System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 6,954,524 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/164,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/201.04, 379/201.12, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 379/211.04, 715/700, 715/760, 715/764, 715/780, 345/760, 345/761, 345/762, 345/763, 345/764
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A call forwarding service is accessible through a common service management system using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet and an interactive voice response system via the public switched telephone network. Using the GUI, the subscriber builds and edits service data, including a screening list and weekly schedule. The GUI displays a forward-to number field and multiple activation fields. The call forwarding service is activated in response to an ON indication of a first activation field, implementing call forwarding functionality to forward calls to the forward-to number; the screening list is activated in response to an ON indication of a second activation field, forwarding only calls from the listed telephone numbers to the forward-to number; and the weekly schedule is activated in response to an ON indication of a third activation field, enabling the call forwarding functionality only during the listed time periods.

Claims

1. A method for accessing data relating to a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding data being implemented by a service control point in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and stored in a database associated with the subscriber and accessible by the service control point, the call forwarding service including a screening list, which identifies at least one calling party directory number that is forwarded to a forward-to number when a call forwarding function of the call forwarding service is active, and a schedule, which identifies at least one activation period during which the call forwarding function is active and calls may be forwarded to the forward-to number, the method comprising:

receiving a query relating to the call forwarding data, via a web server in a data network, in response to an instruction from the subscriber at a web client, the web client comprising a graphical user interface; and

displaying a portion of the call forwarding data in a status web page at the graphical user interface via the web server, the status web page comprising a first ON field and a first OFF field associated with the call forwarding service, a second ON field and a second OFF field associated with the priority screening list, a third ON field and a third OFF field associated with the schedule, and a forward-to number field.

2. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying additional call forwarding data in a screening list web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the priority screening list.

3. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 2, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the screening list web page comprises:

displaying a table comprising a plurality of columns, a first column displaying at least one name of a priority caller and a second column displaying the directory number associated with the name, the call forwarding service routing calls from the directory number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding function is active.

4. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 3, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the screening list web page further comprises:

displaying a third column of the plurality of columns, the third column displaying a deletion field corresponding to the at least one name and the associated directory number of the priority caller, wherein the at least one name and the associated directory number are removed from the screening table in response to receiving a deletion indication from the corresponding deletion field.

5. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying additional call forwarding data in a schedule web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the schedule.

6. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 5, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the schedule web page comprises:

displaying a table comprising a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days of the week, each day column comprising a start time column and a stop time column, the start time column displaying at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function and the stop time column displaying a corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function during the day of the week corresponding to the day column, the call forwarding service routing calls to the forward-to number only when the call forwarding function is active in accordance with the schedule table.

7. The method for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 6, in which displaying the additional call forwarding data in the schedule web page further comprises:

for each day column, displaying a preestablished number of start time fields in the start time column and corresponding stop time fields in the stop time column;

wherein the at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function occupies one of the preestablished number of start time fields and the corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function occupies a corresponding one of the preestablished number of stop time fields, the remaining unoccupied start time fields and stop time fields continuing to be displayed in the schedule table.

8. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program that enables accessing data relating to a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding data being implemented by a service control point in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and stored in a database associated with the subscriber and accessible by the service control point, the call forwarding service including a screening list, which identifies at least one calling party directory number that is forwarded to a forward-to number when a call forwarding function of the call forwarding service is active, and a schedule, which identifies at least one activation period during which the call forwarding function is active and calls may be forwarded to the forward-to number, the computer readable medium comprising:

a receiving source code segment that receives a query relating to the call forwarding data, via a web server in a data network, in response to an instruction from the subscriber at a web client, the web client comprising a graphical user interface; and

