System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

• US 8,059,808 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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
• Application Number:
  US12/830,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 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 redirection service is implemented when current communications service data for an account is forwarded through a packet switching network. An instruction is received through the packet switching network for the communications redirection service to redirect communications addressed to the first receiving communications address to a second receiving communications address when the communications are from a specified sending communications address. The instruction for the communications redirection service is forwarded to a communications service manager through a data network. Communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are redirected to the second receiving communications address in accordance with the instruction for the communications redirection service when the communications are from the specified sending communications address.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a communications redirection service, comprising:

forwarding, through a packet switching network in response to a request, current communications service data for an account and data to populate a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service for the account and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications redirection service, the display being configured to accept instructions that control the activation of the communications redirection service and the plurality of features of the communications service populated on the display, the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the plurality of features are set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service is set to on, the display being populated with fields for entering provisioning information for the plurality of features upon activation of the plurality of features;

receiving, through the packet switching network, an instruction for the communications redirection service to redirect communications addressed to a first receiving communications address assigned to the account to a second receiving communications address when the communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are from a specified sending communications address; and

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

wherein communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are redirected to the second receiving communications address in accordance with the instruction for the communications redirection service when the communications are from the specified sending communications address.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instruction for the communications redirection service further includes a time period in which communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are to be redirected to the second receiving communications address.

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

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

4. The method according to claim 3,

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

5. The method according to claim 1,

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

6. The method according to claim 1,

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

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the specified sending communications address is one of a plurality of specified sending communications addresses, individually input by a requester, from which communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are to be redirected to the second receiving communications address.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the first receiving communications address is a directory number.

9. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the packet switching network is the internet.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein a server performs the receiving and forwarding.

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

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

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

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

13. The method according to claim 1,

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

14. The method according to claim 1,

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

16. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the communications 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.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program, executable by a computer for implementing a communications redirection service, comprising:

a first forwarding code segment that forwards, through a packet switching network, current communications service data for an account and data to populate a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service for the account and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications redirection service, the display being configured to accept instructions that control the activation of the communications redirection service and the plurality of features of the communications service populated on the display, the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the plurality of features are set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service is set to on, the display being populated with fields for entering provisioning information for the plurality of features upon activation of the plurality of features;

a receiving code segment that receives, through the packet switching network, an instruction for the communications redirection service to redirect communications addressed to a first receiving communications address assigned to the account to a second receiving communications address when the communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are from a specified sending communications address; and

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

wherein communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are redirected to the second receiving communications address in accordance with the instruction for the communications redirection service when the communications are from the specified sending communications address.

18. A web server for implementing a communications redirection service, comprising:

a first forwarder that forwards, through a packet switching network, current communications service data for an account and data to populate a display having an on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service for the account and a respective on/off indicator for each of a plurality of features of the communications redirection service, the display being configured to accept instructions that control the activation of the communications redirection service and the plurality of features of the communications service populated on the display, the plurality of features being activated only when the respective on/off activation indicator for the plurality of features is set to on and the on/off activation indicator for the communications redirection service is set to on, the display being populated with fields for entering provisioning information for the plurality of features upon activation of the plurality of features;

a receiver that receives, through the packet switching network, an instruction for the communications redirection service to redirect communications addressed to a first receiving communications address assigned to the account to a second receiving communications address when the communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are from a specified sending communications address; and

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

wherein communications addressed to the first receiving communications address are redirected to the second receiving communications address in accordance with the instruction for the communications redirection service when the communications are from the specified sending communications address.