Single telephone number access to multiple communications services

• US 6,748,054 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Galvan, Thomas J., Chib, Rupika, Gross, Karen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/414,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/79, 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/207.01, 379/215.01, 379/217.01, 379/142.08, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.35, 379/93.24, 455/412.2, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005

Abstract

A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an electronic mail message in the system while the selected party is on a call;

generating a voice message that informs the selected party that the electronic mail message has been received in the system; and

playing the voice message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications system includes a phone line that is used for the call and wherein the playing comprises outputting the voice message over the phone line to the selected party.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications system includes a platform for providing the multiple telecommunications services and wherein the method is performed by the platform.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice message is played at a volume substantially below a normal speaking volume.

5. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while the selected party is on a call;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that a voicemail message for the selected party has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

6. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while the selected party is on a call;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that a page for the selected party has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

7. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while the selected party is on a call;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that an electronic mail message for the selected party has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

8. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, said platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving at least electronic mail messages directed to the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating voice messages informing the subscriber of electronic mail messages received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output voice messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the electronic mail messages that are received at the event facility.

9. The platform of claim 8, further comprising an automatic telephone dialing system for automatically dialing stored telephone numbers.

10. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, said platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, at least one of the events identifies receipt of a voice message for the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.

11. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, said platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, at least one of the events identifies receipt of an electronic mail message for the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.

12. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, said platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, at least one of the events identifies receipt of a page for the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.

13. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, said platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, at least one of the events identifies receipt of a facsimile message for the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.

14. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while a selected party is on a call, wherein receiving an event receives a facsimile message for the selected party;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that the event has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

15. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while a selected party is on a call, wherein receiving an event receives a video mail message for the selected party;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that the event has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call.

16. In a telecommunications system that provides multiple services on behalf of a party, a method comprising:

receiving an event in the system while a selected party is on a call;

generating an audio message that informs the selected party that the event has been received in the system; and

playing the audio message to the selected party while the selected party is on the call,

wherein the audio message is attached to a facsimile or electronic mail message.

17. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, the platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, the event facility receives events that identify receipt of video mail messages for the subscriber;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility, wherein the audio message generator includes a stored message indicating receipt of a video mail message; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.

18. In a telecommunications system, a platform for providing access to multiple communications services on behalf of a subscriber, the platform comprising:

an event facility for receiving events directed to the subscriber, wherein the event facility receives voice messages attached to facsimile or electronic mail messages;

an audio message generator for generating audio messages informing the subscriber of events received at the event facility; and

an interface with a phone line over which the subscriber is conducting a call, to output audio messages from the audio message generator to inform the subscriber of the events that are received at the event facility.