Mailbox answerphone service for mobile communications

• US 7,139,552 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Lester Andrew, Chapman, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/555,951
• Time in Patent Office: 2,909 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/88.12, 379/67.1, 379/106.09, 379/165, 379/390.01, 379/88.13, 379/88.19, 379/189, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.27, 370/259, 340/431, 455/463, 455/412.2, 455/403, 455/413
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A service module is provided for use in a mobile communications system. The service module provides services to a calling user such as an answering service comprising several individual mailboxes. In various situations, the service module can automatically forward an incoming call to the desired mailbox by using an identification code to allow the user to retrieve or deposit messages. In other situations, the service module is responsive to an indicator during the call by which the user can indicate that the service module did not receive a correct identification code and is therefore required to prompt the user to enter the correct identification code. In other situations, the service module is responsive to an indicator during the call by which the user can indicate whether he/she desires to retrieve a message from his/her mailbox or to deposit a message in another user'"'"'s mailbox.

Claims

1. A method of providing a mailbox answerphone service to a caller in a mobile communications system during a call directed to a directory number used commonly by different subscribers to access their mailboxes, wherein the answerphone service is located in a first network and is responsive to calls originating from within the first network and from within a second network connected to the first network via international telecommunications links, the method comprising:

providing an identification code identifying a mailbox associated with a subscriber through the mailbox answerphone service; and

entering a first mode of mailbox answerphone operation for a call originating from within the first network and a second, different mode of mailbox answerphone operation for a call originating from within the second network, wherein the mailbox answerphone service enters either the first or the second mode of operation in dependence on information received during call establishment indicating whether the call is of international origin.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising in said first mode of operation, if the call is not diverted, providing a message retrieval service, and if the call is diverted, providing a message deposit service.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining whether the call is diverted using information received during call establishment.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing in said second mode of operation either a message deposit service or a message retrieve service in dependence of a receipt of a selection indicator from said caller during the call.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising in said second mode prompting said caller, after inputting said identification code during the call, for a voice message to be received and stored, and providing said message retrieve service if said indicator is received from said user.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said indicator comprises a DTMF tone.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting said caller for said identification code if said identification code is otherwise not associated with the call when received.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identification code corresponds to a directory number of said subscriber.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying a call of international origin through an international origin indicator in signaling associated with the call.

10. A method of providing a mailbox answerphone service to a caller in a mobile communications system during a call directed to a directory number used commonly by different subscribers to access their mailboxes comprising:

setting a divert flag if the call is diverted from a mobile station to the directory number and said mobile station is located within a coverage area of said mobile communications system;

associating a calling line identity (CLI) signal with the call if the call originates or is diverted from a mobile station within said coverage area and said mobile station is preset to transmit said CLI signal;

associating an international origin indicator with the call if the call originates or is diverted from a mobile station and said mobile station is used at a location causing said international origin indicator to be sent to said mobile communications system during call establishment;

providing an identification code identifying a mailbox associated with a subscriber through an answerphone service; and

entering either a first mode of answerphone operation or a second, different mode of answerphone operation in dependence on information received during call establishment indicating whether the call is of international origin.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a message deposit service to said caller if said divert flag is set, and prompting in said message deposit service said caller for a voice message to be received and stored.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a message retrieve service to said caller if said divert flag is not set and said CLI is associated with the call, or said divert flag is not set, said CLI signal is not associated with the call, and identification code is received from said caller during the call, and in said retrieve service a stored voice message is retrieved and provided to said caller.

13. A method of providing a mailbox answerphone service to a caller in a mobile communications system during a call directed to a directory number used commonly by different subscribers to access their mailboxes, wherein the mailbox answerphone service is located in a first network and is responsive to calls originating from within the first network and from within a second network connected to the first network via international links, wherein the mailbox answerphone service is configured to enter a first mode of mailbox answerphone operation for a call originating from within the first network and a second, different mode of mailbox answerphone operation for a call originating from within the second network, the method comprising:

identifying, through the mailbox answerphone service, a mailbox associated with a subscriber identification code; and

entering either the first or the second mode of mailbox answerphone operation in dependence on information received during call establishment indicating whether the call is of international origin.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising deriving the origin of the call using information received during call establishment.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising using said common directory number by all subscribers to access said answerphone service.

16. A voice processing system for a mobile communications system, wherein the voice processing system is located in a first network and is responsive to calls originating from within the first network and from within a second network connected to the first network by international telecommunications links, wherein the voice processing system is configured to enter a first mode of mailbox answerphone operation for a call originating from within the first network and a second, different mode of mailbox answerphone operation in response to a call originating from within the second network, wherein the voice processing system is adapted to identify a mailbox associated with a subscriber by way of an identification code processed through the mailbox answerphone service, and to enter either the first mode of mailbox answerphone operation or the second mode of mailbox answerphone operation in dependence on information received during call establishment indicating whether the call is of international origin.