Personal telephone service with transportable script control of services

• US 6,317,484 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McAllister, Alexander I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/056,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.02, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.25, 379/88.26, 379/88.27, 379/207, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/220, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/88.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

Personal dial tone service is used to identify the user of a subscriber line to a telephone terminal and, based on that identification, the system and method dynamically configures that line with the personal profile of that user. Such a line is used in a roaming situation to provide voice mail service to the roamer through an emulation of the roamer'"'"'s home voice mail interface. The emulation is accomplished by storage at the home locale of the roamer of object oriented script associated with both executable and non-executable data duplicating or emulating executable and non-executable data in the roamer'"'"'s home voice mail system. The script directs the running of the executables using the non-executables at the roaming central office to provide to the roamer at that remote office voice mail service using virtually the same interface as the interface to which the roamer is accustomed at his home locale. The script is stored in an Intelligent Peripheral wherein the executables are run pursuant to the script. Voice mail messages may be stored either in the remote or home locals.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a request to retrieve stored voice mail messages in a communication network including multiple voice mail systems;

receiving and processing speech signals from a person via the communication network to identify the person as a specific roaming subscriber;

instructing a switching office of the communication network to utilize profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber for processing of the request; and

instructing one of the voice mail systems to utilize a specified voice mail system interface other than its installed interface, and providing data to cause implementation of said specified voice mail interface based at least in part on said profile data, wherein;

(a) said profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber is transferred from a home locale of said roaming subscriber prior to the processing of said request,

(b) said specified voice mail system interface is transferred from a home locale of said roaming subscriber prior to the processing of said request,

(c) the implementation of the specified voice mail interface uses a script stored in a mass storage having processor means associated therewith for running executable applications associated with said script and stored in said mass storage, and

(d) said processor means comprises a peripheral connected to said switching office and to a switching control point in a common channel interoffice signaling network controlling said communication network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving and processing of speech signals is implemented in another peripheral connected to said switching office and connected to said switching control point.

3. A method comprising:

responsive to a request from an identified subscriber of a communication network including multiple switching systems and multiple voice mail systems associated with said switching systems, transferring from first mass storage connected to a first of said switching systems to second mass storage connected to a second of said switching systems a customer profile record and associated object oriented script and data for said identified subscriber;

instructing said first switching system to forward calls for said identified subscriber to an identified subscriber line of a second subscriber of said communication network connected to said second switching system;

responsive to encountering a busy or no answer condition in a forwarded call, storing a voice mail message in a voice mail system connected to said second switching system;

detecting a request to said second switching system to retrieve said stored voice mail message;

receiving and processing signals from the requesting person to identify the requesting person as said identified subscriber;

instructing said second switching office to utilize said customer profile data for said identified subscriber for processing of said request; and

instructing said voice mail system connected to said second switching system to utilize a specified voice mail system interface other than its installed interface, and providing data to cause implementation of said specified voice mail interface based at least in part on one or more of said customer profile records, object oriented script, and data.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said processed signals comprise speech signals.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said speech processing is performed by a first peripheral connected to said second switching system.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said second voice mail system is associated with a second peripheral, said scripts being stored in a storage associated with said second intelligent peripheral.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said customer profile record is identified by a virtual office equipment number.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said subscriber line of said second subscriber has an office equipment number in said second switching system.

9. A method according to claim 3 wherein said second mass storage includes processor means associated therewith for running executable applications associated with said script and stored in said second mass storage.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said processor means comprises a peripheral connected to said second switching system and to a switching control point in a common channel interoffice signaling network controlling said communication network.

11. A method comprising:

storing a customer profile record and associated script at a first locale, said customer profile record and said script being associated with a first switching system serving a first user terminal, and with a first voice mail system interface;

transferring a voice mail system interface to a second locale, the step of transferring comprising transferring said customer profile record and said script to the second locale, whereby said customer profile record and script are associated with a second switching system serving a second user terminal, and a second voice mail system at said second locale;

forwarding calls for the customer associated with said customer profile record to said second switching system directed to said customer at second terminal; and

providing voice mail service including retrieval of stored voice mail messages to said customer at said second user terminal based on the transferred customer profile record using the transferred script, so as to implement said voice mail system interface.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said retrieval is conditioned on prior identification of the retrieving party as said customer with whom said customer profile record is associated.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said identification of said retrieving party is by speech processing.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said speech processing is at a node at said second locale.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said speech processing is performed by a first peripheral connected to said second switching system.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said second voice mail system is associated with a second peripheral, said script being stored in a storage associated with said second peripheral.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of transferring the voice mail system interface to the second locale further comprises transferring interface data for the customer.

