System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 6,631,186 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Adams, Thomas Lee, Moss, John Wesley, Bi, Xiaolian Yang, Mueller, Stephen Mark, Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Book, Nancy Ann, Sabinson, Richard Everett, Brand, Rodney T, Wilczynski, Paul, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn, Culli, Laura Kay, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Machacek, Michael Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/716,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.18, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 379/201.12
• 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 1/2471 Configurable and interactive telephone terminals with subscriber controlled features modifications, e.g. with ADSI capability [Analog Display Services Interface] systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers H04M3/42; administration or customization of services H04M3/42136; by downloading data to substation equipment H04M3/42178
• 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 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• 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 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 : Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 : Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A system and method include implementing and accessing a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The system and method enable a subscriber to review, schedule and modify call forwarding information stored and implemented by a service control-point (SCP) through a common server from any dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone and IVR system via the PSTN or any GUI and Web client via the Internet. The subscriber is able to build and edit call forwarding data, such as a scheduler and priority and rejection screening lists, by the GUI via the Internet for subsequent implementation.

Claims

1. A system for implementing an advanced intelligent network call forwarding service of a subscriber, comprising:

a service control point, which processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, said service control point comprising a database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber; and

a service management system comprising a first communications interface between said service control point and an interactive voice response system, which is accessible by the subscriber from a dual tone multi-frequency telephone via the public switched telecommunications network, and simultaneously comprising a second communications interface between said service control point and a web server, which is accessible by the subscriber from a graphical user interface via a packet switched data network, at least a substantive portion of the call forwarding service data being built via the graphical user interface, said service management system updating the call forwarding service data in accordance with the substantive portion of the call forwarding service data;

wherein said service management system receives instructions to control the call forwarding service, based on the updated data, via at least one of the dual tone multiple frequency telephone and the graphical user interface, and communicates the updated call forwarding service data and the control instructions to said service control point, which processes calls to the telephone number of the subscriber in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data and the control instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein said service control point processes calls in accordance with the instructions substantially contemporaneously with the subscriber sending the instructions to control the call forwarding service from at least one of said interactive voice response system and the graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 1 for implementing the call forwarding service, the substantive portion of the call forwarding service data built via the graphical user interface comprising a schedule identifying at least one future activation period and a corresponding forward-to telephone number to which calls to the subscribed telephone number are forwarded only during the at least one future activation period.

4. The system of claim 3 for implementing the call forwarding service, the control instructions comprising one of activating and deactivating the schedule.

5. The system of claim 1 for implementing the call forwarding service, the substantive portion of the call forwarding service data built via the graphical user interface comprising a screening list identifying at least one screening number and a corresponding screening forward-to number, wherein only calls from the at least one screening number to the subscriber telephone number are forwarded to the screening forward-to number.

6. The system of claim 5 for implementing the call forwarding service, the control instructions comprising one of activating and deactivating the screening list.

7. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, comprising:

a service control point, which processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, said service control point comprising a database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber, the call forwarding service data comprising a call forwarding schedule;

a Web server in a packet switched data network, which provides the call forwarding service data to a graphical user interface, said Web server receiving first instructions from the graphical user interface for defining the call forwarding schedule, including identifying a plurality of activation and deactivation times and at least one forward-to number corresponding to the plurality of activation times, and for activating and deactivating the call forwarding schedule;

an interactive voice response system in the public switched telephone network, which provides the call forwarding service data to a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone, said interactive voice response system receiving second instructions from the DTMF telephone for controlling the call forwarding schedule defined via the graphical user interface, including activating and deactivating the call forwarding schedule; and

a service management system comprising a communications interface between said service control point and said Web server and further comprising a communications interface between said service control point and said interactive voice response system said service management system being configured to communicate each of the first instructions and the second instructions to said service control point, which accordingly updates the call forwarding service data and processes calls to the telephone number of the subscriber in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data.

8. The system of claim 7 for implementing the call forwarding service, the call forwarding service data further comprising a priority screening list having at least one priority telephone number;

the first instructions further defining the priority screening list, including identifying the at least one priority telephone number and at least one priority forward-to number corresponding to the at least one priority telephone number, and for activating and deactivating the call forwarding schedule; and

the second instructions further controlling the priority screening list, defined via the graphical user interface, including activating and deactivating the priority screening list;

wherein, a call placed from the at least one priority telephone number to the telephone number of the subscriber is forwarded to the corresponding at least one priority telephone number when the priority screening list is activated through one of said Web server and said interactive voice response system.

