method for handling telephonic messages
TRANSCRIPT
USOO5717741A
United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,717,741 Yue et al. [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 10, 1998
[54] METHOD FOR HANDLING TELEPHONIC 0 451 695 4/1991 European Pal’ O? - MESSAGES 3315884 5/1983 Germany.
1449650 6/1989 Japan.
[75] Inventors: Drina C. Yue; Raymond J. Smets. PCT/G590’ both of Atlanta; Thomas Joseph 01328 8/1990 WIPO '
Moqum. Roswell; Evan Kraus. 06729 “[1990 WIPO _
Atlanta. all Of Ga. . 00483 1/1991 WIPO .
[73] Assignee: BellSouth Corp.. Atlanta. Ga. PCT/F192, 00036 2/1992 WIPO.
[21] Appl. No.: 623,121
[22] Filed: Mar. 28, 1996 OF HER PUBLICATIONS
Inbound/Outbound Magazine. Automatic Call Distribution. Related US. Application Data May 1990. pp. 36-42.
[60] C ‘in a“ fse N 368 088 J 3 1995 band ed British Telecommunications Engineering. vol. 4. Apr. 1985 on u 0110 L o. , , an. , ,a on , ‘i - ~ - w _
which is a division of Ser. NO. 936,384, Aug. 26, 1992, Menu‘ V°f°e Ma“ ‘M600 by Nawsm“ PP‘ 32 35' abandoned. Popular Science. Jun. 1992. p. 15 “Smart Phone”.
[51] Int. Cl.6 ......................................... .. H04M 3/50 cellular Telepmnes 3 “WW5 Gum- "Y CmmP JY- Oct
[52] us. c1. ............................ .. 379/67; 379/89; 379/215; 1981p?‘ {18-121 _ 379/142; 379/199 Bell Atlantic Service Advertisement for Return Call. Caller
[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 379/142. 127. ID (Feb' 1990) and Answer can “"1" 1992) 379/265. 266. 309. 67. 88. 89. 201. 215. v _ Primary Exammer-—-Ahmad Matar
Attorney Agent, or Firm-Jones & Askew
[56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT
U'S' Pm DOCUMENTS A method for taking a message for a subscriber. including
2,957,047 10/1960 Wennemer ............................ .. 379/211 the steps of: receiving a communication on a calling line 3,609,245 9/1971 Richter et a1. . from a som'ce. identifying the calling line number associated 4,277,649 7/1981 Sheinbein .............................. .. 379/201 with the calling line. identifying lh? Source Of lh? 4,313,035 1,1982 Jordan e‘ 31 379/207 communication. recording the message from the source. and 4’371’752 2/1983 Mauhews. ‘it al' "" " 379189 recording the calling line number and the source identity in 4,518,824 5/1985 Mondardim ........................... .. 379/144 association with the m?ssaga whcrcby thc message is taken
(List continued on next page”) for the subscriber including identi?cation of the source and the calling line number.
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0 420 527 9/1990 European Pat. Off. , 9 Claims, 50 Drawing Sheets
‘vwmvr/xjzmE/rr r-W yes 15:15?‘ mmwm m ‘5
~ 59‘ W592
~J1B
' Yll/ MVE Ml IEW MEWS [KI MESSAGES YUHL '
av or m CONTIH/E 115mm: r17 men J42 ‘97F PMS usssmssulossw mac/11. m I ,_ m )
1 . ‘u. ‘LASTSTOP
7W .115 241i
FAN ‘
no as)
5,717,741 Page 2
