U.S. patent application number 12/544662 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for system and method for identifying redirected calls.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Robert Carl Hager, John Wesley Moss, Larry B. Pearson, Dianna Inara Tiliks, Barbara Allyn Vozar.
Application Number | 20090304171 12/544662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226461 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090304171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pearson; Larry B. ; et
al. |
December 10, 2009 |
System and Method for Identifying Redirected Calls
Abstract
Methods and systems for providing information regarding an
incoming call are provided. A particular method includes generating
a first distinctive ring at a communication device receiving the
incoming call when the incoming call is received without being
redirected. The method also includes generating a second
distinctive ring at the communication device when the incoming call
is a redirected call.
Inventors: |
Pearson; Larry B.; (San
Antonio, TX) ; Tiliks; Dianna Inara; (Palatine,
IL) ; Moss; John Wesley; (Lake Zurich, IL) ;
Vozar; Barbara Allyn; (Brunswick, OH) ; Hager; Robert
Carl; (Euclid, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AT & T LEGAL DEPARTMENT - Toler;ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING
ROOM 2A-207, ONE AT & T WAY
BEDMINISTER
NJ
07921
US
|
Assignee: |
AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I,
L.P.
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
34226461 |
Appl. No.: |
12/544662 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12243326 |
Oct 1, 2008 |
7596216 |
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12544662 |
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11801971 |
May 11, 2007 |
7450710 |
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12243326 |
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10656928 |
Sep 5, 2003 |
7239690 |
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11801971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/207.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 19/041 20130101;
H04M 3/02 20130101; H04M 2207/12 20130101; H04M 3/54 20130101; Y10S
379/911 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/207.16 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/42 20060101
H04M003/42 |
Claims
1. A method of providing information regarding an incoming call,
the method comprising: generating a first distinctive ring at a
communication device receiving the incoming call when the incoming
call is received without being redirected; and generating a second
distinctive ring at the communication device receiving the incoming
call when the incoming call is a redirected call.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a third
distinctive ring at the communication device receiving the incoming
call when the incoming call is a redirected call from a particular
redirect number address.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first
distinctive ring and the second distinctive ring are selected by a
user associated with the communication device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first distinctive ring has a
particular pattern, and wherein the second distinctive ring has the
particular pattern that is played faster than the first distinctive
ring.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first distinctive ring has a
particular pattern, and wherein the second distinctive ring has the
particular pattern that is played slower than the first distinctive
ring.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a
distinctive ring feature for forwarded calls.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the distinctive ring
feature comprises using pound commands entered via the
communication device.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting at least the
second distinctive ring.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second distinctive ring is
selected from a list of available distinctive rings.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving caller
identification information with the incoming call.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the caller identification
information includes a phone number of a party initiating the
incoming call.
12. A method comprising: receiving input to activate a distinctive
ring feature for redirected calls for a communication device;
changing a parameter stored in a record of a network element of a
telecommunication network indicating activation of the distinctive
ring feature for redirected calls for the communication device; and
receiving input selecting a first distinctive ring for incoming
calls to the communication device that are redirected incoming
calls.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving input
selecting a second distinctive ring for incoming calls to the
communication device that are not redirected calls.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the telecommunication network
comprises a voice over internet protocol network.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the telecommunication network
comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving input
specifying a particular redirect number address; and receiving
input selecting a second distinctive ring for incoming calls to the
communication device redirected from the particular redirect number
address.
17. A method comprising: receiving input specifying a distinctive
ring for forwarded calls received by a communication device; and
changing a parameter stored in a record of a network element of a
telecommunication network, the parameter indicating the distinctive
ring for the communication device.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the distinctive ring is
selected from a list of available rings.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the input is received via a
short message service system.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving input
specifying a second distinctive ring for calls received by the
communication device that are received without being redirected.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a Continuation Patent Application of,
and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/243,326, filed on Oct. 1, 2008 and entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD
FOR IDENTIFYING REDIRECTED CALLS," which is a continuation of U.S.
Pat. No. 7,450,710 filed on May 11, 2007, which is a continuation
of U.S. Pat. No. 7,239,690 filed on Sep. 5, 2003, each of which are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure, in general, relates to systems and methods
for identifying redirected calls.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As the population becomes more reliant on telecommunications
services, more people utilize call-forwarding features to avoid
missing calls. Call forwarding can typically be activated to
redirect phone calls made to a particular phone to an alternate
number. However, when calls are received at the alternate number,
there is typically no indication that the call has been
redirected.
