(12) United States Patent
`O'Neal et al.
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US006463145Bl
`US 6,463,145 Bl
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED CALL
`FORWARDING OPTIONS AND METHODS
`THEREFOR IN A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`Michele Shannon, "The Best Telephone System for Your
`Business May Not Look Like a 'Phone System' At All",
`Undated Advertisement, Technology Watch, AltiGen Com(cid:173)
`munications, Inc.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Stephen C. O'Neal, San Francisco, CA
`(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 O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/239,584
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 29, 1999
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................ H04M 3/42; H04M 7/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. 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
`
`................. 379/88
`6/1989 Cohen et al.
`4,837,798 A
`4,850,008 A * 7/1989 Berg et al. .................. 358/400
`5,467,390 A * 11/1995 Brankley et al.
`........... 379/229
`5,608,786 A * 3/1997 Gordon ...................... 370/352
`5,610,910 A * 3/1997 Focsaneanu et al. ........ 370/351
`5,729,599 A * 3/1998 Plomondon et al. ........ 379/211
`5,742,905 A * 4/1998 Pepe et al. .................. 379/210
`5,828,666 A * 10/1998 Focsaneanu et al. ........ 370/389
`5,870,549 A
`2/1999 Bobo, II ................ 395/200.36
`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 al.
`............... 709/229
`6,014,379 A
`1/2000 White et al. ................ 370/389
`6,185,288 Bl * 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(cid:173)
`loaded from www.genmagic.com on Dec. 18. 1998.
`
`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 perm1ttmg a sub(cid:173)
`scriber of a call forwarding service to customize call for(cid:173)
`warding parameters associated with the call forwarding
`service. The call forwarding service being configured 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(cid:173)
`munication profile database. The subscriber communication
`profile database has therein the account pertaining to the
`subscriber. The account includes the call forwarding param(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`munication profile database, when the subscriber employs
`the display terminal to access the account. There is also
`included receiving from the subscriber via the display ter(cid:173)
`minal a first change to the call forwarding parameters. The
`first 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 first change to the account in the subscriber
`communication profile database, wherein subsequent calls to
`the given account are handled in accordance with parameters
`present in the subscriber communication profile database
`after the update.
`
`35 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 1
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`en
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`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 2
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`FIG. 2
`
`SERVER
`
`~ MAIN MESSAGE
`Li
`
`I ;
`
`32 INCOMING
`
`LINES uuu
`• _._,~,,
`
`o OUTGOING
`c':31 FAX SERVERS
`
`n -::::2~2 n 204 n 206
`
`t[gl OUTGOING
`OUTGOING
`~ PAGER SERVERS ~ VOICEMAIL SERVERS
`
`n 208
`
`I
`
`I ;
`
`1 I
`
`1 I
`
`13 OUTGOING
`
`LINES nnn
`
`1 OUTGOING
`
`1 OUTGOING
`
`LINE n
`
`01 :PAGE ME FROM
`THE WEB
`
`LINE n
`~
`
`1 OUTGOING
`
`LINE n
`_I<]
`
`I
`I SUBSCRIBERS OR
`I NON-SUBSCRIBERS I
`
`OUTGOING
`CALLS
`
`FAX
`NUMBERS
`
`I
`PAGER
`I COMPANIES
`
`VOICEMAIL/
`PHONE #S
`
`d •
`r:JJ.
`•
`~
`~ .....
`~ = .....
`
`0
`I')
`!""'"
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`N
`C
`C
`N
`
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`N
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`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`~
`~ -..
`
`i,(cid:173)
`,1;;;..
`(It
`~
`i,-
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 3
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`0 NEW EMAIL
`'
`FAXi O NEW FAXMAIL
`320 ~ .~ O NEW VOICEMAIL
`330~~ l
`/~
`334
`
`I ULULI IU
`
`ADDRESSES
`
`~ .
`
`OPTIONS
`MY ACCOUNT
`HELP DESK
`
`FIG. 3
`
`332
`
`THINKLINK
`BYITC
`
`MESSAGE CENTRAL
`
`WELCOME TO THINKLINK BY ITC
`
`I
`
`]
`
`.
