Methods and systems for releasing a voice mail system from a communication and further processing the communication

• US 7,184,535 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Navneet, Adamczyk, Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US09/513,679
• Time in Patent Office: 2,559 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221, 379/265.09, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/212.01, 379/201.01, 379/221.01
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2022 Path replacement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

Methods and systems relating to a communication in an Advanced Intelligent Network from a caller to a subscriber'"'"'s directory number where the communication has been terminated to a voice mail system (VMS) instead having been terminated to the subscriber'"'"'s directory number. The methods and systems transfer the communication from the VMS so the VMS is no longer involved in the communication. A message indicating a release of the communication by the VMS is generated. The message also indicates an action to be taken regarding the communication such as a transfer to a different number. The action and related information may be provided in a remote operations parameter of a GR-1129 message. In response, directions are provided to carry-out the action. As a result, the communication is released from the VMS, and is acted upon without further involvement of the VMS.

Claims

1. A method for directing a communication request to terminating equipment associated with a predetermined revert number, the method comprising:

receiving at a voicemail server, a communication request from a caller for a callee at a first terminating equipment;

providing the caller with a prompt indicating a predetermined user option for contacting the callee at a second terminating equipment associated with the predetermined revert number; and

in response to receiving caller input related to the predetermined user option, sending a release message indicating a release of the communication request from the voicemail server,

wherein the release message facilitates rerouting the communication request to a second termination device associated with the predetermined revert number

wherein the voicemail server is further configured to send the release message to a service switching point (SSP) associated with the voicemail server,

wherein the release message includes a GR-1129 message comprising a remote operations (RO) parameter, and

wherein the remote operations (RO) parameter includes the revert number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication request is routed from a first service switching point (SSP) associated with the first terminating equipment to a second service switching point (SSP) associated with the second terminating equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to sending the release message, the communication request is routed to a service switching point (SSP) associated with to the first terminating equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to sending the release message, the communication request is routed to a service switching point (SSP) associated with the second terminating equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication request is routed to the service switching point (SSP) associated with the second terminating equipment via a service switching point (SSP) associated with the first terminating equipment.

6. A voicemail server for receiving a communication request from a caller to a callee associated with a first terminating equipment, the voicemail server comprising:

a receiver operative to receive an indication of action to be taken with respect to the communication request; and

a transmitter for transmitting a message indicating a release of the communication request, the message indicating the action to be taken with respect to the communication request,

wherein the voicemail server is configured to provide the caller with a prompt indicating a predetermined user option for contacting the callee at a second terminating equipment associated with a predetermined revert number,

wherein, in response to receiving caller input related to the predetermined user option, the communication request is released such that the communication request can be rerouted to the second terminating equipment without involvement of the voicemail server,

wherein the voicemail server is further configured to send a release message to a service switching point (SSP) associated with the voicemail server,

wherein the release message includes a GR-1129 message comprising a remote operations (RO) parameter, and

wherein the remote operations (RO) parameter includes the revert number.

7. The voicemail server of claim 6, wherein in response to sending the release message, voicemail server is configured to route the communication request to a service switching point (SSP) associated with to the first terminating equipment.

8. The voicemail server of claim 6, wherein in response to sending the release message, the communication request is routed to a service switching point (SSP) associated with the second terminating equipment.

9. The voicemail server of claim 6, wherein the communication request is routed to the service switching point (SSP) associated with the second terminating equipment via a service switching point (SSP) associated with the first terminating equipment.