(12) United States Patent
`Wood et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`*Jun. 4, 2013
`
`US008457l 13B2
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`BRANCH CALLING AND CALLER ID BASED
`CALL ROUTING TELEPHONE FEATURES
`
`Inventors: Samuel F. Wood, Los Altos, CA (US);
`Jerry A. Klein, Los Altos, CA (US);
`Margaret Susan Asprey, Los Altos, CA
`(US)
`
`DE
`EP
`
`4,238,851 A
`
`12/1980 Takahashi et al.
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`19813179
`9/1999
`0 578 374
`1/1994
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(73)
`
`( * )
`
`Assignee:
`Notice:
`
`Telemaze LLC, Los Altos, CA (US)
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. l54(b) by 85 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Appl. No .:
`Filed:
`
`12/821,119
`
`Jun. 22, 2010
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0254376 A1
`
`Oct. 7, 2010
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 11/948,965, filed on
`Nov. 30, 2007, now Pat. No. 7,764,777, which is a
`division of application No. 10/426,279, filed on Apr.
`30, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,324,635, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/565,565,
`filed on May 4, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,574,328.
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
`g-0S4/LC‘-2/66
`USPC .................................... .. 370/352; 379/220.01
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC .................................... .. 370/352; 379/220.01
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,100,377 A
`
`7/1978 Flanagan
`
`Dowden, Douglas C., et al., “The Future of Network-Provided Com-
`munications Services,” Bell Labs Technical Journal, Jul.-Sep. 2000,
`pp. 3- 10.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Creighton Smith
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — DLA Piper LLP (US)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A caller ID based call routing feature is described for blocked
`and non-blocked caller ID’ s. A processing system in the pub-
`lic switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identi-
`fying information for identify the source of a telephone call
`and associates additional information stored in a memory
`with the first identifying information. The additional infor-
`mation may be information about the calling party initially
`downloaded to the memory by a subscriber. Once retrieved
`from the memory by the processing system, the additional
`information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the
`Internet for display on a monitor or to the subscriber’s tele-
`phone for display on a telephone display. Another feature
`described is a branch calling feature where the subscriber
`may program a processing system within the PSTN to for-
`ward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., tele-
`phones) simultaneously. Ifthe call at an end unit is answered,
`answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the pro-
`cessing system which then terminates all other calls. The
`processing system then connects the calling party to the sub-
`scriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination
`of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers.
`
`182 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`17
`
`10
`
`TANDEM
`ACCESS
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`EX. 1001
`
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`
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`Ex. 1001
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`

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`US 8,457,113 B2
`Page2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,310,726 A
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`9/1986 Asmuthetal.
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`12/1986 T°Y 6‘ 31‘
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`12/1986 Callensetal.
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`4/1987 Leaetal.
`415741082 A
`5/1987 Flanagin 6‘ 31‘
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`7/1987 DiaS‘°*“’1~
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`7/1987 Nelsonetal.
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`2/1988 1S“*‘1e”’1~
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`7/1988 BeieT1eet31~
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`8/1988 Nme”‘1~
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`
`,
`
`'
`
`'
`
`,
`
`'
`
`,
`
`3/1995 Alger
`fi‘ff§f:{1,,‘°i”‘1'
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`'
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`'
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`9/1995 Sharmaetal
`,
`9/1995 Davisetal
`10/1995 Cebu1kaet,a1
`10/1995 Bhaduehaet ad
`,
`11/1995 Satteretal
`11/1995 Sharmaetéll ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,
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`'
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`,
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`,
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`'
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`,
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`'
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`
`,
`
`,
`
`,
`
`,
`
`'
`
`379/201
`
`370/395
`
`EX. 1001
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`Ex. 1001
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`US 8,457,113 B2
`Page 3
`
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`EX
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`US 8,457,113 B2
`Page 4
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`6,937,713 B1
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`10/2006 Gavillet
`...................... .. 379/219
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`8/2004 Baniak et al.
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`12/2004 Novack . . . . . . . .
