Subscriber alterable call transfer service

• US 20060023859A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crockett, Susanne M., Lasken, Robert B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/212.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained

Abstract

A method and system are provided for implementing a call transfer service over a telephone network, a subscription for the call transfer service being alterable by a call transfer service subscriber, and includes a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information. A telephone network node such as a platform may further be provided, the platform in communication with the subscriber graphic user interface, and including a memory device that stores call transfer service information for use in implementing the call transfer service. The platform further includes a call transfer service controller coupled with the memory device, that communicates with the subscriber graphic user interface, and that receives call transfer service information, and updates the subscriber'"'"'s call transfer service subscription responsive to information received at the graphic user interface.

Claims

1. A system for providing a call transfer service implemented over a telephone network, a subscription for the call transfer service being alterable by a call transfer service subscriber, comprising:

a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information; and

a telephone network node, in communication with the subscriber graphic user interface, including

a memory device that stores call transfer service information for use in implementing the call transfer service, and

a call transfer service controller coupled with the memory device, that communicates with the subscriber graphic user interface, and that receives the call transfer service information, and updates the subscriber'"'"'s call transfer service subscription responsive to information received at the graphic user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the call transfer service information includes at least one of an attention signal, a cancel signal, and a function signal definition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the call transfer service information includes a destination signal defined using the subscriber graphic user interface, where the function signal describes the relationship between a telephone call from a calling party, and the destination signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the destination signal is a telephone number to which the telephone call is linked by the platform.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the destination signal is at least one of one of a speed dial code and an extension code corresponding to a telephone number to which the incoming call is linked by the platform.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one speed dial code and extension code is defined in a computer file that may be uploaded using the subscriber graphic user interface.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one speed dial code and extension code includes at least one of switch identification information, trunk identification information, and destination information.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the call transfer service information includes prompt information, for providing information during use of the call transfer service.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the function signal definition includes at least one of menu again attended, menu again unattended, warm transfer consult, warm transfer conference, on hold with silence, on hold with music, reconnect to caller on hold, disconnect primary agent, disconnect secondary agent, and toggle caller and secondary agent function signal definitions.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the attention signal and the function signal are each comprised of at least one DTMF tone that corresponds to at least one key on a telephone handset.

11. A method for implementing a call transfer service provided over a telephone network, a subscription for the call transfer service being alterable by a call transfer service subscriber, comprising:

providing a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information; and

receiving information from the subscriber graphic user interface at a node of the telephone network used in the providing of the call transfer service, the node capable of updating the subscriber call transfer service subscription responsive to the received information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the subscriber providing call transfer service information includes the subscriber providing at least one of an attention signal, a cancel signal and a function signal definition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the subscriber providing call transfer service information includes the subscriber providing a destination signal, where the function signal describes the relationship between an incoming call from a calling party and the destination signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing the destination signal includes providing a telephone number to which the incoming call is linked by the platform.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing the destination signal includes providing at least one of a speed dial code and an extension code definition corresponding to a telephone number to which the incoming call is linked by the platform.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the destination signal includes providing the at least one speed dial code and extension code defined in a computer file, and uploading the computer file using the subscriber graphic user interface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing at least one speed dial code and extension code includes further providing at least one of a switch identification information, trunk identification information, and destination information.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing call transfer service information includes providing prompt information, for providing information during use of the call transfer service.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing a function signal definition includes providing at least one of a menu again attended, menu again unattended, warm transfer consult, warm transfer conference, on hold with silence, on hold with music, reconnect to caller on hold, disconnect primary agent, disconnect secondary agent, and toggle caller and secondary agent function signal definitions.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing at least one of the attention signal, cancel signal and function signal definitions includes the subscriber providing at least one of the attention signal, cancel signal and function signal each as at least one DTMF tone definition that corresponds to at least one key on a telephone handset.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising saving the received call transfer service information at a memory device at the telephone network node.

22. A telephone network for implementing a subscriber alterable call transfer service, the call transfer service associated with a telephone number of a call transfer service subscriber, comprising:

a telephone network node through which an incoming call to the telephone number is routed, and including

a controller capable of providing a subscriber GUI through which a subscriber may provide call transfer service information, updating the subscriber call transfer service subscription responsive to the call transfer service information, detecting an attention signal and a function signal during the incoming call, the attention signal indicating to the platform that an action needs to be performed with the incoming call, and the function signal corresponding to the action, and

a memory device coupled with the controller, for storing relationships between function signals and corresponding actions to be performed.

23. The telephone network of claim 22, wherein the call transfer service information includes at least one of an attention signal, a cancel signal, and a function signal definition.

24. The telephone network of claim 23, wherein the call transfer service information further includes a destination signal definition, the function signal describing the relationship between an incoming call from a calling party and the destination signal.

25. A method for editing a call transfer service subscription, comprising:

providing a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information; and

receiving information from the subscriber graphic user interface at a node of the telephone network, the node capable of updating the subscriber call transfer service subscription responsive to the received information.

26. A storage media for use in implementing a call transfer service provided over a telephone network, a subscription for the call transfer service being alterable by a call transfer service subscriber, comprising:

a first memory portion programmed for providing a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information; and

a second memory portion programmed for receiving information from the subscriber graphic user interface at a node of the telephone network, the node capable of updating the subscriber call transfer service subscription responsive to the received information.

27. The storage media of claim 26, wherein the first memory portion programmed for providing a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information includes the first memory portion being programmed for the subscriber to provide at least one of an attention signal, a cancel signal and a function signal definition.

28. The storage media of claim 26, wherein the first memory portion programmed for providing a subscriber graphic user interface through which the subscriber may provide call transfer service information includes the first memory portion being programmed for the subscriber to provide a destination signal, where the function signal describes the relationship between an incoming call from a calling party and the destination signal.