Profile management system including user interface for accessing and maintaining profile data of user subscribed telephony services

• US 8,705,718 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baniak, Paul G., Chambers, Kristin, Krein, Katherine L., Rolwes, Christopher H., Vieth, Terry L., Brokaw, Tracy L., Clark, Mary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US13/919,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.02, 379/201.12, 379/207.13, 379/93.02
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• 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: H04Q 3/0033 customer-controlled

Abstract

Subscription profile data is managed. The subscription profile data is associated with a communications service. A user interface is sent to a hosting client for a user to obtain access to and make changes to subscription profile data. A request to retrieve the subscription profile data is received from the client. The subscription profile data is retrieved from within a communications network in response to the request to retrieve the subscription profile data. A request to update the subscription profile data is received. An update for the subscription profile data is forwarded so that the communications service is implemented in the communications network in accordance with the update.

Claims

1. A method for managing subscription profile data associated with a communications service, the method comprising:

sending a user interface to a hosting client for a user to obtain access to and make changes to subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

retrieving the subscription profile data from within a communications network in response to the request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to update the subscription profile data, and

forwarding an update for the subscription profile data so that the communications service is implemented in the communications network in accordance with the update.

2. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

3. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein the subscription profile data includes access codes.

4. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein the communications service comprises positive identification.

5. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein an incoming communication to an address assigned to the subscription is redirected in accordance with the update.

6. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein the communications network comprises a telecommunications network.

7. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1,

wherein the subscription profile data comprises authorized communications addresses.

8. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 7,

wherein a communication attempt from a requesting party is only passed through the communications network when the communication is from an authorized communications address.

9. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 8, further comprising:

generating reports indicating attempts to communicate with a subscriber for the subscription, including each attempt to communicate not successfully completed.

10. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling access to the subscription profile data to only allow an authorized user to access and request updates to the subscription profile data.

11. The method for managing subscription profile data of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client, a time specified as to when the requested update for the subscription profile data should be forwarded to the communications network.

12. A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a set of instructions for managing subscription profile data associated with a communications service, the instructions when executed causing a computer to perform acts of:

sending a user interface to a hosting client for a user to obtain access to and make changes to subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

retrieving the subscription profile data from within a communications network in response to the request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to update the subscription profile data, and

forwarding an update for the subscription profile data so that the communications service is implemented in the communications network in accordance with the update.

13. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12,

wherein the subscription profile data is retrieved from the communications network via an intermediate system.

14. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12,

wherein the update for the subscription profile data is forwarded to the communications network via an intermediate system.

15. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12,

wherein the update is implemented without involving service personnel of the communications service.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,

wherein the communications network comprises a telecommunications network.

17. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16,

wherein the subscription profile data comprises authorized communications addresses.

18. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17,

wherein a communication from a requesting party is only forwarded to the subscriber when the communication is from an authorized communications address.

19. An apparatus for managing subscription profile data associated with a communications service subscribed to by a subscriber, the apparatus including:

a memory that stores and instructions, and

a processor that executes the instructions,

wherein, when executed, the instructions cause the apparatus to perform acts of;

sending a user interface to a hosting client for a user to obtain access to and make changes to subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

retrieving the subscription profile data from within a communications network in response to the request to retrieve the subscription profile data;

receiving, from the client, a request to update the subscription profile data, and

forwarding an update for the subscription profile data so that the communications service is implemented in the communications network in accordance with the update.

20. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein the subscription profile data is retrieved from the communications network via an intermediate system, and

wherein the update for the subscription profile data is forwarded to the communications network via the intermediate system.