`
`CONFIGURATION WIZARD - SET UP YOUR ENHANCED VOICEMAIL
`PRODUCT OVERVIEW - DETAILS ON PRODUCT FEATURES
`RELEASE NOTES - NOTES ON LATEST RELEASE
`
`LOG OUT
`
`302
`
`I SEARCH THE WEB
`
`~TOOLS: YELLOW PAGES PEOPLE FINDER MAPS TV
`
`I SEARCH I
`SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS
`
`I COMMUNICATIONS DASHBOARD\
`
`MINI VIEW
`
`HELP
`
`I UPDATE I
`
`304
`
`308
`
`312 \
`
`316
`
`319
`
`riiJTfl
`ON c~ OFFo YOUR CALLS WILL BE DIRECTLY FORWARDED
`CALL FORWARD
`1234567890
`EDIT 1----310
`FOLLOW ME SERVICE ON·~ OFFoYOUR CALLS WILL BE ROUTED AS FOLLOWS
`PRIMARY
`AL TERNA TE NUMBER
`ON .j) OFFO CALLERS PRESSING "0" ARE TRANSFERRED TO
`3214567890
`EDIT
`crnrn
`MESSAGE ALERT
`ON o OFF~)YOU WILL BE ALERTED OF NEW MESSAGES
`URGENT
`10N ~ OFFoYOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FAXES AT YOUR THINKLINK NUMBERS -------""-
`FAX RECEIVING
`321 ~ PAGING
`!ON o OFFj)!CALLERS WILL BE PROMPTED WITH THE OPTION OF SENDING A PAGE. ~ 318
`
`v
`
`306
`
`314
`
`d •
`r:JJ.
`•
`~
`~ .....
`~ = .....
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`N
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`
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`
`i,(cid:173)
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`(It
`~
`i,-
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 4
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`FIG. 4
`1~™1.~1
`
`OPTIONS
`
`304
`
`308
`
`306
`
`406
`
`319
`
`408
`
`HELP
`
`HOME
`COMPOSE
`I CALL FORWARD
`ADDRESSES I
`FOLDERS
`FORWARD CALL TO
`OPTIONS
`FOLLOW ME
`MY ACCOUNTS1-----------~--------1
`FOLLOW ME CALL ROUTING! PRIMARY Iv I
`HELP DESK
`LOG OUT
`SECONDARY
`PRIMARY
`1.1 (123)456-7890 I
`1.1 (123)456-7890 I
`2.1 (123)456-7890 I
`2.1(123)789-4560 I
`3.1(321)456-7890 I
`3.1(321 )456-7890 I
`OVERRIDE
`ALTERNATE NUMBER/
`
`310
`
`402
`
`312
`
`ON~ OFF o
`"O" FORWARDS TO I (321 )456-78901 \' '/ ,~~~~i
`,,,
`(W) (1) (2)
`
`/11\ /0rl I \
`~
`
`321 --+-----...
`
`FAX R~CEIVING
`FORWARD FAXES TO
`
`ON :.:
`
`{HOME E~X) (WORK FAX)
`1 I v I
`SEND A TIEMPTS
`INTERVAL BETWEEN I
`I O I v1
`ATTEMPTS (MIN)
`
`-
`
`I
`
`I
`
`FAX SENDING
`
`MESSAGE ALERT
`
`YOU WILL BE PAGED FOR:
`URGENT MESSAGES ~ v
`INCLUDES:
`-NEW VOICEMAIL
`-NEW FAXES
`-NEW EMAIL
`(IN THE FOLDERS SELECTED AT RIGHT)
`
`316
`
`DINBOX
`
`318
`
`PAGING
`
`314
`
`404A-.
`
`ON o OFF@
`... ~ PIN
`NUMB~
`NOTE: vou MUST ENTEM!N 1~ouRPA'---.-L-GE_R_S_E_Rv-1c_E__,' '
`[PERSONAL NUMBJRS]
`(NOTE: WHEN BOTH CAL ORWARD AND FOLLOW ME ARE TURNED ON THE CALLER IS
`FORWARDED FIRST. IF HERE IS NO ANSWER AT THE FORWARD NUMBER, THE CALLER IS
`GIVEN THE OPTION
`USE THE FOLLOW ME FEATURE.)