18. A method comprising:

storing a customer profile record and associated script at a first locale, said customer profile record and said script being associated with a first switching system serving a first user terminal, and with a first voice mail system interface;

transferring said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface to a second locale, whereby said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface are associated with a second switching system serving a second user terminal, and a second voice mail system at said second locale;

forwarding calls for the customer associated with said customer profile record to said second switching system directed to said customer at second terminal; and

providing voice mail service including retrieval of stored voice mail messages to said customer at said second user terminal using said voice mail system interface,

wherein said voice mail messages are stored by said second voice mail system.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said speech processing is performed by a first peripheral connected to said second switching system.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said scripts are stored in a storage associated with a second peripheral for running said scripts.

21. A method comprising:

storing a customer profile record and related object oriented script for a first customer of a telecommunications system at a first locale, said customer profile record and said script being associated with a first switching system serving a first user terminal line, and with a first voice mail system interface;

transferring said customer profile record and said script to a second locale, where said customer profile record and said script are associated with a second switching system serving a second user terminal line, and a second voice mail system at said second locale;

forwarding calls for said first customer to said second switching system directed to said first customer at said second user terminal line;

providing voice mail service for said first customer at said second user terminal using said voice mail system interface based at least in part on the transferred profile;

dialing a voice mail retrieval access number on said second user terminal line;

identifying the dialing party as said first customer and associating said first voice mail system interface with said second voice mail system; and

providing retrieval of stored voice mail messages to said first customer on said second user terminal line in accord with said first voice mail system interface using the transferred script.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said identification of said dialing party is by speech processing.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of transferring also transfers interface data for the first customer.

24. A method, comprising:

storing a customer profile record and related object oriented script for a first customer of a telecommunications system at a first locale, said customer profile record and said script being associated with a first switching system serving a first user terminal line, and with a first voice mail system interface;

transferring said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface to a second locale, where said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface are associated with a second switching system serving a second user terminal line, and a second voice mail system at said second locale;

forwarding calls for said first customer to said second switching system directed to said first customer at said second user terminal line;

providing voice mail service to said first customer at said second user terminal using said voice mail system interface;

dialing a voice mail retrieval access number on said second user terminal line;

identifying the dialing party as said first customer and associating said first voice mail system interface with said second voice mail system; and

providing retrieval of stored voice mail messages to said first customer on said second user terminal line using said first voice mail system interface,

wherein said associating said first voice mail system interface with said second voice mail system is controlled at least partially by said transferred customer profile record and associated script for said first customer.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said customer profile record is identified by a virtual office equipment number.

26. A method, comprising:

storing a customer profile record and related object oriented script for a first customer of a telecommunications system at a first locale, said customer profile record and said script being associated with a first switching system serving a first user terminal line, and with a first voice mail system interface;

transferring said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface to a second locale, where said customer profile record, script and voice mail system interface are associated with a second switching system serving a second user terminal line, and a second voice mail system at said second locale;

forwarding calls for said first customer to said second switching system directed to said first customer at said second user terminal line;

providing voice mail service to said first customer at said second user terminal using said voice mail system interface;

dialing a voice mail retrieval access number on said second user terminal line;

identifying the dialing party as said first customer and associating said first voice mail system interface with said second voice mail system; and

providing retrieval of stored voice mail messages to said first customer on said second user terminal line using said first voice mail system interface,

wherein said second user terminal line has an office equipment number in said second switching system and said customer profile record for said first customer has a virtual office equipment number.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein said office equipment number for said second user terminal line identifies a customer profile record for that line, and wherein said virtual office equipment number identifies the customer profile record for said first customer.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said office equipment number for said second user terminal line and the associated customer profile record constitutes a default customer profile record for that line, said default customer profile record being replaced with said customer profile record for said first customer following said identification of said first customer.

29. A method, comprising:

detecting a request to retrieve stored voice mail messages in a communication network including multiple voice mail systems;

receiving and processing speech signals from a person via the communication network to identify the person as a specific roaming subscriber;

instructing a switching office of the communication network to utilize profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber for processing of said request; and

instructing one of said voice mail systems to utilize a specified voice mail system interface other than its installed interface, and providing data to cause implementation of said specified voice mail interface based at least in part on said profile data,

wherein the step of instructing and providing comprises downloading an object oriented script related to the profile data, to the one voice mail system.

30. A method, comprising:

detecting a request to retrieve stored voice mail messages in a communication network including multiple voice mail systems;

receiving and processing speech signals from a person via the communication network to identify the person as a specific roaming subscriber;

instructing a switching office of the communication network to utilize profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber for processing of said request; and

instructing one of said voice mail systems to utilize a specified voice mail system interface other than its installed interface, and providing data to cause implementation of said specified voice mail interface based at least in part on said profile data, wherein;

the step of instructing and providing comprises downloading an object oriented script related to the profile data, to the one voice mail system, and

said profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber is transferred from a home locale of said roaming subscriber prior to the processing of said request.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein said specified voice mail system interface is transferred from a home locale of said roaming subscriber prior to the processing of said request.

