Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system

• US 8,064,587 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• 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: Simpson, Anita Hogans, Silver, Edward Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/107,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20080317221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:

receiving a forwarded call to the network based voice mail system from a called party;

determining whether the forwarded call can be monitored, wherein determining if the forwarded call can be monitored comprises;

determining if the forwarded call was previously forwarded to the called party from a prior called party before being forwarded to the network based voice mail system from the called party; and

if the forwarded call was previously forwarded to the called party, then to deny call monitoring;

if the forwarded call can be monitored, then sending a call monitoring alert signal and an activate call monitoring message to customer premises equipment associated with the called party;

receiving an intercept tone from the customer premises equipment; and

causing the called party to be connected to a calling party.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a voice mail code sent by the called party; and

acting on the voice mail code.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the voice mail code is a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the intercept tone is a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency tone.

5. A method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network based voice mail system comprising:

receiving a call monitoring alert signal from a central office switch, wherein the call monitoring alert signal indicates that a forwarded call from a called party to the network based voicemail system can be monitored, wherein the network based voicemail system prohibits monitoring of the forwarded call if the forwarded call was previously forwarded to the called party from a prior called party before being forwarded to the network based voicemail system from the called party;

in response to receiving the call monitoring alert signal, providing an alert to the called party;

receiving an activate call monitoring data message from the central office switch; and

in response to receiving the activate call monitoring data message, going off-hook and engaging a speaker assembly to monitor the forwarded call.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing an alert comprises generating a sound.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein providing an alert comprises providing a distinctive ring pattern.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein providing an alert comprises providing a visual indicator.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an intercept indicator; and

in response to receiving the intercept indicator, sending an intercept signal to the central office switch.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the intercept signal comprises a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of customer premises equipment adapted to support call monitoring is connected to the called party'"'"'s line, further comprising:

receiving an intercept indicator; and

in response to receiving the intercept signal, sending an intercept signal to the central office switch and sending an on-hook signal to all other customer premises equipment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the intercept signal and the on-hook signal are the same signal.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a voice mail code; and

sending the voice mail code to the network based voice mail system.