Method and apparatus for using a VM tone to prevent a voice announcement in a group call

• US 6,366,652 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ahlström, Lars Gunnar Folke, Ramle, Jan Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/330,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/70, 379/80, 379/81, 379/82, 379/88.18, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 379/211.03, 379/211.04, 379/220.01, 379/213.01, 379/210.01
• US Class Current: 379/88.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. conference server dials participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/444 with voice-band signalling frequencies

Abstract

A technique for preventing voice announcements in a group call is provided. A VM tone begins a voice announcement of a voice mail system. Parties that cause the VM tone to be transmitted are not added to the group call. This approach guarantees that no voice announcements will be added to the group call. With this approach, all subscribers are allowed to use voice mail systems, but the subscribers currently forwarding messages to voice mail will not be connected to group calls.

Claims

1. A method for preventing voice mail announcements in a group call, the group call involving a plurality of potential participants of the group call, each of the plurality of potential participants of the group call receiving an individual call from a group controller, a first potential participant of the plurality of potential participants of the group call forwarding its received individual call to a voice mail system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a voice announcement for the first potential participant in response to the forwarded individual call, the voice announcement precluded by a voice mail tone;

detecting the voice mail tone; and

excluding, upon detection of the voice mail tone, the first potential participant from the group call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the detecting step is implemented by a detector associated with the group controller, the detector being configured to detect the voice mail tone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of excluding the first potential participant from the group call includes disconnecting the first potential participant from the group call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the group call is formed over a telecommunication network which includes one or more Public Land Mobile Networks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the group call is formed over a telecommunications network which includes a Public Switched Telephone Network.

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

connecting to the group call a second potential participant of the plurality of potential participants of the group call, the second potential participant not forwarding its individual call to the voice mail system so that the voice mail tone is not generated or detected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of potential participants of the group call are subscribers of a Public Land Mobile Network or a Public Switched Telephone Network.

8. An apparatus for preventing voice mail announcements in a group call, the group call having a plurality of potential participants, the group call being established in a telecommunications network by signaling the plurality of potential participants of the group call, the apparatus comprising:

a voice mail system, coupled to the network, configured to generate a voice announcement upon being signaled over the network by a first potential participant of the group call, the voice announcement precluded by a voice mail tone; and

a group controller, coupled to the network, configured to detect the voice mail tone and, upon detection of the voice mail tone, to exclude the first potential participant of the group call from the group call.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the voice announcement begins with the voice mail tone.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the telecommunication network includes one or more Public Land Mobile Networks.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the telecommunication network includes a Public Switched Telephone Network.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the group controller is further configured to connect to the group call a second potential participant of the plurality of potential participants of the group call, the second potential participant not signaling the voice mail system so that the voice mail tone is not generated or detected.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of potential participants of the group call are subscribers of a Public Land Mobile Network or a Public Switched Telephone Network.

14. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a telecommunications network for connecting a plurality of subscribers;

a group controller, coupled to the network, for setting up a group call by selecting a plurality of potential participants from the plurality of subscribers and making individual calls in the network to each potential participant of the plurality of potential participants; and

a voice mail system, coupled to the network for receiving a first individual call connection from a first potential participant of the plurality of potential participants, and for generating, in response to the first individual call a, voice announcement precluded by a voice mail tone, the voice mail tone identifying that the voice mail system has been called.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 14, wherein:

the voice announcement begins with the voice mail tone.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 14, wherein:

the group controller is configured to detect the voice mail tone and, upon detection of the voice mail tone, exclude from the group call the first potential participant of the group call.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 14, wherein:

the telecommunication network includes one or more Public Land Mobile Networks.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 14, wherein:

the telecommunication network includes a Public Switched Telephone Network.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of potential participants of the group call are subscribers of a Public Land Mobile Network or a Public Switched Telephone Network.