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`2005/0041526 A1
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`................. .. 379/88.21
`2007/0041526 A1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`............. .. 379/219
`
`.......... .. 370/325
`
`....... .. 379/221.02
`. . . . .. 379/221.11
`
`E1»
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`EP
`0 872 998
`EP
`0 918 423
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`0 881 848 A2
`E1’
`0 898 431
`EP
`2 315190 A
`GB
`10_023067
`JP
`10051453
`JP
`10-164135
`JP
`10'104257
`-11’
`W0 94;05111
`W0
`W0 95 34985
`W0
`WO 96/08935
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`W0 96/15598
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`WO 97/14234
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`
`10/1995
`8/ 1997
`9/ 1997
`9/ 1997
`2/ 1998
`3/ 1998
`5/ 1998
`5/ 1998
`7/ 1998
`7/ 1998
`7/ 1998
`8/1998
`9/1998
`10/ 1998
`10/1998
`10/ 1998
`12/1998
`2/1999
`1/1998
`1/1998
`2/1998
`6/ 1998
`0/1998
`3;1994
`12 1995
`3/1996
`5/1996
`4/1997
`4/ 1997
`5/1997
`6/1997
`6/1997
`7/1997
`8/1997
`
`9/1997
`9/1997
`10/1997
`10/1997
`10/ 1997
`
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`WO 97/44943
`WO 97/46073
`WO 97/47118
`WO 97/50217
`WO 97/50271
`WO 97/50277
`WO 98/00988
`WO 98/04065
`WO 98/04989
`WO 98/10538
`WO 98/11704
`WO 98/12860
`WO 98/13974
`WO 98/16051
`WO 98/18238
`WO 98/18289
`WO 98/19425
`WO 98/19445
`WO 98/20701
`WO 98/21911
`WO 98/23067
`WO 98/23080
`WO 98/26543
`WO 98/28885
`WO 98/30007
`WO 98/30008
`WO 98/34391
`WO 98/34399
`WO 98/36543
`WO 98/37665
`WO 98/37688
`W0 98/39897
`W0 98/42104
`W0 98/42107
`W8 3%;$2512
`W0 98/51053
`$833/1:32;
`W0 99/20059
`W0 99/35802
`W0 99/45687
`W0 01/05078
`W0 01/24496
`W0 01/24498
`W0 01/24500
`W0 01/24501
`W0 01/24502
`W0 01/24503
`W0 01/84859
`
`11/1997
`12/1997
`12/1997
`12/1997
`12/1997
`12/1997
`1/1998
`1/1998
`2/1998
`3/1998
`3/1998
`3/1998
`4/1998
`4/1998
`4/1998
`4/1998
`5/1998
`5/1998
`5/1998
`5/1998
`5/1998
`5/1998
`6/1998
`7/1998
`7/1998
`7/1998
`8/1998
`8/1998
`8/1998
`8/1998
`8/1998
`9/1998
`9/ 1998
`9/1998
`1333:
`11/ 1998
`2/:33:
`4/1999
`7/1999
`9/1999
`1/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
`4/2001
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`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`cations,”AT&TTechn0l0gy, 1991; 6, 4; Research Library, pp. 32-38.
`,
`,
`pu er
`e ep one 11 egra ion
`oes
`0
`Foster Robin Harris “Com t
`-T 1
`h
`I t
`t'
`G
`G1 -
`,,
`.
`bal, AT&TTechn0l0gy, Autumn 1995; 10, 3; Research Library , pp.
`18-22
`Kozik, Jack, et al., “On Opening PSTN to Enhanced Voice/Data
`Services—The PINT Protocol Solution,” Bell Labs Technical Jour-
`nal, Jul.-Sep. 2000, pp. 153-165.
`.
`.
`.
`“
`Lui, AnthonyY., et al., The Enhanced Service Manage: A Service
`Management System for Next-Generation Networks, Bell Labs
`Technical Journal, Jul.-Sep. 2000, pp. 130-144.
