System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 7,778,403 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibson, Elizabeth Goldwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/957,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 37920101-20104, 379/201.12, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 379/211.04, 715/700, 715/760, 715/764, 715/780
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A communications service for communications addressed to or from a communications address is implemented by receiving, from a requester though a packet switching network, a request to access current communications service data for an account for the communications address. The current communications service data for the account is forwarded to the requester through the packet switching network. An instruction to change an on/off state of the communications service is received from the requester through the packet switching network. The instruction to a communications service manager is forwarded through a data network. The on/off state of the communications service is changed in accordance with the instruction.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a communications service for communications addressed to or from a communications address, comprising:

receiving, from a requester though a packet switching network, a request to access current communications service data for an account for the communications address;

forwarding, to the requester through the packet switching network, the current communications service data for the account;

receiving, from the requester through the packet switching network, an instruction to change an on/off state of the communications service, the instruction input on a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications service and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications service, and configured to control the activation of the communications service and the plurality of features of the communications service identified on the display, one of the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the one of the plurality of features is set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications service is set to on, the plurality of features of the communications service each including a respective link such that when one of the respective links is activated causes a display to be displayed for entering provisioning information for the one of the plurality of features associated with the activated link; and

forwarding the instruction to a communications service manager through a data network,

wherein the on/off state of the communications service is changed in accordance with the instruction.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications service comprises a communications redirecting communications service that redirects communications to the communications address to a redirect communications address.

3. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications address is a directory number.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the packet switching network is the internet.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing the requester to change the on/off state of the communication service in accordance with a security procedure using a login screen.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the requester is a user to whom the communications address is assigned.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein a server performs the receiving and forwarding.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding, to the communications service manager through a data network, the request to access current communications service data for the account.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, from the service manager through the data network, the current communications service data for the account from the service manager.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the current communications service data is displayed to the requester as the on/off activation indicator for the communications service and the respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications service in response to a status request option selected by the requester.

11. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications service is deactivated in response to the requester setting the on/off activation indicator for the communications service to off.

12. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications service, and the plurality of features of the communications service that are activated, are deactivated in response to the requester setting the on/off activation indicator for the communications service to off.

13. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications service is activated in response to the requester setting the on/off activation indicator for the communications service to on.

14. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of features of the communications service comprise a priority screening list and a scheduling function.

15. The method according to claim 1,

wherein one of the plurality of features of the communications service comprises a screening list comprising at least one communications address set in the screening list by a user to whom the communications address is assigned.

16. The method according to claim 15,

wherein communications to or from the at least one communications address are processed differently from communications to or from communications addresses not in the screening list when the one of the plurality of features of the communications service comprising a screening list is activated.

17. The method according to claim 1,

wherein one of the plurality of features of the communications service comprises a schedule.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the schedule comprises at least one activation period, and

wherein activating the schedule causes service functionality for the one of the plurality of features of the communications service comprising a schedule to be implemented only during the at least one activation period.

19. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the service manager manages a communications processor that processes telephone communications in a telecommunications network, the communications processor being configured to communicate with a database that stores the communications service data.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program, executable by a computer for implementing a communications service for communications addressed to or from a communications address, comprising:

a first receiving code segment configured to receive, from a requester though a packet switching network, a request to access current communications service data for an account for the communications address;

a first forwarding code segment configured to forward, to the requester through the packet switching network, the current communications service data for the account;

a second receiving code segment configured to receive, from the requester through the packet switching network, an instruction to change an on/off state of the communications service, the instruction input on a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications service and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications service, and configured to control the activation of the communications service and the plurality of features of the communications service identified on the display, one of the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the one of the plurality of features is set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications service is set to on, the plurality of features of the communications service each including a respective link such that when one of the respective links is activated causes a display to be displayed for entering provisioning information for the one of the plurality of features associated with the activated link; and

a second forwarding code segment configured to forward the instruction to a communications service manager through a data network,

wherein the on/off state of the communications service is changed in accordance with the instruction.

21. A web server for implementing a communications service for communications addressed to or from a communications address, comprising:

a first receiver that receives, from a requester though a packet switching network, a request to access current communications service data for an account for the communications address;

a first forwarder that forwards, to the requester through the packet switching network, the current communications service data for the account;

a second receiver that receives, from the requester through the packet switching network, an instruction to change an on/off state of the communications service, the instruction input on a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications service and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications service, and configured to control the activation of the communications service and the plurality of features of the communications service identified on the display, one of the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the one of the plurality of features is set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications service is set to on, the plurality of features of the communications service each including a respective link such that when one of the respective links is activated causes a display to be displayed for entering provisioning information for the one of the plurality of features associated with the activated link; and

a second forwarder that forwards the instruction to a communications service manager through a data network,

wherein the on/off state of the communications service is changed in accordance with the instruction.