Remote call monitoring
First Claim
1. A method of remotely monitoring calls routed to a voice mail system, comprising:
- receiving a call from a calling party directed to a directory number associated with a subscriber;
determining whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system wherein determining if the call should be forwarded comprises;
querying a first network element to determine whether remote call monitoring services are provisioned on a line associated with the directory number of the subscriber, wherein the first network element comprises at least one list of directory numbers by which to filter the call, andat the first network element, comparing a directory number of the call to the directory numbers stored in the at least one list of directory numbers to determine whether the remote call monitoring services should be applied to the call;
if the remote call monitoring services are provisioned on the subscriber'"'"'s line and should be applied to the call, determining whether the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at a time of receiving the call from the calling party;
if the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, causing a second network element to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber from which the subscriber may monitor calls directed to the voice mail system; and
if the remote call monitoring services are not selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, forwarding the call to the voice mail system;
wherein if the remote call monitoring services are not selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, forwarding the call to the voice mail system includes;
determining whether a calling party'"'"'s identification for the calling party is on an “
always monitor”
list provided by the subscriber,if the calling party'"'"'s identification is not on the “
always monitor”
list, forwarding the call to the voice mail system, andif the calling party'"'"'s identification is on the “
always monitor”
list, causing the second network element to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the subscriber via the remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber from which the subscriber may monitor calls directed to the voice mail system;
wherein the “
always monitor”
list includes a list calling party identifications associated with calling parties wherein calls from any of the calling party identifications included on the “
always monitor”
list always invoke remote call monitoring services; and
wherein the calling party identifications include calling party directory numbers, a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
private,”
a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
unknown” and
a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
out-of-area”
if any of said calling party directory numbers, caller ID presentation indicator status of “
private”
, caller ID presentation indicator status of “
unknown,”
or caller ID presentation indicator status of “
out-of-area”
are designated by the subscriber for inclusion on the “
always monitor”
list.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network voice mail system from a variety of remote telephone locations. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the subscriber'"'"'s line is busy or whether the call goes unanswered. If remote call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber. The subscriber is patched into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call. The subscriber may set up a number of remote call monitoring filters, including an “always monitor” list, a “never monitor” list, and a schedule of days or times during which the subscriber allows or excludes remote call monitoring. Remote call monitoring services may be provided by a telephone services provider that is independent from the subscriber'"'"'s home telephone services provider.
64 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of remotely monitoring calls routed to a voice mail system, comprising:
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receiving a call from a calling party directed to a directory number associated with a subscriber; determining whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system wherein determining if the call should be forwarded comprises; querying a first network element to determine whether remote call monitoring services are provisioned on a line associated with the directory number of the subscriber, wherein the first network element comprises at least one list of directory numbers by which to filter the call, and at the first network element, comparing a directory number of the call to the directory numbers stored in the at least one list of directory numbers to determine whether the remote call monitoring services should be applied to the call; if the remote call monitoring services are provisioned on the subscriber'"'"'s line and should be applied to the call, determining whether the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at a time of receiving the call from the calling party; if the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, causing a second network element to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber from which the subscriber may monitor calls directed to the voice mail system; and if the remote call monitoring services are not selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, forwarding the call to the voice mail system; wherein if the remote call monitoring services are not selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, forwarding the call to the voice mail system includes; determining whether a calling party'"'"'s identification for the calling party is on an “
always monitor”
list provided by the subscriber,if the calling party'"'"'s identification is not on the “
always monitor”
list, forwarding the call to the voice mail system, andif the calling party'"'"'s identification is on the “
always monitor”
list, causing the second network element to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the subscriber via the remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber from which the subscriber may monitor calls directed to the voice mail system;wherein the “
always monitor”
list includes a list calling party identifications associated with calling parties wherein calls from any of the calling party identifications included on the “
always monitor”
list always invoke remote call monitoring services; andwherein the calling party identifications include calling party directory numbers, a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
private,”
a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
unknown” and
a caller ID presentation indicator status of “
out-of-area”
if any of said calling party directory numbers, caller ID presentation indicator status of “
private”
, caller ID presentation indicator status of “
unknown,”
or caller ID presentation indicator status of “
out-of-area”
are designated by the subscriber for inclusion on the “
always monitor”
list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of remotely monitoring calls routed to a voice mail system, comprising:
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receiving a call from a calling party directed to a directory number associated with a subscriber; determining whether the call should be forwarded to the voice mail system wherein determining if the call should be forwarded comprises; querying a first network element to determine whether remote call monitoring services are provisioned on a line associated with the directory number of the subscriber, wherein the first network element comprises at least one list of directory numbers by which to filter the call, and at the first network element, comparing a directory number of the call to the directory numbers stored in the at least one list of directory numbers to determine whether the remote call monitoring services should be applied to the call; if the remote call monitoring services are provisioned on the subscriber'"'"'s line and should be applied to the call, determining whether the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at a time of receiving the call from the calling party; if the remote call monitoring services are selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, causing a second network element to set up a three-way communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber from which the subscriber may monitor calls directed to the voice mail system; if the remote call monitoring services are not selected for application to incoming calls at the time of receiving the call from the calling party, forwarding the call to the voice mail system; prior to receiving a call from the calling party directed to a directory number associated with a subscriber, contacting a telephone services provider to provision remote call monitoring services on a subscriber'"'"'s line wherein contacting the telephone services provider includes contacting the telephone services provider via an Internet-based Web site provided by the telephone services provider; retrieving a current remote call monitoring services status for the subscriber'"'"'s line; providing the subscriber with remote call monitoring services options; activating by the subscriber the remote call monitoring services on the subscriber'"'"'s line; providing by the subscriber a remote call monitoring directory number; and activating a plurality of remote call monitoring filters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification