System and method for accessing a messaging service using a short dialing sequence

• US 20020181673A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Tricia Ehlers, Brand, Rodney T., Donoso, Carlos H., Mills, Victor Piollet Jr., Tiliks, Diana Inara, Andrietsch, Margaret Jean
• Granted Patent: US 6,718,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch. When the central office switch receives the call forwarding number, the number is used to route the customer to the messaging service.

Claims

1. A system for accessing a messaging service comprising, in combination:

a customer premises equipment (CPE) at a user location for use by a user, said CPE comprising a plurality of character keys for dialing a plurality of sequences of characters, at least one of said plurality of sequences of characters being an n-character messaging sequence wherein n<

7;

a supplementary service database comprising a service indicator including a call forwarding number for accessing said messaging service; and

a central office switch in communication with said CPE to receive said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE, said central office switch comprising;

a supplementary service processor for connecting to said supplementary service database when one of said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE matches said n-character messaging sequence and for receiving from said supplementary service database said call forwarding number to said messaging service; and

said central office switch being operable to route said CPE to said messaging service according to said call forwarding number.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said central office switch comprises:

a caller identifier, said supplementary service processor being operable to include said caller identifier and said n-character sequence when said supplementary service processor connects to said supplementary services database; and

said supplementary service database further comprising;

a plurality of customer identifiers of users who may use said short dialing access service, said supplementary service database being operable to search said service indicator for customer matching said caller identifier to determine whether the user identified by said caller identifier may use said short dialing access service.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said central office switch further includes:

an error handler for sending a pre-recorded error message to said CPE when said service indicator indicates that said user does not subscribe to said messaging service.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein n=3.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said 3-character messaging sequence includes a first ‘

*’

star character followed by a two number sequence.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said supplementary service processor further comprises a routing table for storing said call forwarding numbers for a plurality of service users having access to said short dialing access service.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said supplementary service database further comprises a redirecting identifier for connecting said user to an error message when said short dialing access service is shutdown.

8. A system for accessing a messaging service comprising, in combination:

a customer premises equipment (CPE) at a user location for use by a user, said CPE comprising a plurality of character keys for dialing a plurality of sequences of characters, one of said plurality of sequences of characters being a 3-character messaging sequence;

a supplementary service database comprising a customer record including a service indicator and a call forwarding number for accessing said messaging service, said supplementary service database being operable to respond to requests for the service indicator of said customer records; and

a central office switch connected to said CPE to receive said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE, said central office switch including;

a caller identifier for identifying the user dialing at said CPE;

a supplementary service processor for connecting to said supplementary service database when one of said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE matches said 3-character messaging sequence and for receiving from said supplementary service database said call forwarding number to said messaging service;

said supplementary service processor being operable, when connected to said supplementary service database, to include said caller identifier and said n-character sequence when said supplementary service processor connects to said supplementary services database, and to receive said call forwarding number when said customer record for said caller identifier includes the short dialing access service in the service indicator; and

said central switch being operable to route said CPE to said messaging service according to said call forwarding number.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said central office switch further includes:

an error handler for sending a pre-recorded error message to said CPE when said service indicator indicates that said user does not subscribe to said messaging service.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said 3-character messaging sequence includes a first ‘

*’

star character followed by a two number sequence.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said supplementary service database further comprises a redirecting identifier for connecting said user to an error message when said short dialing access service is shutdown.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said central office switch further includes:

an error handler for sending a pre-recorded error message to said CPE when said service indicator indicates that said user does not subscribe to said messaging service.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said 3-character messaging sequence includes a first ‘

*’

star character followed by a two-number sequence.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said supplementary service database further comprises a redirecting identifier for connecting said user to an error message when said short dialing access service is shutdown.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

after the step of connecting to said supplementary service database, sending to said supplementary service database a caller identifier;

before the step of said supplementary service database sending said call forwarding message, verifying whether said user identified by said caller identifier subscribes to a short dialing access service;

when said user subscribes to said short dialing access service, sending a customer messaging number as said call forwarding number; and

when said user does not subscribe to said short dialing access service, sending an error message number as said call forwarding number, wherein said messaging service uses said error message number to send an error message to said CPE.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

after the step of connecting to said supplementary service database, sending to said supplementary service database a caller identifier; and

before the step of said supplementary service database sending said call forwarding message, verifying whether said user identified by said caller identifier subscribes to said messaging service.

12. A system for accessing a messaging service comprising, in combination:

a customer premises equipment (CPE) at a user location for use by a user, said CPE comprising a plurality of character keys for dialing a plurality of sequences of characters, one of said plurality of sequences of characters being a 3-character messaging sequence;

a supplementary service database comprising;

a service indicator including a call forwarding number for accessing said messaging service; and

a plurality of customer identifiers of users who may use said short dialing access service, said supplementary service database being operable to search said service indicator for customer matching said caller identifier to determine whether the user identified by said caller identifier may use said short dialing access service; and

a central office switch connected to said CPE to receive said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE, said central office switch including;

a supplementary service processor for connecting to said supplementary service database when one of said plurality of sequences of characters from said CPE matches said n-character messaging sequence and for receiving from said supplementary service database said call forwarding number to said messaging service;

a caller identifier, said supplementary service processor being operable, when connected to said supplementary service database, to include said caller identifier and said n-character sequence when said supplementary service processor connects to said supplementary services database; and

said central switch being operable to route said CPE to said messaging service according to said call forwarding number.

16. A method for accessing a messaging service from a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a telecommunications system comprising a central office switch, and a supplementary service database comprising the steps of:

dialing an n-digit messaging sequence where n<

7 at said CPE;

receiving said n-digit messaging sequence at said central office switch;

said central office switch connecting to said supplementary service database;

sending to said central office switch a call forwarding number; and

said central office switch connecting said CPE to said messaging service using said call forwarding number.

18. A method for accessing a messaging service from a customer premises equipment (CPE) by a user in a telecommunications system comprising a central office switch, and a supplementary service database comprising the steps of:

dialing an n-digit messaging sequence where n<

7 at said CPE;

receiving said n-digit messaging sequence at said central office switch;

said central office switch connecting to said supplementary service database;

sending to said central office switch a call forwarding number;

when said user subscribes to said messaging service, said central office switch connecting said CPE to said messaging service using said call forwarding number; and

when said user does not subscribe to said messaging service, said central office switch sending an error message to said CPE.