Outgoing call handling system and method

• US 6,871,064 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, Scott C., Laster, M. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M.
• Application Number:
  US09/530,119
• Time in Patent Office: 2,338 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/564, 455/569, 455/68, 455/70, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/422.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/88.18, 379/218.01, 379/205.01, 379/907, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• 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

A cellular system for handling outgoing calls from a mobile station (1) including, a network element (8) being capable of recognizing voiced commands and names, and has in memory a database of telephone numbers corresponding to an array of names. The mobile station (1) connects to the network element (8) and the mobile station user communicates the desired outgoing call function to the network element (8) by voice. This desired outgoing call function may be communicated while the mobile station (1) is engaged in using supplementary services provided by the network element (8), at any operation point in those services. The network element (8) evaluate the voice communication, retrieves any corresponding information, including telephone numbers, and communicates the necessary information need by the mobile station (1) to carry out the desired function to the mobile station (1).

Claims

1. An outgoing-call handling method, said method carried out by an apparatus comprising a mobile station and an intelligent telecommunications network element, said method comprising the following steps:

a) detecting an attention signal;

b) calling the network element at a network element callback number;

c) connecting with the network element;

d) communicating a user command to the network element;

e) receiving a command signal from the network element corresponding to said user command;

f) disconnecting from the network element; and

g) in a mobile station, carrying out a function corresponding to said command signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step b is carried out in the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said command signal comprises at least one of:

first data corresponding to a telephone number, a control signal, and second data corresponding to a network element callback telephone number.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said function comprises connecting with the telephone number corresponding to said first data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said function comprises setting the network element callback number to the number corresponding to said second data in the event that said command signal comprises said second data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said function comprises setting the network element callback number to the number corresponding to said second data and connecting with the network element callback number upon disconnection with the telephone number corresponding to the first data in the event said control signal comprises a with-callback signal and said second data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said function comprises being placed at a operation point corresponding to the network element callback number called.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of communicating a user command to the network element is carried out using a radio frequency signal.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the function comprises calling the number corresponding to said first data in the event that said control signal signifies calling the number corresponding to said first data.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the function comprises calling the number corresponding to said first data and placing said call in a multi-party connection with any other connected party in the event that said control signal signifies conferencing with the number corresponding to said first data.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the function comprises connecting with the number corresponding to said first data and then calling the number corresponding to said second data upon disconnection from said connection in the event that said control signal signifies calling the number corresponding to said first data and then returning to the present operation point.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein the function comprises connecting with the number corresponding to said first data and including said connection in a conference call with all other connected calls in the event that said control signal signifies conferencing with the number corresponding to said first data.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said network element is a platform.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said network element is an intelligent network platform.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said command signal comprises at least one of:

first data corresponding to a telephone number, a control signal, and second data corresponding to a network element callback telephone number.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said function comprises connecting with the telephone number corresponding to said first data.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said network element comprises hardware that is capable of sensing a current status of a call to the network element and of assigning a platform-callback number that will return the mobile station to that status when called.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said command signal comprises at least one of:

first data corresponding to a telephone number, a control signal, and second data corresponding to a network element callback telephone number.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said function comprises connecting with the telephone number corresponding to said first data.

20. An outgoing-call handling method, said method carried out by an apparatus comprising an intelligent telecommunications network element, said method comprising the following steps:

a) detecting an incoming call;

b) answering said call;

c) establishing connection with said call;

d) if said call is to one of a first set of preselected network element callback numbers, sending greeting to caller;

if said call is to one of a second set of preselected network element callback numbers, placing said connection at operation point within the network element operation corresponding to the called callback number;

e) waiting for command;

f) receiving command;

g) evaluating command; and

h) if said command corresponds to a command to enter a selected platform-based service, entering the selected platform-based service and returning to step e); and

if said command corresponds to a command to signal a command signal, sending a command signal corresponding to said command to the mobile station and disconnecting call.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein step b is carried out in said network element.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said command signal comprises at least one of:

first data corresponding to a telephone number, a control signal, and a second data corresponding to a network element callback number.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said selected platform-based service is a voice-mail messaging service.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said one of a second set of preselected network element callback numbers corresponds to an operation point within said voice-mail messaging service.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of sending a command signal is carried out with a radio frequency signal.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said network element is a platform.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein said network element is an intelligent network platform.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said platform-based service is a supplementary service.

29. An outgoing-call handling apparatus, said apparatus comprising

a network element;

a mobile station;

wherein said network element is programmed to store telephone numbers and corresponding names, to recognize said names when spoken, to answer and connect incoming calls, to receive and evaluate commands from said incoming calls, and to send at least one command signal to the connected calls; and

wherein said mobile station is programmed to receive at least one command signal from said network element and to carry out calling functions corresponding to said command signals.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said command signal comprises at least one of:

first data corresponding to a telephone number, a control signal, and a second data corresponding to a network element callback number.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said network element is a platform.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said network element is coupled to a public telephone network.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said public telephone network is a public switched telephone network.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said public telephone network is a integrated services digital network.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said mobile station comprises a subscriber identity module.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said network comprises an intelligent network platform.

37. An outgoing-call handling method, said method carried out by a communications device and a platform, said method comprising the following steps:

a) the communications device receiving an attention signal from a user of the communications device;

b) the communications device calling the platform;

c) the platform answering the call;

d) the platform sending a greeting;

e) the communications device receiving a greeting from the platform;

f) the communications device receiving a user command from the user;

g) the communications device communicating said user command to the platform;

h) the platform sending a command signal corresponding to said user command to the communications device;

i) the communications device receiving said command signal;

j) the communications device carrying out a function corresponding to said command signal.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications device is a mobile station.