Telecommunications custom calling services using voice mail

Details Telecommunications custom calling services using voice mail Telecommunications custom calling services using voice mail

1997-03-13

2001-06-05

Nguyen, Chau (Department: 2663)

Multiplex communications

Pathfinding or routing

Combined circuit switching and packet switching

C370S522000, C379S201060, C379S229000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243374

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains to telecommunications networks in general and to the provision of more widely available custom calling services, such as, for example, call forwarding applications in public switched telephone networks. More particularly the invention relates to improved custom calling services in telephone networks using voice mail with Internet implementation.
Acronyms
The written description uses a large number of acronyms to refer to various services, messages and system components. Although generally known, use of several of these acronyms is not strictly standardized in the art. For purposes of this discussion, acronyms therefore will be defined as follows:
Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)
Automated Number Identification (ANI)
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
Called Party Number (CPN)
Carrier Portability Code (CPC)
Central Office (CO)
Common Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS)
Common Channel Signaling (CCS)
Customer Number Address (CNA)
Destination Point Code (DPC)
Domain Name Service (DNS)
Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF)
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Generic Address Parameter (GAP)
Global Title (GTT)
Global Title Translation (GTT)
Initial Address Message (IAM)
Internet Gateway Router (IGR)
Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP)
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Integrated Services Digital Network User Protocol (ISUP)
Intelligent Network (IN)
Interchangeable Numbering Plan Area (INPA)
International Standards Organization (ISO)
Internet Gateway Router (IGR)
Internet Routing Records (IRR)
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Local Access and Transport Area (LATA)
Local Area Number Portability (LANP)
Local Exchange Carrier (LEC)
Location Routing Number (LRN)
Message Signaling Unit (MSU)
Multi-line Hunt Group (MLHG)
Multi-Services Platform (MSP)
Network Control Point (NCP)
Network Node Address (NNA)
Non-Geographic Number (NGN)
North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
Origination Point Code (OPC)
Person Locator Telephone Number (PLN)
Point in Call (PIC)
Point in Routing (PIR)
Point of Presence (POP)
Query on Release (QOR)
Recent Change Memory Administration Channels (RC-MAC)
Release-to-Pivot (RTP)
Service Control Point (SCP)
Service Creation Environment (SCE)
Service Switching Point (SSP)
Signal Transfer Point (STP)
Signal Control Point (SCP)
Signal Switching Point (SSP)
Signaling Point (SP)
Signaling Switching Point (SSP)
Signaling System 7 (SS7)
Signaling Transfer Point (STP)
Software Defined Network (SDN)
Simplified Message Desk Interface (SMDI)
Traffic Service Position System (TSPS)
Transaction Capabilities Applications Protocol
(TCAP)
Universal Global Translation (UGT)
BACKGROUND ART
Local Exchange Carriers have for some years provided customers with a switch based call forwarding service. In recent years the availability and sophistication of this service has been expanded using the added capabilities afforded through the use of common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) and particularly Signaling System 7 (SS7). SS7 facilitated the introduction of a variety of services referred to as custom calling services. These generally include by way of example, call forwarding, call blocking, caller ID, E911, and others. Representative samples of systems of this general type are described, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,186 issued to Wegner et al. Dec. 27, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,831 issued to Creswell et al. Jan. 24, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,090 issued to Orriss Jun. 13, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,035 issued to Jordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,901 issued to Harlow, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,645 issued to Bissell et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,603 issued to Gutierrez et al.
The Wegner et al. Patent describes a system for retrieving enhanced subscriber services from a database and for delivering those services to the subscribers of a telecommunications network without requiring the upgrading of local switches. The architecture of the system comprises a plurality of local switches that are connected to an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) to provide the subscribers with access to the network. The local switches utilize an ISUP call-setup-protocol that allows access to a modified SCP known as a virtual circuit service switching point to retrieve subscriber services from the data base. A virtual service switching point (ViSSP) is created by modifying only the serving SCP to include Integrated Services Digital Network User Protocol (ISUP) which provides a second route for call signaling and voice channels. The high speed operation of ViSSP is used to improve response times for activation of enhanced services while reducing the capital investment necessary in the prior art to upgrade all LSs in the network.
The Creswell et al. Patent describes a public switched telephone network adapted to provide a common platform for the provision of customer controlled features. An adjunct is operative for providing personal telecommunications services such that a subscriber may associate different call identifiers with different specifications to define respective call treatments. These features could include forwarding a telephone call associated with a call identifier to one of a number of different destinations.
Calls are treated on a per call basis and are handled in both incoming and outgoing modes dependent upon the called or calling number. While voice mail is an primary objective of the service, additional services include ring through, alternative billing and routing. For example, outgoing calls may be billed to a number other than the phone from which the call was placed. Call forwarding is available as well as enhanced services, as illustrated in FIG.
7
. The system uses *codes to activate services stored in personalized files in a server at the basic adjunct.
A public switch telephone network
100
(
FIG. 1
) includes switching offices
110
,
130
and
140
connected through central offices
10
and
20
with stations S
1
through S
6
. Service adjunct
150
operates to process a call associated with one of the subscribers. Voice message service
200
receives voice messages from a calling party via adjunct
150
and network
100
. The voice message is addressed to a party who has subscribed to the voice message service that stores messages. A subscriber can dial up service
200
via adjunct
150
and enter a PIN or password. The PIN unloads, from its internal memory, the voice message and transmits the message to the called party's station set via a network connection established between the subscriber set and service.
A subscriber may subscribe to the service and be given a unique telephone number that is permanently assigned to the subscriber as long as the subscriber subscribes to the service. The subscriber can customize calling features by dialing his/her service number to establish a network
100
connection to adjunct
150
. In this manner, the subscriber can customize his/her associated record to invoke particular calling call forwarding.
The Orriss Patent describes embodiments of an AIN system in the context of an “800” service. SSP
230
(
FIG. 4
) triggers generation of the “800” query to the consolidated AIN/800 ISCP
310
in response to receipt of an “800” service call received from the telephone
112
. Processor
312
runs the “800” service application
156
to identify the corresponding “800” service record in the “800” CMSDB
314
. An “800” response, generated according to the turnaround record contained in the “800” service record, directs the AIN SSP
230
to route the call to an AIN-equipped trunk group. The AIN SSP
230
then routes the original call via a trunk group designated in the AIN response and completes the call according the AIN service instructions contained in the AIN response.
Jordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,035 discloses a method of using an intelligent network to provide a person locator service through multiple exchanges of the switched telephone network using an AIN type of telephone system architecture. As part of this service, the system provides subscr

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