System and method for notifying a customer of a call from a particular number

• US 6,173,048 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/116,167
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/229, 379/230, 340/539, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/415
• US Class Current: 379/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

System and method providing a customer with the ability to obtain temporary notification service in the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) for the customer'"'"'s calling line by dialing a call to feature access code, without thc intervention of a service representative. The call is recognized as a request for an initiation of a temporary notification service with respect to the customer'"'"'s calling line. On the basis of the recognition, an association may be retained between the calling line number and the service switching point serving the calling line number. This retained association may be used later in the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number. The call is routed to a rental service interface through which rental information from the caller may be collected. This rental information may be compiled into a rental agreement that is used for activation of the temporary notification service with respect to the caller'"'"'s calling line number. Confirmation of the activation may be provided to the communication. To activate the notification system, a customer typically dials a feature access code via a handset associated with the customer'"'"'s calling line number. The customer then identifies a pager number and the number to screen. Incoming calls to the customer'"'"'s calling line number are thereafter monitored. When a match between an incoming calling party number and the number to screen is found, the customer is paged or otherwise notified that the number to screen has dialed the customer'"'"'s number.

Claims

1. In an advanced intelligent network, a method to provide a caller-activated rental system of temporary notification service, comprising the steps of:

A. receiving a communication directed to a feature access code on a calling line;

B. in response to receiving the communication directed to the feature access code, making an inquiry of the communication for rental information regarding temporary notification service for the calling line;

C. in response to the inquiry, receiving the rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line; and

D. in response to receipt of the rental information, making an activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line,

whereby the temporary notification service with respect to the calling line may be rented by a caller who directs the communication to the feature access code and provides the rental information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein Step D comprises the steps of:

in response to receipt of the rental information, preparing a rental agreement regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line;

retrieving a pager number and placing the pager number in the rental agreement;

retrieving a screening number and placing the screening number in the rental agreement; and

placing a trigger on the calling line to direct incoming calls to the temporary notification service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

E. after making the activation, providing confirmation to the communication of the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line.

4. In an advanced intelligent network, a method to provide a caller-activated change in temporary advanced telecommunication services provided as part of a rental system to include temporary notification service, comprising the steps of:

A. receiving a communication directed to a feature access code on a calling line;

B. in response to receiving the communication directed to the feature access code, checking whether a rental agreement is in place with respect to the calling line of the communication;

C. if the rental agreement is in place, making an inquiry of the communication for a change in rental information regarding the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line to include temporary notification service;

D. in response to the inquiry, receiving the change in the rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line number; and

E. in response to receipt of the change in the rental information, making a change activation in the temporary advanced telecommunication services for the calling line,

whereby the temporary advanced telecommunication services with respect to the calling line may be changed by a caller who directs the communication to the feature access code for temporary notification service and provides the change in the rental information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein Step E comprises, in response to receipt of the change in the rental information, preparing a change in the rental agreement regarding the temporary advanced telecommunication services for the calling line number and then making a change activation in the temporary advanced telecommunication services for the calling line.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

F. after making the change activation, then providing a confirmation of the change activation in the temporary advanced telecommunication services for the calling line to the communication.

7. A caller-activated rental system for temporary notification service, comprising:

an advanced intelligent network (AIN) element operative;

a. to make a recognition of a communication as a request for an initiation of a temporary notification service with respect to a calling line on the basis of use of a feature access code to which the communication is directed;

b. to direct the collection of rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line;

c. to receive the rental information; and

d. on the basis of the rental information, to direct activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the AIN element is further operative to provide confirmation to the communication of the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the AIN element is further operative on the basis of the recognition of the communication, to retain an association between the calling line and a service switching point serving the calling line number,

whereby the association between the calling line number and the service switching point serving the calling line may be used in the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line.

10. In an advanced intelligent network (AIN), a caller-activated rental system for temporary notification service, comprising:

A. a first AIN element operative

to make a recognition of a communication as a request for an initiation of a temporary notification service with respect to a calling line number on the basis of use of a feature access code to which the communication is directed, and

to direct collection by a second AIN element from the communication of rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line number;

B. the second AIN element being functionally connected to the first AIN element, the second AIN element being operative

to make the collection from the communication of the rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line number, and

to provide the rental information to the first AIN element; and

C. the first AIN element being further operative, in response to receipt of the rental information, to make an activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first AIN element is further operative, on the basis of the recognition of the communication, to retain an association between the calling line number and a service switching point serving the calling line number.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first AIN element is further operative to use the association between the calling line number and the service switching point serving the calling line number in the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number.

13. In an advanced intelligent network (AIN), a caller-activated rental system for temporary notification service, comprising:

A. a service switch point (SSP) operative

to receive a communication directed to a feature access code from a calling line number, and

on the basis of the feature access code, to pause in the processing of the communication and to request instructions regarding the communication from a service control point (SCP);

B. the service control point being functionally connected to the service switching point, and being operative

to retain an association between the calling line number of the communication and the service control point,

to make a recognition that the communication is to be routed to a service circuit node (SCN), and

in response to the recognition, to provide the instructions to the service switching point to route the communication to the service circuit node;

C. the service switching point being further operative, in response to receipt of the instructions, to route the communication to the service circuit node;

D. the service circuit node being functionally connected to the service switching point and to the service control point, the service circuit node being operative, in response to receipt of the communication, to make a request for processing instructions from the service control point;

E. the service control point being further operative, in response to the request, to provide the service circuit node with the processing instructions, the processing instructions including a direction to the service circuit node to make a collection from the communication of rental information regarding a temporary notification service for the calling line number;

F. the service circuit node being further operative,

in response to the processing instructions, to make the collection from the communication of rental information regarding the temporary notification service for the calling line number, and

to provide the rental information to the service control point;

G. the service control point being further operative,

in response to the rental information and on the basis of the association between the calling line number and the service switching point, to provide the service switching point with activation instructions, the activation instructions including an order to the service switching point to make an activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number; and

H. the service switching point being further operative, in response to the activation instructions, to make the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the service control point is further operative to provide confirmation to the service circuit node of the activation of the temporary notification service for the calling line number.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the service circuit node is further operative to receive the confirmation from the service control point of the activation of the notification service for the calling line number and to provide the confirmation to the communication.