Methods, systems, and computer program products for integrated notification of missed calls across multiple phone types

• US 20070243858A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Marathe, Rohini, Baldwin, Patricia A.
• Application Number:
  US11/516,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20070243858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for integrated notification of missed calls across multiple phone types are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method may include detecting missed call occurrences between at least one calling party and a plurality of terminals of different types associated with a called subscriber. Further, message indicating the missed call occurrences may be communicated to a call log server separate from the terminals. Indications of the missed call occurrence for the called subscriber can be stored at the call log server. The subscriber may be notified of the missed call occurrences via a common terminal accessible by the subscriber. The subscriber may establish a call with the calling party using a click-to-dial interface.

Claims

1. A method for integrated notification of missed calls across a plurality of phone types, the method comprising:

(a) at a missed call identification function;

(i) detecting missed call occurrences between at least one calling party and a plurality of terminals of different types associated with a called subscriber; and

(ii) communicating messages indicating the missed call occurrences to a call log server separate from the plurality of terminals; and

(b) at the call log server;

(i) storing indications of the missed call occurrences for the called subscriber; and

(ii) notifying the subscriber of the missed call occurrences via a common terminal accessible by the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the called subscriber is a wireless subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein storing indications of the missed call occurrences includes storing the indications in response to the subscriber terminal being unavailable.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber includes determining whether the calling party disconnects a call prior to the call being routed to voice mail.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber includes detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and at least two terminals selected from the group consisting of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) phone, a mobile terminal, a wireline phone, and a voice over IP (VoIP) phone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes displaying the indication of the missed call occurrences to the called subscriber via a graphical user interface (GUI).

7. The method of claim 6 wherein displaying the indication of the missed call occurrences via the GUI includes displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences via an Internet connection between a subscriber computer and the call log server.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes notifying the subscriber of the missed call occurrences at an IMS phone.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences at an IMS phone includes notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrence at the IMS phone via an IMS short message service.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes communicating a short message service (SMS) message to a mobile terminal indicating the missed call occurrences and at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising, at the mobile terminal, displaying the directory number associated with the at least one calling party and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising, at the missed call identification function, receiving ISDN user part (ISUP) messages.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the ISUP messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of an ISUP answer message (ANM), an ISUP address complete message (ACM), and an ISUP release message (REL).

15. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting missed call occurrences includes detecting the missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of ISUP messages between switches associated with the at least one calling party and a switch associated with the called subscriber.

16. The method of claim 1 comprising, at the missed call routing function, receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the SIP messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of a SIP re-invite message, a SIP invite message, and a SIP cancel message.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting missed call occurrences includes detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of SIP messages between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber.

19. The method of claim 1 comprising specifying, at a computer associated with the called subscriber, a call control action.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the call control action includes establishing a connection between a telephone accessible by the subscriber and a calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the call control action includes establishing a connection between one of an IMS phone, a mobile terminal, and a wireline phone accessible by the subscriber and the calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein establishing a connection between a telephone associated with the called subscriber and the at least one calling party associated with the missed call occurrences includes setting up incoming call legs to the telephone associated with the called subscriber and to the calling party associated with the missed call occurrence.

23. The method of claim 1 comprising, at a computer, an IMS phone, or a mobile terminal associated with the subscriber, displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein receiving user input includes receiving user input via a click-to-dial interface.

25. The method of claim 1 comprising, at a mobile terminal associated with the called subscriber, displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the missed call identification function and the call log server is a component of a signaling message routing node.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the missed call identification function is a component of one of the group consisting of a VoIP application server, an interactive voice response (IVR) device, a voice mail server, a signaling message routing node, and an S-CSCF.

28. A method for integrated notification of missed call occurrences across multiple phone types, the method comprising:

(a) logging, at a call log server, missed call occurrences for a plurality of different phone types used by a subscriber; and

(b) delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein logging missed call occurrences for a plurality of different phone types includes logging missed call occurrences for at least two of a mobile phone, a VoIP phone, and a land line phone operated by the subscriber.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber includes delivering notification to a mobile terminal accessible by the subscriber.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber includes delivering notification to a computer terminal accessible by the subscriber.