[0004] One might expect that inbound forwarded calls could be
identified using caller ID. However, caller ID only provides the
original call party number, when available, and not the
intermediate phone numbers through which the call has been
forwarded. Assuming that the calling party number is available
through caller ID, the phone number might be used by the subscriber
to determine whether the call was forwarded or dialed directly.
However, the determination, in this case, is unreliable. A
co-worker may dial the subscriber's office phone after hours just
to leave a message. The co-worker would not expect that the call
would be answered. In this case, the subscriber might let the call
forward to a voice mail service or allow an answering machine to
pick up the call. However, what if it were an emergency and the
co-worker dialed the subscriber's home number directly? The
subscriber might not answer the call, not recognizing the urgency
of the inbound call. As such, in these typical systems, the
subscriber cannot differentiate direct inbound calls from calls
forwarded through another number.
[0005] As such, typical call-forwarding systems or features may
result in confusion on both the part of the subscriber and
originating callers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary call-forwarding scenario.
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts exemplary calling states provided by an
illustrative telecommunications system.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary service control point (SCP).
[0009] FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 depict exemplary methods for indicating
a forwarded call.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] This disclosure, in general, relates to systems and methods
for identifying redirected calls. In one embodiment, a service
control point identifies forwarded or redirected calls and a
distinctive ring is used to notify the user that the call has been
redirected from another phone number.
[0011] A particular method of providing information regarding an
incoming call includes generating a first distinctive ring at a
communication device receiving the incoming call when the incoming
call is received without being redirected. The method also includes
generating a second distinctive ring at the communication device
receiving the incoming call when the incoming call is a redirected
call.
[0012] A particular method includes receiving input to activate a
distinctive ring feature for redirected call for a communication
device. The method includes changing a parameter stored in a record
of a network element of a telecommunication network indicating
activation of the distinctive ring feature for redirected calls for
the communication device. The method also includes receiving input
selecting a first distinctive ring for incoming calls to the
communication device that are redirected incoming calls.
[0013] A particular method includes receiving input specifying a
distinctive ring for forwarded calls received by a communication
device. The method also includes changing a parameter stored in a
record of a network element of a telecommunication network. The
parameter indicates the distinctive ring for the communication
device.
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment, of a redirected call
ring feature. The receiving phone rings when a call is attempted.
If the caller calls directly to the receiving phone, the receiving
phone may utilize a generic ring. Alternately, if the caller calls
a number that redirects the call to the receiving phone, the call
may ring with a distinctive ring. In one exemplary embodiment, a
specific distinctive ring may be utilized to indicate calls
redirected from a specific phone number. In another embodiment, a
distinctive ring may be utilized to indicate a redirected call from
any phone number or from phone numbers other than the specific
phone number.
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary system for implementing a
redirected call ring feature. A caller may initiate a phone call at
service switch point 202. The service switch point 202 may send a
call termination attempt message to the call address associated
with a service switch point 204. The service switch point (SSP)
204, may determine that a call-forwarding feature is activated for
the called address. For example, the SSP 204 may access a service
control point (not shown) to determine that call forwarding has
been activated for the called address and to determine an alternate
phone number or network address to which the call is to be
forwarded. The SSP 204 may then send a call termination attempt
message to an SSP 206 associated with the alternate phone number or
network address to which the call is to be forwarded.
[0016] The SSP 206 may make a query to a service control point
(SCP) 210 via a signal transfer point (STP) 208. The STP 208 may be
used to route messages between the SSP 206 and SCP 210. The STP 208
routes messages between networking elements. The SSP 206 may query
the SCP 210 upon receiving a call termination attempt message to
check for call features such as voicemail, call-forwarding, and
other telephone service related features. The call termination
attempt message and the query associated with the call termination
attempt may include a caller's network address, the receiving phone
network address and if the call has been redirected, the phone
network address through which the call was redirected (redirected
phone address). The SCP 210 receives the query and determines
whether the call has been redirected. If the call has been
redirected and a redirected call ring feature is active for the
receiving phone network address, the SCP 210 may direct the SSP 206
to utilize a distinctive ring, indicating that the call has been
redirected. If the call has not been redirected, and is dialed
direct to the receiving phone or if the redirected call ring
feature is not active, the call may be initialized utilizing a
generic ring.
