CA2153033C - Intelligent based selective call forwarding - Google Patents
Intelligent based selective call forwardingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2153033C CA2153033C CA002153033A CA2153033A CA2153033C CA 2153033 C CA2153033 C CA 2153033C CA 002153033 A CA002153033 A CA 002153033A CA 2153033 A CA2153033 A CA 2153033A CA 2153033 C CA2153033 C CA 2153033C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- intelligent
- personal
- forwarding
- intelligent terminals
- dialed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
- H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
- H04Q3/0029—Provisions for intelligent networking
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/54—Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M2203/20—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to features of supplementary services
- H04M2203/2022—Path replacement
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q2213/00—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
- H04Q2213/13282—Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q2213/00—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
- H04Q2213/13515—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q2213/00—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
- H04Q2213/13527—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q2213/00—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
- H04Q2213/13541—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems routing
Abstract
A telephone subscriber who wishes to forward calls placed to that subscriber from a selected set of calling parties identifies the current destination number to a service adjunct. The service adjunct, in turn, transmits the destination number to the intelligent terminals of preselected parties while those intelligent terminals are in an inactive (i.e. on-hook) mode, for storage in a local memory contained in those terminals. Thereafter, when the usual number of the telephone subscriber is "dialed"
(e.g., entered on the keypad) at any one of the intelligent terminals, the stored destination number is retrieved and output to the telecommunications network in place of the usual number. The actual destination number is also displayed to the calling party who then has the option to let the call complete or disconnect to stop the call.
(e.g., entered on the keypad) at any one of the intelligent terminals, the stored destination number is retrieved and output to the telecommunications network in place of the usual number. The actual destination number is also displayed to the calling party who then has the option to let the call complete or disconnect to stop the call.
Description
R.Carlsen3 2153033 .
INTELLIGENT TERl\IINAL BASED SELECTIVE CALL FORWARDING
Terhni- ~l F~
This invention relates generally to apparatus and method for completing telephone calls to a called party at a location dirrelelll from the "normal" location at which calls to that party tellllillate, and, in particular, to selective call forwarding that is accomplished through the use of intelligent terminals, i.e., terminals that have the capability to store information and to perform logical operations using such hlr)llllation.
ro~n~l Of thP Il~vf~nti~
o Intelligent network telephone call processing is now quite common, and telephone network providers, such as LEC's and IXC's, are putting more and more intelligence into their networks. Many details of the intelligent network and the features offered in it are set forth in special Report SR-NPL-001623, issued by Bellcore in June 1990 and entitled "Advanced Intelligent Network Release 1 Network and Operations Plan". Other hlfollllation relating to the intelligent network may be found in the Q. 1200 series of recommendations pl~l,aled by the Illlelllalional Telecommllnications Union Telecommunications Standards Sector (ITU-TSS, formerlyknown as CCITT), and in an article entitled "AT&T's Global Intelligent Network Architectllre" by Kettler et al. in the AT&T Technical Journal, September/October 1992, at page 30. The development of intelligent networks started before microcomputers became generally available for use in terminals. The current situation is that intelligent networks continue to evolve under the assumption that the terminals connlocte(l to those networks are equivalent to ordinary telephones, with, at most, Touch Tone (DTMF) capability.
On the other side of the coin, the intelligent terminal industry is developing rapidly, but independent of the intelligent networks. This is occurring because the terminal industry includes many small, fast moving comp~niPs that have not had much success dealing with large network utility comp~ni~s. The mode of operation for terminal developers is to take the network as they find it, and develop terminal features to make the network more user friendly, or implement end to end services that only use the network as a simple co,,,,,l~nirations channel or pipe.
R. Carlsen3 2153033 ~.....
Sl-~m~ry of th~ Invention We have found that an intelligent terminal can work in concert with a services adjunct in the intelligent network to provide enh~n~ed capabilities to callers, particularly in the context of selective call forwarding. Today, call fol~alding is 5 largely provided in the network, usually at a processor associated with the termin~ting switch serving a subscriber. The subscriber desiring to have calls to a particular number forwarded to another location establishes contact with the network based processor, and enters the forwarding number for calls placed to the subscriber. The subscriber makes the forwarding process selective by also providing h~follllation 10 identifying a list of calling parties whose calls should be forwarded. (Calls from other persons, not on the list, may be routed to an al~,l;ng machine or not answered at all.) When calls to the subscriber reach the processor, they are identified as being calls TO the subscriber in question. Then, the originators are identified to determine that the calls are FROM persons identified by that subscriber as authorized for forwarding.
15 The calls that are thus selected are then rerouted to the specified new destin~tion.
Often, this leads to "trombone routing", .~.Pa.-ing that a call origin~ted from location A
must travel to destination C via an intermPdi~te point B which is distant from the straight-line path between A and C. This leads to llnnPcess~ry use of network resources and a higher cost of telephone calls, when the same functions can be 20 performed more efficiently with a terminal based solution.
In accordance with our invention, a telephone subscriber who wishes to rOl Wald calls placed to that subscriber from a selected set of calling parties identifies (a) the forwarding number, and (b) the selected parties, to a central processor, called a "services adjunct". The services adjunct, in turn, llal~ll~ils the forwarding number to 25 the intelligent terminals of the selected parties while those intelligent Le~ als are in an inactive (i.e. on-hook) mode, for storage in a local memory contained in those terminals. Thereafter, when the usual number of the telephone subscriber is "dialed"
(e.g., entered on the keypad) at any one of the intelligent terminals, the stored destination number is retrieved and output to the telecomml~nic~ions network in place 30 of the dialed number.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the intelligent terminals are equipped with ISDN connections that enable the tr~n.cmi.csion of hlrollllation to the terminals and storage therein while the ISDN terminals are on-hook (not being used).
Illustratively, a standard X.25 network can be used to transport the data between the 35 services adjunct and the intelligent terminal. This is consistent with the use of ISDN, because the "D" channel of a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection supports the use of ~ ~ 5 3 0 3 3 -~
the X.25 protocol. In another embodiment of this invention, information is transported from ~ the services adjunct to the intelligent terminal over the network SS7 facilities, and converted into Q.93 1 type sign~lling messages by the local switch. In yet another embodiment, information is sent to the local switch by either X.25 or SS7 and downloaded using analog S signalling similar to that used today to send the calling party identification to the called party while the phone is in an inactive (e.g., on hook) mode. In the latter two embodiments, changes are required in the local central off1ce.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for transferring information to intelligent termin~lc, for use in forwarding calls, comprising 10 the steps of: storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, in a central processor, transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties are in an on-hook mode, and recording 15 said personal number and said forwarding number in said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transferring information to intelligent termin~ , comprising: a database for storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding 20 number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, and means for transmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals are in an on-hook mode; and means for recording said personal number and said forwarding number at said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
-, .
