(12) United States Patent
`O’Neal et al.
`
`US006463145B1
`US 6,463,145 B1
`Oct. 8,2002
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED CALL
`FORWARDING OPTIONS AND METHODS
`THEREFOR IN A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`75
`
`Inventors: Ste hen C. O’Neal, San Francisco, CA
`P
`(US); John Jiang, Danville, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`(Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/239,584
`(22) Filed:
`Jan. 29, 1999
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 .......................... .. H04M 3/42; H04M 7/00
`(52) US. Cl. ........................... .. 379/211.02; 379/201.12;
`379/221.01
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 379/201, 210,
`379/211, 212, 219, 220, 221; 709/229;
`455/461
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6/1989 Cohen et a1. ............... .. 379/88
`4,837,798 A
`4,850,008 A * 7/1989 Berg et a1. ...... ..
`358/400
`5,467,390 A * 11/1995 Brankley et a1. .
`379/229
`5,608,786 A * 3/1997 Gordon ............. ..
`370/352
`5,610,910 A * 3/1997 Focsaneanu et a1. .
`370/351
`5,729,599 A * 3/1998 Plomondon et al. .
`379/211
`5,742,905 A * 4/1998 Pepe et a1. ......... ..
`379/210
`5,828,666 A * 10/1998 Focsaneanu et a1. ...... .. 370/389
`5,870,549 A
`2/1999 Bobo, II .............. .. 395/20036
`5,892,819 A
`4/1999 Stumer
`379/211
`5,915,008 A * 6/1999 Dulman
`379/201
`5,958,016 A * 9/1999 Chang et a1. ..
`709/229
`6,014,379 A
`1/2000 White et a1.
`370/389
`6,185,288 B1 * 2/2001 Wong ....................... .. 379/219
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Jfax.com —Fax, voice mail, email, downloaded from
`www.jfax.com on Dec. 18, 1998.
`General Magic/Portico —what it is, overview, features,
`MagicTalk Technology, network operations, FAQs, down
`loaded from www.genmagic.com on Dec. 18. 1998.
`
`Michele Shannon, “The Best Telephone System for Your
`Business May Not Look Like a ‘Phone System’ At All”,
`Undated Advertisement, Technology Watch, AltiGen Com
`munications, Inc.
`International Search Report dated May 09, 2000.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Ahmad F. Matar
`Assistant Examiner—Hector Agdeppa
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Senniger, Powers, Leavitt
`& Roedel
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A computer-implemented method for permitting a sub
`scriber of a call forwarding service to customiZe call for
`warding parameters associated with the call forwarding
`service. The call forwarding service being con?gured to
`permit the subscriber to specify whether a call received at a
`telephone number associated with a given account of the call
`forwarding service be forwarded to a forwarding telephone
`number. The call forwarding parameters includes a call
`forwarding enable option and the forwarding telephone
`number. The method includes providing a subscriber com
`munication pro?le database. The subscriber communication
`pro?le database has therein the account pertaining to the
`subscriber. The account includes the call forwarding param
`eters for the subscriber. The method further includes visually
`displaying the call forwarding parameters on a display
`terminal coupled to a data-centric network, using a computer
`server coupled to exchange data with the subscriber com
`munication pro?le database, when the subscriber employs
`the display terminal to access the account. There is also
`included receiving from the subscriber via the display ter
`minal a ?rst change to the call forwarding parameters. The
`?rst change to the call forwarding parameters pertains to at
`least one of the call forwarding enable option and the
`forwarding telephone number. Further, there is included
`updating the ?rst change to the account in the subscriber
`communication pro?le database, wherein subsequent calls to
`the given account are handled in accordance with parameters
`present in the subscriber communication pro?le database
`after the update.