32. A system for integrated notification of missed calls across a plurality of phone types, the system comprising:

(a) a missed call identification function operable to;

(i) detect missed call occurrences between at least one calling party and a plurality of terminals of different types associated with a called subscriber; and

(ii) communicating messages indicating the missed call occurrences to a call log server separate from the plurality of terminals; and

(b) a call log server separate from a subscriber terminal and operable to;

(i) storing indications of the missed call occurrences for the called subscriber; and

(ii) notifying the subscriber of the missed call occurrences via a common terminal accessible by the subscriber.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the subscriber is a wireless subscriber.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to store the indications in response to the subscriber terminal being unavailable.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to determine whether the calling party disconnects the call prior to the call being routed to voice mail.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to detect missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and at least two terminals selected from the group consisting of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) phone, a mobile terminal, a wireline phone, and a voice over IP (VoIP) phone.

37. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to display the indication of the missed call occurrences to the called subscriber via a graphical user interface (GUI).

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the call log server is operable to display at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party.

39. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to notify the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences via an Internet connection between a subscriber computer and the call log server.

40. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to notify the subscriber of the missed call occurrences at an IMS phone.

41. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to notify the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences at the IMS phone via an IMS short message service.

42. The system of claim 32 wherein the call log server is operable to communicate a short message service (SMS) message to a subscriber terminal indicating the missed call occurrence and at least a directory number associated with the calling party.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the subscriber terminal is operable to display the directory number associated with the at least one calling party and receive user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

44. The system of claim 32 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to receive ISDN user part (ISUP) messages.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to receive messages selected from the group consisting of an ISUP answer message (ANM), an ISUP address complete message (ACM), and an ISUP release message (REL).

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to detect the missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of ISUP messages between switches associated with the at least one calling party and a switch associated with the-called subscriber.

47. The system of claim 32 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to receive session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to receive messages selected from the group consisting of a SIP re-invite message, a SIP invite message, and a SIP cancel message.

49. The system of claim 37 wherein the missed call routing function is operable to detect missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of SIP messages between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber.

50. The system of claim 32 comprising a computer associated with the subscriber, wherein the computer is operable to receive user input for specifying a call control action.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer is operable to communicate instructions for establishing a connection between a telephone accessible by the subscriber and a calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer is operable to establish a connection between one of an IMS phone, a mobile terminal, and a wireline phone accessible by the subscriber and the calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein the computer is operable to communicate instructions for setting up incoming call legs to the telephone associated with the subscriber and to the calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

54. The system of claim 32 comprising one of a computer, an IMS phone, and a mobile terminal associated with the called subscriber, wherein the one of the computer, the IMS phone, and the mobile terminal is operable to display at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and receive user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the one of the computer, the IMS phone, and the mobile terminal includes a click-to-dial interface operable to receive the user input.

56. The system of claim 32 comprising a mobile terminal associated with the called subscriber, wherein the mobile terminal is operable to display at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and operable to receive user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

57. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one of the missed call identification function and the call log server is a component of a signaling message routing node.

58. The system of claim 32 wherein the missed call identification function is a component of one of the group consisting of a VoIP application server, an interactive voice response (IVR) device, a voice mail server, a signaling message routing node, and an S-CSCF.

59. A system for integrated notification of missed call occurrences across multiple phone types, the system comprising:

(a) a call log server operable to log missed call occurrences for a plurality of different phone types used by a subscriber; and

(b) a missed call identification function operable to deliver notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the call log server is operable to log missed call occurrences for at least two of a mobile phone, a VoIP phone, and a land line phone operated by the subscriber.

61. The system of claim 59 wherein the missed call identification function is operable to deliver notification to a mobile terminal accessible by the subscriber.

62. The system of claim 59 wherein the missed call identification function is operable to deliver notification to a computer terminal accessible by the subscriber.

63. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) at a missed call identification function;

(i) detecting missed call occurrences between at least one calling party and a plurality of terminals of different types associated with a called subscriber; and

(ii) communicating messages indicating the missed call occurrences to a call log server separate from the plurality of terminals; and

(b) at the call log server;

(i) storing indications of the missed call occurrences for the called subscriber; and

(ii) notifying the subscriber of the missed call occurrences via a common terminal accessible by the subscriber.

64. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein the called subscriber is a wireless subscriber.

65. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein storing indications of the-missed call occurrences includes storing the indications in response to the subscriber terminal being unavailable.

66. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber includes determining whether the calling party disconnects a call prior to the call being routed to voice mail.

67. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber includes detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and at least two terminals selected from the group consisting of an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) phone, a mobile terminal, a wireline phone, and a voice over IP (VoIP) phone.

68. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes displaying the indication of the missed call occurrences to the called subscriber via a graphical user interface (GUI).

69. The computer program product of claim 68 wherein displaying the indication of the missed call occurrences via the GUI includes displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party.

70. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences via an Internet connection between a subscriber computer and the call log server.

71. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes notifying the subscriber of the missed call occurrences at an IMS phone.

72. The computer program product of claim 71 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences at an IMS phone includes notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrence at the IMS phone via an IMS short message service.

73. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein notifying the called subscriber of the missed call occurrences includes communicating a short message service (SMS) message to a mobile terminal indicating the missed call occurrences and at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party.

74. The computer program product of claim 73 comprising, at the mobile terminal, displaying the directory number associated with the at least one calling party and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

75. The computer program product of claim 63 comprising, at the missed call identification function, receiving ISDN user part (ISUP) messages.

76. The computer program product of claim 75 wherein the ISUP messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of an ISUP answer message (ANM), an ISUP address complete message (ACM), and an ISUP release message (REL).

77. The computer program product of claim 75 wherein detecting missed call occurrences includes detecting the missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of ISUP messages between switches associated with the at least one calling party and a switch associated with the called subscriber.

78. The computer program product of claim 63 comprising, at the missed call routing function, receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

79. The computer program product of claim 78 wherein the SIP messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of a SIP re-invite message, a SIP invite message, and a SIP cancel message.

80. The computer program product of claim 78 wherein detecting missed call occurrences includes detecting missed call occurrences between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber based on communication of SIP messages between the at least one calling party and the called subscriber.

81. The computer program product of claim 63 comprising specifying, at a computer associated with the called subscriber, a call control action.

82. The computer program product of claim 81 wherein the call control action includes establishing a connection between a telephone accessible by the subscriber and a calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

83. The computer program product of claim 81 wherein the call control action includes establishing a connection between one of an IMS phone, a mobile terminal, and a wireline phone accessible by the subscriber and the calling party associated with one of the missed call occurrences.

84. The computer program product of claim 83 wherein establishing a connection between a telephone associated with the called subscriber and the at least one calling party associated with the missed call occurrences includes setting up incoming call legs to the telephone associated with the called subscriber and to the calling party associated with the missed call occurrence.

85. The computer program product of claim 63 comprising, at a computer, an IMS phone, or a mobile terminal associated with the subscriber, displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

86. The computer program product of claim 85 wherein receiving user input includes receiving user input via a click-to-dial interface.

87. The computer program product of claim 63 comprising, at a mobile terminal associated with the called subscriber, displaying at least a directory number associated with the at least one calling party, and receiving user input for selecting the directory number for establishing a call with a terminal associated with the directory number.

88. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein at least one of the missed call identification function and the call log server is a component of a signaling message routing node.

89. The computer program product of claim 63 wherein the missed call identification function is a component of one of the group consisting of a VoIP application server, an interactive voice response (IVR) device, a voice mail server, a signaling message routing node, and an S-CSCF.

90. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) logging, at a call log server, missed call occurrences for a plurality of different phone types used by a subscriber; and

(b) delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber.

91. The computer program product of claim 90 wherein logging missed call occurrences for a plurality of different phone types includes logging missed call occurrences for at least two of a mobile phone, a VoIP phone, and a land line phone operated by the subscriber.

92. The computer program product of claim 90 wherein delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber includes delivering notification to a mobile terminal accessible by the subscriber.

93. The computer program product of claim 90 wherein delivering notification of the missed call occurrences to a terminal accessible by the subscriber includes delivering notification to a computer terminal accessible by the subscriber.