`
`C
`
`404B
`
`d •
`r:JJ.
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`e
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`i,,,-.
`,I;;..
`(It
`~
`i,,,-.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 5
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`FIG. 5
`
`( START )
`
`__ I
`
`SUBSCRIBER'S
`ASSIGNED PHONE
`NUMBER IS DIALED
`
`502
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`OBTAINS DNIS
`
`504
`
`506
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER LOOKS
`UP COMMUNICATION OPTION
`SETTINGS IN DATABASE
`SERVER
`
`512
`
`ROUTE CALL
`ACCORDINGLY
`
`508~~
`
`~---
`
`NO
`
`HANDLE CALL IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`
`)IALOGIC BOARD
`;TENS FOR FAX OR
`KEY DIGIT
`
`""
`
`KEYED DIGIT
`YES
`
`YES
`FAX
`
`510
`
`••
`HANDLE KEYED DIGITS IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`COMMUNICATION OPTION
`SETTINGS
`
`/
`
`-
`
`516
`)
`
`514
`
`HANDLE FAX IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETIINGS
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 6
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`FIG. 6
`
`START
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`ACCESSES UNIFIED
`MESSAGING
`SYSTEM WEB SITE
`
`602
`
`WEB SERVER SERVES
`UP LOGIN PAGE
`
`604
`
`SUBSCRIBER ID IS
`ENTERED AT THE
`LOGIN PAGE
`
`606
`
`614
`
`612
`
`610
`
`SUBSCHIBER SAVES
`THE MODIFIED
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTIGr~ SETIINGS
`
`SUBSCRIBER MODIFIES
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTIGr~ SETIINGS
`
`WEB SERVER COMPARES
`SUBSCRIBER ID WITH
`SUBSCRIBER ACCOUNT
`
`AUTHENTICATION DATA IN
`THE DATABASE SERVER
`
`ASSUMING
`AUTHENTICATION IS
`OK
`
`1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`GRAPHICAL MENU OF
`
`COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
`IS SERVED UP TO THE
`SUBSCRIBER
`
`608
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 7
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 2002
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`FIG. 7
`
`/
`
`(
`
`START ~ \
`HANDLE CALL IN
`I
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTION SETTINGS
`(STEP 510, FIG. 5)
`
`1
`
`702
`
`704
`
`IS CALL
`FORWARDING
`OPTION
`NABLED?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`706
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`INITIATES OUTGOING
`CALL TO FORWARDED
`NUMBER
`
`I
`
`I
`
`HANDLE CALL ~N
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`OTHER COMMUNICATION
`OPTIONS
`
`YES
`
`716
`
`~OUTECALL
`718 ~:CORDINGL Y
`
`ARE
`OTHER
`/
`COMMUNICATION
`OPTIONS
`NABLED?
`
`714
`
`NO
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`INFORMS CALLER OF
`FAILURE
`L - - - . c - - - - -~
`
`CALLER SENT TO
`VOICE MAIL
`
`708
`
`NO
`
`IS
`OUTGOING CALL
`SUCCESSFULLY
`CONNECTED?
`
`-710
`
`YES
`
`TELEPHONY SERVER
`CONNECTS THE
`INCOMING CALL WITH
`THE SUCCESSFUL
`OUTGOING CALL TO
`COMPLETE END-TO-END
`CONNECTION
`
`712
`
`CALL
`FORWARDED
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 8
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`1
`COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED CALL
`FORWARDING OPTIONS AND METHODS
`THEREFOR IN A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`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
`5 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
`10 information to other telephony devices irrespective of geo(cid:173)
`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
`15 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
`20 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(cid:173)
`munication devices that currently exist.
`By way of example, there exist many different commu(cid:173)
`nication devices and services available today to allow a
`person to communicate to another person, e.g., telephones,
`30 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(cid:173)
`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
`40 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
`45 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
`50 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
`55 may wish to forward voice calls made to his home or office
`telephone numbers to his cellular telephone or hotel tele(cid:173)
`phone.