`
`35 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`m
`use
`MUN? 15 w
`
`HOUTE can
`Mlxnnn Nil
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 8,2002
`
`Sheet 1 0f 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`im
`
`
`
`85X N:\ 35%
`
`52%;;
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`mom
`
`@2350_,_2S
`
`m__/_:
`
`Z,
`
`[
`\.__<_>_m_o_Q>
`
`Emm_zo_._n_
`
`gm@EN@Sm4%%
`
`_>_oEm=>_main5
`
`@2350F025050_9/__ooSo2a_,___>_8_/__mm
`
`
`
`mz:m_z_._$2:$2:
`
`Sfig
`
`@:
`
`'.___
`
`7m__zE_>_8_
`
`mEm_>sz.w._._<o
`
`XE95859_
`momfimzammsm
`
`m$m_$wm5w-zoz
`
`
`$>$mSo_,__ooSoE0250920Ijo_,__ooSoESm_a<m$_>_z_<_>_E?
`mE>$m.__<_>_m_o_o>WWmmm_>$mEoiWmi/Emx<n_
`
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 3
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 3
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`
`
` B_EEEv__,__d_z_EEm_>_8d>>v=,__d__,__E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4_<_>mo_o>8o_,_<I_,mma?%Em-E<N_>>zo_E%mE_,_8_:E_,E$<m$_>_N?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`m#=EE528$zow.__<._.m_n_->>m_>$>o538%.__<_>_m_>>m_zO
`
`mm/mamSE375$52-$52mm/mam4_fi am
`
`Emfimmom
`
`
`
`Iomfim717.G3_£33%_$m$m8<,;_:o8<>_>_AESEEm_mzoio_$23.8\Q8__,\ $2,mi
`
`
`
`
`
`m8:_mm,:omEEmE$<_>_E94:5&8;89:2,39“£02Em
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`V5Humans$w<m$_>_52mo8%:mm:2,=o>a&oo75E:$<m$_>_
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`m>>3._E285%mm:22:5%EwEozomosfiwm_>_>2383:8E,§§E\mEB$Em_,_<E#2_.o__9/__m$Em$_j<o_otozoEm_>_2,_E<_,_E:<@5o5EmbE<_>__E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`,3:Es_z__>_E<om_:w<amomgm:8EAo2Em%E_BE<>>m9_ZEEQmm:2,mjé%S_ot.o22a.¢.<.2E.E._._<,..//N_:._E2:mzoEa__,5_>__>_o:
`
`
`
`wEm_>5_/_v=/__._v_2_:._$39._.<85¢m>m8mo._.52mm._.__>>320%zo
`
`o_/__>_m8mxi
`
`ma
`
`
`
`£3<wz_m_zm_m3_,_o_Eom__.F_.E>>BE_>_oEmm._.__>>mEj<o@&oO20
`
`
`
`
`
`ozaiTx\)an
`
`clsco SYSTEMS, Inc. Ex. 1126 Page 4
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 4
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`8:E038:ago;
`
`
`
`mE_>_m._.._<ozmm
`
`E:5am<>>mE
`
`
`
`w_>_>>o._._E
`
`-
`
`momgmvE
`
`0E38%E<>>¢Ej<oE0:I
`
`
`82Em_/_oEa_z_>__>_8Eoz<>Q<
`
`
`
`m_,_o_Eo_EEK
`
`
`
`
`
`[k_/E>Em_:>mmE,__
`
`
`
`_D;___>:wE_>mC<
`
`
`
`Em:mo<w$_>_
`
`9/__e,mmxi
`
`EaaEEfimdmE32m52:
`
`Em$5:22.