1 .,~
R. Carlsen3 21~ 3 0 ~ 3 BriefDesc~ ; nofthPn~wi~
The present invention will be more fully appreciated by consideration of the following Detailed Description, which should be read in light of the accompanying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall arrangement of a system by which one or more intelligent terminals can cooperate with a services adjunct in an intelligent teleco~ lunications network in order to enable the selective forwarding of telephone calls;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of an intelligent terminal o which can work cooperatively with a services adjunct to selectively forward telephone calls;
Fig. 3 illustrates the process performed when a subscriber instructs services adjunct 111 of Fig. 1 to forward selected calls placed to that subscriber's usual number to a new destination ..-I..-be. and when adjunct 111 subsequently stores or updates 15 i~ol.nation in the memory in the intelligent tc.n.illals;
Fig. 4 illustrates the process pc.ro.nled by an intelligent terminal when the services adjunct instructs it to update the destination number for a particular usually dialed number;
Fig. S illustrates the process performed by an intelligent terminal 101 when the20 user dials a number to place a call;
Fig. 6 illustrates the format of a record in number translation memory 208 of intelligent termin~l 101; and Fig. 7 illustrates the format of a record in the database 123 in services adjunct 111.
~ailed n~c~
Referring ~1rst to Fig. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating the overall arrangement of one embodiment of our invention in which intelligent terminals 101 cooperate with a services adjunct 111 in an intelligent teleco~ ic~tions network30 designated generally as llelwOlk 110, in order to selectively forward telephone calls.
Network 110 includes several interconnPcted switches 112 which are each connected, directly or indirectly, via an X.25 data network 126, and via voice trunks 127, to services adjunct 111. Intelligent terminal 101-1 is connected to switch 112-1 while intelligent terminal 101-2 is connPctçd to switch 112-2. In Fig. 1, "dumb phones" 125-35 1, which have the capabilities of conventional touch tone telephone instruments, areshown as also being conn~cted to switches 112-1 and 112-2, respectively. Note that R.Carlsen3 2153033 the elements of Fig 1 are shown in greatly simplified form, for ease of explanation;
accordingly other network elements normally associated with local and interexchange carriers are not separately shown.
Service adjunct 111 includes a Voice Response Unit (VRU) 122 that is connected to an internal control bus 124 as well as to switches 112 via voice channels.
VRU 122 is programmed to co~.~"~lni~te with calling parties, by pru~ ing them, for example with voice ploln~l:i, to enter i~lro"l~ation such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that identifies the subscriber, as well as a desired ~lestin~tion number to which calls to that subscriber are to be forwarded. Optionally, the caller can also be o ploll~led to supply information identifying calling parties having intelligent terminals that are likely to place calls to that subscriber and whose calls should be forwarded, and specifying the directory and routing information for those persons. In order to perform the functions just described, VRU 122 is a"anged to (a) perform various database lookups, (b) to perform logical operations on information input by a caller and obtained from a database lookup, and (c) to perform various telephone call management functions, such as reception of telephone calls, call progress mollilolillg and call disconnection.
Services adjunct 111 also includes a ~t~b~ce 123 connected to bus 124, for storing information entered by subscribers and used in the selective call forwarding process of the present invention, and a control processor 121, also connected to bus 124, for m~n~ging the various processes described in more detail below When all required information has been entered by a subscriber in response to voice prol,~t~, VRU 122 confirms this with the calling party, disconnects the calling party, and then updates database 123, via internal bus 124, with new destination i,~"nation for this subscriber. Database 123, after being updated, informs control processor 121 that an update has been made Control processor 121 then requests f~t~ba.ce 123 to download the new clestin~tion il~fol,llalion and the addresses of the selected intelligent terminals that need the new ~estin~tion number. This downloading may be accomplished via an X.25 packet data message, sent from control processor 121 via data network 126 and one of the switches 112, to one or more intelligent terminals 101 whose addresses had been provided by the subscriber or entered via network provisioning system 128.
In one specific arrangement of the present invention, ~wilches 112 are #5ESS
stored program controlled electronic switching systems available from AT&T
Services adjunct 111 is comprised of a CONVERSANT~ Voice Response Unit and a general purpose AINet~ Service Circuit Node, both of which are available from AT&T. Note that switches 112, which are equipped to provide ISDN services, are R.Carlsen3 2153033 connected to services adjunct 111 by both voice channels as well as X.25 packet data connections. The voice channels are used when the subscriber calls the services adjunct 111 to interact with it for the purpose of updating the destin~tion number at which calls are to be received. The X.25 packet data connections are used thereafter by services adjunct 111 to send messages to selected intelligent terminals 101 that need updated destination numbers with respect to calls placed to a particular subscriber. The X.25 data connection is extended to terminals 101 via standard ISDN data communir~tions service.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of a typical intelligent terrninal 101. As shown in Fig. 2 intelligent terminal 101 includes the normal components of a telephone station~ such as a telephone line circuit 205, a mi~,ropholle 202, a speaker 203, a dial pad and associated touch tone ge~ lol 204, and feature control buttons 209. Terminal 101 also includes a memory device 208 that can store records of the type shown in Fig. 8 on a long term basis, and a microprocessor 206 arranged to operate under the control of program instructions stored in a program memory 207, which thereby controls the operation of those various components andperforrns the processes described below in connection with Figs. S and 6. Note here that, as ~1i.ccl-ssed further below, terminal 101 can also be a wireless telephone.
Fig. 3 illustrates the process p~lrol.lled when a subscriber wishes to instruct services adjunct 111 in intelligent network 110 to selectively forward calls placed to that subscriber's usual number, to a different location. The process may be ini~i~t~d from any location, illustratively from an ordinary touch tone telephone station 125, and begins in step 301, when a subscriber places a call to services adjunct 111, illustratively by dialing an 800 toll free or other number associated generally with that adjunct and specifically with the forwarding service contemplated by the presentinvention. The call is routed by the switch in the local central office that is associated with telephone station 125, in this case, switch 112-1, via a voice path, to VRU 122 in services adjunct 111, in step 303, and the VRU, in step 305 plolllpls the calling party to enter a PIN identifying him or her as a particular subscriber entitled to use service and obtain the advantages of the present invention. If the PIN is vali-l~t~l in step 307, VRU 122 prompts the subscriber, in step 309, to enter the telephone number of the destination to which the subscriber desires that his or her calls be forwarded. This number can be entered using a DTMF dial pad, or alternatively spoken, if VRU 122 is equipped with speech recognition apparatus.
