Apparatus and method for providing enhanced telecommunications services

• US 8,923,499 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wavport LLC
• Original Assignee: Wavport LLC
• Inventors: Liljestrand, Keith A., Kingsley, Christopher G., Myint, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/053,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20050152521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,612 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.11, 379/88.13, 379 8816- 8818, 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/265.09, 379/900, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Claims

1. A platform for providing a plurality of telecommunications services to a subscriber, said platform comprising:

a database server, the database server storing a subscriber profile, the subscriber profile comprising provisioning information and call control information;

an application server coupled to said database server, said application server providing at least a first telecommunications service for which the subscriber is provisioned, the first telecommunications service accessing the call control information, the call control information determining a call flow for the subscriber to complete a call using the first telecommunications service and being separate from provisioning;

a network interface on a highly reliable switch in a public telephone network, wherein the highly reliable switch is configured to provide at least five-nines reliability;

a Softswitch, coupled to said network interface and said application server, integrating and managing the plurality of telecommunications services and further using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of telecommunications services; and

a web interface, coupled to said network interface and said application server, providing an interface for the subscriber to modify the call control information.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein said Softswitch uses the web interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the pluralities of telecommunications services.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein said voice-activated interface is available to the subscriber any time throughout duration of a call.

4. The platform of claim 1, further comprising an administration server, coupled to said Softswitch, enabling a service provider to control and maintain operations of said platform.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein said subscriber profile includes routing options for incoming calls to the subscriber.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein said network interface interfaces with a plurality of additional networks.

7. The platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of telecommunications services includes at least one of a single number access service, a unified messaging service, and a recording service.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein said voice activated interface receives voice commands from the subscriber to initiate, activate, modify, or delete one or more of the plurality of telecommunications services.

9. The platform of claim 8, wherein said voice commands cause said Softswitch to perform a call completion function for one or more of the plurality of telecommunications services.

10. The platform of claim 8, wherein said voice commands cause said Softswitch to perform an administrative function for one or more of the plurality of the telecommunications services.

11. A method for providing a plurality of telecommunications services to a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communications session between a telecommunications platform and the subscriber, the telecommunications platform being communicatively coupled to a public telephone network, the telecommunications platform comprising a highly-reliable switch, configured to provide at least five-nines reliability;

receiving requests from the subscriber at the telecommunications platform for information, the receiving being performed at least in part via a web interface;

retrieving from a database the information requested by the subscriber;

providing the information to the subscriber; and

initiating a voice call between the subscriber and a third party, the initiating being performed prior to ending the communications session.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a voice-activated interface to the subscriber throughout a duration of a call.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling a service provider to control and maintain operations of said telecommunications platform.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber within said telecommunications platform.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of routing incoming calls to the subscriber using routing options stored within said subscriber profile.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said telecommunications platform is further capable of interfacing with a plurality of additional networks.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of telecommunications services includes at least one of a single number access service, a unified message service, and a recording service.