Method and system for generating a call processing control record

• US 7,197,960 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Woods, Thomas Steven, Lew, Gavin Sueo
• Primary Examiner(s): Escalante; Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US11/141,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/84, 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/201.01, 379/201.03, 379/207.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/229, 379/355.01
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/546 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service

Abstract

A method and system enable the automatic generation of a call processing control record. A user creates a schedule entry comprising a plurality of data entries on an electronic scheduler. The data entries are transmitted from the electronic scheduler to a call processing control record generator. The data entries are compared with stored data. In response to the data entries, the call processing control record generator generates a call processing control record which can be stored in a call processing control record database. The call processing control record can be used to forward calls or transmit an announcement to the calling party.

Claims

1. A method for creating a call processing control record comprising:

(a) receiving electronic schedule data;

(b) comparing the electronic schedule data with stored data to determine if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data; and

(c) automatically generating a call processing control record if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data, where the call processing control record comprises an indication of a user'"'"'s selection of a particular announcement to be transmitted to a caller in response to a call being placed to the user during a certain time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic schedule data is received via a telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic schedule data is received via a computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic schedule data is received via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic schedule data is received via a computer network utilizing a TCP/IP protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic schedule data is transmitted via a computer network utilizing a X.25 protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) receiving, at a switch, a call from a calling party;

(e) accessing the call processing control record after receiving the call; and

(f) transmitting an announcement to the calling party based upon the indication in the call processing control record.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein (e) comprises:

(e1) generating a query that is transmitted from a service switching point to a service control point; and

(e2) using the service control point to access the call processing control record.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein (f) comprises:

(f1) routing the call from the switch to a service node; and

(f2) using the service node to transmit the announcement to the calling party.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein (f) comprises:

(f1) routing the call from the switch to an intelligent peripheral; and

(f2) using the intelligent peripheral to transmit the announcement to the calling party.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the announcement comprises an indication that the user is unavailable.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the announcement comprises an indication of a telephone number at which the user can be reached.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user'"'"'s selection of a particular announcement to be transmitted to the caller signifies that an announcement comprising a message that the user is unavailable should be transmitted to the caller.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the user'"'"'s selection of a particular announcement to be transmitted to the caller signifies that an announcement comprising an indication of a telephone number at which the user can be reached should be transmitted to the caller.

15. A system for creating a call processing control record comprising:

a call processing control record generator operative to;

receive electronic schedule data;

compare the electronic schedule data with stored data to determine if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data; and

automatically generate a call processing control record if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data, where the call processing control record comprises an indication of a user'"'"'s selection of a particular announcement to be transmitted to a caller in response to a call being placed to the user during a certain time period.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the call processing control record generator comprises a service management system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the call processing control record generator comprises a telecommunications network component.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a service node/intelligent peripheral coupled with the call processing control record generator, the service node/intelligent peripheral being responsive to the call processing control record and being operative to transmit an announcement to a calling telephone station in response to the call processing control record.

19. A computer usable medium having computer readable program code tangibly embodied therein for creating a call processing control record comprising:

a first computer readable program code for causing a computer to receive electronic schedule data;

a second computer readable program code for causing a computer to compare the electronic schedule data with stored data to determine if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data; and

a third computer readable program code for causing a computer to automatically generate a call processing control record if the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data, where the call processing control record comprises an indication of a user'"'"'s selection of a particular announcement to be transmitted to a caller in response to a call being placed to the user during a certain time period.

20. The invention of claim 19, further comprising a fourth computer readable program code for causing a computer access the call processing control record in response to the receipt of a call directed to the user.

21. The invention of claim 19, further comprising a fourth computer readable program code for causing a computer to transmit an announcement to the caller based upon the indication in the call processing control record.