Apparatus and method for local intercept and service of long-distance calls

• US 6,243,444 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation (Sphingotec GMBH)
• Inventors: OʼNeal, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/288,754
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/70, 379/74, 379/84, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.26, 379/93.01, 379/93.24, 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/201, 379/213, 379/210, 379/207, 379/219
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, prior to incurring charges associated with routing of the long-distance call over a corresponding long-distance carrier channel. A caller is immediately given the option to send a voicemail message to a recipient rather than completing the long-distance call. If the caller so chooses, the voicemail is recorded locally, the call is terminated, and the voicemail message is subsequently transmitted to the recipient via a data-centric network. The apparatus includes a telephony-centric network server and a message router. The telephony-centric network server detects initiation of the long-distance call, it intercepts the long-distance call, and it transmits the voicemail message over the data-centric network. The message router is coupled to the telephony-centric network server. The message router forwards the voicemail message over the data-centric network to a recipient. The voicemail message is delivered to the recipient from a corresponding local telephone switch.

Claims

1. A method for locally intercepting a long-distance call, comprising:

a) accessing a first telephony-centric network server;

b) initiating the long-distance call;

c) prior to completing the long-distance call, allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message;

d) routing the voicemail message over a data network, the data network employing a packet-switched communications protocol, to a second telephony-centric network server that corresponds to a recipient of the long-distance call; and

e) delivering the voicemail message to the recipient rather than completing the long-distance call.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing comprises:

i) establishing a connection from an originating device through its corresponding local telephone switch to the telephony-centric network server.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated automatically as a result of direct provisioning.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated as a result of the caller providing a PIC code to the corresponding local telephone switch.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated as a result of the caller dialing a telephone number.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the originating device is a telephone.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the originating device is a computer.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said allowing comprises:

i) playing an audio message that prompts the caller to select either to complete the long-distance call or to prescribe the voicemail message;

ii) if the caller selects to prescribe the voicemail message, recording the voicemail message;

iii) storing the voicemail message in the first telephony-centric network server for subsequent delivery; and

iv) terminating the connection provided by said establishing.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said allowing further comprises:

v) prior to said playing, providing faux ringback audio to the caller.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the voicemail message is stored as a .vox file.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said routing comprises:

i) retrieving the voicemail message;

ii) converting the voicemail message into data packets that are compatible with the data network;

iii) transmitting the data packets over the data network to a data network server;

iv) within the data network server, selecting the second telephony-centric network server based upon a telephone number provided by said initiating; and

v) forwarding the data packets to the second telephony-centric network server.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the data network is the internet.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said transmitting is accomplished using TCP/IP protocol.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said delivering comprises:

i) causing a local telephone switch to establish a connection with a receiving device, the receiving device corresponding with the recipient; and

ii) playing the voicemail message over the established connection.

15. An apparatus for locally intercepting a long-distance call for the purpose of allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message rather than completing the long-distance call, the apparatus comprising:

a telephony-centric network server, configured to detect initiation of the long-distance call, to intercept the long-distance call prior to transmission over a telephony-centric network, and to transmit the voicemail message over a data-centric network, said data-centric network providing for packet-switched communications; and

a message router, coupled to said telephony-centric network server, configured to forward the voicemail message over said data-centric network to a recipient, wherein the voicemail message is delivered to said recipient from a corresponding local telephone switch.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said telephony-centric network server is accessed from an originating local switch by direct provisioning of an originating line.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said telephony-centric network server is accessed from an originating local switch as a result of a caller entering a PIC code via an originating line.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said telephony-centric network server is accessed from an originating local switch as a result of a caller dialing a telephone number to access said telephony-centric network server from an originating line.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the long-distance call is originated from a telephone.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the long-distance call is originated from a computer.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said telephony-centric network server plays an audio message to prompt the caller to prescribe the voicemail message.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said telephony-centric network server provides faux ringback audio to the caller prior to playing said audio message.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said telephony-centric network server terminates a connection with the caller and translates the voicemail message into data packets for transmission over said data-centric network.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said data-centric network is the internet.

25. A long-distance call interception apparatus, comprising:

a telephony-centric network server, for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, said telephony-centric network sever comprising;

call intercept logic, for allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message in lieu of completing said long-distance call over a telephony-centric network; and

a call controller, coupled to said call intercept logic, for translating said voicemail message into data packets, and for transmitting said data packets over a data-centric network rather than said telephony-centric network; and

a message router, coupled to said telephony-centric network server, configured to receive said data packets and to route said data packets over said data-centric network such that a receiving local telephone switch is caused to deliver said voicemail message to a receiving device.

26. The long-distance call interception apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said telephony-centric network server is accessed from an originating local telephone switch by direct provisioning, by entry of a PIC code by said caller, or by said caller directly dialing a telephone number to access said telephony-centric network server.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said call intercept logic plays an audio message to prompt said caller to prescribe said voicemail message.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said call intercept logic provides faux ringback audio to said caller prior to playing said audio message.

29. An apparatus for locally servicing a long-distance call, the long-distance call being initiated from a calling device that has accessed a telephony-centric network server, comprising:

call intercept logic, for allowing a caller to generate a voicemail message over the calling device for delivery to a receiving device, wherein said voicemail message is generated and delivered instead of completing the long-distance call over a telephony-centric network;

voicemail storage elements, coupled to said call intercept logic, for temporarily storing said voicemail message along with a telephone number corresponding to said receiving device;

a call controller, coupled to said voicemail storage elements, for retrieving said voicemail message and for translating said voicemail message into data packets; and

a data-centric network, coupled to said call controller, for transmitting said data packets such that said voicemail message is delivered to said receiving device by a local telephone switch, wherein said data-centric network provides for packet-switched communications, and wherein said data-centric network is employed in lieu of said telephony-centric network for delivery of said voicemail message.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said data-centric network is the internet.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said voicemail storage elements comprise memory within a computer.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said call controller and said call intercept logic comprise a software application program in a computer.