`To accomplish the above in the current art, the person in
`the above example would, for example, enter a code (e.g.,
`60 *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(cid:173)
`phone from which the forwarding is done, it is routed to the
`outgoing number entered after the code. To undo the call
`65 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
`
`The following commonly-owned, co-pending patent
`applications are related and are incorporated herein by
`reference.
`app. Ser. No. 09/239,560, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`"INTEGRATED MESSAGE STORAGE AND
`RETRIEVAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED OVER A
`LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,367, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled "A
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING UNI(cid:173)
`FIED MESSAGING TO A USER WITH A THIN WEB
`BROWSER";
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,064, issued Jul. 17, 2001, entitled
`"CENTRALIZED COMMUNICATION CONTROL CEN(cid:173)
`TER FOR VISUALLY AND AUDIBLY UPDATING COM(cid:173)
`MUNICATION OPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH COM(cid:173)
`MUNICATION SERVICES OF A UNIFIED MESSAGING
`SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREFOR";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,893, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled 25
`"INTERACTIVE BILLING SYSTEM UTILIZING A
`THIN WEB CLIENT INTERFACE";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,368, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled "A
`SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE PHONE
`SOURCED MESSAGES";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,434, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`"METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK
`INDEPENDENT INITIATION OF TELEPHONY";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,435, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEVICE INDE- 35
`PENDENT MESSAGING NOTIFICATION";
`app. Ser. No. 09/240,436, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHANNEL(cid:173)
`TRANSPARENT MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST
`MESSAGING";
`app. Ser. No. 09/239,589, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled
`"VOICE ACCESS THROUGH A DATA-CENTRIC
`NETWORK TO AN INTEGRATED MESSAGE
`STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM".
`
`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(cid:173)
`for that allow a subscriber of various communication ser(cid:173)
`vices to review and customize his communication options,
`in an interactive and simplified manner, via either the
`data-centric network or the telephony-centric network.
`Both the data-centric network (e.g., a distributed com(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`ware platforms that may be utilized to gain access to the
`data-centric network. People and businesses around the
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 9
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`5
`
`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(cid:173)
`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 15
`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 20
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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. 40
`For example, if the user selects *72 five times in one day, the
`telephone company will charge the user five times.
`In view of the forgoing there are desired improved tech(cid:173)
`niques for allowing a user of communication services to
`review and customize the call forwarding options associated 45
`with these services in a simplified, convenient and cost
`effective manner.
`
`4
`forwarding parameters on a display terminal coupled to a
`data-centric network when the subscriber employs the dis(cid:173)
`play terminal to access the computer-implemented control
`center. The computer server also is configured to receive
`from the subscriber via the display terminal a first change to
`the call forwarding parameters and to update the first change
`to the account in the subscriber communication profile
`database, wherein subsequent calls to the given account are
`handled in accordance with parameters present in the sub-
`10 scriber communication profile 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 configured to permit the
`subscriber to specify whether a call received at a telephone
`number associated with a given account of the call forward(cid:173)
`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-
`file database. The subscriber communication profile data(cid:173)
`base has therein the account pertaining to the subscriber. The
`account includes the call forwarding parameters for the
`25 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 profile
`database, when the subscriber employs the display terminal
`30 to access the account. There is also included receiving from
`the subscriber via the display terminal a first change to the
`call forwarding parameters. The first change to the call
`forwarding parameters pertains to at least one of the call
`forwarding enable option and the forwarding telephone
`35 number. Further, there is included updating the first change
`to the account in the subscriber communication profile
`database, wherein subsequent calls to the given account are
`handled in accordance with parameters present in the sub-
`scriber communication profile 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 figures.
`
`50
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a computer(cid:173)
`implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a
`unified messaging system to customize call forwarding
`parameters associated with a call forwarding service. The
`call forwarding service is configured to permit the subscriber
`to specify whether a call received at a telephone number 55
`associated with a given account of the unified 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(cid:173)
`implemented control center includes a subscriber commu- 60
`nication profile database. The subscriber communication
`profile database has therein the account pertaining to the
`subscriber. The account includes the call forwarding param(cid:173)
`eters for the subscriber. The computer-implemented control
`center includes a computer server coupled to exchange data 65
`with the subscriber communication profile database. The
`computer server is configured to visually display the call
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`The present invention is illustrated by way of example,
`and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accom(cid:173)
`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 unified message system.