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,029,200 7/1991 Haas et a1. .. 379/89
4,625,081 11/1986 1.0616 6161. ............................ .. 379/88 g‘mzgz 32:; gigs“ 3:352; 4,680,785 7/1987 Akiyama e181. .. 379/57 1 1 a. ‘ we‘ - ------ -'
4,740,783 4/1988 Kolmeker ____ n . 3.79/2“ 5,185,782 2/1993 Snmvasan . . . . . . . . . . . .. 379/266
4,752,951 6/1988 Konneker , 379/211 5,197,096 311993 Sakumaet a1. ....................... .. 379/211
4,759,056 7/1988 Akiyama ..... .. .. 379/197 5,241,586 8/1993 Wilson 8181. .......................... .. 379/89
4,769,834 9/1988 Billinger 9t =11- 379/112 5,282,243 1/1994 Dabbaghi et a1. .................... .. 379/142 417901003 ‘M988 KePlcY "t “L -- 379'“ 5,283,818 2/1994 1(131181161'613]. ....................... .. 379/89 4,791,665 12/1988 BogartetaL. 379/207 5309 05 5/1994 S2] a] 379,88 4,853,952 8/1989 Jackmann 61 a1. .. 379/89 1 5 we‘ - 4,899,358 2/1990 Blakley ................................. .. 379/215 5529573 “994 3m“ “a1 - 379'“ 4,399,373 2/1990 Lee e131. _ 5,329,583 7/1994 Iurgensen el al. .. 379/266 5,029,196 7/1991 Morganslcin ........................... ,. 379/67 5,434,909 7/1995 Pn'ce e141. ------------------------------ .. 379/88
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 1 of 50 5,717,741
44 13
MTSOII MTSOI
PSTN M5 TANDEM OFFICE
N6 END
OFFICE
42 NETWORK
PNCS PLATFORM
N f\/ 40 4 4
FIG 1
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 2 0f 50 5,717,741
RECEIVE 20 V
PERSONAL NUMBER CWMUNICATILW
YES no 2 seuomswsn SUPERVISION
26 25
YES 24 YES Aummsrmrlav FAX SERVICE AWINISTRATI' Fla 7
FIG. 4
N0 27
YES PRIORITY CALL
31 32
SETPRIORITY N0 ANSVl/E "0 . SENDANSWER
SYSTEM STATUS PERVISION supsnwswom SENT
YES 33
SENDANSMR muznnsawsrso SUPERWSION ronsconomus
FOR IDENTIFICATION
41
CALLER FEARS NU SLBSCRIBER PERmL
03 31mm ->\' T0 FIG. 3 ) GREETMG T0 I'DLD
SET PRIORITY YES SYSTEM STATUS FAST CODE
ENTERED
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 3 0f 50 5,717,741
m GE 222cm Q98. 55 Q2
359$. .53 H29.
so: E Egg; @5: 5.3% E. SE: 5.: 5 .“SG E qmruemm QQEES m3:
2 ‘Q
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 4 of 50 5,717,741
CD FIG. 3A 70 H
PHONE NUMBER RETRIEVED FROM LOCA T0‘? UST
AUTONOM 7’ YES REGISTRATION ran
MOBILE NUMBER
' 6O 72 N N
SERVICE CIRCUIT SERVICE CALLS MNDLER FOR susscmssn
LOOKUP 0N MOBILE REGISTRATION
73 NO
v ES [M74 ssnwcs FIG 3B
SUBSCRIBE ’
F ORMALLY ACCEPTS 0R REJECTS
REJECT CALL
63 ACCEPT CALL
PARTIES ARE
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 5 of 50 5,717,741
56 (J
7-: PRCMPT CALLER F OR RETURN
PHONE NUMBER
57
DATABASE LOOKUP FOR OVERRIDE NUMBER
64“
RELEASE THE CALLER
FIG 3C SERVICE CALLS
SUBSCRIBER
I A,
66
LAST STOP ROUTING FIG. 5
FORMAT MESSAGE FOR SUBSCRIBER
I N GENERATE CALL
TO PACER SERVICE CIRCUIT HANDLER
SERVICE ANNCXJNCES CALLER
I /V OUT PULSE
MESSQGE T0 PACER SERVICE CIRCUIT
MNDLER
61
62
U.S. Patent
FAX SERVICE
RECEIVED