`
`4_<_>E_o>E2-
`
`4_<_>_mE2-
`
`X82.3”mm_3oz_
`
`Em“ES89:mm:2,:9
`
`
`
`D$w<m$_>_:/E95
`
`
`
`
`
`DE<_>__E9/__Som.:<om=>_25:8
`
`avE93E5
`VivoEzo
`
`z_n_
`
`fieozo
`
`83.9?3AEézoam
`
`093%.,5.m
`
`83¢?am.m
`
`E_m$>o
`
`
`2§-%:mN59>m<_>__mn_
`
`
`
`s2-§§.N
`
`83-8153_m
`
`
`
`fimsszmF<zm_m:.._<
`
`omE-§am2mE<>>mE._o__an
`\H@253,
`t\|\.\\.‘|'/.33a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`m.$93m__.F.Em__>5_,_§<>>mEm__.FE$>>m_,_<ozm_E:¢_5%Bgfizae
`
`
`
`
`
`m_$23m__.fizo82$:#2m_>_E38n_z<E<>>mo._<o_._5mzm_I>>Ebzv
`
`,:,
`
`
`
`m_>5_,_E/_omEn__
`
`
`
`ao_>$mfiems?5BmsfimL_z_Em52>.39Eozv
`
`$2359m__>_>>o._._ou_mi»mm:
`
`
`
`
`20:55m_._._.zm_>_o
`
`9%
`
`clsco SYSTEMS, Inc. Ex. 1126 Page 5
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 8,2002
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`FIG. 5
`
`(31E)
`
`V
`
`SUBSCRIBER'S
`ASSIGNED PHONE \
`NUMBER IS DIALED
`502
`
`TELEPHONY sERvER \
`OBTAINS DNIS
`504
`
`Y
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER LOOKS
`UP COMMUNICATION OPTION
`506
`\ SETTINGS IN DATABASE
`sERvER
`
`50s \ A
`
`ROUTE CALL
`ACCORDINGLY
`
`PIALOG'C BOARD
`LISTENS FOR FAX 0R
`KEY D'G'T
`
`NO
`
`HANDLE CALL IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`
`KEYED DICIT
`YES
`
`YES
`FAX
`
`510
`
`HANDLE KEYED DIGITS IN
`516
`HANDLE FAX ||\]
`514
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`'
`C0|v|N|uN|CAT|DN OPTION / CD|v||v|uN|CAT|0N J
`
`DPT|DN sETT|NCs
`
`SETTINGS
`
`’
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 8,2002
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`AGGESSES UNIFIED
`MESSAGING x
`SYSTEM WEB SITE
`602
`
`614
`
`MB SERVER SEBvES \
`UP LOGIN PAGE
`604
`
`V
`
`SUBSCRIBER ID IS
`ENTERED AT THE
`LOGIN PAGE
`
`606
`
`SUBSCRIBER SAVES
`THE MODIFIED
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`
`SUBSCRIBER MODIFIES
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`
`I
`
`WEB SERVER COMPARES
`SUBSCRIBER ID WITH
`SUBSCRIBER ACCOUNT
`AUTHENTICATION DATA IN
`THE DATABASE SERVER
`
`610 \ T
`
`GRAPHICAL MENU OF
`COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
`IS SERVED UP TO THE
`SUBSCRIBER
`
`ASSUMING
`AUTHENTICATION IS
`OK
`
`\
`608
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8,2002
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`FIG. 7
`START \
`HANDLE CALL IN \
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`I
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`(STEP 510, FIG. 5)
`
`YES
`
`HANDLE CALL IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`OTHER COMMUNICATION
`OPTIONS
`
`716 _/
`
`15 CALL
`FORWARDING
`OPTION
`
`704
`
`718
`
`ARE
`/ OTHER
`+< COMMUNICATION
`OPTIONS
`
`f";
`ROUTE CALL
`ACCORDINGLY
`
`—
`
`NO
`
`__V
`CALLER SENT TO
`VOICE MAIL
`
`IT'EEEXTENSUSTESSFNFE;
`CALL TO FORWARDED
`NUMBER
`
`I
`
`‘
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`INFORMS CALLER OF
`FAILURE
`I
`
`708
`
`IS
`OUTGOING CALL
`SUCCESSFU LLY
`CONNECTED?
