Lucent Technologies Inc.

At+t Corp.

Robert M Rubin

James M Rulon

Joseph J Serinese

Conrad J Paulus

Mark A Fitser

Usha Rao

Stephen Wise

An intelligent network architecture is employed to handle calls placed to a network subscriber who has changed telephone numbers from an old telephone number to a new telephone number. In a preferred embodiment two call handling procedures are available: a call forwarding procedure, in which calls to the old number are automatically forwarded to the new number; and a messaging procedure, in which an announcement is played to the caller and the caller is invited to leave a message for the subscriber. Through a phone call the subscriber may switch call handling procedures, change the forwarding number, and/or change the messaging announcement.

System and method incorporating a mover's mailbox in an intelligent

Messages can be stored in a switched telephone network for later forwarding. A telephone call from a calling party telephone station being directed to a destination party telephone number is switched to a service switching point. The telephone call is monitored to determine a busy or unanswered condition at the destination party telephone number. A network database is queried to retrieve message recording instructions for the calling party. A message from the calling party is stored within the network database. The stored message is forwarded at a later date and time to one or more destination party telephone numbers. A destination party can access the message if authorized, and can record a comment onto the message. A destination party can forward the message and added comment back to the calling party or to one or more third parties.

Method and system for storing messages for later forwarding

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatically establishing a conference call to a preselected list of prospective participants to the conference call. A subscriber to the conference calling service predefines one or more lists of participants, each list being associated with a different conference call. When the subscriber wishes to initiate a conference call, the subscriber accesses the network and requests that the call be set up. The network originates (e.g., dials) calls to each of the participants on a specified list. The network then bridges these individual calls to establish the conference call. The cost of the conference call can be billed to the subscriber or shared among the participants to the call.

Method for automatically establishing a conference call

Intelligent call forwarding is implemented through an intelligent network. The intelligent network includes a Service Switching Point (SSP), a Service Control Point (SCP), and a Service Management System (SMS). A call to a network subscriber is routed to the SSP which is used to detect Call Forwarding 'triggers'--conditions which require the SSP to initiate selective Call Forwarding service. When a Call Forwarding trigger is detected the SSP passes the calling party's number to the SCP and requests call handling instructions from the SCP. The SCP provides the call handling instructions, as provisioned by the subscriber, to the SSP, and the SSP then forwards the call in accordance with the instructions. The SMS formulates and sends commands to the SCP for such purposes as changing the stored subscriber instructions or updating service features. By provisioning the SCP with appropriate instructions the forwarding destination for a call may be made to depend upon the time of day, day of the week, caller's identity, and/or status of the called telephone.

Intelligent call forwarding with videophone display of forwarding

Caller identification information. e.g., the calling party number, is provided on a selective basis by the network of a carrier that does not directly contact the called subscriber at all, such as an interexchange carrier, to the next carrier carrying the call. For example, an interexchange carder would supply the calling party number to the local exchange carder (LEC) connected to a called party for an inter-LATA (long distance) call only if the called party subscribed to the interexchange carrier's inter-LATA caller identification (ID) service. Otherwise, the interexchange carder suppresses the calling party number, so that it is not supplied to the LEC. When the calling party number is supplied by the interexchange carder, the LEC would merely need to forward the number to the called station set. Such a system allows the interexchange carrier to control the providing of services that it heretofore could only assist in providing.

Method for providing inter-lata caller identification

A system and method are disclosed for alerting a person placing a telephone call when a dialed number subscribes to a Caller Identification Service. A long distance party is called direct using standard 1+ calling. The call is routed through a long distance carrier switching network which is coupled to a signaling network. The signaling network routes the caller's identification information together with the dialed number to the switches in the switching network. The switching network includes a subscription table for determining whether the dialed number subscribes to the aforesaid service. If the dialed number is a subscriber, the caller's identification information and the dialed number are routed from the switching network to a Customer Long Distance Adjunct. The adjunct transmits a message to the caller via the switching network informing the caller that the dialed number is a subscriber. The message may also instruct the caller on the procedure for blocking or unblocking delivery of his identification information. The caller is then provided with the opportunity to direct the adjunct to block or unblock delivery of this information to the dialed number.

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Morristown, NJ, United States of America

Robert M Rubin