STORE FAX IN SYSTEM UNDER
SUBSCRIBER RECORD
Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 6 of 50 5,717,741
DELIVERY
FOR FAX STORAGE R DELIVERY
STORAGE
SYSTEM SETS FAX PROTOCOL AND
RECEIVES FAX SUBSCRIBER 'S FAX MACHINE
FAX SUCCESSFUL
FIG 4
100 W FORMAT MESSAGES WITH COL/D, TIME, SUBSCRIBER
CODE AND FAX CODE
10! GENERATE CALL
‘02 OUTPULSE MESSAGE TO PAGER SERVICE CIRCUIT HANDLER
<———-
PNS COMPLETE
US. Patent Sheet 7 of 50 Feb. 10, 1998
LAST STOP ROUTING
GENERATE CALL 407 O SUBSCRIBER'S
~ CHOICE OF VMS 0R DEFAULT
PNS VOICE MAIL SYSTEM YES
TO LEAVE RETuR/v PHONE NUMBER
R 444 ,F Norma ELEASE CALL
INTERFACE OUTPULSE SUBSCRIBERS MAILBOX &
IF ms 4 4 5 m FORMAT MESSAGE
WITH csuo, TIME, SUBSRIBER CODE
442 COMPLETE AND sTA Tus CONNECTION
WITH TRANSFER 446 COMPLETE
PNS SERVICE COMPLETE 447
FIG 5
5,717,741
443
PROMPT CALLER
8
GENERATE CALL TO PACER SERVICE CIRCUIT HANDLER
OUTPULSE MESSAGE TO
PACER SERVICE CIRCUIT HANDLER
PNS SERVICE COMPLETE
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 8 of 50 5,717,741
PNS VOICE MAIL SYSTEM
ROUTING
426 421
PROMPT CALLER LEAVE T0 ENTERA 10 YES ALTERNATE pPAgfR N0 orsrr NUMBER NUMBER EA “RE
123 \/ FORMAT MESSAGE
HG‘ 6” MESSAGE sufi?’iifrigof
424 430
PROMPT CALLER ' GENERATE CALL TO IF MESSAGE 1s PAGER SERVICE
cmcun HANDLER
425 43% OUT PULSE MESSA GE r0
PA GER SERVICE cmcuzr HANDLER
YES zsr NEWMESSAGE on TIME EXPIRED FOR CALL
NOTIFICATION
N0
PNS COMPLETE
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 9 of 50 5,717,741
4341
SCHEDULE NEXT FIG 6B RETRY (1 MINUTE) r0 CHECK MOBILE
433
N0 susscmssn's YES MOBILE PHGVE 0N
N0 SUBSCRIBER ANSWERS
CALL
FROM FIG. 6A
437
AIWOUNCE T0 SUBSCRIBER MESSAGES ARE
PRESENT IN PNS VMS
SCHEDULE NEXT REJECTS uonnmnm r0 CALL suascmasn FOR pus VMS
PRESS '1' TO ACCEPT CALL AND
442 ACCEPTS CALI. 443
NEW CALL TO MOBILE GENERAIED WI'EN CALI.
IS ANSWERED THE AIRTIME IS CHARGED
VOICE MESSAGE RETRIEVAL
FIG. 13
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 10 of 50 5,717,741
_ 45o
MAINMENU
EXITMENU
45 l 4 4 1 Y I" 3 {V5 VOICE MAIL FAX MESSAGES
RETRIEVAL FIG. 13
RETRIEVAL FIG. 14
USER OPTIOVS FIG. 12
ADMINISTMTIOIII COMPLETE
FIG 7
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 11 of 50 5,717,741
CALL ROUTING 163 MENU OVERRIDE CALL ROUTING
OPTION MENU FIG. 9
OVERRIDE
LOCATOR UST
CALL FAX ROUTING MENU FIG. 10
765 766 N AFTER HOURS F’
MODIFY LOCATORLIST LOCATO” LOCATOR usr MODIFY AFTER LOCATOR “STOMFTER HOURS LOCATOR HST HOURSLOCATOR HST
usr
167
suascmasn ENTERS A NUMBER r0 MODIFY
—_____, THE LOCATOR usron masses : TO HEAR
-----—---> me cunnsnrusr
YES SUBSCRIBER N0 ENTERSA PHONE
NUMBER
FROM FA 0M H6 88 FIG. as
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 12 of 50 5,717,741
+
AIWOUNCE PHONE NUMBER AND PLACE
‘ IN LOCA TOR UST
176 182 \ '1
PROMPT PROMPT SUBSCRIBER TO CONTINUE on
SUBSRIBER T0 DELETE ENTRY DELETE ENTRY
177
SUBSCRIBER “0 "0 MUST FIRST '
DELETE A PHONE NUMBER YES
\d?