Next, in step 311, a deterrnination is made as to whether or not the subscriber is (a) providing new information adding or deleting intelligent t~rrnin~lc that are to R. Carlsen 3 21~ 3 0 3 3 receive the telephone number of the destination to which the subscriber desires that his or her calls be fo~ rded, or (b) is updating destin~tion information that was previously provided. If the response inf~ tes situation (a), the subscriber is plolll~ted, in step 313, to provide the identifying information, which may be the X.25 address of selected intelligent terminals, the telephone number of selected termin~lc, or other identifying information, all of which is stored in ~t~b~ce 123. If the re~ollse in-lic~tes situation (b), then information stored in database 123 is updated in step 315.
After steps 313 or 315 are completed, the process of Fig. 3 proceeds to step 317, in which VRU 122 signals control processor 121 that downloads of destination o number h~llnation to the selected intelligent terminals, as described in connection with Fig. 4 are required. The process then proceeds to step 319, in which VRU 122 disconnects the subscriber. Note here that if the PIN entered by the caller was not de~e~ ed to be valid in step 307, the subscriber is then also disconn~cted by procee<ling directly to step 319.
Next, in step 321, control processor 121 obtains from database 123 information identifying the selected intelligent terminals 101 that must be ~p~ted, and sends to those terminals, in step 323, h~rollllation idenlirying (a) the dialed number associated with a subscriber, and (b) a new dPstin~tion number for that subscriber, illustratively sent in the form of X.25 packet data messages. Thus, as an example, intelligent tellllillalS 101-1 and 101-2 may receive and store (as explained in connection with Fig.
4 below), information in-lic~ting that calls to (908) 949-7503 should be placed instead to (212) 987-7767. See the first entry in the table illustrated in Fig. 6, ~icc~lcsed in more detail below.
The ~l,al)~1er in which information is transmitted from services adjunct 111 to intelligent terminals 101 can involve several approaches. First, as intlic~ted above, the "D" channel of a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection supports the use of the X.25 protocol. Any of three X.25 data collllllunications techniques can be used to link the control processor 121 in the services adjunct 111 to each of the intelligent tc~nlillals 101-x. One technique is the switched virtual circuit, in which the control processor sends a call set up message to data network 126, and after that call request is accepted by terminal 101, data is sent in a subsequent packet labeled with the a~ropliate virtual circuit number after which the virtual circuit is disconnected by both ends. A
permanent virtual circuit is similar, with the exception that the virtual circuit is not disconn~ct~d after data is sent. The samé virtual circuit number is used each time the control processor updates a particular intelligent terminal 101. The third technique, known as "Fast Select Service", provides for the tr~n.~micsion of up to 128 octets of R. Carlsen3 ~15~033 .,.", data in the same packet that is used to establish the virtual circuit. With this technique, terminal 101 receives the call set up packet with the data and imm~ tely disconnects from the call. All three techniques are well known to those skilled in the X.25 art. In another allallge~ , information is transported from services adjunct 111 to intelligent 5 terminals 101 over the network SS7 facilities, as part of the Q.931 sign~ling messages.
~n this type of embo~lim~rlt the present invention would be implemented using the Sign~ling System 7 (SS7) network as a replacement for the X.25 network 126. To use SS7, control processor 121 would connect to each of the local switches 112 via standard SS7 links. Messages to intelligent terminals 112 would be l1AI~ d in the l0 Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) protocol, which is ~ullelllly used in SS7 l~lWOlkS for other non circuit related messages, such as an 800 number transaction with a Service Control Point. Within the local central of fice 112, such TCAP
messages would be translated into Q.931 ISDN si~n~ling messages. Such interworking iS ~;ullelllly supported in local central offices to pass ISDN si~n~ling messages over the 15 SS7 network. See ITU Recommendation Q.699, entitled "Interworking Between Digital Subscriber Sign~ling System No. 1 and Sign~ling System No. 7". For example, an ISDN Q.931 "Setup" message is mapped into an SS7 ISDN User Part (ISUP) "Initial Address Message", and an ISDN "Connect" message is mapped into an SS7 "Answer Message". Extension of these techniques to the current invention is 20 straightforward, but requires modification of the local central office.
In yet another allangellRnt, information is downloaded from local central offices 112 to intelligent terminals 101 using analog sign~ling similar to that used today to send the calling party identification to the called party before the call is answered.
In this arrangement, changes are required in the local central office. Specifications 25 related to the tr~n.smi.csion of analog data to a plopelly equipped on-hook telephone not associated with ringing are contained in Bellcore Technir~l Reference TR-NWT-000030 Issue 2 dated October 1992 "Voiceband Data Tr~n.cmi~sion Interface Generic RequirellR~s" begim~ing at page 4, paragraph 2.3.2. The recollllllended technique is to use a 150 to 350 milli.second Open Switching interval (OSI) to signal loop 30 tr~nsmis.sion equipment (if it exists) that an on-hook tr~nsmission path is required.
This is then followed after 300 milliseconds with the data to be sent in Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK) modulation at 1200/2200 Hz. With the current invention, the central office would received the data over either the X.25 or SS7 data networks and then convert it into the analog format and sent it to the on-hook analog 35 terminal without ringing.
R.Carlsen3 215303~
If intelligent terminal 101 is a wireless terminal, updates from database 123 may be received over the sign~ling channel while the wireless terminal is active but on-hook.
It is to be noted here that the process illustrated in Fig. 3 can be quite similar to the a portion of the process pelr~ ed in basic service adjunct 150 shown in Fig. 1 of U.S. Patent 5,222,125 issued to Creswell et al. on June 22, 1993 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Fig. 4 illustrates the process used by an intelligent terminal 101 to update information in its nulllbcr translation memory 208 in response to receiving information, such as in an X.25 data message, from services adjunct 111. The process begins in step 401, when a ~ellnillal, in an on-hook or idle state, receives an X.25 message co~ inin~ a dialed number and an associated destin~tion number. In response to receipt of the message, terminal 101, under the control of a program stored in program memory 207, checks number translation memory 208 in step 403 to determine if there is an entry for the dialed number in~lic~ted in the message. If so, then in step 405, the destination number in the message is stored in memory 208 in association with the dialed number, replacing the destin~tion number that had been previously stored. On the other hand, if the called number is not in lllmlbel translation memory 208, then in step 407, an indication is given, such as by a message on display 215, inrlir~ting that the ~estin~tion llulllbel for a new dialed number has been received. Thereafter, in step 409, the destin~tion number is stored in number translation memory 208, provided that an indication is not received via dial pad 204 that the person using the intelligent terminal does not wish the hlrollllation to be stored. In either event, the process is terrnin~ted in step 411, and thereafter repeated when a new message is received from services adjunct 111.