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`CONNECTS THE
`INCOMING CALL WITH
`THE SUCCESSFUL
`OUTGOING CALL TO
`COMPLETE END-TO-END
`CONNECTION
`
`\~ 710
`
`712
`
`v
`CALL
`FORWARDED
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 8
`
`

`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`1
`COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED CALL
`FORWARDING OPTIONS AND METHODS
`THEREFOR IN A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`2
`World use the data-centric netWork to retrieve information,
`communicate and conduct business globally, and access a
`vast array of services and resources on-line. In a similar
`manner, the telephony-centric netWork (Whether Wired or
`Wireless) may also be thought of as another global netWork
`that connects the millions of telephony devices (such as
`voice-oriented telephones, pagers, facsimile machines,
`voice mail boxes, and the like) together in such a Way that
`a user at one of the telephony devices can readily transmit
`information to other telephony devices irrespective of geo
`graphic boundaries.
`In the past, these tWo netWorks existed as separate
`domains. This is because the Widely accessible data-centric
`netWork is a fairly recent phenomenon. For decades, the
`only netWork that has been available to the masses is the
`analog teltphony-centric netWork, starting With the telegraph
`netWork of the nineteenth century. HoWever, as more and
`more of the services traditionally offered through the
`telephony-centric netWork are being offered in a digital
`format by the data-centric netWork, the distinction betWeen
`the data-centric netWork and the telephony-centric netWork
`begins to blur. Irrespective of Whether these tWo netWorks
`exist as separate netWorks physically or conceptually going
`forWard, the legacies of their separate existence can be seen
`in the various different communication services and com
`munication devices that currently exist.
`By Way of example, there exist many different commu
`nication devices and services available today to alloW a
`person to communicate to another person, e.g., telephones,
`facsimile machines, electronic mail (e-mail), pagers, voice
`mail, and the like. Generally speaking, a telephone is a
`communication device employed to transmit and receive
`speech and other sounds. A facsimile machine is a commu
`nication device to transmit and receive graphical data. A
`pager is a highly portable device that alloWs its user to
`receive data, and in some cases transmit limited data to a
`pager service provider. A voice mail box is essentially a
`service that alloWs one person to temporarily store telephone
`messages for retrieval by another. E-mail services alloW
`e-mail users to transmit and receive data from computer
`terminals connected to the data-centric netWork. All these
`devices and services are Well knoWn in the art and Will not
`be elaborated further for the sake of brevity.
`Generally speaking, most of these devices and services
`have many options associated With hoW they function. These
`options alloW a user specialiZed functionality. One particular
`option is call forWarding. Call forWarding refers to the
`ability to reroute calls originally destined for one telephone
`to a different telephone. Call forWarding is desired since
`noWadays, people are constantly on the move from one
`location to another. It is not uncommon for people to Work
`at multiple sites such as the home and the office. Even When
`people are mobile, it is important that they remain in the
`communication loop. For example, a person Who travels
`may Wish to forWard voice calls made to his home or office
`telephone numbers to his cellular telephone or hotel tele
`phone.
`To accomplish the above in the current art, the person in
`the above example Would, for example, enter a code (e.g.,
`*72) at the telephone from Which the forWarding is done,
`folloWed by the forWarded number. When an incoming call
`is made to the telephone number associated With the tele
`phone from Which the forWarding is done, it is routed to the
`outgoing number entered after the code. To undo the call
`forWarding, the user typically needs to be at the telephone
`from Which the forWarding Was done to enter another code
`to cancel the call forWarding (e.g., *75). To change the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`The following commonly-oWned, co-pending patent
`applications are related and are incorporated herein by
`reference.
