System and method for identifying redirected calls

• US 7,239,690 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moss, John W., Pearson, Larry B., Vozar, Barbara Allyn, Hager, Robert Carl, Tiliks, Diana
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/656,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.16, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/221.08, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/911
• US Class Current: 379/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• 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: Y10S 379/911 Distinctive ringing

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system for identifying redirected calls that includes a service switch point and a service control point. The service switch point is coupled to a communications network. The service switch point is configured to receive a call termination request that indicates call redirection. The service control point is coupled to the service switch point and is configured to direct the service switch point to utilize a distinctive ring in response to receiving the call termination request.

Claims

1. A system for identifying redirected calls, the system comprising:

a service switch point coupled to a communications network, the service switch point configured to receive a call termination request, the call termination request indicating call redirection; and

a service control point coupled to the service switch point, the service control point configured to direct the service switch point to utilize a first distinctive ring in response to receiving the call termination request when a redirect number address does not match a specified redirect number address and to utilize a second distinctive ring when the redirect number address matches the specified redirect number address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the service switch point is configured to receive a second call termination request, the service switch point configured to utilize a generic ring in response to receiving the second call termination request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the call termination request includes a redirected number address and wherein the service control point is configured to selectively direct the service switch point to utilize a specific distinctive ring when the redirected number address matches a specific address.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a signal transfer point coupled to the service switch point and coupled to the service control point, the signal transfer point configured to route messages associated with the call termination request between the service switch point and the service control point.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is an SS7 compatible network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the service control point comprises computer-readable storage, the computer readable storage configured to store a data record associated with a network address associated with the call termination request, the data record including an activation status of a redirected call distinctive ring feature.

7. A method of call identification, the method comprising:

receiving a call termination request at a service control point (SCP), the call termination request including a destination address, the call termination request configured to request initiation of a call to the destination address;

determining whether the call termination request indicates a redirected call; and

selectively directing the utilization of a first distinctive ring when a redirect number address does not match a specified redirect number address and directing the utilization of a second distinctive ring when the redirect number address matches the specified redirect number address when initiating a call to the destination address.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the call termination request includes a redirect number address.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the call termination request includes a specific redirect number address.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the distinctive ring is a specific distinctive ring associated with the specific redirect number address.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a user input associating a specific distinctive ring with a specific redirect number address.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising accessing a service control point in response to receiving a call termination request and determining whether a redirected call ring feature is active.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the call termination request is associated with an SS7 protocol.

14. A service control point comprising:

computer-readable storage;

a data record stored in the computer-readable storage, the data record associated with a network address, the data record configured to indicate an activation status of a redirected call ring feature and including a specific redirect number address; and

logic configured to access the data record in response to receiving a call termination query, the logic configured to determine whether the call termination query indicates a redirected call and wherein the logic is configured to selectively direct utilization of the redirected call ring feature based on the activation status and based on a comparison of the specific redirect number address with a redirect number address included in the call termination query.

15. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the call termination query is associated with an SS7 protocol.

16. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to communicate with a service switch point.

17. The service control point of claim 16, wherein the logic is configured to selectively direct the service switch point to utilize a distinctive ring.

18. The service control point of claim 16, wherein the logic is configured to selectively direct the service switch point to utilize a first distinctive ring in response to the call termination query indicating a specific redirect number address and a second distinctive ring in response to the call termination query indicating a redirect number address other than the specific redirect number address.

19. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to receive user input identifying a specific distinctive ring, the logic configured to store the specific distinctive ring in the data record.

20. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to receive user input indicating a specific redirect number address, the logic configured to store the specific redirect number address in the data record.

21. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to receive user input and is configured to manipulate data stored within the data record that is associated with the redirected call ring feature.

22. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to receive user input associating a specific redirect number address with a specific distinctive ring.

23. The service control point of claim 14, wherein the logic is configured to selectively direct the utilization of a first distinctive ring when a redirect number address matches the specific redirect number address and direct the utilization of a second distinctive ring when the redirect number address does not match the specific redirect number address.