Fig. 5 illustrates that process performed in the intelligent terminal 101 of Fig.
1 when a call is placed to the usual number of a subscriber who has previously requested call forwarding using the process of Fig. 2. The process begins in step 501 when the person using the intelligent terminal starts dialing a number, using dial pad 204. As each digit is dialed, a digit by digit check is performed in step 503, to determine if there could be an entry in number translation memory 208 that m~tr.h~s the dialed number. If it is determined in step 505, at any point in the dialing process, that a memory match is no longer possible, since the digits already dialed do match any of the numbers stored in number translation memory 208, the process proceeds to step 515 in which all of the dialed digits, plus any subsequently dialed digits, are sent from R. Carlsen 3 215 3 0 3 3 the intelligent terminal to the switch 112 to which it is connected. This, in effect, yields ordinaly, non-fol ~arded calling. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step 505, a determination is made in step 507 as to whether it can be determined if there has been a match between the dialed digits and a stored number. If 5 not, the process returns to step 503 and repeats the process described above.
If and when a positive result is obtained in step 507, the process of Fig. 5 proceeds to step 509, in which the previously stored destination number associated with the dialed number is sent from the intelligent terminal to the switch 112 to which it is connrcted This, in effect, produces call forwarding to the d~stin~tion number l0 specified by the subscriber. Note that interaction between the intelligent tennin~l and elements within the teleco,."".l.-ic~tions network is not required at the time that a call is origin~ted, and, accordingly, call set-up time can be signifir~ntly reduced. The stored destin~tion llulllber can also be displayed on display 215 in step 509, so that the call can be terminated (as by disconnPctin~ or h~nging up) if the person making the call lS does not wish to complete the call to the destin~tion llulllbel displayed. After completion of steps 509 or 515, the process of Fig. 5 is t~."ill~ted in step 511.
Fig. 6 illustrates the format of typical information stored in number translation memory 108 within intelligent terminal 101 of Fig. 1. In this figure, each line can be considered as a separate record. Each record represents information obtained through 20 a download initi~tecl by a particular subscriber, and includes a dialed number, in field 601, and an associated current destination number for that dialed number, in field 602.
If desired, an additional field 603 can be included in each record for a flag bit, which in~ir~t~s that dialed number and its associated destination number are newly stored, and should be displayed on the terminal display, so that a user can delellllill~ if the 25 information should continue to be stored, or be deleted.
Fig. 7 illustrates the format of a record contained in d~t~b~e 123 within the services adjunct 111 of Fig. 1. In this figure, the hlfollllation shown represents the records for two subscribers, and different subscribers would have records cont~ining different h~foll,lalion. Each record of the type shown in Fig. 7 includes a personal 30 number, in field 701, and an associated current destination number for that dialed number, in field 702. Also included, for each subscriber, is a PIN in field 703, that is used for validation purposes as explained above. Information identifying one or more intelligent tellllillals that are designated to receive fol~valding il~llllation for this subscriber is contained in field 704, and can illustratively include routing information 35 needed to send a X.25 packet data message to the appropliate intelligent terminals.
R. Carlsen 3 21 ~i 3 a 3 ~
._ The format for X.25 addresses are specified in ITU-TS (formerly CCITT) document X.121. Such addresses are comprised of a 3-digit country code (may be more than one per country), a 1-digit network identifier, and a terminal address of up to 10 digits. Alternatively, information contained in field 704 can be telephones numbers of selected intelligent termin~l~ in embodiments of the invention in which information is sent to the terminal via a voice channel while the station is on-hook.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various modification and adaptations may be made of the present invention. For example, although servicesadjunct 111 is shown as included within intelligent l~lwolk 110, it will be appreciated o that the functions performed thereby can be performed by an approp~iately configured personal co~ ll, r based processor that is connectç(l to the teleco.,..".ll~ tions network via a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection. Accordingly, the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.
INTELLIGENT TERl\IINAL BASED SELECTIVE CALL FORWARDING
Terhni- ~l F~
This invention relates generally to apparatus and method for completing telephone calls to a called party at a location dirrelelll from the "normal" location at which calls to that party tellllillate, and, in particular, to selective call forwarding that is accomplished through the use of intelligent terminals, i.e., terminals that have the capability to store information and to perform logical operations using such hlr)llllation.
ro~n~l Of thP Il~vf~nti~
o Intelligent network telephone call processing is now quite common, and telephone network providers, such as LEC's and IXC's, are putting more and more intelligence into their networks. Many details of the intelligent network and the features offered in it are set forth in special Report SR-NPL-001623, issued by Bellcore in June 1990 and entitled "Advanced Intelligent Network Release 1 Network and Operations Plan". Other hlfollllation relating to the intelligent network may be found in the Q. 1200 series of recommendations pl~l,aled by the Illlelllalional Telecommllnications Union Telecommunications Standards Sector (ITU-TSS, formerlyknown as CCITT), and in an article entitled "AT&T's Global Intelligent Network Architectllre" by Kettler et al. in the AT&T Technical Journal, September/October 1992, at page 30. The development of intelligent networks started before microcomputers became generally available for use in terminals. The current situation is that intelligent networks continue to evolve under the assumption that the terminals connlocte(l to those networks are equivalent to ordinary telephones, with, at most, Touch Tone (DTMF) capability.
On the other side of the coin, the intelligent terminal industry is developing rapidly, but independent of the intelligent networks. This is occurring because the terminal industry includes many small, fast moving comp~niPs that have not had much success dealing with large network utility comp~ni~s. The mode of operation for terminal developers is to take the network as they find it, and develop terminal features to make the network more user friendly, or implement end to end services that only use the network as a simple co,,,,,l~nirations channel or pipe.
R. Carlsen3 2153033 ~.....
Sl-~m~ry of th~ Invention We have found that an intelligent terminal can work in concert with a services adjunct in the intelligent network to provide enh~n~ed capabilities to callers, particularly in the context of selective call forwarding. Today, call fol~alding is 5 largely provided in the network, usually at a processor associated with the termin~ting switch serving a subscriber. The subscriber desiring to have calls to a particular number forwarded to another location establishes contact with the network based processor, and enters the forwarding number for calls placed to the subscriber. The subscriber makes the forwarding process selective by also providing h~follllation 10 identifying a list of calling parties whose calls should be forwarded. (Calls from other persons, not on the list, may be routed to an al~,l;ng machine or not answered at all.) When calls to the subscriber reach the processor, they are identified as being calls TO the subscriber in question. Then, the originators are identified to determine that the calls are FROM persons identified by that subscriber as authorized for forwarding.
