Call forwarding methods and apparatus

• US 6,718,026 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Network Services Incorporated
• Inventors: West, Joseph Mitchell, Pershan, Barry Paul, Biedronski, Phil, McKeehan, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/608,393
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 379/211.04, 379/212.01, 379/216.01, 379/219, 379/207.16
• US Class Current: 379/211.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• 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
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for implementing call forwarding services using AIN techniques and next event list messages are described. Methods of notifying a subscriber of a call forwarded using AIN techniques are also described. In accordance with one feature of the present invention, a subscriber is allowed to set the number of rings which are allowed to occur prior to a call being forwarded. The number of rings, e.g., the ring count, is stored as part of a customer'"'"'s call processing record (CPR) which is used by a service control point (SCP) to implement the call forwarding service. The ring count information may be updated via the Internet or via a dial-up telephone connection. Call forwarding customers are provided with a distinctive ring, e.g., a ring shorter than an ordinary telephone ring, to notify them when a call is being forwarded. Distinctive rings may be used to distinguish between different forwarding services. For example a different ring may be used for forwarding to voice mail than for selective call forwarding or follow-me call forwarding. The distinctive ring may be implemented by using an SCP to instruct a telephone switch to provide any one of a plurality of different rings which are supported by the telephone switch or by simply causing the subscribers phone to ring for different periods of time which are shorter than a normal ring.

Claims

1. A method of providing a call forwarding and a voice mail service, comprising:

storing, in a call processing record accessible by a service control point, information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring before an unanswered call to the telephone is forwarded;

storing, in said call processing record, a telephone number to which the unanswered call is to be forwarded, said telephone number corres ponding to one of a telephone and a voice mail system; and

modifying said stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring based on information received by said voice mail system; and

forwarding a call to said telephone after the telephone rings for said amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said voice mail system is separate from an interactive peripheral device through which call forwarding service information can be updated by a telephone call to said interactive peripheral device, said method further comprising:

modifying said stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring based on information received by said interactive peripheral device as part of a telephone call.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring is a ring count and wherein said interactive peripheral device includes an interface for receiving ring count information from said service subscriber via a telephone.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating said stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring based on information received via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein storing information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring before a call to the telephone is forwarded includes:

receiving ring count information from a telephone service subscriber; and

storing the ring count information in said call processing record.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein prior to forwarding said call the method further comprises:

setting a trigger on a telephone line coupled to said telephone;

in response to activation of said trigger by a call directed to said telephone, sending a message to a service control point;

receiving a control message from said service control point; and

in response to said message setting a timer used to measure the amount of time the telephone rings.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to the timer reaching said amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring, sending another message to the service control point; and

receiving a message from the service control point including a telephone number to be used to forward said call.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

operating the service control point to use a next event list to determine the telephone number to be used to forward said call.

9. A method of providing a call forwarding and a voice mail service, comprising:

storing, in a call processing record accessible by a service control point, information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring before an unanswered call to the telephone is forwarded;

storing, in said call processing record, a telephone number to which the unanswered call is to be forwarded, said telephone number corresponding to one of a telephone and a voice mail system, said voice mail system is separate from an interactive peripheral device through which call forwarding service information can be updated by a telephone call to said interactive peripheral device;

modifying said stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring based on information received by said voice mail system; and

forwarding a call to said telephone after the telephone rings for said amount of time;

modifying said stored information on the amount of time a telephone is allowed to ring based on information received by said interactive peripheral device as part of a telephone call; and

storing information in the call processing record used to implement at least two different call forwarding services, said two different call forwarding services including at least one service wherein an unanswered call is sequentially forwarded when unanswered based on a list of multiple call forwarding telephone numbers stored in said call processing record and a call forwarding on no answer service wherein said unanswered call is forwarded to said voice mail system when said call forwarding on no answer service is active, said call processing record including at least one indicator indicating which of said call forwarding services is active at a given point in time, information stored in said call processing record associated with said call forwarding on no answer service being updatable via said voice mail system, information in said call processing record corresponding to said sequential call forwarding being updateable via said interactive peripheral device.

10. A telephone system capable of forwarding a call directed to a telephone, comprising:

a service control point including information on the amount of time said telephone should be allowed to ring before forwarding a call directed to said telephone to another destination;

a telephone switch coupled to said control point and to said telephone for detecting the amount of time said telephone rings and for forwarding calls;

an interactive peripheral device coupled to said telephone switch for receiving calls used to control call forwarding operations, said interactive peripheral device including means for receiving information via a telephone call and means for updating said information on the amount of time a telephone should be allowed to ring as a function of information received via a telephone call; and

a voice mail system coupled to said service control point, said voice mail system including means for updating said information on the amount of time a telephone should be allowed to ring as a function of information received by said voice mail system via a telephone call.

11. The telephone system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of call processing records stored at said service control point, one of said call processing records corresponding to said telephone and including said information on the amount of time said telephone should be allowed to ring.

12. A telephone system capable of forwarding a call directed to a telephone, comprising:

a service control point including information on the amount of time said telephone should be allowed to ring before forwarding a call directed to said telephone to another destination;

a telephone switch coupled to said control point and to said telephone for detecting the amount of time said telephone rings and for forwarding calls;

an interactive peripheral device coupled to said telephone switch for receiving calls used to control call forwarding operations, said interactive peripheral device including means for receiving information via a telephone call and means for updating said information on the amount of time a telephone should be allowed to ring as a function of information received via a telephone call;

a plurality of call processing records stored at said service control point, one of said call processing records corresponding to said telephone and including said information on the amount of time said telephone should be allowed to ring, one of said call processing records includes a set of information corresponding to a call forwarding on no answer service and another set of information corresponding to a sequential call forwarding service wherein an unanswered call is sequentially forwarded to telephone numbers included in a list; and

a voice mail system coupled to said service control point, said voice mail system including means for updating said information on the amount of time a telephone should be allowed to ring as a function of information received by said voice mail system via a telephone call.

13. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising:

a server coupled to the Internet and to the service control point for allowing a telephone service subscriber to set the amount of time a call is allowed to ring via information transmitted over the Internet.