Apparatus and method for providing enhanced telecommunications services

• US 20050152521A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith A. Liljestrand
• Original Assignee: Wavport LLC
• Inventors: Liljestrand, Keith A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.30
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Claims

1. A platform for providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber, said platform Comprising:

a network interface capable of interfacing with a public telephone network, said network interface being incorporated within the public telephone network; and

a Softswitch, coupled to said network interface, capable of integrating and managing the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services and further capable of using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein said Softswitch is further capable of using a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the pluralities of telecommunications services.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein said voice-activated interface is available to the subscriber any time throughout duration of a call.

4. The platform of claim 1, further comprising:

an administration server, coupled to said Softswitch, capable of enabling a service provider to control and maintain operations of said platform.

5. The platform of claim 1, further comprising an applications server associated with the plurality of telecommunications services.

6. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a database server for storing a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber.

7. The platform of claim 6, wherein said subscriber profile includes at least routing options for incoming calls to the subscriber.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein said network interface is further capable of interfacing with a plurality of additional networks.

9. The platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services includes at least one of a single number access service, a unified messaging service and a recording service.

10. The platform of claim 1, wherein said voice activated interface is capable of receiving voice commands from the subscriber to initiate, activate, modify or delete one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

11. The platform of claim 10, wherein said voice commands cause said Softswitch to perform a call completion function for one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

12. The platform of claim 10, wherein said voice commands cause said softswitch to perform an administrative function for one or more of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

13. A method for providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

incorporating an enhanced services platform capable of providing the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services into a public telephone network; and

using a voice-activated interface of said enhanced services platform to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of using a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing said voice-activated interface to the subscriber throughout a duration of a call.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of enabling a service provider to control and maintain operations of said enhanced services platform.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber within said enhanced services platform.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of routing incoming calls to the subscriber using routing options stored within said subscriber profile.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said enhanced services platform is further capable of interfacing with a plurality of additional networks.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services includes at least one of a single number access service, a unified message service and a recording service.