15 The calls that are thus selected are then rerouted to the specified new destin~tion.
Often, this leads to "trombone routing", .~.Pa.-ing that a call origin~ted from location A
must travel to destination C via an intermPdi~te point B which is distant from the straight-line path between A and C. This leads to llnnPcess~ry use of network resources and a higher cost of telephone calls, when the same functions can be 20 performed more efficiently with a terminal based solution.
In accordance with our invention, a telephone subscriber who wishes to rOl Wald calls placed to that subscriber from a selected set of calling parties identifies (a) the forwarding number, and (b) the selected parties, to a central processor, called a "services adjunct". The services adjunct, in turn, llal~ll~ils the forwarding number to 25 the intelligent terminals of the selected parties while those intelligent Le~ als are in an inactive (i.e. on-hook) mode, for storage in a local memory contained in those terminals. Thereafter, when the usual number of the telephone subscriber is "dialed"
(e.g., entered on the keypad) at any one of the intelligent terminals, the stored destination number is retrieved and output to the telecomml~nic~ions network in place 30 of the dialed number.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the intelligent terminals are equipped with ISDN connections that enable the tr~n.cmi.csion of hlrollllation to the terminals and storage therein while the ISDN terminals are on-hook (not being used).
Illustratively, a standard X.25 network can be used to transport the data between the 35 services adjunct and the intelligent terminal. This is consistent with the use of ISDN, because the "D" channel of a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection supports the use of ~ ~ 5 3 0 3 3 -~
the X.25 protocol. In another embodiment of this invention, information is transported from ~ the services adjunct to the intelligent terminal over the network SS7 facilities, and converted into Q.93 1 type sign~lling messages by the local switch. In yet another embodiment, information is sent to the local switch by either X.25 or SS7 and downloaded using analog S signalling similar to that used today to send the calling party identification to the called party while the phone is in an inactive (e.g., on hook) mode. In the latter two embodiments, changes are required in the local central off1ce.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for transferring information to intelligent termin~lc, for use in forwarding calls, comprising 10 the steps of: storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, in a central processor, transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties are in an on-hook mode, and recording 15 said personal number and said forwarding number in said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transferring information to intelligent termin~ , comprising: a database for storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding 20 number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, and means for transmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals are in an on-hook mode; and means for recording said personal number and said forwarding number at said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
-, .
1 .,~
R. Carlsen3 21~ 3 0 ~ 3 BriefDesc~ ; nofthPn~wi~
The present invention will be more fully appreciated by consideration of the following Detailed Description, which should be read in light of the accompanying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall arrangement of a system by which one or more intelligent terminals can cooperate with a services adjunct in an intelligent teleco~ lunications network in order to enable the selective forwarding of telephone calls;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of an intelligent terminal o which can work cooperatively with a services adjunct to selectively forward telephone calls;
Fig. 3 illustrates the process performed when a subscriber instructs services adjunct 111 of Fig. 1 to forward selected calls placed to that subscriber's usual number to a new destination ..-I..-be. and when adjunct 111 subsequently stores or updates 15 i~ol.nation in the memory in the intelligent tc.n.illals;
Fig. 4 illustrates the process pc.ro.nled by an intelligent terminal when the services adjunct instructs it to update the destination number for a particular usually dialed number;
Fig. S illustrates the process performed by an intelligent terminal 101 when the20 user dials a number to place a call;
Fig. 6 illustrates the format of a record in number translation memory 208 of intelligent termin~l 101; and Fig. 7 illustrates the format of a record in the database 123 in services adjunct 111.
~ailed n~c~
Referring ~1rst to Fig. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating the overall arrangement of one embodiment of our invention in which intelligent terminals 101 cooperate with a services adjunct 111 in an intelligent teleco~ ic~tions network30 designated generally as llelwOlk 110, in order to selectively forward telephone calls.
Network 110 includes several interconnPcted switches 112 which are each connected, directly or indirectly, via an X.25 data network 126, and via voice trunks 127, to services adjunct 111. Intelligent terminal 101-1 is connected to switch 112-1 while intelligent terminal 101-2 is connPctçd to switch 112-2. In Fig. 1, "dumb phones" 125-35 1, which have the capabilities of conventional touch tone telephone instruments, areshown as also being conn~cted to switches 112-1 and 112-2, respectively. Note that R.Carlsen3 2153033 the elements of Fig 1 are shown in greatly simplified form, for ease of explanation;
accordingly other network elements normally associated with local and interexchange carriers are not separately shown.
Service adjunct 111 includes a Voice Response Unit (VRU) 122 that is connected to an internal control bus 124 as well as to switches 112 via voice channels.
VRU 122 is programmed to co~.~"~lni~te with calling parties, by pru~ ing them, for example with voice ploln~l:i, to enter i~lro"l~ation such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that identifies the subscriber, as well as a desired ~lestin~tion number to which calls to that subscriber are to be forwarded. Optionally, the caller can also be o ploll~led to supply information identifying calling parties having intelligent terminals that are likely to place calls to that subscriber and whose calls should be forwarded, and specifying the directory and routing information for those persons. In order to perform the functions just described, VRU 122 is a"anged to (a) perform various database lookups, (b) to perform logical operations on information input by a caller and obtained from a database lookup, and (c) to perform various telephone call management functions, such as reception of telephone calls, call progress mollilolillg and call disconnection.
Services adjunct 111 also includes a ~t~b~ce 123 connected to bus 124, for storing information entered by subscribers and used in the selective call forwarding process of the present invention, and a control processor 121, also connected to bus 124, for m~n~ging the various processes described in more detail below When all required information has been entered by a subscriber in response to voice prol,~t~, VRU 122 confirms this with the calling party, disconnects the calling party, and then updates database 123, via internal bus 124, with new destination i,~"nation for this subscriber. Database 123, after being updated, informs control processor 121 that an update has been made Control processor 121 then requests f~t~ba.ce 123 to download the new clestin~tion il~fol,llalion and the addresses of the selected intelligent terminals that need the new ~estin~tion number. This downloading may be accomplished via an X.25 packet data message, sent from control processor 121 via data network 126 and one of the switches 112, to one or more intelligent terminals 101 whose addresses had been provided by the subscriber or entered via network provisioning system 128.
