The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1998
Filed:
May. 06, 1997
Burt Joseph Bossi, Indianapolis, IN (US);
William Alan Hewitt, Greenfield, IN (US);
Stephen Dale Hoskins, Indianapolis, IN (US);
AT&T Corp, Middletown, NJ (US);
Abstract
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.