`Reisfield, E.S., “Customers Take Control of the AT&T Network,”
`AT&T Technology, 1991; 6, 1; Research Library, pp. 44-48.
`..
`“
`.
`.
`,,
`Sijben, Paul G., et al, Bridging the Gap to IP Telephony, Bell Labs
`Technzcal Journal, Oct.-Dec. 1998, pp. 192-207.
`RFC 3298 Service in the PSTN, Aug. 2002.
`Implementing Automatic Location Update for Follow-Me database
`usitng Volll’ 2;rid£lue1t(())oEl)1"tl"e2c(l)1(r)1§logies, IEEE Transaction on com
`P“ 915’ V9;
`’
`°'
`’
`_ ° '
`_
`'
`_
`_
`_
`_
`New services demand integration, Electronic Engineering Times,
`Aug. 28, 2000, Iss. 1128; p. 110.
`Natural Microsystems, M2 Presswire. Coventry: Aug. 18, 2000.
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 4 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 4 of 28
`
`

`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`Page 5
`
`This pipe dream will come true: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
`technology will make the phone Box something that really talks,
`Businessline, Chennai: Apr. 17, 2002.
`Using Optimization to Achieve Eflicient Quality of Service in Voice
`over IP Networks, IEEE 2003.
`Broadsoft literature Broadworks overview, Copyright date 2002.
`BroadSoft introduces industry’s first complete service delivery and
`creation product suite for enhanced telephony services Broadworks,
`ATM Newsletter: Boston: Mar. 2000, vol. 9, Iss. 3, p. 13.
`
`BroadSoft unveils advanced architecture for the rapid and cost effec-
`tive delivery of enhanced communications services, Website, Aug.
`25, 1999, Press releases, 3 pages.
`ADC Telecommunications; SS7 New Net SS7 Tutorial; Copyright
`1999.
`Mary Carmichael, “Calls That Follow you Anywhere” Newsweek,
`Apr. 28, 2003, p. 43.
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/406,322, Schuster et al., filed Sep. 27, 1999.
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/515,798, Schuster et al., filed Feb. 29, 2000.
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 5 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 5 of 28
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
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`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 6 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 6 of 28
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
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`Sheet 2 of 11
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`US 8,457,113 B2
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`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 7 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 7 of 28
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
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`Sheet 3 of 11
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`US 8,457,113 B2
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`EX. 100 1
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 8 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 8 of 28
`
`
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
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`EX. 100 1
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 9 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 9 of 28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`31
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`EX. 100 1
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 10 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 10 of 28
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
`inbound Call gto Subscriber)
`
`Receive incoming Call
`Request (SS7) from
`PSTN Tandem Office.
`
`Format Message: incoming Call
`Request (including called PPN,
`caller ID, channel #, etc.)
`
`Look up Calling and Called
`Parties in Database.
`
`Valid
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Refuse call.
`
`
`
` lVR Subsystem
`obtains information
`(e.g. collect password
`
`
`from caller, etc.).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Look up Subscriber specified parameters
`in database. Determine if additional
`information is required from caller.
`
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`Information
`
`
`
`Required?
`
`
`
`Determine outbound calling number: Look
`up Subscriber Conditional Call Forward
`
`
`information (e.g. time-of—day, day-of—week,
`caller ID, caller password, etc.).
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 11 of 28
`
`® o
`
`
`Send Call Request (SS7)
`to PSTN Tandem.
`
`Connect this outbound call
`to original inbound call.
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 11 of 28
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
`Outbound Call (from Subscriber}
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on phone
`
`
`
`via phone
`
`
`User goes
`off "hook"
`
`
`
`
`
`Subscriber enters or clicks on
`Outbound Called Number at UIS
`and indicates which Subscriber
`number call is to be placed from
`(e.g. cell or home number)
`
`
`CO processes
`UIS Formats and Sends a
`dialing and
`
`CallAndConnect Message to TAC.
`100k UP
`
`
`
`
`TAC places call
`to Subscriber.
