Methods and systems for enabling return to same position in a review of messages in a voice mail system using tag or identifier stored in the voice mail system

• US 6,891,931 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adamczyk, Maria, Braudes, Robert E., Brand, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, JOSEPH T
• Application Number:
  US09/914,388
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 379/69, 379/210.01, 379/202.01, 379 8822- 8825, 379/84, 37922108-22112, 379/67.1, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/69
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5227 Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers other inductive arrangements H01L23/645
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in a voice mail system (VMS), to make a call or take some other action, and to return to the same position as occupied at the time of interruption in the review of messages in the VMS. In response to an indication from the SSP subscriber'"'"'s communic ation to leave the review, an identifier is created to mark the position of the subscriber'"'"'s communication in the review. The identifier is stared in the VMS. The VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber'"'"'s communication, the message including a copy of the identifier. The message may be a GR-1129 message including a remote operations (RO) parameter with the copy of the identifier. In response to the release message, a service control point (SCP) stores the copy of the identifier and causes whatever action is indicated in the message to be taken with respect to the subscriber'"'"'s communication. In response to receipt of a release message from a network element other than the VMS, the SCP routes the subscriber'"'"'s communication including the copy of the identifier to the VMS. The VMS uses the copy of the identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber'"'"'s communication in the same position occupied previously in the review.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a subscriber, having established communication with a voice mail system (VMS), to interrupt a review of recorded messages in the VMS to make a new call, and then return to a position occupied by the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messages in the VMS, comprising:

the VMS being operative to transmit a release message indicating at least a telephone number to which the new call is to be directed, the release message further including a copy of an identifier marking the position occupied by the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messages in the VMS;

a service control point (SCP) operative to receive the release message, and to cause said established communication to be terminated to an intelligent network element (INE) with the INE being provided with the telephone number for the new call;

the INE being operative, in response to termination of said established communication to the INE, to initiate an INE call to the telephone number, to bridge said established communication and the INE call to form the new call from the subscriber, to monitor the new call for a disconnect signal, and in response to the disconnect signal, to dismantle the bridge so as to disconnect the INE call and to release said established communication;

the SCP being further operative, in response to a notice of release of said established communication by the INE, to cause said established communication to be routed to the VMS and to include the copy of the identifier; and

the VMS being further operative, in response to receipt of said established communication and the copy of the identifier, to use the copy of the identifier to return the subscriber to the position occupied by the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messages in the VMS.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message from the VMS comprises a remote operations (RO) parameter including the reply telephone number and the copy of the identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a remote operations (RO) parameter including the reply telephone number and the copy of the identifier.

4. The system of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the message comprises a GR-1129 message comprising the RO parameter.