System and method for accessing a messaging service using a short dialing sequence

• US 6,718,018 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Henry, Tricia Ehlers, Mills, Victor Piollet Jr., Tiliks, Diana Inara, Andrietsch, Margaret Jean, Brand, Rodney T, Donoso, Carlos H
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US10/138,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/70, 379/69, 379/88.04, 379/88.07, 379/88.08, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/88.03, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/216.01, 379/82, 379/201.02, 379/207.11, 379/355.07, 379/355.08
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch. When the central office switch receives the call forwarding number, the number is used to route the customer to the messaging service.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a user to access to a voicemail service comprising:

a customer premises equipment (CPE) at a user location for use by a user, the CPE comprising a plurality of character keys for use in dialing a sequence of characters; and

a central office switch in communication with the CPE, the central office switch comprising;

a supplementary service processor operative to receive the sequence of characters from the CPE, generate a query to a supplementary service database when the sequence of characters is a predetermined n-character messaging sequence where n<

7, and receive a call forwarding number from the supplementary service database;

wherein the central office switch is operative to connect the CPE with a voicemail service in response to the call forwarding number; and

wherein the supplementary service database is operative to determine whether the central office switch supports a supplementary service by analyzing the predetermined n-character messaging sequence to determine if a service code is present, determine whether the user has access to the voicemail service using a caller identifier, and transmit the call forwarding number to the central office switch if the central office switch supports a supplementary service and the user has access to the voicemail service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central office switch is further operative to prevent access to the voicemail service in response to a determination that the user does not have access to the voicemail service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central office switch further comprises a router.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central office switch further comprises an error handler for sending an error message to the CPE in response to a determination that the user does not have access to the voicemail service.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the n-character messaging sequence includes a first ‘

*’

star character.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein n=3.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the 3-character messaging sequence includes a first ‘

*’

star character followed by a two number sequence.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplementary service processor further comprises a routing table for storing a call forwarding number for a user that has access the voicemail service.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplementary service database further comprises a redirecting identifier for connecting the user to an error message when the user is temporarily prevented from using the predetermined n-character messaging sequence to access the voicemail service.

10. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s access to a voicemail service from a customer premises equipment (CPE) that is coupled with a central office switch, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an n-digit messaging sequence transmitted from the CPE where n<

7;

(b) determining whether the central office switch supports a supplementary service by analyzing the n-digit messaging sequence to determine if a service code is present;

(c) determining whether the user has access to the voicemail service using a caller identifier; and

(d) connecting the CPE to the voicemail service if the central office switch supports a supplementary service and the user has access to the voicemail service.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(e) sending an error message to the CPE if the central office switch does not support the supplementary service.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein (d) comprises using a call forwarding number to connect the CPE to the voicemail service if the central office switch supports a supplementary service.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(e) preventing access to the voicemail service if the user does not have access to the voicemail service.

14. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s access to a voicemail service from a customer premises equipment (CPE) that is coupled with a central office switch, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an n-digit messaging sequence at the central office switch, where n<

7;

(b) generating a query in response to (a);

(c) determining whether the central office switch supports a supplementary service by analyzing the n-digit messaging sequence to determine if a service code is present, in response to receipt of the query;

(d) determining whether the user has access to the voicemail service using a caller identifier, in response to receipt of the query;

(e) sending a call forwarding number to the central office switch if the central office switch supports a supplementary service and the user has access to the voicemail service; and

(f) connecting the CPE to the voicemail service using the call forwarding number.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

(g) preventing access to the voicemail service in response to a determination that the user does not have access to the voicemail service.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

(g) sending an error message to the CPE in response to a determination that the user is not allowed access to the voicemail service.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

(g) sending an error message to the CPE in response to a determination that the central office switch does not support the supplementary service.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a caller identifier from the central office switch to a supplementary service database.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein (d) further comprises verifying whether the user identified by the caller identifier subscribes to the voicemail service.