9. The system of claim 8 for implementing the call forwarding service, the call forwarding service data further comprising a rejection screening list having at least one rejection telephone number;

the first instructions further defining the rejection screening list, including identifying the at least one rejection telephone number and at least one rejection forward-to number corresponding to the at least one rejection telephone number, and for activating and deactivating the call forwarding schedule; and

the second instructions further controlling the rejection screening list, defined via the graphical user interface, including activating and deactivating the rejection screening list;

wherein, a call placed from the at least rejection telephone number to the telephone number of the subscriber is forwarded to the corresponding at least one rejection telephone number, which is different than the telephone number of the subscriber and different than the at least one priority telephone number, when the rejection screening list is activated through one of said Web server and said interactive voice response system.

10. The system of claim 8 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein the subscriber receives the call forwarding service data and sends priority screening list instructions to control the priority screening list from the graphical user interface via said Web server to said service management system, the priority screening list control instructions comprising at least one of adding a new priority telephone number to the priority screening list, removing one of the priority telephone numbers from the priority screening list, setting an activation date and time and setting a deactivation date and time;

and

wherein said service control point updates the call forwarding schedule in accordance with the priority screening list instructions and processes calls to the telephone number of the subscriber in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data.

11. A method for implementing a call forwarding service in an advanced intelligent network for a telephone number of a subscriber, comprising:

storing, at a service control point, call forwarding service data for implementing the call forwarding service via a plurality of data networks, the call forwarding service data comprising call forwarding instructions and customized features;

receiving, at the service management system, the customized features from a graphical user interface, via a first one of the plurality of data networks, the customized features one of created and edited by the subscriber at the graphical user interface;

receiving, at a service management system, the call forwarding instructions from at least one of the graphical user interface, via the first one of the plurality of data networks, and an interactive voice response, via a second one of the plurality of data networks, as selected by the subscriber;

transmitting the customized features and the call forwarding instructions from the service management system to the service control point via a third one of the plurality of data networks;

updating the call forwarding service data with the customized features and call forwarding instructions;

and

processing an incoming call in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data.

12. The method of claim 11 for implementing the call forwarding service, the customized features comprising at least one of a schedule and a screening list;

and

the call forwarding instructions comprising at least one of activating and deactivating the call forwarding service, activating and deactivating the schedule, activating and deactivating the screening list, and activating and deactivating an automatic shut-off function.

13. A method for implementing a call forwarding service at a service control point in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for a telephone number of a subscriber, the service control point connecting to a service management system that interfaces with at least one web server in a packet switched data network and an interactive voice response system in the PSTN, the method comprising:

storing, at the service control point and at the service management system, call forwarding service data for implementation of the call forwarding service;

transmitting the call forwarding service data from the service management system to a graphical user interface through the web server;

receiving updated call forwarding service data from the graphical user interface at the service management system, the updated call forwarding service data comprising features one of created and edited by the subscriber at the graphical user interface;

storing at the service management system the updated call forwarding service data;

transmitting the updated call forwarding service data from the service management system to the service control point; and

storing the updated call forwarding service data at the service control point for implementing the call forwarding service in response to incoming calls to the telephone number of the subscriber; and

controlling the implementation through control instructions received via the service management system, the control instructions originating at one of the graphical user interface and the interactive voice response system.

14. The method of claim 13 for implementing the call forwarding service, the control instructions comprising at least one of an activation command and a de-activation command corresponding to the updated call forwarding service data.

15. The method of claim 14 for implementing the call forwarding service, the updated call forwarding service data comprising at least one of a schedule, comprising a plurality of activation periods, and a screening list, comprising a plurality of screening list telephone numbers, calls from which are forwarded to a screening list forward-to telephone number identified by the subscriber in the updated call forwarding service data.

16. The method of claim 15 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein the updated call forwarding service data comprises at least one of a call forwarding schedule and a priority screening list;

and

wherein the call forwarding instructions comprise at least one of a command to activate the call forwarding service, a command to activate the call forwarding schedule, a command to activate the priority screening list and an automatic shut-off command.

17. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, comprising:

a service control point, which processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, said service control point comprising a database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber;

a registration server, which stores an on-line status of the subscriber, who is located at a Web client connected to a packet switched data network, the Web client comprising a graphical user interface, the status being received from the Web client via the packet switched data network, said registration server communicating the on-line status to said service control point when the subscriber establishes the on-line status;

a server comprising a communications interface between said service control point and the Web client; and

a service management system comprising a communications interface between said service control point and an interactive voice response system, and simultaneously comprising a communication interface between said service control point and the Web client;

wherein, said service control point notifies the subscriber via said server of an incoming call when said registration server indicates to said service control point that the subscriber is on-line, and processes the incoming call according to on-line instructions sent from the subscriber to said service control point via said server, the on-line instructions comprising at least one of accepting the incoming call, forwarding the incoming call to an alternative telephone number and processing the incoming call according to the call forwarding service data; and

wherein the database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber is accessible through said service management system from the interactive voice response system and the Web client.

18. The system of claim 17 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein the interactive voice response system is accessible by the subscriber from a dual tone multi-frequency telephone via the public switched telecommunications network;

wherein said service management system receives control instructions to control the call forwarding service via at least one of the dual tone multiple frequency telephone and the Web client, and forwards to said service control point the control instructions; and

wherein said service control point updates the call forwarding service data in accordance with the control instructions and processes the incoming call in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data when said registration server indicates to said service control point that the subscriber is not on-line.

19. The system of claim 18 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein said service control point processes the incoming call in accordance with the control instructions substantially contemporaneously with the subscriber sending the control instructions to control the call forwarding service from at least one of said interactive voice response system and the Web client.

20. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, comprising:

a service control point, which processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, said service control point comprising a database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber;

a service node, which determines an on-line status of the subscriber, who is located at a Web client connected to a packet switched data network, the Web client comprising a graphical user interface, the status being received from the Web client via the packet switched data network, said service node communicating the on-line status to said service control point at the time the on-line status is determined;

a service management system comprising a communications interface between said service control point and an interactive voice response system, and simultaneously comprising a communication interface between said service control point and the Web client;

wherein, said service control point notifies the subscriber via said service node of an incoming call when said service control point has received an indication that the subscriber is on-line, and processes the incoming call according to on-line instructions sent from the subscriber to said service control point via said service node; and

wherein the database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber is accessible through said service management system from the interactive voice response system and the Web client.

21. The system of claim 20 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein the interactive voice response system is accessible by the subscriber from a dual tone multi-frequency telephone via the public switched telecommunications network;

wherein said service management system receives control instructions to control the call forwarding service via at least one of the dual tone multiple frequency telephone and the Web client, and forwards to said service control point the control instructions; and

wherein said service control point updates the call forwarding service data in accordance with the control instructions and processes the incoming call in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data when said service node has indicated to said service control point that the subscriber is not on-line.

22. The system of claim 21 for implementing the call forwarding service, wherein said service control point processes the incoming call in accordance with the control instructions substantially contemporaneously with the subscriber sending the control instructions to control the call forwarding service from at least one of said interactive voice response system and the Web client.

23. A system for implementing a call forwarding service of a subscriber, comprising:

a service control point, which processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network, said service control point comprising a database of call forwarding service data corresponding to a telephone number of the subscriber, the call forwarding service data comprising a plurality of screening lists;

a Web server in a packet switched data network, which provides the call forwarding service data to a graphical user interface, said Web server receiving first instructions from the graphical user interface for defining each of the plurality of screening lists, including identifying at least one screened telephone number and an associated forward-to number corresponding to each of the plurality of screening lists;

an interactive voice response system in the public switched telephone network, which provides the call forwarding service data to a dual tone multi-frequency telephone, said interactive voice response system receiving second instructions from the telephone for controlling the plurality of screening lists defined via the graphical user interface, including activating and deactivating at least one of the screening lists; and

a service management system comprising a communications interface between said service control point and said Web server and further comprising a communications interface between said service control point and said interactive voice response system, said service management system being configured to communicate each of the first instructions and the second instructions to said service control point, which accordingly updates the call forwarding service data and processes calls to the telephone number of the subscriber in accordance with the updated call forwarding service data.

24. The system of claim 23 for implementing the call forwarding service, the call forwarding service data further comprising a schedule, having a plurality of activation periods, associated with at least one of the plurality of screening lists, for activating and deactivating the at least one screening list;

the first instructions further defining and controlling the schedule, defining the schedule including identifying the at least one screening list and the activation and deactivation times for activation periods of the schedule; and

the second instructions further controlling the schedule, as defined via the graphical user interface, including activating and deactivating the schedule;

wherein, a call placed from the at least one screening telephone number, associated with the schedule, to the screened telephone number of the subscriber is forwarded to the corresponding telephone number during scheduled activation times, when the schedule is activated through one of said Web server and said interactive voice response system.