[0017] A distinctive ring may be a ring pattern or musical score
played through a telephone or communication device that differs
from the ring pattern typically used to indicate an incoming call.
The ring pattern typically used to indicate an incoming call is the
generic ring. In one embodiment, the distinctive ring may be a ring
pattern that is faster or slower than the generic ring pattern. In
another embodiment, the distinctive ring may use a mixed tempo
pattern or a musical score. In an exemplary embodiment of the SCP
210, a user may create a pattern, select a pattern from a list, or
download a desired pattern.
[0018] In another embodiment, the SCP 210 may compare the
redirected phone network address to a specific network address. If
the redirected network address matches the specific address, a
specific distinctive ring may be utilized to indicate that the call
has been redirected from the specific network address. The SCP 210
may also utilize a second distinctive ring to indicate that a call
has been redirected from network addresses other than the specific
address.
[0019] The SSPs 202, 204 and 206, and the SCP 210 may reside in a
network. In one exemplary embodiment, the network may be a public
switched telephone network (PSTN) utilizing an SS7 protocol. In an
alternate embodiment, the network may also be a voice over internet
protocol (IP) based network. The SSP and SS7 exemplary embodiment
relates to an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). However, the
system may also be implemented as a data switch or Private Branch
Exchange (PBX) based feature.
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary service control point 302. The
service control point (SCP) 302 includes data records 304 and
computer logic 314. The SCP 302 may also include a list of
available distinctive rings 312.
[0021] The records 304 may each include an address identifier field
305 and a field for indicating the activation status of a redirect
call ring feature 306. The address identifier 305 indicates a
network address associated with the record. The activation status
306 indicates whether functions associated with the redirect call
ring feature are to be applied to calls directed to the network
address associated with the address identifier 305.
[0022] In one exemplary embodiment, the record 304 may also include
one or more specified distinctive rings 308. These specified
distinctive rings 308 may be specified by a user and indicate which
ring out of the list of distinctive rings 312 is to be used. The
distinctive ring field 308 may also associate a distinctive ring
with a specific redirected number address. In one exemplary
embodiment, a user may specify a specific redirect number network
address 310 and associate with that specific redirect number
address 310 a specific distinctive ring 308. If a call from the
specified redirect number network address 310 is received, the SCP
302 may direct the use of the specific distinctive ring 308 to the
receiving subscriber communications devices. In addition, the user
may specify another distinctive ring for use with numbers or calls
redirected from numbers other than the specified redirect number
address 310.
[0023] The SCP 302 may also include logic 314. Logic 314 may
comprise software, hardware, or a combination of software and
hardware. Logic 314 may act to receive call termination attempt
queries and may perform various functions associated with features
activated for the network address to which the call attempt is
being made. Also, if the redirect call ring feature is active, the
logic 314 may initiate distinctive rings for redirected calls.
[0024] For example, the logic 314 may access a record 304 having
address identifier 305 associated with a network address to which a
call attempt is being made. The logic 314 may test the record 304
to determine if the redirect call ring feature is active. The logic
314 may determine whether the query associated with the call
attempt includes a redirect network address. If the query includes
a redirect network address, the logic 314 may initiate a call using
the specified distinctive ring 308. In an alternate embodiment, the
logic 314 may compare the redirect network address to the specified
redirect number network address 310 and selectively direct the
utilization of the specified distinctive ring 308 based on the
value of the redirect network address.
[0025] The logic 314 of the SCP 302 may also enable user
interaction to manipulate values associated with the redirect call
ring feature. For example, the logic 314 may permit a user to
select a specified distinctive ring 308 from the list of
distinctive rings 312. In an alternate embodiment, the logic 314
may permit the user to specify the specified redirect number
address 310 and associate a specific distinctive ring with that
specified redirect number address 310. In various embodiments, the
logic 304 may permit interaction with the records through pound
sign (#) command functions, network messages, or Internet based
interactions such as through email or a web page.
[0026] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary method for indicating that a
call has been redirected. A call request, call termination attempt,
message, or call termination attempt query may be received by a
system, as shown at step 402. The system may determine if the call
is a redirected call, as shown as step 404. In one exemplary
embodiment, the call request or query may be tested for a
redirected network address, indicating that the call attempt has
been redirected. As shown at step 406, if the call has been
redirected, the system may direct the utilization of a distinctive
ring to initiate a call, as shown at step 408. However, if the call
has not been redirected, the system may direct the utilization of a
generic ring, as shown at step 410.
