Method and system for affinity group telephone service
First Claim
1. A telecommunications method, comprising:
- segregating a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network into at least a first affinity group;
storing in said telecommunications network a first call processing characteristic for first subscribers in said first affinity group, wherein said first call processing characteristic is a dial tone which is different from that of other call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group; and
executing in said telecommunications network said first call processing characteristic when one of said first subscribers places a call.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network are divided into affinity groups. Subscribers in a particular affinity group have a common interest which is different from that of subscribers in other affinity groups. That interest may a common cultural heritage, a common language preference, a common vocational or avocational interest, or the like. Each respective affinity group has associated with it a customized set of call processing characteristics, such as a distinctive dial tone, a distinctive subscriber language preference, and/or an abbreviated dialing list of other subscribers in the group. In addition, each respective affinity group can have a special broadcast message sent to the some or all of the subscribers in the group.
39 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A telecommunications method, comprising:
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segregating a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network into at least a first affinity group;
storing in said telecommunications network a first call processing characteristic for first subscribers in said first affinity group, wherein said first call processing characteristic is a dial tone which is different from that of other call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group; and
executing in said telecommunications network said first call processing characteristic when one of said first subscribers places a call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber.
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4. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber from a voice menu presented by said telecommunications network.
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5. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber from a visual display menu.
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6. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by a system administrator in said telecommunications network.
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7. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein:
said first call processing characteristic is a subscriber language preference which different from that of call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group.
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8. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein:
said first call processing characteristic is an abbreviated dialing list which different from that of call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group.
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9. The telecommunications method of claim 1, wherein;
said first call processing characteristic is a special broadcast message which is different from that of call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside said first affinity group.
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10. A telecommunications method, comprising:
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segregating a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network into at least a first affinity group;
storing in said telecommunications network a first call processing characteristic including a first broadcast message for first subscribers in said first affinity group, wherein said first call processing characteristic is a dial tone which is different from that of other call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group; and
executing in said telecommunications network said first call processing characteristic including transmitting said first message when one of said first subscribers places a call. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber.
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13. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber from a voice menu presented by said telecommunications network.
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14. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by said one subscriber from a visual display menu.
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15. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said segregating step being defined for at least one subscriber of said plurality by selection by a system administrator in said telecommunications network.
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16. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said first call processing characteristic is a subscriber language preference which different from that of call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside of said first affinity group.
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17. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said first call processing characteristic is an abbreviated dialing list which is different from that of call processing characteristics associated with subscribers outside said first affinity group.
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18. The telecommunications method of claim 10, wherein:
said first broadcast message is received by subscribers in said first group.
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19. A telecommunications network serving a plurality of subscribers, comprising:
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an affinity group table storage at a node in the network, for storing first call processing information for a first subplurality of said subscribers in a first affinity group, wherein said first information includes a first dial tone for playback to said subscribers in said first affinity group; and
a call processor coupled to said storage, for performing first call processing operations using said first information in response to a first call by a subscriber in said first affinity group. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
an affinity group network platform in said telecommunications network, for providing said affinity group table storage and said call processor; and
a plurality of control processors distributed in said network and coupled to said network platform, for performing call screening of said first calls and transferring them to said call processor.
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21. The telecommunications network of claim 19, which further comprises:
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a plurality of said storages distributed in said telecommunications network, for storing said affinity group table;
a plurality of said call processors distributed in said network, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of storages.
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22. The telecommunications network of claim 19, wherein:
said first information includes a first special broadcast message for transmission to subscribers in said first affinity group.
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23. The telecommunications network of claim 19, wherein:
said first information includes a first language preference for subscribers in said first affinity group.
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24. The telecommunications network of claim 19, wherein:
said first information includes a first abbreviated dialing list for subscribers in said first affinity group.
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25. The telecommunications network of claim 19, wherein:
said first information includes a first speech recognition word list for subscribers in said first affinity group.
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26. The telecommunications network of claim 19, wherein:
said first information includes a first message queue storing a plurality of first special broadcast messages for selective transmission to subscribers in said first affinity group.
Specification