Methods, systems and computer program products for selectively managing telephone call connections

• US 7,742,590 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Anita
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Islam; Mohammad K
• Application Number:
  US11/085,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 37920101-20104, 37921101-21104
• US Class Current: 379/211.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for selectively managing a call connection between a caller and each of a first directory number associated with a subscriber and a second directory number associated with the subscriber includes causing at least the first directory number to be rung in response to a call request from the caller. In response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request: a call is automatically allowed to be completed between the caller and the first directory number if the first directory number is of a first type; and, if the directory number is of a second type, a prescribed additional response is required from the first directory number prior to allowing the call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number, and the second directory number is allowed to be rung in response to the call request until the prescribed additional response is provided.

Claims

1. A method for selectively managing a call connection between a caller and each of a first directory number associated with a subscriber and a second directory number associated with the subscriber, the method comprising, using a call manager:

in response to a call request from the caller, causing the first directory number and the second directory number to be rung simultaneously;

thereafter

determining that the rung first directory number has answered the call request; and

thereafter

in response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request;

if the first directory number is of a first type, automatically allowing a call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

if the first directory number is of a second type;

requiring a prescribed additional response from the first directory number prior to allowing the call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

allowing the second directory number to be rung in response to the call request until the prescribed additional response is provided; and

in response to receiving the prescribed additional response from the first directory number, automatically ceasing ringing the second directory number.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the first directory number is of the first type or of the second type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescribed additional response from the first directory number includes a prescribed DTMF signal from the first directory number.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the prescribed DTMF signal from the first directory number is generated by pressing a button of a subscriber terminal associated with the first directory number and which has been rung in response to the call request.

5. The method of claim 1 including, responsive to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request and if the first directory number is of the second type, soliciting the prescribed additional response from a called party at the first directory number.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein soliciting the prescribed additional response from the called party at the first directory number includes providing a message presenting an announcement to the called party at a terminal associated with the first directory number prompting the called party to provide the prescribed additional response.

7. The method of claim 1 including:

in response to the determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request and if the first directory number is of the second type, causing the second directory number to continue being rung pending at least issuance of the prescribed additional response from the first directory number.

8. The method of claim 1 including receiving the call request and/or completing the call between the caller and the first directory number over a Voice-over-Network (VoN) telecommunications system.

9. The method of claim 1 including receiving the call request and/or completing the call between the caller and the first directory number over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telecommunications system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first directory number is assigned to a wireless mobile communications device.

11. The method of claim 1 including receiving input from a subscriber designating the first directory number as either of the first type or of the second type.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescribed additional response from the first directory number includes a prescribed voice response from the first directory number.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first directory number is of the second type, and including:

receiving the prescribed additional response from the first directory number; and

thereafter

completing a connection between the caller and the first directory number responsive to the prescribed additional response from the first directory number.

14. A system for selectively managing a call connection between a caller and each of a first directory number associated with a subscriber and a second directory number associated with the subscriber, the system comprising a call manager configured to:

cause the first directory number and the second directory number to be rung simultaneously in response to a call request from the caller;

thereafter

determine that the rung first directory number has answered the call request; and

thereafter

in response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request;

if the first directory number is of a first type, automatically allow a call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

if the first directory number is of a second type;

require a prescribed additional response from the first directory number prior to allowing the call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

allow the second directory number to be rung in response to the call request until the prescribed additional response is provided; and

in response to receiving the prescribed additional response from the first directory number, automatically cease ringing the second directory number.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the prescribed additional response from the first directory number includes a prescribed DTMF signal from the first directory number.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the call manager is configured to solicit the prescribed additional response from a called party at the first directory number in response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request and if the first directory number is of the second type.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the call manager is configured to provide a message presenting an announcement to the called party at a terminal associated with the first directory number prompting the called party to provide the prescribed additional response.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the call manager is configured to:

in response to the determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request and if the first directory number is of the second type, cause the second directory number to continue being rung pending at least issuance of the prescribed additional response from the first directory number.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the call manager is configured to receive input from a subscriber designating the first directory number as either of the first type or of the second type.

20. A computer program product for selectively managing a call connection between a caller and each of a first directory number associated with a subscriber and a second directory number associated with the subscriber, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause the first directory number and the second directory number to be rung simultaneously in response to a call request from the caller;

computer readable program code configured to thereafter determine that the rung first directory number has answered the call request; and

computer readable program code configured to thereafter, in response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request;

if the first directory number is of a first type, automatically allow a call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

if the first directory number is of a second type;

require a prescribed additional response from the first directory number prior to allowing the call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

allow the second directory number to be rung in response to the call request until the prescribed additional response is provided; and

in response to receiving the prescribed additional response from the first directory number, automatically cease ringing the second directory number.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 including computer readable program code configured to provide a message presenting an announcement to the called party at a terminal associated with the first directory number prompting the called party to provide the prescribed additional response.

22. A system for selectively managing a call connection between a caller and each of a first directory number associated with a subscriber and a second directory number associated with the subscriber, the system comprising a call manager configured to:

cause the first directory number to be rung in response to a call request from the caller without ringing the second directory number;

thereafter

determine that the rung first directory number has answered the call request; and

thereafter

in response to a determination that the rung first directory number has answered the call request;

if the first directory number is of a first type, automatically allow a call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number;

if the first directory number is of a second type;

require a prescribed additional response from the first directory number prior to allowing the call to be completed between the caller and the first directory number; and

allow the second directory number to be rung in response to the call request until the prescribed additional response is provided; and

if the call is not completed within a prescribed period or number of rings, cause the second directory number to be rung.