Universal call control systems and methods
First Claim
1. With respect to a search for a subscriber'"'"'s location, a method for facilitating narrowing of a number of possible locations of the subscriber, comprising:
- storing profile information about telecommunications services provided to the subscriber, the profile information being stored as a whole on a webserver in a data network, and the profile information including data about real-time use of a wireless communications unit by the subscriber;
storing a communications circle for the subscriber, the communications circle specifying other persons having read-only privileges to the subscriber'"'"'s profile information, the other persons unable to implement change actions relating to the telecommunications services of the subscriber;
sending a list of communications services to the subscriber listing communications services i) to which the subscriber subscribes and ii) which are available for subscription;
allowing the communications circle access to the profile information to determine whether the data about the real-time use of the wireless communications unit indicates the wireless communications unit is activated;
receiving a call from a calling number;
querying the profile information for the calling number;
retrieving text from the profile information when the calling number is found in the profile information;
providing the text to a calling party associated with the calling number; and
when the data indicates the wireless communications unit is activated, communicating with the wireless communications unit to narrow the number of possible locations of the subscriber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for providing a user with control over telecommunications services provided by a service provider. Using almost any type of communications device, a user may gain access to, view, and make changes or modifications to profile information related to the services. The changes may be made quickly and efficiently, but accuracy and thoroughness in the implementation of the changes are not sacrificed. Further, the changes to the communications services are implemented almost immediately and without involvement by the service provider. Particularly, profile information about the telecommunications service is stored on a server in a data network. A change action relating to the profile information may be received at the server from a data device (such as a wireless unit) operating on the network. The change action is implemented on the profile information to result in changed profile information, which may be provided from the server via the data network to the telecommunications system.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. With respect to a search for a subscriber'"'"'s location, a method for facilitating narrowing of a number of possible locations of the subscriber, comprising:
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storing profile information about telecommunications services provided to the subscriber, the profile information being stored as a whole on a webserver in a data network, and the profile information including data about real-time use of a wireless communications unit by the subscriber; storing a communications circle for the subscriber, the communications circle specifying other persons having read-only privileges to the subscriber'"'"'s profile information, the other persons unable to implement change actions relating to the telecommunications services of the subscriber; sending a list of communications services to the subscriber listing communications services i) to which the subscriber subscribes and ii) which are available for subscription; allowing the communications circle access to the profile information to determine whether the data about the real-time use of the wireless communications unit indicates the wireless communications unit is activated; receiving a call from a calling number; querying the profile information for the calling number; retrieving text from the profile information when the calling number is found in the profile information; providing the text to a calling party associated with the calling number; and when the data indicates the wireless communications unit is activated, communicating with the wireless communications unit to narrow the number of possible locations of the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
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storing profile information about telecommunications services provided to a customer, the profile information being stored as a whole on a webserver in a data network, and the profile information including data about real-time use of a wireless communications unit by the customer; storing a communications circle for the person, the communications circle specifying other persons having read-only privileges to the customer'"'"'s profile information, the other persons unable to implement change actions relating to the telecommunications services of the customer; sending a list of communications services to the subscriber listing communications services i) to which the subscriber subscribes and ii) which are available for subscription; for each communications service that is available to the customer, sending a list of features of each available communications service that is affected by a change action; receiving the change action from the customer that changes the customer'"'"'s profile information, the change action comprising a call forwarding number for call forwarding service; implementing the change action to result in changed profile information; providing the changed profile information to a telecommunications system that provides the call forwarding service; allowing the communications circle access to the profile information to determine whether the data about the real-time use of the wireless communications unit indicates the wireless communications unit is activated; receiving a call from a calling number; querying the profile information for the calling number; retrieving text from the profile information when the calling number is found in the profile information; providing the text to a calling party associated with the calling number; and when the data indicates the wireless communications unit is activated, communicating with the wireless communications unit to narrow a number of possible locations of the customer.
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12. A system, comprising:
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means for storing profile information about telecommunications services provided to a customer, the profile information being stored as a whole on a webserver in a data network, and the profile information including data about real-time use of a wireless communications unit by the customer; means for storing a communications circle for the customer, the communications circle specifying other persons having read-only privileges to the customer'"'"'s profile information, the other persons unable to implement change actions relating to the telecommunications services of the customer; means for sending a list of communications services to the subscriber listing communications services i) to which the subscriber subscribes and ii) which are available for subscription; for each communications service that is available to the customer, means for sending a list of features of each available communications service that is affected by a change action; means for receiving the change action from the customer that changes the customer'"'"'s profile information, the change action comprising a call forwarding number for call forwarding service; means for implementing the change action to result in changed profile information; means for providing the changed profile information to a telecommunications system that provides the call forwarding service; means for allowing the communications circle access to the profile information to determine whether the data about the real-time use of the wireless communications unit indicates the wireless communications unit is activated; means for receiving a call from a calling number; means for querying the profile information for the calling number; means for retrieving text from the profile information when the calling number is found in the profile information; means for providing the text to a calling party associated with the calling number; and when the data indicates the wireless communications unit is activated, means for communicating with the wireless communications unit to narrow a number of possible locations of the customer.
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Specification