a display enabling source code segment that displays a portion of the call forwarding data in a status web page at the graphical user interface via the web server, the status web page comprising a first ON field and a first OFF field associated with the call forwarding service, a second ON field and a second OFF field associated with the priority screening list, a third ON field and a third OFF field associated with the schedule, and a forward-to number field.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, in which the display enabling source code segment further displays additional call forwarding data in a screening list web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the priority screening list, the screening list web page including a table comprising a plurality of columns, a first column displaying at least one name of a priority caller and a second column displaying the directory number associated with the name, the call forwarding service routing calls from the directory number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding function is active.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, in which the table further comprises a third column of the plurality of columns, the third column displaying a deletion field corresponding to the at least one name and the associated directory number of the priority caller, wherein the at least one name and the associated directory number are removed from the screening table in response to receiving a deletion indication from the corresponding deletion field.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, in which the display enabling source code segment further displays additional call forwarding data in a schedule web page at the graphical user interface via the web server in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the schedule, the schedule web page including a table comprising a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days of the week, each day column comprising a start time column and a stop time column, the start time column displaying at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function and the stop time column displaying a corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function during the day of the week corresponding to the day column, the call forwarding service routing calls to the forward-to number only when the call forwarding function is active in accordance with the schedule table.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, in which a preestablished number of start time fields in the start time column and corresponding stop time fields in the stop time column are displayed for each day column, wherein the at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function occupies one of the preestablished number of start time fields and the corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function occupies a corresponding one of the preestablished number of stop time fields, the remaining unoccupied start time fields and stop time fields continuing to be displayed in the schedule table.

13. A system for accessing data relating to a call forwarding service of a subscriber, the call forwarding service including a screening list, which identifies at least one calling party directory number that is forwarded to a forward-to number when a call forwarding function of the call forwarding service is active, and a schedule, which identifies at least one activation period during which the call forwarding function is active and calls may be forwarded to the forward-to number, the system comprising:

a service control point that processes telephone calls in a public switched telecommunications network (PSTN), the service control point being configured to communicate with a database comprising the call forwarding service data; and

a web server in a data network, enabling a communications interface between the database and a graphical user interface of the subscriber via the data network;

wherein the web server transmits display data relating to the call forwarding service to display a status screen on the graphical user interface, the status screen comprising a first ON field and a first OFF field associated with the call forwarding service, a second ON field and a second OFF field associated with the priority screening list, a third ON field and a third OFF field associated with the schedule, and a forward-to number field.

14. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 13, in which the web server further transmits additional call forwarding data to be displayed in a screening list screen at the graphical user interface in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the priority screening list.

15. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 14, in which the screening list screen comprises:

a table comprising a plurality of columns, a first column displaying at least one name of a priority caller and a second column displaying the directory number associated with the name, the call forwarding service routing calls from the directory number to the forward-to number when the call forwarding function is active.

16. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 15, in which the screening list screen further comprises:

a third column of the plurality of columns, the third column displaying a deletion field corresponding to the at least one name and the associated directory number of the priority caller, wherein the at least one name and the associated directory number are removed from the screening table in response to receiving a deletion indication from the corresponding deletion field.

17. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 13, in which the web server further transmits additional call forwarding data to be displayed in a schedule screen at the graphical user interface in response to selection of an indicator for modifying data associated with the schedule.

18. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 17, in which the schedule screen comprises:

a table comprising a plurality of columns corresponding to a plurality of days of the week, each day column comprising a start time column and a stop time column, the start time column displaying at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function and the stop time column displaying a corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function during the day of the week corresponding to the day column, the call forwarding service routing calls to the forward-to number only when the call forwarding function is active in accordance with the schedule table.

19. The system for accessing data relating to the call forwarding service according to claim 18, in which the schedule screen further comprises:

for each day column, a preestablished number of start time fields in the start time column and corresponding stop time fields in the stop time column;

wherein the at least one start time for activating the call forwarding function occupies one of the preestablished number of start time fields and the corresponding stop time for deactivating the call forwarding function occupies a corresponding one of the preestablished number of stop time fields, the remaining unoccupied start time fields and stop time fields continue to be displayed in the schedule table.