In one specific arrangement of the present invention, ~wilches 112 are #5ESS
stored program controlled electronic switching systems available from AT&T
Services adjunct 111 is comprised of a CONVERSANT~ Voice Response Unit and a general purpose AINet~ Service Circuit Node, both of which are available from AT&T. Note that switches 112, which are equipped to provide ISDN services, are R.Carlsen3 2153033 connected to services adjunct 111 by both voice channels as well as X.25 packet data connections. The voice channels are used when the subscriber calls the services adjunct 111 to interact with it for the purpose of updating the destin~tion number at which calls are to be received. The X.25 packet data connections are used thereafter by services adjunct 111 to send messages to selected intelligent terminals 101 that need updated destination numbers with respect to calls placed to a particular subscriber. The X.25 data connection is extended to terminals 101 via standard ISDN data communir~tions service.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of a typical intelligent terrninal 101. As shown in Fig. 2 intelligent terminal 101 includes the normal components of a telephone station~ such as a telephone line circuit 205, a mi~,ropholle 202, a speaker 203, a dial pad and associated touch tone ge~ lol 204, and feature control buttons 209. Terminal 101 also includes a memory device 208 that can store records of the type shown in Fig. 8 on a long term basis, and a microprocessor 206 arranged to operate under the control of program instructions stored in a program memory 207, which thereby controls the operation of those various components andperforrns the processes described below in connection with Figs. S and 6. Note here that, as ~1i.ccl-ssed further below, terminal 101 can also be a wireless telephone.
Fig. 3 illustrates the process p~lrol.lled when a subscriber wishes to instruct services adjunct 111 in intelligent network 110 to selectively forward calls placed to that subscriber's usual number, to a different location. The process may be ini~i~t~d from any location, illustratively from an ordinary touch tone telephone station 125, and begins in step 301, when a subscriber places a call to services adjunct 111, illustratively by dialing an 800 toll free or other number associated generally with that adjunct and specifically with the forwarding service contemplated by the presentinvention. The call is routed by the switch in the local central office that is associated with telephone station 125, in this case, switch 112-1, via a voice path, to VRU 122 in services adjunct 111, in step 303, and the VRU, in step 305 plolllpls the calling party to enter a PIN identifying him or her as a particular subscriber entitled to use service and obtain the advantages of the present invention. If the PIN is vali-l~t~l in step 307, VRU 122 prompts the subscriber, in step 309, to enter the telephone number of the destination to which the subscriber desires that his or her calls be forwarded. This number can be entered using a DTMF dial pad, or alternatively spoken, if VRU 122 is equipped with speech recognition apparatus.
Next, in step 311, a deterrnination is made as to whether or not the subscriber is (a) providing new information adding or deleting intelligent t~rrnin~lc that are to R. Carlsen 3 21~ 3 0 3 3 receive the telephone number of the destination to which the subscriber desires that his or her calls be fo~ rded, or (b) is updating destin~tion information that was previously provided. If the response inf~ tes situation (a), the subscriber is plolll~ted, in step 313, to provide the identifying information, which may be the X.25 address of selected intelligent terminals, the telephone number of selected termin~lc, or other identifying information, all of which is stored in ~t~b~ce 123. If the re~ollse in-lic~tes situation (b), then information stored in database 123 is updated in step 315.
After steps 313 or 315 are completed, the process of Fig. 3 proceeds to step 317, in which VRU 122 signals control processor 121 that downloads of destination o number h~llnation to the selected intelligent terminals, as described in connection with Fig. 4 are required. The process then proceeds to step 319, in which VRU 122 disconnects the subscriber. Note here that if the PIN entered by the caller was not de~e~ ed to be valid in step 307, the subscriber is then also disconn~cted by procee<ling directly to step 319.
Next, in step 321, control processor 121 obtains from database 123 information identifying the selected intelligent terminals 101 that must be ~p~ted, and sends to those terminals, in step 323, h~rollllation idenlirying (a) the dialed number associated with a subscriber, and (b) a new dPstin~tion number for that subscriber, illustratively sent in the form of X.25 packet data messages. Thus, as an example, intelligent tellllillalS 101-1 and 101-2 may receive and store (as explained in connection with Fig.
4 below), information in-lic~ting that calls to (908) 949-7503 should be placed instead to (212) 987-7767. See the first entry in the table illustrated in Fig. 6, ~icc~lcsed in more detail below.
The ~l,al)~1er in which information is transmitted from services adjunct 111 to intelligent terminals 101 can involve several approaches. First, as intlic~ted above, the "D" channel of a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection supports the use of the X.25 protocol. Any of three X.25 data collllllunications techniques can be used to link the control processor 121 in the services adjunct 111 to each of the intelligent tc~nlillals 101-x. One technique is the switched virtual circuit, in which the control processor sends a call set up message to data network 126, and after that call request is accepted by terminal 101, data is sent in a subsequent packet labeled with the a~ropliate virtual circuit number after which the virtual circuit is disconnected by both ends. A
permanent virtual circuit is similar, with the exception that the virtual circuit is not disconn~ct~d after data is sent. The samé virtual circuit number is used each time the control processor updates a particular intelligent terminal 101. The third technique, known as "Fast Select Service", provides for the tr~n.~micsion of up to 128 octets of R. Carlsen3 ~15~033 .,.", data in the same packet that is used to establish the virtual circuit. With this technique, terminal 101 receives the call set up packet with the data and imm~ tely disconnects from the call. All three techniques are well known to those skilled in the X.25 art. In another allallge~ , information is transported from services adjunct 111 to intelligent 5 terminals 101 over the network SS7 facilities, as part of the Q.931 sign~ling messages.
~n this type of embo~lim~rlt the present invention would be implemented using the Sign~ling System 7 (SS7) network as a replacement for the X.25 network 126. To use SS7, control processor 121 would connect to each of the local switches 112 via standard SS7 links. Messages to intelligent terminals 112 would be l1AI~ d in the l0 Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) protocol, which is ~ullelllly used in SS7 l~lWOlkS for other non circuit related messages, such as an 800 number transaction with a Service Control Point. Within the local central of fice 112, such TCAP
messages would be translated into Q.931 ISDN si~n~ling messages. Such interworking iS ~;ullelllly supported in local central offices to pass ISDN si~n~ling messages over the 15 SS7 network. See ITU Recommendation Q.699, entitled "Interworking Between Digital Subscriber Sign~ling System No. 1 and Sign~ling System No. 7". For example, an ISDN Q.931 "Setup" message is mapped into an SS7 ISDN User Part (ISUP) "Initial Address Message", and an ISDN "Connect" message is mapped into an SS7 "Answer Message". Extension of these techniques to the current invention is 20 straightforward, but requires modification of the local central office.
