System and method for providing remote access to telecommunications services

• US 6,891,940 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Alexander Lisheng, Johnson, Jeffrey Paul, MILLER, James Thomas, Mueller, Stephen Mark, Scruggs, Jeffrey L., Bhandari, Anil Kumar, Bi, Xiaolian, BRANDT, Jeffrey Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/619,312
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.03, 379/142.04, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/142.13, 379/142.14, 379/142.15, 379/142.16, 379/201.02, 379/201.01, 379/207.13, 379/207.15, 379/221.09, 379/221.08, 379/247, 379/221.11, 379/142.17, 379/201.04, 379/127.01, 455/415, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

A system and method are provided for reviewing and updating a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services, including a Caller ID service, using a graphical user interface via multiple data networks. The method includes presenting service data to the subscriber via the data networks and transmitting a data message from the subscriber to an intelligent peripheral via at least one of the data networks. The data message indicates a subscriber'"'"'s desired update to a selected telecommunications service. The method also includes converting the data message into a protocol compatible with an integrated service control point. The converted data message is identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had entered the desired update via an interactive voice response system. The method further includes transmitting the converted data message to the integrated service control point, and updating the selected telecommunications service in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s desired update. Thus, the selected telecommunications service is updated substantially contemporaneously with the subscriber requesting the update at the graphical user interface. Moreover, the subscriber retains the ability to update and review service data via an interactive voice response. The method and system also enable the subscriber to view Caller ID information while being located remotely from the destination of the telephone call associated with the caller ID information.

Claims

1. A method for providing caller ID information associated with a data comprising the calling party information and the additional information;

and

transmitting the caller ID data from the GDI server to the call logger database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the subscriber has activated the remote caller ID service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the networks further comprises a packet switched data network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one packet switched data network comprises the Internet.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the caller ID query further comprises receiving, at a Web server, the caller ID query from the subscriber via a Web client;

and

wherein transmitting the caller ID data to the remotely connected subscriber further comprises transmitting the caller ID data from the Web server to the web client.

6. A method for implementing a remote access to caller ID service for a subscriber, the service providing caller ID information associated with a telephone call from a calling party to a destination of a subscriber, the caller ID information being provided over a plurality of networks to the subscriber at a location remote from the destination, the method comprising:

obtaining, at a service control point, calling party information associated with the calling party from a switch, the calling party information comprising at least a telephone number associated with the calling party;

transmitting from the service control point to a GDI server the calling party information, while the service control point continues to process the call;

obtaining, at the GDI server, additional information associated with the calling party from a directory server, the additional information comprising at least a name associated with the telephone number of the calling party;

transmitting the caller ID data, comprising the calling party information and the additional information, from the GDI server to a call logger database;

receiving a caller ID query from the remotely located subscriber via at least one of the networks;

retrieving the caller ID data from the call logger database in response to the caller ID query;

transmitting the caller ID data to the remotely located subscriber via at least two of the networks; and

providing the caller ID information at the remote subscriber'"'"'s location.

7. The method for implementing the remote access to caller ID service according to claim 6, further comprising:

initially determining, at the GDI server, that the service is activated.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the networks further comprises a packet switched data network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one packet switched data network comprises the Internet.

10. A system for implementing a remote access to caller ID service for a subscriber, the service providing caller ID information associated with a telephone call from a calling party to a destination of a subscriber, the caller ID information being provided over a plurality of networks to the subscriber at a location remote from the destination, the system comprising:

a service control point that receives calling party data from a switch, associated with the subscriber destination, in response to the telephone call, the calling party data comprising at least a telephone number associated with the calling party;

a GDI server that receives the calling party data from the service control point, while the service control point continues to process the call, the GDI server obtaining additional data associated with the calling party from a directory server, the additional data comprising at least a name associated with the telephone number of the calling party;

a call logger database that receives the caller ID information from the GDI server, the caller ID information comprising the calling party data and the additional data;

a network server configured to receive a first caller ID query from a client over a first network and, in response to the caller ID query, retrieves the caller ID information from the call logger database and forwards the caller ID data to the client; and

an interactive voice response (IVR) configured to receive a second caller ID query from a telephone over a second network and, in response to the second caller ID query, retrieves the caller ID information from the call logger database and forwards the caller ID information to the telephone;

wherein the subscriber can obtain the caller ID information from the server and the IVR while being located remotely from the destination of the telephone call associated with the caller ID data.

11. The system for implementing the remote access to caller ID service according to claim 10, wherein the first network comprises a packet switched data network.

12. The system for implementing the remote access to caller ID service according to claim 11, wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.