32. A method, comprising:

detecting a request to retrieve stored voice mail messages in a communication network including multiple voice mail systems;

receiving and processing speech signals from a person via the communication network to identify the person as a specific roaming subscriber;

instructing a switching office of the communication network to utilize profile data corresponding to the identified roaming subscriber for processing of said request; and

instructing one of said voice mail systems to utilize a specified voice mail system interface other than its installed interface, and providing data to cause implementation of said specified voice mail interface based at least in part on said profile data, wherein;

the step of instructing and providing comprises downloading an object oriented script related to the profile data, to the one voice mail system, and

said script is stored in a mass storage having processor means associated therewith for running executable applications associated with said script and stored in said mass storage.

33. A method, comprising:

identifying one party to a requested communication service as one of a plurality of subscribers;

using a virtual office equipment number, assigned to the identified one subscriber, to retrieve corresponding profile data from stored profile data for the plurality of subscribers;

retrieving from a mass storage of service control scripts a script assigned to the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned;

retrieving from a first service providing system data defining a user interface to the first service providing system for the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned;

transferring to remote storage the retrieved profile data, the retrieved script, and the retrieved interface data; and

providing service to the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned from a second service providing system based at least in part on the transferred profile data, script, and interface data, wherein

said first and second service providing systems comprise voice mail systems.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein said user interface comprises an interface to said voice mail systems used by said subscriber to which said virtual office equipment number is assigned.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said interface is personal to said subscriber.

36. A method, comprising:

identifying one party to a requested communication service as one of a plurality of subscribers;

using a virtual office equipment number, assigned to the identified one subscriber, to retrieve corresponding profile data from stored profile data for the plurality of subscribers;

retrieving from a mass storage of service control scripts a script assigned to the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned;

retrieving from a first service providing system data defining a user interface to the first service providing system for the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned;

transferring to remote storage the retrieved profile data, the retrieved script, and the retrieved interface data; and

providing service to the subscriber to which the virtual office equipment number is assigned from a second service providing system based at least in part on the transferred profile data, script, and interface data, wherein;

said first and second service providing systems comprise voice mail systems,

said user interface comprises an interface to said voice mail systems used by said subscriber to which said virtual office equipment number is assigned

said interface is personal to said subscriber, and

said interface provides substantially the same subscriber prepared voice prompts in said first and second voice mail systems.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein said interface provides substantially the same message retrieval prompts in said first and second voice mail systems.

38. A method, comprising:

identifying one party to a requested communication service as one of a plurality of subscribers;

using an identification device, assigned to the identified one subscriber, to retrieve corresponding profile data from stored profile data for the plurality of subscribers;

retrieving from a mass storage of service control scripts a script assigned to the subscriber to which said identification device is assigned;

retrieving from a first service providing system data defining a user interface to said first service providing system for said subscriber to which said identification device is assigned;

transferring to remote storage the retrieved profile data, script, and interface defining data; and

providing service to the subscriber to which said identification device is assigned from a second service providing system based at least in part on the transferred profile data, script, and interface data.

39. A communication network comprising:

first and second central office switching systems connected by trunks and having first and second voice mail systems, respectively, the first central office switching system having first storages containing subscriber profiles, and the second central office switching system having second storages containing subscriber profiles;

each of said voice mail systems having subscriber interfaces including system voice prompts and subscriber created voice prompts,

said first voice mail system having a storage associated therewith and data stored in said storage for executing the interface of said first voice mail system;

said second voice mail system having a storage associated therewith and data stored in said storage for executing the interface of said second voice mail system; and

first and second peripherals having storages for object oriented script and coupled to said first and second central offices;

wherein the profile, script, and interface executing data of an identified subscriber is transferred from first storages associated with said first central office switching system, peripheral and voice mail system to second storages associated with said second central office switching system, peripheral and voice mail system to provide to said identified subscriber from said second voice mail system voice mail service using the interface of said identified subscriber in said first voice mail system.

40. A communication network according to claim 39 wherein the central office switching systems comprise telephone switches.

41. A communication network according to claim 40 further comprising:

a service control point, remote from the central office switching systems, said service control point containing a database of call processing records for controlling at least some services provided through the central office switching systems; and

a first signaling network separate from the trunks for carrying signaling messages between the service control point and the central office switching systems.

42. A communication network according to claim 41, further comprising a second signaling network, separate from the trunks and the first signaling network coupled between each peripheral and the service control point.

43. A communication network according to claim 42 wherein said voice mail service provided to said identified subscriber from said second voice mail system includes retrieval of stored voice mail messages following identification of said identified subscriber.

44. A communication network according to claim 43, further comprising a speech processing node, said identification of said subscriber being implemented by speech processing.

45. A communication network according to claim 44, further comprising a third peripheral including said speech processing node, said third peripheral being connected by said second signaling network to said service control point.