In yet another allangellRnt, information is downloaded from local central offices 112 to intelligent terminals 101 using analog sign~ling similar to that used today to send the calling party identification to the called party before the call is answered.
In this arrangement, changes are required in the local central office. Specifications 25 related to the tr~n.smi.csion of analog data to a plopelly equipped on-hook telephone not associated with ringing are contained in Bellcore Technir~l Reference TR-NWT-000030 Issue 2 dated October 1992 "Voiceband Data Tr~n.cmi~sion Interface Generic RequirellR~s" begim~ing at page 4, paragraph 2.3.2. The recollllllended technique is to use a 150 to 350 milli.second Open Switching interval (OSI) to signal loop 30 tr~nsmis.sion equipment (if it exists) that an on-hook tr~nsmission path is required.
This is then followed after 300 milliseconds with the data to be sent in Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK) modulation at 1200/2200 Hz. With the current invention, the central office would received the data over either the X.25 or SS7 data networks and then convert it into the analog format and sent it to the on-hook analog 35 terminal without ringing.
R.Carlsen3 215303~
If intelligent terminal 101 is a wireless terminal, updates from database 123 may be received over the sign~ling channel while the wireless terminal is active but on-hook.
It is to be noted here that the process illustrated in Fig. 3 can be quite similar to the a portion of the process pelr~ ed in basic service adjunct 150 shown in Fig. 1 of U.S. Patent 5,222,125 issued to Creswell et al. on June 22, 1993 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Fig. 4 illustrates the process used by an intelligent terminal 101 to update information in its nulllbcr translation memory 208 in response to receiving information, such as in an X.25 data message, from services adjunct 111. The process begins in step 401, when a ~ellnillal, in an on-hook or idle state, receives an X.25 message co~ inin~ a dialed number and an associated destin~tion number. In response to receipt of the message, terminal 101, under the control of a program stored in program memory 207, checks number translation memory 208 in step 403 to determine if there is an entry for the dialed number in~lic~ted in the message. If so, then in step 405, the destination number in the message is stored in memory 208 in association with the dialed number, replacing the destin~tion number that had been previously stored. On the other hand, if the called number is not in lllmlbel translation memory 208, then in step 407, an indication is given, such as by a message on display 215, inrlir~ting that the ~estin~tion llulllbel for a new dialed number has been received. Thereafter, in step 409, the destin~tion number is stored in number translation memory 208, provided that an indication is not received via dial pad 204 that the person using the intelligent terminal does not wish the hlrollllation to be stored. In either event, the process is terrnin~ted in step 411, and thereafter repeated when a new message is received from services adjunct 111.
Fig. 5 illustrates that process performed in the intelligent terminal 101 of Fig.
1 when a call is placed to the usual number of a subscriber who has previously requested call forwarding using the process of Fig. 2. The process begins in step 501 when the person using the intelligent terminal starts dialing a number, using dial pad 204. As each digit is dialed, a digit by digit check is performed in step 503, to determine if there could be an entry in number translation memory 208 that m~tr.h~s the dialed number. If it is determined in step 505, at any point in the dialing process, that a memory match is no longer possible, since the digits already dialed do match any of the numbers stored in number translation memory 208, the process proceeds to step 515 in which all of the dialed digits, plus any subsequently dialed digits, are sent from R. Carlsen 3 215 3 0 3 3 the intelligent terminal to the switch 112 to which it is connected. This, in effect, yields ordinaly, non-fol ~arded calling. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step 505, a determination is made in step 507 as to whether it can be determined if there has been a match between the dialed digits and a stored number. If 5 not, the process returns to step 503 and repeats the process described above.
If and when a positive result is obtained in step 507, the process of Fig. 5 proceeds to step 509, in which the previously stored destination number associated with the dialed number is sent from the intelligent terminal to the switch 112 to which it is connrcted This, in effect, produces call forwarding to the d~stin~tion number l0 specified by the subscriber. Note that interaction between the intelligent tennin~l and elements within the teleco,."".l.-ic~tions network is not required at the time that a call is origin~ted, and, accordingly, call set-up time can be signifir~ntly reduced. The stored destin~tion llulllber can also be displayed on display 215 in step 509, so that the call can be terminated (as by disconnPctin~ or h~nging up) if the person making the call lS does not wish to complete the call to the destin~tion llulllbel displayed. After completion of steps 509 or 515, the process of Fig. 5 is t~."ill~ted in step 511.
Fig. 6 illustrates the format of typical information stored in number translation memory 108 within intelligent terminal 101 of Fig. 1. In this figure, each line can be considered as a separate record. Each record represents information obtained through 20 a download initi~tecl by a particular subscriber, and includes a dialed number, in field 601, and an associated current destination number for that dialed number, in field 602.
If desired, an additional field 603 can be included in each record for a flag bit, which in~ir~t~s that dialed number and its associated destination number are newly stored, and should be displayed on the terminal display, so that a user can delellllill~ if the 25 information should continue to be stored, or be deleted.
Fig. 7 illustrates the format of a record contained in d~t~b~e 123 within the services adjunct 111 of Fig. 1. In this figure, the hlfollllation shown represents the records for two subscribers, and different subscribers would have records cont~ining different h~foll,lalion. Each record of the type shown in Fig. 7 includes a personal 30 number, in field 701, and an associated current destination number for that dialed number, in field 702. Also included, for each subscriber, is a PIN in field 703, that is used for validation purposes as explained above. Information identifying one or more intelligent tellllillals that are designated to receive fol~valding il~llllation for this subscriber is contained in field 704, and can illustratively include routing information 35 needed to send a X.25 packet data message to the appropliate intelligent terminals.
R. Carlsen 3 21 ~i 3 a 3 ~
._ The format for X.25 addresses are specified in ITU-TS (formerly CCITT) document X.121. Such addresses are comprised of a 3-digit country code (may be more than one per country), a 1-digit network identifier, and a terminal address of up to 10 digits. Alternatively, information contained in field 704 can be telephones numbers of selected intelligent termin~l~ in embodiments of the invention in which information is sent to the terminal via a voice channel while the station is on-hook.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various modification and adaptations may be made of the present invention. For example, although servicesadjunct 111 is shown as included within intelligent l~lwolk 110, it will be appreciated o that the functions performed thereby can be performed by an approp~iately configured personal co~ ll, r based processor that is connectç(l to the teleco.,..".ll~ tions network via a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) connection. Accordingly, the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.
