Profile management system including user interface for accessing and maintaining profile data of user subscribed telephony services

• US 7,103,165 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vieth, Terry L., Brokaw, Tracy L., Rolwes, Christopher H., Clark, Mary B., Baniak, Paul G., Chambers, Kristin, Krein, Katherine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/761,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.12, 379/207.13
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0033 customer-controlled

Abstract

A profile management system is provided for accessing and maintaining profile data associated with a telecommunications service subscribed to by a user. The profile data is stored on a telecommunications network which executes the telecommunications service subscribed to by the user in accordance with the profile data. The profile management system includes a client and a server. The client hosts a user interface allowing the user to view and update the profile data. The server processes user requests from the client to view and update the profile data by obtaining the profile data from the telecommunications network and forwarding the profile data to the client. The server also processes user requests from the client to update the profile data by forwarding user updates of the profile data from the client to the telecommunications network. As a result of the profile management system, the user can access and maintain the profile data associated with the telecommunications service subscribed to by the user without involving service personnel.

Claims

1. A profile management system for accessing and maintaining profile data associated with a telecommunications service subscribed to by a subscriber, the profile data being stored on a telecommunications network which executes the telecommunications service subscribed to by the subscriber in accordance with the profile data, the profile management system comprising:

a client which hosts a user interface allowing the subscriber to view and update the profile data; and

a server which processes subscriber requests from the client to view and update the profile data by obtaining the profile data from the telecommunications network via at least one intermediate system and forwarding the profile data to the client, the server processing subscriber requests from the client to update the profile data by forwarding subscriber updates of the profile data from the client to the telecommunications network via the at least one intermediate system.

2. The profile management system of claim 1, in which the user interface is a graphical user interface.

3. The profile management system of claim 2, in which the telecommunications service comprises positive identification, and in which the profile data comprises access codes and authorized telephone numbers.

4. The profile management system of claim 3, wherein when a calling party calls the subscriber, the calling party is only successfully connected to the subscriber if either the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is one of the authorized telephone numbers or the calling party inputs one of the access codes, wherein if the calling party is not successfully connected to the subscriber, the calling party hears a prerecorded message and is subsequently disconnected.

5. The profile management system of claim 4, further comprising a reporting system which generates reports comprising calling parties attempting to connect to the subscriber, indicating each calling party successfully connected to the subscriber, and each calling party not successfully connected to the subscriber.

6. The profile management system of claim 1, further comprising an access control system which only allows authorized subscribers to access and maintain the profile data.

7. The profile management system of claim 1, in which the subscriber specifies a time when the server will forward the subscriber updates from the client to the telecommunications network.

8. The profile management system of claim 1, further comprising a DTMF system for accessing and maintaining the profile data.

9. The profile management system of claim 1, in which the intermediate system further comprises a server management system (SMS) server.

10. The profile management system of claim 1, in which the intermediate system further comprises SPACE.

11. The profile management system of claim 1, in which the server communicates with the client using TCP/IP.

12. A profile management system for accessing and maintaining profile data associated with a telecommunications service subscribed to by a subscriber, the profile management system comprising:

a client which hosts a user interface allowing the subscriber to view and update the profile data;

a telecommunications network which stores the profile data and executes the telecommunications service subscribed to by the subscriber in accordance with the profile data; and

a server which processes subscriber requests from the client to view and update the profile data by obtaining the profile data from the telecommunications network and forwarding the profile data to the client, the server processing subscriber requests from the client to update the profile data by forwarding subscriber updates of the profile data from the client to the telecommunications network;

wherein the subscriber can access and maintain the profile data associated with the telecommunications service subscribed to by the subscriber without involving service personnel.

13. The profile management system of claim 12, in which the user interface is a graphical user interface.

14. The profile management system of claim 13, in which the telecommunications service comprises positive identification, and in which the profile data comprises access codes and authorized telephone numbers.

15. The profile management system of claim 14, wherein when a calling party calls the subscriber, the calling party is only successfully connected to the subscriber if either the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is one of the authorized telephone numbers or the calling party inputs one of the access codes, wherein if the calling party is not successfully connected to the subscriber, the calling party hears a prerecorded message and is subsequently disconnected.

16. The profile management system of claim 12, in which the server communicates with the client using TCP/IP.