party with the plurality of lists of calling parties, wherein the adjunct processor generates a corresponding processing signal if the calling party is authorized to receive the one of the plurality of predetermined messages, wherein the adjunct processor is further operative to accept automatic expiration information from the subscriber indicating when any one of the plurality of predetermined messages should automatically expire; and

an intelligent peripheral unit coupled to the adjunct processor for generating the one of the plurality of predetermined messages for receipt by the calling party based on the processing signal generated by the adjunct processor and for generating information for receipt by the subscriber indicating the number of authorized calling parties that have received the one of the plurality of predetermined messages, wherein the intelligent peripheral unit, in generating information, is further operative to determine the identity of each of the authorized calling parties that have received the one of the plurality of predetermined messages.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the adjunct processor is further operative to generate a prompt signal and wherein the intelligent peripheral unit is operative to prompt the calling party for a calling party identification number and receive a corresponding response signal from the calling party in response to the prompt signal.

7. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the adjunct processor is further operative to generate a second prompt signal and wherein the intelligent peripheral unit is operative to prompt the calling party for a personal identification number (PIN) and receive a corresponding PIN signal from the calling party in response to the second prompt signal.

8. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the intelligent peripheral unit, in generating the one of the plurality of predetermined messages, is further operative to prompt the calling party to generate an acknowledgment signal indicating receipt of the one of the plurality of predetermined messages.