`
`
`
`
` Send messages to
`
`UlS- Subscriber
`Phone Not
`
`
`
`
`
`Answering
`
`
`
`PSTN places call
`in conventional
`
`
`manner
` TAC places call to
`
`
`outbound number and
`connects the two.
`
`
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 12 of 28
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 12 of 28
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
`I \I
`
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`
`) EU
`
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`ca
`
`FIG.7
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 13 of 28
`
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`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 13 of 28
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
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`Ex. 100 1
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 14 of 28
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 14 of 28
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
` CID
`PROVIDED
`?
`
`
`
`DISPLAY TAG
`INFORMATION
`
`ON WEB PAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY NAME
`AND NUMBER
`ON WEB PAGE
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`ACCEPTING
`
`BLOCKED OR
`
`UNKNOWN
`BLOCK CALL OR
`SEND TO VOICEMAIL
`
`
`
`CALLS
`
`SEND CID TO
`SUBSCRIBER
`
`FIG. 9
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 15 of 28
`
`
`
`
`
`PROMPT CALLER
`TO UNLOCK
`
`CID
`BLOCKED
`?
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 15 of 28
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2013
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
`82
`
`4% 8°
`
`LOOK UP DNIS AND CID ROUTING INSTRUCTIONS
`
`86
`
`87
`
`NO
`
`BLOCK
`CALL
`
`88
`
`YES
`
`PROVIDE RING BACK TONE TO CALLER
`
`PLACE CALL TO
`1st LOCATION
`
`90
`
`93
`
`PLACE CALL TO
`2nd LOCATION
`
`RING PHONE
`
`92
`
`RING PHONE
`
`
`
`111
`
`
`
`OTHER
`CALLS
`ANSWERED
`
`
`
`7’
`
`YES “2
`
`108
`
`CALL
`ANSWERED
`?
`
`YES 109
`
`RETURN ANSWER
`SUPERVISION
`
`110
`
`ABONDON
`OTHER CALLS
`
`ABANDON
`CALL
`
`ABONDON
`OTHER CALLS
`
`ABANDON
`CALL
`
`102
`
`1
`
`13
`
`ESTABLISH VOICE
`CONNECTION
`
`ESTABLISH VOICE
`CONNECTION
`
`FIG. 10
`
`EX. 1001
`
`YMax Corporation
`
`Page 16 of 28
`
`96
`
`CALL
`NO
`ANSWERED
`
`?
`
`OTHER
`CALLS
`
`ANSWERED
`
`
`
`7’
`
`YES
`105
`
`
`
`
`
`YES 98
`
`104
`
`
`
`RETURN ANSWER
`SUPERVISION
`
`100
`
`Ex. 1001
`YMax Corporation
`Page 16 of 28
`
`

`
`US 8,457,113 B2
`
`1
`BRANCH CALLING AND CALLER ID BASED
`CALL ROUTING TELEPHONE FEATURES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
`No. l 1/948,965, filed Nov. 30, 2007, entitled “Branch Calling
`and Caller ID Based Call Routing Telephone Features,”
`which is a divisional ofU.S. application Ser. No. 10/426,279,
`filed Apr. 30, 2003, entitled “Branch Calling and Caller ID
`Based Call Routing Telephone Features,” now U.S. Pat. No.
`7,324,635, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application
`Ser. No. 09/565,565, filed May 4, 2000, entitled “Telephone
`Call Control System for the Public Switched Telephone Net-
`work,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,328, The subject matter in the
`above-identified co-pending and commonly owned applica-
`tions is incorporated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to telephone services and, in particu-
`lar, to a system for allowing a subscriber to select features of
`the subscriber’s telephone service and to various novel fea-
`tures that can be selected.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`People have used various means for limiting interruptions
`due to the telephone. In the past, people used switchboards
`and secretaries to screen incoming, or inbound, calls. Voice
`mail systems took over some ofthis role both in the home and
`in the central ofiice. Today, there are web-based companies
`managing 3rd-party call control, via the toll-switch network,
`which allow users to enter call control information through a
`web portal. There are also edge devices in each of the public
`telephone company’s central offices which provide local con-
`trol, but offer an extremely limited number of features and do
`not provide true 3rd-party call control.
