At+t Corp.

William Alan Hewitt

Burt Joseph Bossi

Stephen Dale Hoskins

Elizabeth Meehan Hewitt

Animal bowl

A method of operating a telecommunications network to provide network-based messaging services includes utilizing a communication link between the network and a telephone adjunct interface. The adjunct interface detects and alerts the subscriber to the existence of waiting messages. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a combination of AC ring detection and outcall polling of the network is employed to determine whether any messages have been received by the network service platform. Specifically, if the subscriber phone is not answered after a predetermined number of rings, the interface polls the network after a suitable delay to determine if any messages were left. If so, the network transmits a code or other signal that is recognized by the interface device, and a visual and/or audible indication is then provided to the subscriber. If the subscriber line is busy or on call-forward while a calling party is seeking to leave a message, the network service platform stores the message and waits a selected interval before seeking to alert the subscriber.

Method of providing telecommunications network-based message services

A telephone adjunct interface for use with a network-based voice and/or data message storage and delivery service detects and alerts the subscriber to the existence of waiting messages. The interface device utilizes a combination of AC ring detection and outcall polling of the network to determine whether a visual and/or audible notification should be provided to the subscriber. That is, if the subscriber phone is not answered after a selected number of rings, the interface polls the network after a suitable delay to determine if any messages were left. If the subscriber line is busy or on call-forward while a calling party is seeking to leave a message, the network service platform stores the message and waits a selected interval before seeking to alert the subscriber. Advantageously, the device is configured as a small, portable and inexpensive consumer premise unit which connects easily to all standard analog telephone systems that use modular connectors.

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Greenfield, IN, United States of America

William Alan Hewitt