`app. Ser. No. 09/239,560, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`“INTEGRATED MESSAGE STORAGE AND
`RETRIEVAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED OVER A
`LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,367, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled “A
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING UNI
`FIED MESSAGING TO A USER WITH ATHIN WEB
`BROWSER”;
`US. Pat. No. 6,263,064, issued Jul. 17, 2001, entitled
`“CENTRALIZED COMMUNICATION CONTROL CEN
`TER FOR VISUALLY AND AUDIBLY UPDATING COM
`MUNICATION OPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH COM
`MUNICATION SERVICES OF A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREFOR”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,893, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`25
`“INTERACTIVE BILLING SYSTEM UTILIZING A
`THIN WEB CLIENT INTERFACE”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,368, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled “A
`SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE PHONE
`SOURCED MESSAGES”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,434, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK
`INDEPENDENT INITIATION OF TELEPHONY”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,435, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEVICE INDE
`PENDENT MESSAGING NOTIFICATION”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,436, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHANNEL
`TRANSPARENT MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST
`40
`MESSAGING”;
`app. Ser. No. 09/239,589, ?led Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`“VOICE ACCESS THROUGH A DATA-CENTRIC
`NETWORK TO AN INTEGRATED MESSAGE
`STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM”.
`
`45
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to communication services
`available via a data-centric netWork (i.e., a netWork that
`carries digital data) and a telephony-centric netWork (i.e., a
`netWork that carries telephony information such as voice,
`fax, pager, and the like). More particularly, the present
`invention relates to a centraliZed facility and methods there
`for that alloW a subscriber of various communication ser
`vices to revieW and customiZe his communication options,
`in an interactive and simpli?ed manner, via either the
`data-centric netWork or the telephony-centric netWork.
`Both the data-centric netWork (e.g., a distributed com
`puter network) and the telephony-centric netWork (e.g.,
`public telephone netWork) have existed for some time.
`Broadly speaking, the data-centric netWork (such as the
`Internet) may be thought of as a global computer netWork
`that connects millions of computer terminals all over the
`World in such a Way that digitiZed information can be
`exchanged irrespective of the different hardWare and soft
`Ware platforms that may be utiliZed to gain access to the
`data-centric netWork. People and businesses around the
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 9
`
`

`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`3
`forwarded number to another forwarded number, the user
`also typically needs to be at the telephone from which the
`forwarding is done in order to cancel the forwarding as
`above, and re-enter the code for call forwarding (e.g., *72),
`plus enter the new forwarding telephone number.
`The requirement that the user be present at the telephone
`from which forwarding is done in order to initiate, cancel, or
`change the call forwarding options has its disadvantages. By
`way of example, the user oftentimes may wish to perform
`the initiation, cancellation, or changing of the call forward
`ing option from the road but may be unable to do so due to
`the geographic distance from the telephone set from which
`forwarding originates. Furthermore, the user may sometimes
`not be able to access any telephone at all (due to the lack of
`a telephony-centric network, for example). In this case, it
`has not been possible for the user to edit the call forwarding
`options.
`Another disadvantage with current call forwarding is that
`if the forwarded call may not connect, the call is lost. This
`is especially unwelcome when the forwarded party has an
`answering machine or voicemail set-up and the forwarding
`party does not.
`Another disadvantage is that the user has to memoriZe
`and/or keep track of the codes used for doing call forward
`ing. A busy user might not bother to learn or memoriZe all
`the codes and would rather suffer the possibility of missing
`out on some messages than keep track of the codes and
`current forwarded numbers. In this case, the communication
`services that he owns are not employed to their fullest
`potential.
`Also, another disadvantage is that the user cannot set
`non-fax call forwarding on without also turning faX
`forwarding on. This is because current call forwarding
`schemes do not distinguish between a faX call and any other
`calls (e.g., voice calls) for the purpose of forwarding. This
`is particularly problematic when the forwarding number has
`no faX receiving capability while the forwarded number has.
`Yet another disadvantage is that every time the number
`code is used, the telephone company (telco) charges the user.
`For eXample, if the user selects *72 ?ve times in one day, the
`telephone company will charge the user ?ve times.
