IP Library Granted Patent US 8,023,632
Granted Patent B2
US 8,023,632 · App. 12/633,996 · Granted Sep 20, 2011

Method, system and article for providing a family telecommunication service using an originating dual-tone multi-frequency trigger

Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,023,632
App. No.
12/633,996
Granted
Sep 20, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A menu is provided in a telephone call. The menu provides a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence. A first selection of one of the destination options is received in the telephone call, and the telephone call is routed to a first telephone number corresponding to the first selection. Thereafter, an originating dual-tone multi-frequency trigger is detected. The telephone call to the first telephone number is interrupted, a second selection of the destination options is received, and the telephone call is routed to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

Claims (44)

1. A method of providing a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

providing a menu during a telephone call from a network element of a telecommunications network to a caller, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

receiving during the telephone call a selection of the caller of one of the destination options; and

routing the telephone call via the telecommunications network to a first telephone number corresponding to the selection;

detecting a trigger from the caller in the telephone call after routing the telephone call to the first telephone number corresponding to the first selection;

after the detecting:

interrupting the telephone call to the first telephone number;

receiving during the telephone call a second selection of the caller of one of the destination options provided in the menu; and

routing the telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of destination options further includes a fourth destination option for the first member of the family at a third location other than the residence, the first location, and the second location.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises an originating dual-tone multi-frequency trigger.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after interrupting the telephone call to the first telephone number, providing a portion of the menu in the telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a public switched telephone network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection of the caller of one of the destination options is received at the network element within the telecommunications network.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the selection of the caller of one of the destination options is received at a switch located within a public switched telephone network.

8. A system comprising:

a first network element located within a telecommunications network, the first network element comprising a first trigger and a second trigger, the first trigger to detect a telephone call placed by a caller to a telephone number and the second trigger enabling the caller to interrupt the telephone call; and

a second network element comprising service logic accessible by the first network element, the service logic implementing:

providing to the caller during a telephone call in response to the first trigger a menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence; and

receiving during the telephone call a selection of the caller of one of the destination options and routing the telephone call via the telecommunications network to a first telephone number corresponding to the selection;

the service logic of the second network element implementing:

in response to the second trigger received from the caller:

receiving during the telephone call a second selection of the caller of one of the destination options provided in the menu; and

routing the telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the service logic of the second network element further implements:

providing a portion of the menu in the telephone call in response to the second trigger received from the caller.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second trigger is an originating dual-tone multi-frequency trigger.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second network element is a service control point.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a public switched telephone network.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for providing a telecommunications service, the set of instructions to direct a processor to implement:

providing a menu during a telephone call from a network element of a telecommunications network to a caller, the menu providing a plurality of destination options including a first destination option for a residence of a family, a second destination option for a first member of the family at a first location other than the residence, and a third destination option for a second member of the family at a second location other than the residence;

receiving during the telephone call a selection of the caller of one of the destination options;

routing the telephone call via the telecommunications network to a first telephone number corresponding to the selection;

detecting a trigger from the caller in the telephone call after routing the telephone call to the first telephone number corresponding to the first selection;

after the detecting:

interrupting the telephone call to the first telephone number;

receiving during the telephone call a second selection of the caller of one of the destination options provided in the menu; and

routing the telephone call to a second telephone number corresponding to the second selection.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising a set of instructions to direct the processor to implement:

after interrupting the telephone call to the first telephone number, providing a portion of the menu in the telephone call.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the trigger comprises an originating dual-tone multi-frequency trigger.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a public switched telephone network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the selection of the caller of one of the destination options is received at a switch located within a public switched telephone network.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 29, 2011
From: SBC PROPERTIES, L.P.
To: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 026200/0098 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 09652540 · Aug 31, 2000
Related Publication 20100086116A1 · Apr 8, 2010