Claims (17)
1. A method for transferring information to intelligent terminals, for use in forwarding calls, comprising the steps of:
storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, in a central processor, transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligentterminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties are in an on-hook mode, and recording said personal number and said forwarding number in said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, in a central processor, transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligentterminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties are in an on-hook mode, and recording said personal number and said forwarding number in said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
when said personal number of said subscriber is dialed at a given one of said intelligent terminals, retrieving said forwarding number recorded thereat, and outputting said forwarding number to a telecommunicationsnetwork in place of said personal number.
when said personal number of said subscriber is dialed at a given one of said intelligent terminals, retrieving said forwarding number recorded thereat, and outputting said forwarding number to a telecommunicationsnetwork in place of said personal number.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligent terminals via ISDN
connections using X.25 packet data communications.
connections using X.25 packet data communications.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligent terminals via network SS7 facilities, which are mapped into Q.931 signalling messages.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said personal number and said forwarding number to said intelligent terminals using analog signalling.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said central processor is located in a telecommunications network.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said central processor is connected to a telecommunications network via an ISDN BRI connection.
8. The method in claim 1 wherein said intelligent terminals are wireless terminals and wherein said personal number and said forwarding number are transmitted to said wireless terminals of said selected calling parties via a control channel while said wireless terminals of said selected calling parties are in an on-hook mode.
9. A method for processing calls in an intelligent station so that calls to preselected personal numbers are forwarded to associated forwarding numbers, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving, while said intelligent station is in an on-hook condition, information from a services adjunct identifying (a) a dialed personal number, and (b) an associated forwarding number to be used in place of the dialed personal number;
storing said information in a memory in said intelligent station;
determining if the dialed personal number has a stored associated forwarding number;
if a stored associated forwarding number exists, completing a call using said associated forwarding number in place of said dialed personal number.
receiving, while said intelligent station is in an on-hook condition, information from a services adjunct identifying (a) a dialed personal number, and (b) an associated forwarding number to be used in place of the dialed personal number;
storing said information in a memory in said intelligent station;
determining if the dialed personal number has a stored associated forwarding number;
if a stored associated forwarding number exists, completing a call using said associated forwarding number in place of said dialed personal number.
10. The method defined in claim 9 further including the step of displaying said forwarding number prior to completing said call.
11. Apparatus for transferring information to intelligent terminals, comprising:a database for storing information identifying (a) a personal number of a subscriber, (b) a forwarding number associated with said personal number, and (c) said intelligent terminals of selected calling parties, and means for transmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties while said intelligent terminals are in an on-hook mode; and means for recording said personal number and said forwarding number at said intelligent terminals of said selected calling parties.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said intelligent terminals include means arranged so that, when said personal number of said telephone subscriber is dialed, said associated forwarding number is retrieved and output to the telecommunications network in place of said personal number.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said transmitting means includes means fortransmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals via ISDN connections using X.25 packet data communications.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said transmitting means includes means fortransmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals via network SS7 facilities, as part of the Q.931 signalling messages.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said transmitting means includes means fortransmitting said personal number and said associated forwarding number to said intelligent terminals using analog signalling.
16. An intelligent terminal for processing calls so that calls to preselected personal numbers are forwarded to associated forwarding numbers, said intelligent terminal comprising:
means for receiving, while said intelligent terminal is in an on-hook condition,information from a services adjunct identifying (a) a dialed personal number, and (b) an associated forwarding number to be used in place of the dialed number;
a memory for storing said information in said intelligent terminal;
means for determining, when a number is dialed from said intelligent terminal, if the number matches a stored dialed personal number; and means for completing a call using said associated forwarding number in place of the dialed personal number, if a match is determined by said means for determining.
means for receiving, while said intelligent terminal is in an on-hook condition,information from a services adjunct identifying (a) a dialed personal number, and (b) an associated forwarding number to be used in place of the dialed number;
a memory for storing said information in said intelligent terminal;
means for determining, when a number is dialed from said intelligent terminal, if the number matches a stored dialed personal number; and means for completing a call using said associated forwarding number in place of the dialed personal number, if a match is determined by said means for determining.
17. The intelligent terminal defined in claim 16 further including means for displaying said associated forwarding number prior to completing said call.
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| US08/285,370 US5509062A (en) | 1994-08-03 | 1994-08-03 | Intelligent terminal based selective call forwarding |
| US285,370 | 1994-08-03 |
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| SE9401834D0 (en) * | 1994-05-27 | 1994-05-27 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Method and arrangement for call set-up |
| US5784444A (en) * | 1994-12-01 | 1998-07-21 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Method and apparatus for providing personal calling identification at remote locations |
| US5754627A (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1998-05-19 | Mitel Corporation | Method and apparatus for managing calls using a soft call park |
| US5793857A (en) * | 1995-09-27 | 1998-08-11 | Northern Telecom Limited | Method of using dynamic database to improve telephone number portability |
| US5790647A (en) * | 1995-12-18 | 1998-08-04 | Ericsson, Inc. | Subscriber feature services in a telecommunications system |
| US5943412A (en) * | 1996-01-31 | 1999-08-24 | France Telecom | Method and apparatus for establishing an ISDN call between parties |
| GB9603020D0 (en) * | 1996-02-14 | 1996-04-10 | British Telecomm | Establishing communication |
| US5960340A (en) * | 1996-02-28 | 1999-09-28 | At&T Corporation | Automatic cellular telephone registration for universal telephone number service |
| US5905958A (en) * | 1996-03-18 | 1999-05-18 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Intelligent mobile station for a cellular telecommunications network |
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-
1994
- 1994-08-03 US US08/285,370 patent/US5509062A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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1995
- 1995-06-29 CA CA002153033A patent/CA2153033C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-07-26 EP EP95305227A patent/EP0696146A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1995-08-02 JP JP7215462A patent/JP3034783B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-08-03 CN CN95108672A patent/CN1097377C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
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|---|---|
| CN1122544A (en) | 1996-05-15 |
| CN1097377C (en) | 2002-12-25 |
| JPH0865363A (en) | 1996-03-08 |
| JP3034783B2 (en) | 2000-04-17 |
| US5509062A (en) | 1996-04-16 |
| EP0696146A2 (en) | 1996-02-07 |
| EP0696146A3 (en) | 1996-10-30 |
| CA2153033A1 (en) | 1996-02-04 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |