Systems and methods for per use no-answer message

• US 6,862,345 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Contractor, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US09/734,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.25, 379/224, 379/221.09, 379/144.021, 379/88.26, 379/230, 379/67.1, 379/93.15, 379/221.02, 379/88.14, 455/413, 704/275
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

A calling party calls a called party and leaves a message on a voice messaging system after receiving a no-answer status if the calling party is willing to pay to leave a message and if the calling party has given permission to send messages. The calling party is connected with the voice messaging system responsive to a trigger in the telephone system. The voice messaging system receives and stores the message for future retrieval by the called party. The called party can then dial the messaging system to play the message. However, the called party does not establish the voice messaging system for his associated number, rather the calling party provides permission to send the message. An indicator may be provided to the called party alerting the called party to the waiting message. The called party then dials the voice messaging system and retrieves the stored message. Prompts may be provided to the calling party for message options.

Claims

1. A system for receiving a message from a calling party associated with a telephone with a calling line number associated with a first service switching point and providing said message to a called party associated with a telephone with a called line number, comprising:

a second service switching point connected to said telephone with said called line number, said second service switching point comprising a trigger responsive to a no-answer status on said called line number and said called line number is not subscribed to any voice messaging system;

a signal transfer point adapted to communicate with said second service switching point;

a service control point adapted to communicate with said signal transfer point, said service control point containing a database; and

a service node connected to said second service switching point through a first data link, and connected to said service control point through a second data link;

wherein said second service switching point sends a query to said service control point responsive to said trigger, said service control point commands one of said service node and said first service switching point to prompt for permission to leave a message from said telephone with said calling line number, said service node is adapted to receive said message from said calling party into a voice messaging system when said called line number has a no-answer status, to store said message; and

to deliver said message to said called party responsive to a request from said called party if one of said service node and said first service switching point receives permission to leave a message from said telephone with said calling line number, and wherein the calling party is billed for delivering said message to said called party.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said request from said called party is a call from said called line number to said voice messaging system.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a message waiting indication to said called party.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third data link connected to said signal transfer point and adapted to communicate with a wireless telephone system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node is adapted to determine whether said calling party has granted permission to send said message.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said service switching point is adapted to determine whether said calling party has granted permission to send said message.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node is adapted to receive a predetermined input from said telephone of said calling party indicating that said message is forthcoming.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node is adapted to prompt said calling party for said message.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node comprises said voice messaging system.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node is adapted to prompt said calling party with at least one message option.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said prompt comprises audible voice notification.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said service node is adapted to receive at least one message option from said calling party via one of either telephone keypad entry and voice recognition.

13. A system for receiving a message from a calling party associated with a telephone with a calling line number associated with a first mobile switching center and providing said message to a called party associated with a wireless telephone with a called line number, comprising:

a second mobile switching center adapted to communicate with a plurality of cell sites, said plurality of cell sites adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless telephones, said mobile switching center comprising a trigger responsive to a no-answer status on said called line number and said called line number is not subscribed to any voice messaging system;

a home location register adapted to communicate with said second mobile switching center;

a signal transfer point adapted to communicate with said second mobile switching center and said home location register;

a service control point adapted to communicate with said signal transfer point; and

a service node adapted to communicate with said signal transfer point and to communicate with said second mobile switching center;

wherein said second mobile switching center sends a query to said service control point responsive to said trigger, said service control point commands said service node to prompt for permission to leave a message from said telephone with said calling line number said service node is adapted to receive said message from said calling party into a voice messaging system when said called line number has a no-answer status, to store said message, and to deliver said message to said called party responsive to a request from said called party if one of said service node and said first mobile switching center receives permission to leave a message from said telephone with said calling line number, and wherein the calling party is billed for delivering said message to said called party.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said request from said called party is a call from said called line number to said voice messaging system.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a message waiting indication to said called party.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a data link connected to said signal transfer point and adapted to communicate with a wire line telephone system.

17. A method for delivering a message from a calling party associated with a telephone with a calling line number associated with a first service switching point to a called party associated with a telephone with a called line number on a wire line telephone system comprising a messaging system and a second service switching point, wherein a trigger responsive to a no-answer status of said called line number is set on said second service switching point of said called line number, said first and second service switching points being in communication with a service node and a service control point, said method comprising:

triggering, in response to a no-answer status of said called line number, said second service switching point to request call processing information from said service control point while said called line number is not subscribed to any voice messaging system;

commanding, by said service control point, one of said service node and said first service switching point to prompt for permission to leave a message from said telephone with the calling line number; and

if permission is received at one of said service node and said first service switching point;

receiving said message at said messaging system, said message being sent from said calling party after determining that said called line number has a no-answer status;

storing said message in said messaging system;

delivering said message to said called party responsive to a request from said called party, and wherein the calling party is billed for delivering said message to said called party.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising activating a message waiting indication to alert said called party that said message is stored in said messaging system.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining whether said calling party has granted permission to send said message.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising prompting said calling party for said message after determining that said called line number has a no-answer status.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said prompting for said message comprises prompting with audible voice notification.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising prompting said calling party for at least one message option after receiving said message from said calling party, and thereafter receiving said selected at least one message option from said calling party.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said prompting for at least one message option comprises prompting with audible voice notification.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said receiving at least one message option comprises receiving at least one message option via one of either telephone keypad entry and voice recognition.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said delivering said message further comprises sending said message to said called party at said called line number when said called line number dials and connects to said messaging system.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining if said calling party is a customer, and only if so, receiving said message from said calling party.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein determining if said calling party is a customer comprises comparing said calling party to a predetermined plurality of authorized calling parties.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising prior to receiving said message, dialing said called line number and determining if a no-answer status is received, and if so, prompting said calling party for said message.

29. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving said request for said message from said called party prior to delivering said message to said called party.

30. A method for delivering a message from a calling party associated with a telephone with a calling line number associated with a first mobile switching center to a called party associated with a telephone with a called line number on a wireless telephone system comprising a messaging system and a second mobile switching center, wherein a trigger responsive to a no-answer signal is set on said mobile switching center of said called line number, said first and second mobile switching centers being in communication with a service node and a service control point, said method comprising:

triggering, in response to a no-answer status of said called line number, said second mobile switching center to request call processing information from said service control point while said called line number is not subscribed to any voice messaging system;

commanding, by said service control point, said service node to prompt for permission to leave a message from said telephone with the calling line number; and

if permission is received at one of said service node and said first mobile switching center;

receiving said message at said messaging system, said message being sent from said calling party after determining that said called line number has a no-answer status;

storing said message in said messaging system; and

delivering said message to said called party responsive to a request from said called party, and wherein the calling party is billed for delivering said message to said called party.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising receiving said request from said called party requesting said message.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining if said calling party is a customer, and only if so, receiving said message from said calling party.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising prompting said calling party for said message.

34. The method of claim 30 further comprising prior to receiving said message from said calling party, dialing said called line number and determining if a no-answer status is received, and if so, prompting said calling party for said message.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising activating a message waiting indication to alert said called party that said message is stored in said voice messaging system.