`FIG. 2 illustrates, in one embodiment, how the 48 tele(cid:173)
`phone lines provided per Tl 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(cid:173)
`tion.
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer-implemented process for
`handling access to the unified messaging system through the
`telephony-centric network by a subscribing or a non(cid:173)
`subscribing caller.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2047 - 10
`U.S. Patent No. 6,463,145
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`US 6,463,145 Bl
`
`5
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer implemented process for
`handling access to the unified messaging system through a
`computer network by a subscriber.
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting, in one embodiment,
`the relevant steps of a computer-implemented process for
`handling the routing of call forwarding in a unified messag(cid:173)
`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 specific details are set forth in order
`to provide a thorough understanding of the present inven(cid:173)
`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 specific 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 25
`telephony-centric network, and which allows a user to
`access, using either a telephone or a computer, the commu(cid:173)
`nication options associated with the various communication
`services of a unified messaging service. Unlike the prior art
`approach which requires the user to contact individual
`service providers/accounts and/or to access individual com(cid:173)
`munication devices to review and change the communica(cid:173)
`tion options associated therewith, the computer(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tral facility through which the communication option set(cid:173)
`tings associated with the different communication services
`may be reviewed and/or modified.
`In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
`the communication options, which include the options asso(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tion device (such as with the assigned facsimile machines or
`telephones discussed earlier). Rather, the communication
`option settings are centralized within the universally acces(cid:173)
`sible computer-implemented control center and can be uti(cid:173)
`lized to properly control the communication options asso(cid:173)
`ciated with the various services and to facilitate control of 55
`the routings therebetween. More importantly, they can be
`reviewed and modified by a properly authenticated sub(cid:173)
`scriber of the unified messaging service through any suitable
`computer or telephone irrespective of the geographic loca(cid:173)
`tion from which the accessing and/or modifications 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-
`
`5
`
`10
`
`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(cid:173)
`grammed list, or enter a temporary number. As mentioned,
`this option can be reviewed or modified by a properly
`authenticated subscriber of the unified messaging service
`through any suitable computer or telephone irrespective of
`the geographic location from which the accessing and/or
`modifications are made.
`In the aforementioned co-pending patent applications
`entitled "INTEGRATED MESSAGE STORAGE AND
`RETRIEVAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED OVER A LARGE
`GEOGRAPHICALAREA" (app. Ser. No. 09/239,560, filed
`Jan. 29, 1999), and "A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
`15 PROVIDING UNIFIED MESSAGING TO A USER WITH
`A THIN WEB BROWSER (app. Ser. No. 09/240,367, filed
`Jan. 29, 1999), which are all incorporated herein by
`reference, some inventive unified messaging services and
`their various features are disclosed. Although the present
`20 invention may be implemented on any unified messaging
`system, reference may be made to the above-mentioned
`co-pending patent applications for details pertaining to pref(cid:173)
`erable unified messaging systems on which the present
`invention may be implemented.
`In general terms, a unified messaging system benefits a
`user by integrating various communication services, which
`up to now have existed as separate services. The integration
`facilitates simplified management, billing, and more impor(cid:173)
`tantly the routing of messages among the various services.
`30 With a unified messaging service, a user may, for example,
`specify that an incoming facsimile be forwarded to a com(cid:173)
`puter for viewing or to a printer for printing, listen to e-mail
`messages through a telephone, receive pager notification
`when a facsimile is received, or the like. Within limits, a
`35 unified 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
`40 messages.
`A unified messaging system implemented on a data(cid:173)
`centric network takes the unified messaging system concept
`a step further by internally storing and manipulating the
`messages in a digital format irrespective of whether the
`45 message was received and/or will be sent in the digital or
`analog format. As is well known, digital formatting
`increases the flexibility with which information contained in
`the messages can be analyzed, stored, manipulated, and/or
`routed among the various communication devices. More
`50 importantly, the implementation of the unified 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 modifications are made.
`To facilitate discussion, FIG. 1 depicts, in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention, the general
`overview of a unified message system 101. With reference
`to FIG. 1, there is shown a user computer 100, re