173 CONFIRM
SUBSRIBER To DELETE ENTRY /~)
1 a0
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER 174 F OR LGL'ATIGV IN UST
ARRANGE PHOAE NUMBER IN UST ACCORDMG TO REQUEST
175
FIG BB
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1993 Sheet 13 of 50 5,717,741
?éfér’iaio FIG 9A
NO YES 791 207
SUBSCRIBER IS SUBSCRIBER IS PROMPTED TO SET AN PROWPTEDIO CANCEL OVERRIDE 0R SIPPLY OVERRIDE 0R SUPPLY
MORE OPTIOAS MORE OPTIONS
ssr 0mm ovenmos was opnavs avsnnms
I 193 SUBSCRIBER 15 Panama rossr OVERRIDE
CGUD AN aye-mm Fm £04 LOCA TION IS AVA'MBLE mesa 05mm, on CANCELLED
MOTHER woman
YES
v 1/94 19; E E suascmssn 1s susscnmsn :s momma r0 nsxso TO
LEAVE mzcsuo mruravsnnms AS ovsnnms amass
mom FIG. 9a
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 14 of 50 5,717,741
CONFIRM THAT OVERRIDE NUMBER
IS CORMCT
SUBSCRIBER IS PROMPTED TO SET OVERRIDE FOR ALL CALLS 0R GVLY
PRIORITY CALLERS
FIG 9B
US. Patent
CONFIGURATION DATA SET TO STORAGE
ANNOUNCE CURRENT CONFIGURATION TO
SUBSCRIBER THAT FAX ROUTING IS SET FOR
STORAGE
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER TO SET FAXES FOR F ORWARDING
TO FAX MACHINE
SET FAXES TO
Feb. 10, 1998
ROUTING MENU
FORWARD
FAX CALI.
Sheet 15 0f 50
STORE FAXES
CONFIGURATION DATA SET TO F ORWARO TO FAX MACHINE
225
F)
5,717,741
ANNOUNCE CURRENT CONFIGURATION TO
SUBSCRIBER THAT FAX ROUTING IS SET FOR
DEUVERY
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER TO SET FAXES F OR STORA GE
ON SYSTEM
SETFAXES TO
FIG 10
FORWARD on our STORAGE 0R sx/r
EXIT MENU 224 MENU
CHANGE FAX cmues FAX comrraumnou CONFIGURATIO‘V T0 FORWARD TO STORAGE
MAIN MENU FIG. 7
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 16 of 50
CALL
MENU
EXIT MENU
MODIFY PRIORITY USEOREXIT
2J1, ANNOIMICE cunnsur 23o comsumnouar
CALL AMUUNCEMENT CALL A'Ww‘m'm ENABLED on DISABLED
25% PROMPT SUBSCRIBER TO
TOGGLE TIE FUTURE
OPTIOV FOR CALL - AMUUNCEMENT
234 2
SUBSCRIBER MIST FIRST MLEIE A
PHOIIE MMBER
IN
PRIORITY LIST
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER TO RECORD AN
IDENTIFYMB MME
STORE ENTRY
PRIORITY LIST
5,717,741
FROM ' FIG. 11B
243
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 17 0f 50 5,717,741
FIG 14E PRIORITY LIST
FROM FIG. 11A
235
--> T0 sum-‘m uwazn r0 ¢ FROM MODIFYORSCANTI-E
' PRIORITY usr
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER 4*
k
AMUUNCE PHONE NUMBER AND RECORD
)1 NAME 247 l
PROMPT SUBSCRIBER T0
SUBSCRIBER TO CONTINUE 0R DELETE ENTRY DELETE ENTRY
COI'IFIRM SUBSCRIBER T0 DELETE ENTRY
/ 246
US. Patent Feb. 10, 1998 Sheet 18 of 50 5,717,741
ussn m OPTIONS F'G- '23
EXITMENU
255 256
RECORD SUBSCRIBER'S
MME
CI-IMGE ‘
SUBSCRIBER'S PAS-SCOOE
264 PROMPT PROMPT
SUBSCRIBERTO SIBSCRIBERTO RECORDAMME ENTER/1W4 FORTIEIRCALLS OIGITPASSCODE
CONFIRM RECORDED NAME
CONFIRM PASSCOOE
260 263 SETRECORDIM? INTOSUBSCRIBER'S
DATA
SETPAS9COOE INTOSUBSCRIBER'S
DATA
MAINMENU FIG 7
FROM FIG. 128
F ‘6 12A