Callback function for messaging platform in public telephone system

• US 7,221,739 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khan, Azhar I., Patel, Navneet A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US10/294,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.19, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/76, 379/88.12, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.18, 379/69, 379/88.13, 455/412, 455/413, 455/417, 455/414, 455/415, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A messaging system includes a messaging platform storing a message from a calling party, a switching mechanism for receiving a call from a subscriber to access the stored message, and a routing application at a server. The subscriber accesses the message at the messaging platform and signals for a callback connection with the calling party. In response, the messaging platform sends bookmark information to the routing application describing a current state of the messaging platform with regard to the subscriber. The routing application directs the switching mechanism to disconnect the subscriber from the messaging platform and connect the subscriber to the calling party. When the callback connection is completed, the routing application directs that the subscriber be re-connected with the messaging platform and sends the stored bookmark information back to same. The messaging platform employs such bookmark information to re-establish the current state.

Claims

1. A messaging system implemented as a service to a subscriber by a telephone service provider of the subscriber, the messaging system for storing a message from a calling party calling the subscriber and a telephone number of the calling party, the messaging system also for allowing the subscriber to access the stored message and call back the calling party based on the corresponding telephone number, the messaging system including:

a switching mechanism for receiving a call from the subscriber to access the stored message, the switching mechanism being connected to a network;

an application server connected to the network and running a routing application, the switching mechanism for notifying the routing application that the subscriber is calling in for the message;

a messaging platform for storing the message from the calling party and the corresponding telephone number, the messaging platform being connected to the network, wherein the notified routing application is configured for directing the switching mechanism to establish communication between the subscriber and the messaging platform by way of the network, the switching mechanism being for establishing such communication, whereby the subscriber accesses the message from the calling party as stored at the messaging platform and, during such accessing, signals that a callback connection with the calling party is desired, wherein the messaging platform is configured for sending a message to the routing application by way of the network in response to the signal, the message including bookmark information comprising an identifier of the stored message being accessed, wherein the routing application is configured for receiving and storing the bookmark information and directing the switching mechanism to disconnect the subscriber from the messaging platform and connect the subscriber to the calling party, wherein the switching mechanism is configured for determining that the calling party has terminated the callback connection or that the subscriber has signaled to end the callback connection and thereafter notifying the routing application of the termination or the signaled end to the callback connection, wherein the notified routing application is configured for directing that the subscriber be re-connected with the messaging platform and sending the stored bookmark information back to the messaging platform and the messaging platform employing such bookmark information to re-establish a current state wherein the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employ a converged-services platform that enables delivery of wireline and wireless services for converged voice and data networks and is configured to provide internet protocol (IP) and multimedia services by way of the network of the messaging platform.

2. The system of claim 1 at least partially implemented at a service switching point (SSP) or central office administered by the telephone service provider.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the messaging platform is connected to the network by way of a switching mechanism, whereby the call from the subscriber to access the stored message is connected to the messaging platform through the switching mechanism of the subscriber, the network, and the switching mechanism of the messaging platform.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the switching mechanism of the subscriber is the switching mechanism of the messaging platform.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a direct link between the messaging platform and the network, whereby the routing application can communicate with the messaging platform by way of the direct link.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employ an enhanced hosting environment to enable packet-based communication by way of the network.

7. A method in connection with a messaging system implemented as a service to a subscriber by a telephone service provider of the subscriber, the messaging system being for storing a message from a calling party calling the subscriber and a telephone number of the calling party, the messaging system also being for allowing the subscriber to access the stored message and to call back the calling party based on the corresponding telephone number, the messaging system including a switching mechanism for receiving a call from the subscriber to access the stored message, a messaging platform for storing the message from the calling party and the corresponding telephone number, and an application server running a routing application for routing communications between the subscriber, the messaging platform, and the calling party, the switching mechanism, the messaging platform, and the application server all being connected to a network, the method comprising:

the switching mechanism receiving the call from the subscriber to the messaging platform;

the switching mechanism notifying the routing application that the subscriber is calling in to the messaging platform;

the notified routing application directing the switching mechanism to establish communication between the subscriber and the messaging platform by way of the network;

the switching mechanism establishing such communication, whereby the subscriber accesses the message from the calling party as stored at the messaging platform and, during such accessing signals that a callback connection with the calling party is desired;

the messaging platform in response to the signal, sending a message to the routing application by way of the network, the message including bookmark information comprising an identifier of the stored message being accessed;

the routing application receiving and storing the bookmark information and directing the switching mechanism to disconnect the subscriber from the messaging platform and connect the subscriber to the calling party;

the switching mechanism determining that the calling party has terminated the callback connection or that the subscriber has signaled to end the callback connection and thereafter notifying the routing application of the termination or the signaled end to the callback connection;

the notified routing application directing that the subscriber be re-connected with the messaging platform and sending the stored bookmark information back to the messaging platform and the messaging platform employing such bookmark information to re-establish a current state wherein the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employ a converged-services platform that enables delivery of wireline and wireless services for converged voice and data networks and is configured to provide internet protocol (IP) and multimedia services by way of the network of the messaging platform.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the bookmark information includes an identifier of the subscriber at the messaging platform, an identifier of the message, and the telephone number of the calling party.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the messaging platform is connected to the network by way of a switching mechanism and by way of a direct link, the method comprising the routing application communicating with the messaging platform by way of the direct link.

10. The method of claim 7 comprising the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employing an enhanced hosting environment to enable packet-based communication by way of the network.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a call from a subscriber to a messaging platform;

establishing communication between the subscriber and the messaging platform, such that the subscriber can access a message from a calling party that is stored at the messaging platform and can signal that a callback connection with the calling party is desired;

when the subscriber signals that a callback connection with the calling party is desired, storing bookmark information comprising an identifier of the stored message being accessed, disconnecting the subscriber from the messaging platform and connecting the subscriber to the calling party; and

when the calling party terminates the callback connection or the subscriber signals to end the callback connection, reconnecting the subscriber with the messaging platform and sending the stored bookmark information back to the messaging platform to re-establish a current state of the messaging platform

wherein the messaging platform and the subscriber are each connected to a network by a switching mechanism, whereby the call from the subscriber to access the stored message is connected to the messaging platform through the switching mechanism of the subscriber, the network, and the switching mechanism of the messaging platform,

wherein the switching mechanism of the subscriber is the switching mechanism of the messaging platform,

wherein communications are routed between the subscriber, the messaging platform, and the calling party by a routing application, and

wherein the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employ a converged-services platform that enables delivery of wireline and wireless services for converged voice and data networks and is configured to provide internet protocol (IP) and multimedia services by way of the network.

12. The method of claim 11, at least partially implemented by a service switching point (SSP) or central office administered by a telephone service provider.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the messaging platform and the subscriber are each connected to a network by a switching mechanism, whereby the call from the subscriber to access the stored message is connected to the messaging platform through the switching mechanism of the subscriber, the network, and the switching mechanism of the messaging platform.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the switching mechanism of the subscriber is the switching mechanism of the messaging platform.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein communications are routed between the subscriber, the messaging platform, and the calling party by a routing application.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a direct link between the messaging platform and the network, whereby the routing application can communicate with the messaging platform by way of the direct link.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the routing application, the switching mechanism, and the messaging platform all employ an enhanced hosting environment to enable packet-based communication by way of the network.