System and method for providing remote access to telecommunications services

• US 7,593,396 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: BRANDT, Jeffrey Lewis, Hartman, Christine Mary, Huang, Alexander Lisheng, Johnson, Jeffrey Paul, MILLER, James Thomas, Mueller, Stephen Mark, Scruggs, Jeffrey L., Bhandari, Anil Kumar, Bi, Xiaolian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US11/064,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/389, 370/392, 370/465, 370/466, 379/88.18, 379/88.25, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.13, 379/142.14, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/221.11, 379/219.01, 379/242.01
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

A system and method are provided for reviewing and updating a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services using a graphical user interface via multiple data networks. A data message is received at an intelligent peripheral from the graphical user interface via at least one of the data networks. The data message indicates a subscriber'"'"'s desired update to a selected service. The data message is converted into a protocol compatible with a service control point. The converted data message is identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had entered the desired update via an interactive voice response system. The converted data message is transmitted to the service control point, which updates the service in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s update. Thus, the service is updated substantially contemporaneously with the request. Moreover, the subscriber retains the ability to update and review service data via the interactive voice response.

Claims

1. A method for reviewing service data relating to a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services using a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a data message from the subscriber at an intelligent peripheral via at least one data network, the data message indicating a subscriber'"'"'s desire to review the service data;

converting the data message into a protocol compatible with a network controller, the converted data message being identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had indicated the desire to review the service data via an interactive voice response system;

transmitting the converted data message to the network controller;

retrieving the service data from the network controller; and

forwarding the service data to the subscriber via the intelligent peripheral,

wherein the subscriber retains the ability to review service data via an interactive voice response system.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the protocol comprises SR-3511.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one data network comprises a packet switched data network.

4. A method for reviewing and updating a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services using a graphical user interface via a plurality of data networks, the method comprising:

presenting service data to the subscriber at the graphical user interface via at least one of the plurality of data networks;

receiving a data message from the graphical user interface at an intelligent peripheral via at least one of the data networks, the data message indicating a desired update to a selected telecommunications service;

converting the data message into a protocol compatible with a service control point, the converted data message being identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the desired update had been received via an interactive voice response system;

transmitting the converted data message to the service control point; and

updating the selected telecommunications service in accordance with the desired update,

wherein the selected telecommunications service is updated substantially contemporaneously with the update being received from the graphical user interface, and

wherein the subscriber retains the ability to update and review service data via the interactive voice response system.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the presenting further comprises retrieving the service data from a service status database, which is periodically updated by the service control point, wherein traffic to the service control point is reduced.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the protocol comprises SR-3511.

7. The method of claim 4,

wherein the at least one of the plurality of data networks comprises a packet switched data network.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the packet switched data network comprises the Internet.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the interactive voice response system is accessible via a public switched telephone network.

10. A method for accessing service data relating to a subscriber'"'"'s advanced intelligent network (AIN) telecommunications services using a graphical user interface (GUI) via a plurality of data networks, and using an interactive voice response (IVR) system via a public switched telecommunications network, the method comprising:

providing the subscriber with an option of accessing the service data through a plurality of interfaces including the IVR system and the GUI;

selecting one of the IVR system and the GUI;

accessing the service data via an intelligent peripheral, the intelligent peripheral obtaining the service data from a service control point; and

presenting the service data to the subscriber via the selected interface,

wherein the subscriber can access the service data via the IVR system and via the GUI based upon the subscriber'"'"'s selection.

11. A system for reviewing and updating a subscriber'"'"'s telecommunications services via a plurality of data networks, the system comprising:

a web client through which the subscriber views service data received via the data networks, and through which the subscriber requests service data updates, the service data being displayed at a graphical user interface;

a web server that receives a data message transmitted from the subscriber in response to a service data update, the data message indicating a subscriber'"'"'s desired update to a selected telecommunications service;

an intelligent peripheral that receives the data message via at least one of the data networks, the intelligent peripheral translating the data message into a standard protocol, the translated data message being identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had entered the desired update via an interactive voice response system; and

a network controller that receives the message in the standard protocol, the controller updating the selected telecommunications service in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s desired update,

wherein the selected telecommunications service is updated in the controller substantially contemporaneously with the subscriber requesting the update at the graphical user interface, and

wherein the subscriber retains the ability to update and review the service data via an interactive voice response system.

12. The system of claim 11,

wherein the network controller comprises a service control point.

13. The system of claim 12,

wherein the protocol comprises SR-3511.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a service status database from which the service data is initially retrieved, whereby service control point traffic is reduced.

15. The system of claim 11,

wherein the web server receives the data message transmitted from the subscriber via a packet switched data network.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein the packet switched data network comprises the Internet.