`The web-based toll systems provide good user interaction
`but they are not economical and cannot take advantage of
`local number portability because they do not provide local
`control and connectivity.
`The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) consists
`ofa plurality ofedge switches connected to telephones on one
`side and to a network of tandem switches on the other. The
`
`tandem switch network allows connectivity between all ofthe
`edge switches, and a signaling system is used by the PSTN to
`allow calling and to transmit both calling and called party
`identity.
`Until now, optional features were provided by the local
`service telephone company (telco) through the edge switch at
`the central office (CO). It was not possible to provide optional
`features through any other means. Control of these features
`was done through the first party (calling party) or the second
`party (called party), or worse yet, manually by calling the
`business office.
`
`In the past, numerous devices have been built that allow the
`connection of two lines together at an edge switch. These
`devices can be used to add features to a telephone network by
`receiving a call on one line and then dialing out on another
`line. The problem with these devices is that, because they are
`connected through an edge switch, transmission losses and
`impairments occur, degrading the overall connection. In addi-
`tion, signaling limitations prevent full control, by the sub-
`scriber or the system, over the call.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`A preferred embodiment ofthe inventive system described
`herein connects at the tandem, thereby eliminating these
`problems.
`In the edge devices residing in the PSTN central offices, the
`1st party (the calling party) has numerous features available
`(dialing options). The 2nd party (called party) also has
`options available such as call forwarding, but these features
`typically require access from the first or second pa1ty’s device
`and are extremely awkward to program. The user interaction
`is not only awkward, it is limited and requires interaction with
`the telephone company to provision them. In other words,
`past systems for provisioning, meaning addition, modifica-
`tion, or control of telephone features, required a subscriber to
`make the feature selection through the telephone business
`ofiice. Central office workers would then implement the pro-
`visioning under request of the business office.
`Call Forwarding is one popular provision. There is signi-
`fication transmission degradation for Call Forwarding to take
`place. The calling party pays for a call to the edge device, and
`the edge subscriber, the called party, pays for the call to the
`forwarding number. For enhanced inbound call control to
`occur, a direct 3rd-party call control means is needed.
`A variety of services have arisen to address the problems
`mentioned above. Many of these systems allow the called
`party to make changes to his/her call forwarding attributes
`which do not allow direct 3rd-party call control. These ser-
`vices provide good user interaction, some via the intemet, but
`they rely upon the toll network through the use of “800”
`numbers.
`
`This requires the subscriber to pay by the minute and does
`not allow the subscriber to take advantage of number port-
`ability in order to obtain 3rd-party call control. There are
`other toll network mechanisms for remote call forwarding.
`For example, MCI offers a service where the customer can
`remotely change the forwarding target number for “800”
`numbers. Contacting the ultimate end-user before terminat-
`ing the first incoming call is similar to the manner in which
`“800” credit calls and collect calls are processed, but these are
`not done at the local subscriber level.
`
`In addition to these toll services, there are edge devices that
`perform some of the same services. Edge devices such as
`phones and PBXs that include voice mail, inter-active voice
`response, call forwarding, speed calling, etc., have been used
`to provide additional call control. These devices allow the
`phone user direct control over incoming and outgoing calls.
`The disadvantage of edge devices is that they add cost,
`degrade voice and transmission quality, can be difficult to
`program, are not easily programmed remotely, can require the
`user to pay for two lines, provide lower quality of service, and
`carmot provide the same level of functionality as a system that
`controls the PSTN directly. There are Voice Over Internet
`Protocol (VoiP) products emerging that provide better user
`interfaces and control but they do not take advantage and
`voice quality of the PSTN.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A system for allowing a subscriber to remotely control
`features is described herein along with various telephone
`features that may be programmed into the system. A sub-
`scriber may be any customer using the telephone service, in
`contrast to employees of the PSTN who may use special
`communication networks within the PSTN. Two such fea-
`
`tures are caller ID