System and method for calling name delivery to voicemail systems

• US 6,456,700 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/441,464
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.18, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.25, 379/142.06, 379/201.01, 379/205.01, 379/207.01, 379/207.15, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.11
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview

Abstract

A system and method for providing calling name delivery to a voicemail service subscriber. The system and method use the features of an advanced intelligent network to provide an interface between a voicemail service and a telephone service provider'"'"'s calling name databases. The present invention advantageously provides this interface using standard call processing techniques without the need to establish a direct data interface between the systems.

Claims

1. A method for announcing to a caller a calling name associated with a voicemail message stored on a voicemail server comprising the steps of:

(a) provisioning a trigger on a switch serving the voicemail server;

(b) receiving a telephone call from the voicemail server on the switch, wherein said telephone call comprises a telephone number associated with the voicemail message;

(c) sending a query from the switch to a service control point, wherein said query comprises the telephone number associated with the voicemail message;

(d) routing the telephone call to a service node; and

(e) playing a first announcement from the service node over the telephone call to the caller, said first announcement comprising the calling name corresponding to the telephone number associated with the voicemail message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of playing a second announcement from the service node over the telephone call to the caller, said second announcement comprising a set of instructions for the caller.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of receiving a first reply from the caller and repeating the first announcement.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of receiving a second reply from the caller and disconnecting the call between the voicemail server and the service node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is a customized dialing plan trigger and wherein the telephone call further comprises a customized dialing plan code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the step of writing the telephone number associated with the voicemail message in a calling party field of a call setup message and a telephone access number for the service node in a called party field of the call setup message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the telephone number associated with the voicemail message to a database on the service control point, thereby identifying a telephone access number for the service node.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of populating a first database on the service node with a plurality of telephone numbers and associated names and populating a second database on the service control point with a plurality of index data related to the first database.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the service node plays a second announcement over the telephone call, said second announcement comprising a set of instructions for the caller.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the trigger is a customized dialing plan trigger and wherein the telephone call further comprises a customized dialing plan code.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the service control point writes the telephone number for the voicemail message in a calling party field of a call setup message and a telephone access number for the service node in a called party field of the call setup message.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the service control point compares the telephone number for the voicemail message to a database on the service control point, thereby identifying the telephone access number for the service node.

9. A system announcing to a caller a calling name associated with a voicemail message stored on a voicemail service comprising:

(a) a trigger provisioned on a switch serving the voicemail message service;

(b) a means for receiving a telephone call from the voicemail message service on the switch, wherein said telephone call comprises a telephone number for the voicemail message;

(c) a service control point in communication with the switch; and

(d) a service node in communication with the caller,

wherein when the telephone call hits the trigger on the switch, the switch sends a query to the service control point, said query comprising the telephone number for the voicemail message,

wherein in response to the query, the service control point directs the telephone call to the service node, and

wherein the service node plays a first announcement over the telephone call, said first announcement comprising the calling name corresponding to the telephone number for the voicemail message.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the service node comprises means for receiving a first reply from the caller and repeating the first announcement.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the service node comprises means for receiving a second reply from the caller and disconnecting the call between the voicemail service and the service node.