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

• US 6,453,018 B2
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Diane Marie, Henry, Tricia Ehlers, Brand, Rodney T, Donoso, Carlos H, Mills, Victor Piollet Jr., Tiliks, Diana Inara, Andrietsch, Margaret Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/052,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.2, 379/201, 379/207, 379/213, 379/216, 379/221, 379/230, 379/45, 379/69, 379/70, 379/88.03, 379/88.08, 379/100.14, 379/142.02, 379/142.03, 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/216.01, 379/221.02
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• 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 controlling a user'"'"'s access to a voicemail 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;

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 a supplementary service database when a predetermined n-character messaging sequence is received from said CPE, wherein n<

7, and for receiving from said supplementary service database a call forwarding number; and

said central office switch being operable to connect said CPE with said voicemail service in response to the receipt of said call forwarding number and prevent access to the voicemail service in response to a determination that the user does not have access to the voicemail service; and

the supplementary service database in communication with the central office switch, the supplementary service database storing said call forwarding number for accessing said voicemail service, the supplementary service database being operative to determine whether the central office switch supports a supplementary service by analyzing the predetermined n-character messaging sequence to determine if a service code is present and being operative to determine whether the user has access to the voicemail service and transmit the call forwarding number to the central office switch if the user is determined to have access to the voicemail service.

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

an error handler for sending a pre-recorded error message to said CPE in response to a determination that the user is not allowed access to said voicemail service.

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

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

*’

star character followed by a two number sequence.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said supplementary service processor further comprises a routing table for storing a plurality of call forwarding numbers for a plurality of users that have access said voicemail service.

6. 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 user is temporarily prevented from using said predetermined n-character messaging sequence to access said voicemail service.

7. A method for controlling a user'"'"'s access to a voicemail service from a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a telecommunications system comprising a central office switch, and a supplementary service database, the method comprising:

(a) dialing an n-digit message sequence wherein n<

7 at said CPE;

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

(c) said central office switch connecting to said supplementary service database;

(d) said supplementary service database determining whether the central office switch supports a supplementary service by analyzing the n-digit messaging sequence to determine if a service code is present and whether the user has access to the voicemail service;

(e) sending to said central office switch a call forwarding number if the user has access to the voicemail service; and

(f) said central office switch connecting said CPE to said voicemail service using said call forwarding number in response to a determination that the user has access to the voicemail service and preventing access to the voicemail service in response to a determination that the user does not have access to the voicemail service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein (c) comprises transmitting a caller identifier from said central office switch to said supplementary service database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein (d) further comprises verifying whether said user identified by said caller identifier subscribes to said voicemail service.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(g) sending an error message to said CPE in response to a determination that the user is not allowed access to the voicemail service.