`In view of the forgoing there are desired improved tech
`niques for allowing a user of communication services to
`review and customiZe the call forwarding options associated
`with these services in a simpli?ed, convenient and cost
`effective manner.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a computer
`implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a
`uni?ed messaging system to customiZe call forwarding
`parameters associated with a call forwarding service. The
`call forwarding service is con?gured to permit the subscriber
`to specify whether a call received at a telephone number
`associated with a given account of the uni?ed messaging
`system be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number. The
`call forwarding parameters includes a call forwarding enable
`option and the forwarding telephone number. The computer
`implemented control center includes a subscriber commu
`nication pro?le database. The subscriber communication
`pro?le database has therein the account pertaining to the
`subscriber. The account includes the call forwarding param
`eters for the subscriber. The computer-implemented control
`center includes a computer server coupled to eXchange data
`with the subscriber communication pro?le database. The
`computer server is con?gured to visually display the call
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`forwarding parameters on a display terminal coupled to a
`data-centric network when the subscriber employs the dis
`play terminal to access the computer-implemented control
`center. The computer server also is con?gured to receive
`from the subscriber via the display terminal a ?rst change to
`the call forwarding parameters and to update the ?rst change
`to the account in the subscriber communication pro?le
`database, wherein subsequent calls to the given account are
`handled in accordance with parameters present in the sub
`scriber communication pro?le database after the update.
`The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a
`computer-implemented method for permitting a subscriber
`of a call forwarding service to customiZe call forwarding
`parameters associated with the call forwarding service. The
`call forwarding service being con?gured to permit the
`subscriber to specify whether a call received at a telephone
`number associated with a given account of the call forward
`ing service be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number.
`The call forwarding parameters includes a call forwarding
`enable option and the forwarding telephone number. The
`method includes providing a subscriber communication pro
`?le database. The subscriber communication pro?le data
`base has therein the account pertaining to the subscriber. The
`account includes the call forwarding parameters for the
`subscriber. The method further includes visually displaying
`the call forwarding parameters on a display terminal coupled
`to a data-centric network, using a computer server coupled
`to eXchange data with the subscriber communication pro?le
`database, when the subscriber employs the display terminal
`to access the account. There is also included receiving from
`the subscriber via the display terminal a ?rst change to the
`call forwarding parameters. The ?rst change to the call
`forwarding parameters pertains to at least one of the call
`forwarding enable option and the forwarding telephone
`number. Further, there is included updating the ?rst change
`to the account in the subscriber communication pro?le
`database, wherein subsequent calls to the given account are
`handled in accordance with parameters present in the sub
`scriber communication pro?le database after the update.
`These and other features of the present invention will be
`described in more detail below in the detailed description of
`the invention and in conjunction with the following ?gures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`The present invention is illustrated by way of eXample,
`and not by way of limitation, in the ?gures of the accom
`panying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer
`to similar elements and in which:
`FIG. 1 depicts, in one embodiment, the general overview
`of the uni?ed message system.
`FIG. 2 illustrates, in one embodiment, how the 48 tele
`phone lines provided per T1 link may be divided among the
`sub-servers of the telephony server.
`FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the user interface portion of
`the computer-implemented control center, representing the
`visual display panel for displaying the communication
`options pertaining to a particular subscriber on a computer
`display screen.
`FIG. 4 shows the communication options in greater detail,
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`FIG. 5 is a How diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer-implemented process for
`handling access to the uni?ed messaging system through the
`telephony-centric network by a subscribing or a non
`subscribing caller.
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 10
`
`

`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`5
`FIG. 6 is a How diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer implemented process for
`handling access to the uni?ed messaging system through a
`computer netWork by a subscriber.
