Telecommunications functions management system providing distinctive alerting based on caller identifier

• US 6,226,379 B1
• Filed: 01/30/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, Jr., Mendel Lazear, Marlow, John Wallace, Swan, Richard Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/792,188
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.11, 379/88.19, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/142, 379/188, 379/194, 379/199, 379/350, 379/372, 379/373, 379/374, 379/375, 379/376
• US Class Current: 379/373.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• 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 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability

Abstract

The personal communications controller (PCC) may be programmed with a customized service configuration based on which telecommunications functions in connection with multiple telephone terminals are managed. The PCC system is designed to provide enhanced service value to all of the telephone terminals throughout a residence coupled to a single telephone communication line entering the residence. The PCC may provide service differentiation on an individual basis to the telephone terminals and, furthermore, differentiated treatment may be effected on a per telephone call basis. The customized service configuration may be generated using a personal computer from which it is downloaded to the PCC.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

providing one or more predetermined call treatment options;

associating each predetermined call treatment option with at least one alerter of the one or more alerters;

prompting, when the incoming call identifier is not available or not correlatable to any of the predetermined call identifiers, the incoming call with the predetermined call treatment options;

correlating, responsive to receiving an input selection from the incoming call, the input selection to a particular call treatment of the one or more predetermined call treatment options; and

activating the at least one alerter associated with the particular call treatment.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more alerters are operable at a plurality of cadences, and comprising

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

associating each predetermined call treatment option with one cadence of the plurality of cadences; and

the step of activating the at least one alerter includes controlling the at least one alerter to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular call treatment.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, comprising the steps of:

measuring time;

providing a call blocking time interval; and

responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, comprising associating each predetermined call treatment option with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes;

and wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular call treatment.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the steps of:

providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

responsive to the do not disturb indication, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

7. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

providing one or more predetermined call treatment options;

associating each predetermined call treatment option with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

prompting, when the incoming call identifier is not available or not correlatable to any of the predetermined call identifiers, the incoming call with the predetermined call treatment options;

correlating, responsive to receiving an input selection from the incoming call, the input selection to a particular call treatment of the one or more predetermined call treatment options; and

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular call treatment.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, comprising the steps of:

measuring time;

providing a call blocking time interval; and

responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising associating each predetermined call treatment option with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes;

and wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular call treatment.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, comprising the steps of:

providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

responsive to the do not disturb indication, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

12. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

measuring time;

providing a call blocking time interval; and

responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising the steps of:

providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

responsive to the do not disturb indication, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

15. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

responsive to the do not disturb indication, not activating any of the one or more alerters and routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the step of routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

17. For a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a system for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising:

means for providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for providing one or more predetermined call treatment options;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call treatment option with at least one alerter of the one or more alerters;

means for prompting, when the incoming call identifier is not available or not correlatable to any of the predetermined call identifiers, the incoming call with the predetermined call treatment options;

means for correlating, responsive to receiving an input selection from the incoming call, the input selection to a particular call treatment of the one or more predetermined call treatment options; and

means for activating the at least one alerter associated with the particular call treatment.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one or more alerters are operable at a plurality of cadences, and comprising means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

means for activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call treatment option with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

and the means for activating the at least one alerter includes means for controlling the at least one alerter to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular call treatment.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18, comprising:

means for measuring time;

means for providing a call blocking time interval; and

means, responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising means for associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, comprising means for associating each predetermined call treatment option with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes;

and wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular call treatment.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, comprising:

means for providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

means, responsive to the do not disturb indication, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

23. For a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a system for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising:

means for providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

means for correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

means for providing one or more predetermined call treatment options;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call treatment option with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

means for prompting, when the incoming call identifier is not available or not correlatable to any of the predetermined call identifiers, the incoming call with the predetermined call treatment options;

means for correlating, responsive to receiving an input selection from the incoming call, the input selection to a particular call treatment of the one or more predetermined call treatment options; and

means for activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular call treatment.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, comprising:

means for measuring time;

means for providing a call blocking time interval; and

means, responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising means for associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25, comprising means for associating each predetermined call treatment option with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes;

and wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular call treatment.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26, comprising:

means for providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

means, responsive to the do not disturb indication, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

29. A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising means for associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29, comprising:

means for providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

means, responsive to the do not disturb indication, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to the mailbox.

28. For a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a system for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising:

means for providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

means for correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

means for measuring time;

means for providing a call blocking time interval; and

means, responsive to the measured time being within the call blocking time interval, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

31. For a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a system for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising:

means for providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for enabling a subscriber to associate each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

means for correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

means for activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier;

means for providing, by the subscriber, an indication representing do not disturb; and

means, responsive to the do not disturb indication, for not activating any of the one or more alerters and for routing the incoming call to a mailbox whereby a voice message is recordable.

32. A system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the mailbox includes a plurality of mailboxes;

further comprising means for associating each predetermined call identifier with one mailbox of the plurality of mailboxes; and

wherein the means for routing the incoming call to the mailbox includes means for recording the voice message in the one mailbox associated with the particular identifier.

33. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier; and

wherein the one or more telephone terminals include cordless handsets;

the telecommunications functions management system includes a personal communications controller which is coupled to the telephone network by a communications line of the telecommunications service subscriber;

the incoming call identifier is received through the communications line by the personal communications controller at which the steps of providing, associating, correlating and activating are effected; and

the step of activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier includes signaling, by the personal communications controller, over a wireless link the cordless handsets associated with the one or more alerters.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the one or more telephone terminals include telephone sets having respective satellite controllers which are connected in parallel to the communications line and each of which controls operation of the alerter associated with the corresponding telephone set;

and the step of activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier includes signaling, by the personal communications controller, the satellite controllers over the communications line at a channel above a voice channel, thereby addressing the satellite controllers associated with the one or more alerters.

35. In a telecommunications functions management system for a telecommunications service subscriber having one or more telephone terminals associated with a one or more alerters which are operable at a plurality of cadences, said one or more telephone terminals being communicatively coupled to a telecommunications network which provides an identifier of an incoming call directed to the subscriber, a method for managing alerting of the incoming call comprising the steps of:

providing one or more predetermined call identifiers;

associating each predetermined call identifier with one cadence of the plurality of cadences;

correlating the incoming call identifier to a particular identifier of the one or more predetermined call identifiers;

activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier; and

wherein the telecommunications functions management system includes a personal communications controller which is coupled to the telephone network by a communications line of the telecommunications service subscriber;

the one or more telephone terminals include telephone sets having respective satellite controllers which are connected in parallel to the communications line and each of which controls operations of the alerter associated with the corresponding telephone set;

the incoming call identifier is received through the communications line by the personal communications controller at which the steps of providing, associating, correlating and activating are effected; and

the step of activating the one or more alerters to operate at the one cadence associated with the particular identifier includes signaling, by the personal communications controller, the satellite controllers over the communications line at a channel above a voice channel, thereby addressing the satellite controllers associated with the one or more alerters.