Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

At&t Delaware Intellectual Property Corporation, Inc.

Jasper Wireless, Inc.

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Management Corporation

Stephen R LaPierre

David Archie Scott

Joseph Michael Knoerle

Vernon Meadows

James Carl Bedingfield, Sr

John Ruckart

Maria Adamczyk

Anita H Simpson

Henry Kafka

Zeeman Zhang

Frederick C Iffland

Karen M McCourt

James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr

Hong Nguyen

Scott Crandall Holt

Michael Griffiths

Jim H Chan

Jim Reed

Christopher Alan Puckett

Voice service over a next generation network is provided using Advanced Intelligent Network solutions. According to an exemplary embodiment, a Voice over Network system includes a communications device having a directory communication address in communication with a telecommunications network, means for decoding the directory communications address to identify a voice over internet protocol service feature of the communications address, and means for establishing an internet protocol telephony communications connection of the communications device with a called party's communications address via a VoN hotline. According to further exemplary embodiments, the hotline may include a media gateway, an application server, a feature server, and means for communicating among the media gateway, the application server, and the feature server.

Voice over network (VoN)/voice over internet protocol (VoIP) architect having hotline and optional tie line

Caller identification information is conveyed to the called party in manners other than through the display of textual information on a display screen. The caller ID information may be provided as musical tones where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the musical tones being output, such as various musical notes and length of the note. The caller ID information may be provided as a light pattern where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the light pattern being output, such as colors, period of light, and flashes. The caller ID information may be provided as tactile patterns where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the tactile pattern being output, such as producing vibration patterns or Braille characters. The called party may then recognize the caller from the conveyed caller ID information.

Caller identification through non-textual output

A communication network that includes a flash hook detector and a communication device is operated by detecting a flash hook of the communication device at the flash hook detector. A signal is transmitted from the flash hook detector to the communication network responsive to detecting the flash hook. The flash hook is processed in the communication network.

Communication networks including flash hook detectors and methods of operating the same

This invention is directed to a system and method for providing a status notification for a message in a communications network. An embodiment of this invention is a voicemail system, which provides a caller in a telecommunications network with the option of requesting a status notification for a voicemail message when the recording of the message is complete. By requesting status notification, the caller is indicating that the voicemail system should track any actions related to the message that occur within the voicemail system. The caller also specifies a destination identifier, which includes formatting and addressing information that the voicemail system uses for subsequent notification. As actions are taken in relation to the message, the voicemail system creates disposition identifiers and associates these identifiers with the message. When a triggering event occurs, such as the recipient deleting the message, the voicemail system retrieves the disposition identifiers to generate the status notification and sends the status notification in the format and to the address specified by the destination identifier.

System and method for electronic message status notification

Methods and systems for automatically routing a long distance call placed by a subscriber to a prepaid service provider. Methods are discussed for allowing the prepaid subscriber to directly dial a called party's long distance telephone number, and then routing the placed call to a prepaid service. The subscriber, in each case, is not required to first dial the telephone number of the prepaid service provider before dialing the called party.

Methods and systems for automated prepaid service routing

A system and method for providing an on-hold call with a selectable continuous tone source using a service node, comprising a service switching point of a central office connected to a service logic program provisioned on a service node. Using the capabilities of the service node, the service logic program plays a continuous tone through a permanent trunk line connecting the service node to the service switching point. When the service switching point puts a call on hold, the service switching point connects the call through the permanent trunk line to the service logic program that is playing the continuous tone. As a result, the caller hears the continuous tone while the service switching point has the call on hold. In addition, the present invention provides a dual tone multifrequency administrative interface on the service logic program of the service node, which enables a customer to dial the interface, enter a passcode for access, and then choose between a variety of tone types such as a dial tone, a busy signal, a normal ring tone, a reorder signal (fast busy signal), a continuous busy signal, and a continuous ring tone.

Method and system for providing a continuous tone source using a network node

A method and system for routing service calls made from lines resold to a competitive service provider includes advanced intelligent network and standard switching functionality. The call may be made into an AIN service switching point () or a non-AIN switch (-). All calls are routed to an AIN hub (), such as a service switching point, via a trunk group. The AIN or non-AIN switch may access a line class code table (-) to determine the proper routing information. Calls made from resold lines are routed to the AIN hub (). Once the call is routed to the AIN hub, a trigger () provisioned on the AIN hub and assigned to the incoming trunk group causes the hub to suspend the call and launch a query to a service control point (). The query includes the directory number of the resold calling line and the originally dialed number. The SCP () accesses a data-base () containing directory numbers for resold lines and identifiers for competitive service providers. Once the carrier is located, additional tables may be accessed to determine the routing information specified by the carrier for handling the call. The routing information is transmitted by the SCP () back to the SSP (). The SSP () then routes the call to the specified location.

Method and system for routing service calls made from resold lines

The present invention provides methods and systems for automatically routing a long distance call placed by a subscriber to a prepaid service provider. Six exemplary methods are discussed for allowing the prepaid subscriber to directly dial a called party's long distance telephone number, and then routing the placed call to a prepaid service. The subscriber, in each case, is not required to first dial the telephone number of the prepaid service provider before dialing the called party.

Methods and systems for 1+ prepaid routing service

A system for monitoring the status of a plurality of service package applications operating on a service node of a telecommunications network. A heartbeat message generating application is stored on the service node and includes a shared database that is accessible by at least two of the plurality of service package applications. A heartbeat message receiving application is stored on a service control point (SCP) that is in communication with the service node, the heartbeat message receiving application including a status database that includes records for monitoring the status of the at least two of the plurality of service package applications. The heartbeat message generating application generates a heartbeat message containing information retrieved from the shared database and sends the heartbeat message to the heartbeat message receiving application where the information is extracted and used to update the status database. Calls are routed to the service package applications based on the status stored in status database.

Systems and methods for an infrastructure centralized heartbeat

This invention is directed to a system and method for providing a status notification and reply for a message in a communications network. An embodiment of this invention is a voicemail system, which provides a caller in a telecommunications network with the option of requesting a status notification and reply for a voicemail message when the recording of the message is complete. By requesting status notification and reply, the caller is indicating that the voicemail system should track any actions related to the message that occur within the voicemail system. The caller also specifies a destination identifier, which includes formatting and addressing information that the voicemail system uses for subsequent notification and for communicating any reply to the message. As actions are taken in relation to the message, the voicemail system creates disposition identifiers and associates these identifiers with the message. When a triggering event occurs, such as the recipient deleting the message, the voicemail system retrieves the disposition identifiers to generate the status notification and sends the status notification in the format and to the address specified by the destination identifier. If the recipient replies to the message, the voicemail system also communicates the reply in the format and to the address specified by the destination identifier.

Growing community of inventors

Union City, GA, United States of America

Stephen R LaPierre