`FIG. 7 is a How diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer-implemented process for
`handling the routing of call forWarding in a uni?ed messag
`ing system.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention Will noW be described in detail With
`reference to a feW preferred embodiments thereof and as
`illustrated in the accompanying draWings. In the folloWing
`description, numerous speci?c details are set forth in order
`to provide a thorough understanding of the present inven
`tion. It Will be obvious, hoWever, to one skilled in the art,
`that the present invention may be practiced Without some or
`all of these speci?c details. In other instances, Well knoWn
`process steps have not been described in detail in order not
`to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
`In accordance With one aspect of the present invention,
`there is provided a computer-implemented control center
`Which is coupled to the data-centric netWork and the
`telephony-centric netWork, and Which alloWs a user to
`access, using either a telephone or a computer, the commu
`nication options associated With the various communication
`services of a uni?ed messaging service. Unlike the prior art
`approach Which requires the user to contact individual
`service providers/accounts and/or to access individual com
`munication devices to revieW and change the communica
`tion options associated thereWith, the computer
`implemented control center alloWs the communication
`options associated With the various communication services
`to be accessed substantially all at once. That is, the
`computer-implemented control center provides a single cen
`tral facility through Which the communication option set
`tings associated With the different communication services
`may be revieWed and/or modi?ed.
`In accordance With one aspect of the present invention,
`the communication options, Which include the options asso
`ciated With individual communication services as Well as
`routings among the different individual communication
`services, are accessible using either a computer netWork
`interface (e.g., a Web page) or a telephone netWork interface
`(e.g., via a telephone). The communication option settings
`themselves do not reside With individual communication
`devices or require access through a particular communica
`tion device (such as With the assigned facsimile machines or
`telephones discussed earlier). Rather, the communication
`option settings are centraliZed Within the universally acces
`sible computer-implemented control center and can be uti
`liZed to properly control the communication options asso
`ciated With the various services and to facilitate control of
`the routings therebetWeen. More importantly, they can be
`revieWed and modi?ed by a properly authenticated sub
`scriber of the uni?ed messaging service through any suitable
`computer or telephone irrespective of the geographic loca
`tion from Which the accessing and/or modi?cations are
`made.
`In accordance With yet another aspect of the present
`invention, the communication options Which are revieWable
`and editable through any suitable computer or telephone
`include a call forWarding option. The call forWarding option
`enables a user to reroute calls from one telephone to another.
`A user is able to revieW or modify features of call forWard
`
`6
`ing. By Way of example, a user is able to check Whether it
`is enabled, verify the forWarding number, select a number
`from a preprogrammed list, add a neW number to a prepro
`grammed list, or enter a temporary number. As mentioned,
`this option can be revieWed or modi?ed by a properly
`authenticated subscriber of the uni?ed messaging service
`through any suitable computer or telephone irrespective of
`the geographic location from Which the accessing and/or
`modi?cations are made.
`In the aforementioned co-pending patent applications
`entitled “INTEGRATED MESSAGE STORAGE AND
`RETRIEVAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED OVER A LARGE
`GEOGRAPHICAL AREA” (app. Ser. No. 09/239,560, ?led
`Jan. 29, 1999), and “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`PROVIDING UNIFIED MESSAGING TO A USER WITH
`ATHIN WEB BROWSER (app. Ser. No. 09/240,367, ?led
`Jan. 29, 1999), Which are all incorporated herein by
`reference, some inventive uni?ed messaging services and
`their various features are disclosed. Although the present
`invention may be implemented on any uni?ed messaging
`system, reference may be made to the above-mentioned
`co-pending patent applications for details pertaining to pref
`erable uni?ed messaging systems on Which the present
`invention may be implemented.
`In general terms, a uni?ed messaging system bene?ts a
`user by integrating various communication services, Which
`up to noW have existed as separate services. The integration
`facilitates simpli?ed management, billing, and more impor
`tantly the routing of messages among the various services.