[0027] FIG. 5 depicts an alternate embodiment of a method for
indicating that a call has been redirected. The system may receive
a call request, call termination attempt or call termination
attempt query, as shown at step 502. The system may then determine
if the call attempt is a redirected call, as shown at step 504. For
example, the system may test the request or query to determine if a
redirect network address is included in the request or query. If
the call has not been redirected, as indicated by step 506, the
system may direct the utilization of a generic ring, as shown at
step 508.
[0028] However, if the call is a redirected call the system may
test to determine the redirected number address, as shown at step
510. This may, for example, include parsing a call request or call
query. The system may test to determine if the redirected number
address matches a specified redirect number address, as shown at
step 512. If the redirect number address does not match a specified
redirect number address, the system may direct the utilization of a
distinctive ring number 2, as shown at step 516. However, if the
redirect number address matches a specified network address, the
system may direct the utilization of a distinctive ring number 1,
as indicated by step 514.
[0029] FIG. 6 depicts a further exemplary embodiment of a method
for indicating that a call has been redirected. In this exemplary
embodiment, an SSP may receive a call termination attempt, as shown
at step 602. The SSP may initiate a termination attempt trigger, as
shown at step 604, and send a termination attempt query to a SCP,
as shown at step 606. The SCP may apply call logic in response to
receiving the termination attempt query, as shown at step 608. For
example, the SCP may determine whether call forwarding has been
activated for a network address associated with the termination
attempt. The SCP may also determine whether a redirect call ring
feature is activated for the network address associated with the
termination attempt. The termination attempt query may, for
example, include a call initiating network address, a destination
network address, and a redirected network address. The SCP may test
the call termination attempt query for the redirect number address,
as shown at step 610. The SCP may make a decision based on the
presence of a redirect number address (RDN), as shown at step 612.
If the call termination attempt query does not include a redirect
number address, the SCP may send an authorization termination
response, as shown at step 614. This authorization termination
response may result in the use of a generic ring when initiating a
call to a destination device.
[0030] However, if a redirect number address is present, the system
may send an authorized termination response including direction to
use a distinctive ring tone, as shown at step 616. This
authorization termination response will result in the use of the
distinctive ring when initiating the call, as shown in step
618.
[0031] FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary method for establishing a
redirect call ring feature. The method includes receiving a user
input, as shown at step 702, and manipulating the redirect call
ring feature parameters, as shown at step 704. The user input may,
for example, be received through pound (#) commands and commands
entered via a telephone connected to a PSTN. Alternately, the user
input may be received via other electronic means such as a short
message service (SMS) system, web page, or email. The system may
permit the manipulation of various parameters associated with the
redirect call ring feature. These parameters may, for example,
include activation or deactivation of the redirect call ring
feature, selection of a specific distinctive ring, association of a
specific redirect network address with a specific distinctive ring
and modifications of these associations.
[0032] In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a
system for identifying redirected calls that includes a service
switch point and a service control point. The service switch point
is coupled to a communications network. The service switch point is
configured to receive a call termination request that indicates
call redirection. The service control point is coupled to the
service switch point and is configured to direct the service switch
point to utilize a distinctive ring in response to receiving the
call termination request.
[0033] In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a
method of call identification. The method includes receiving a call
termination request, determining whether the call termination
request indicates a redirected call, and selectively directing the
utilization of a distinctive ring when initiating a call based on a
determination as to whether the call termination request indicates
a redirected call. The call termination request includes a
destination address and is configured to request initiation of a
call to the destination address.
[0034] In a further embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a
service control point that includes computer-readable storage, a
data record stored in the computer readable storage, and logic. The
data record is associated with a telephone network address and is
configured to indicate activation status of a redirect call ring
feature. The logic is configured to access the data record in
response to receiving a call termination query. The logic is
configured to determine whether the call termination query
indicates a redirected call. The logic is also configured to
selectively direct utilization of the redirected call ring feature
based on the activation status.
[0035] The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other
embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the
scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest
permissible interpretation of the following claims and their
equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the
foregoing detailed description.
* * * * *