`With a uni?ed messaging service, a user may, for example,
`specify that an incoming facsimile be forWarded to a com
`puter for vieWing or to a printer for printing, listen to e-mail
`messages through a telephone, receive pager noti?cation
`When a facsimile is received, or the like. Within limits, a
`uni?ed messaging system alloWs messages to be received,
`stored, retrieved, and/or forWarded (in the original format or
`in a different/abbreviated format) Without regard to the
`communication devices and/or netWorks (i.e., data-centric
`vs. telephony-centric) employed for the transmission of the
`messages.
`A uni?ed messaging system implemented on a data
`centric netWork takes the uni?ed messaging system concept
`a step further by internally storing and manipulating the
`messages in a digital format irrespective of Whether the
`message Was received and/or Will be sent in the digital or
`analog format. As is Well knoWn, digital formatting
`increases the ?exibility With Which information contained in
`the messages can be analyZed, stored, manipulated, and/or
`routed among the various communication devices. More
`importantly, the implementation of the uni?ed messaging
`system on a data-centric netWork permits the subscriber to
`access his account through any computer or telephone
`irrespective of the geographic location from Which the
`accessing and/or modi?cations are made.
`To facilitate discussion, FIG. 1 depicts, in accordance
`With one embodiment of the present invention, the general
`overvieW of a uni?ed message system 101. With reference
`to FIG. 1, there is shoWn a user computer 100, representing
`a computer that may be employed to access and/or modify
`the communication options associated With the communi
`cation services offered by the uni?ed messaging system.
`Although user computer 100 is shoWn to be a desktop
`personal computer (such as an Intel-based personal
`computer), user computer 100 may in fact represent any
`computing device capable of accessing the data-centric
`netWork (represented by reference 102 in FIG. 1). By Way of
`example, user computer 100 may represent a laptop
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Ex. 1126 Page 11
`
`

`
`US 6,463,145 B1
`
`7
`computer, which may access the data-centric network either
`through wired connections or in a wireless manner. As
`another example, user computer 100 may represent a per
`sonal digital assistant (PDA) or a palm-top computer, or a
`thin-client type computer.
`Data-centric network 102 may represent any computer
`network which couples together users from geographically
`dispersed locations. In a preferred embodiment, data-centric
`network 102 represents the Internet, although data-centric
`network 102 may also represent a Wide Area Network
`(WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Virtual Private
`Network (VPN) or any similarly suitable networking
`arrangement that allows users to log in from a remote
`terminal.
`With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown data link 104,
`representing the high speed data lines for transmitting and
`receiving data between uni?ed messaging system 101 and
`data-centric network 102. In a preferred embodiment, data
`link 104 is implemented by high speed T1 data lines,
`although other types of data lines such as ?ber optics may
`also be employed. A network interface system 105 couples
`data link 104 to the remainder of uni?ed messaging system
`101, which is shown to include four servers as shown (the
`servers are discussed later herein).
`Network interface system 105 represents the interface
`system that ensures data is properly transmitted and received
`between uni?ed messaging system 101 and data-centric
`network 102. Of course network interface system 105 may
`vary depending on the implementations of the data-centric
`network and/or the portion of uni?ed messaging system 101
`to which network interface system 105 is coupled.
`In the case of the Internet, one current preferred imple
`mentation of network interface system 105 may include a
`router 106, a hub 108, a DNS (Domain Name System)
`facility 110, and a ?rewall 112. Typically, the router 106 is
`a piece of hardware or software that examines the IP address
`of data packets and determines the routing of the data
`packets based on the IP address.
`Router 106 acts cooperatively with hub 108 and DNS
`facility 110 to permit properly addressed data packets to be
`received through ?rewall 112. Router 106, hub 108, DNS
`facility 110, and ?rewall 112 are conventional and will not
`be belabored here for the sake of brevity.
`At the heart of the uni?ed message system are a set of
`servers which are coupled to exchange data and are con
`nected to ?rewall 112 and the public telephone network.
`Typically, a server represents a computer that processes data
`for use by other data-consumer devices (such as other
`servers, computers or any of the communication devices
`through a proper interface circuit). There is shown a data
`base serve