HK1136914B - Interactive communication session director - Google Patents

Description

Interactive communication session guide

Background

The home telephone number remains the primary contact number for many individuals. However, many people have become very ill defined and often spend many hours outside of the home. Leaving the home may cause these people to miss important calls.

Drawings

The objects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate like elements, and in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing an interactive communication session directing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary table of interactive communication session directing device accounts according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary system for establishing a communication session to a voice over data (VoD) communication device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 4 illustrates a communication flow between various devices of fig. 3 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow chart for processing signaling messages and for establishing a communication session according to an exemplary embodiment.

These and other embodiments and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of various exemplary embodiments.

Detailed Description

Systems and methods according to example embodiments may provide for processing a signaling message requesting establishment of a communication session for the called number, the signaling message including the called number; determining that the called number is associated with an account that includes a member profile (profile) with a valid forward-to number; and generating a signal for generating an announcement associated with the account. The system and method may further include receiving a response to the announcement and determining whether the response is associated with a member profile having a valid forwarding number.

The following description provides a discussion of servers, computers, and other devices that may perform one or more functions that may be implemented using software, firmware, hardware, and/or various combinations thereof. It is noted that functions described herein as being performed at a particular device may be performed at one or more other devices instead of, or in addition to, the functions performed at the particular device. Also, the devices may be local or remote to each other.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 100 for implementing an interactive communication session directing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is noted that other devices may be included in fig. 1, and that the devices shown may be integrated and/or separated. Reference numerals 1-8 are included in fig. 1 to illustrate call flow and communication between the various devices.

System 100 may be an interactive forwarding service in which a caller may dial a number to reach the person of the called number, and in response, system 100 may prompt the caller to enter a response indicating which person the caller is attempting to reach. Based on the response and the forwarding state of the individual that the caller is attempting to reach, system 100 can seamlessly connect the caller to the called number or to a forwarding number specified by the individual that the caller is attempting to contact. To accomplish this, each member of a group of users may specify one or more forwarding numbers and whether each forwarding number is valid.

When a signaling message requesting establishment of a communication session is received, the system 100 can intelligently direct and route the communication session to the called number or to a forwarding number, thus increasing the likelihood that the communication session will be forwarded to the most appropriate communication device for contacting the user. For example, a family member or business member sharing a single telephone number also has a personal telephone number that may instruct the system 100 to establish a communication session to contact a particular member depending on who the caller is attempting to reach. The caller may dial a shared telephone number and the system 100 may determine whether to forward the call to a forward-to-number, such as forwarding the call to a mobile phone instead of a home phone, whether the member is at home or away from home or at a company, or route the call to a called number.

System 100 may allow a user to create an interactive communication session guide account. A user or group of users may become a member by establishing an interactive communication session with a director account. The interactive communication session directing device may be associated with a group contact number for contacting the group member and may allow the member to designate other personal and/or group numbers as the forwarding number. The group contact number and/or the forwarding number may be a telephone number, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a data network address, an email address, a text message address, and/or other number or addresses for establishing a communication session that allows multiple devices to communicate voice and/or data in real-time and/or non-real-time. For example, the interactive communication session guide account may associate a single shared telephone number with one or more members (e.g., family members, company numbers, etc.), and may also allow each member to identify one or more other numbers at which each member may be reached. The system 100 may use the interactive communication session direction device account in determining whether to route the communication session using a group contact number received from the caller or a forward-to-number of the member profile based on information included in the member profile.

Each member may create a member profile in the interactive communication session directing device account specifying one or more forwarding numbers and whether the one or more forwarding numbers are valid. The interactive communication session guide account may include one or more member profiles stored in a database of the service control point 116. The database of the service control point 116 may store one or more interactive communication session guide accounts. Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary table 200 of interactive communication session guide accounts according to an exemplary embodiment. Once a user or group of users creates an interactive communication session guide account, the service control point 116 may receive information to establish a member profile for each member. In the member profile, each member (e.g., family member, employee, etc.) may specify information for determining whether to forward the call to a forwarding number rather than route the call to a group contact number. Each row in the table 200 of fig. 2 may correspond to a member profile. Member column 202 illustrates member profiles for five members (i.e., members 1-5), however, an interactive communication session directing device account may include more or fewer members.

The transition status column 204 may allow each member to specify whether the transition is valid. Each member profile may indicate "yes" if the transfer is valid for that member, or "no" if the call transfer is not valid. Each member may also specify a particular time period, date, time interval, etc. in the member profile during which forwarding is to be effected for a particular forwarding number. Each member may also specify in the member profile all forward to numbers to which calls may be broadcast. When the forwarding is active, the system 100 may route the communication session to the called member based on the forwarding number instead of the group contact number. For example, if a particular member has selected to divert his or her call to a forwarding number, the system 100 can divert the call to the forwarding number before the switch generates an alert signal (e.g., ring tone, music, etc.) at the communication device associated with the called number.

Valid forwarding-number column 206 may indicate which forwarding-number in columns 208A-M is a valid forwarding-number. The valid forwarding number may be a number used to route the communication session when forwarding is valid. The forward-to-number n 1208A-M208M may list M different numbers to which a communication session may be separately forwarded or broadcast. For example, member 1 may indicate that n-2 is in the active forwarding-number column 206, and if call forwarding is active, the call for member 1 may be forwarded to the forwarding-number n-2 listed in the forwarding-number column 208 instead of the called group contact number. Member 1 may also indicate that n-2 in the valid divert-number column 206 during a first time period and n-3 during another time period. For example, member 1 may specify n-2 during 8:30am-5:00pm, and n-3 during the remainder of the day. The numbers included in forward-to-number column 208 may include telephone numbers, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, data network addresses, email addresses, addresses of other numbers or communication devices, and/or combinations thereof. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates numbers in the form of (NPA) Nxx-xxx, where NPA may refer to numbered plan sections (e.g., section numbers), N may represent any number from 2-9, and x may represent any number from 0-9.

Additionally, if the forward-to-number column 208 includes a text message address (e.g., an email address, a text message address, etc.) and the forward status column 204 indicates that the text message address is valid, the system 100 can notify the caller that a voice communication session may not be established and can automatically forward a text message to the text message address to notify the member that the caller is attempting to contact the member whenever a signaling message requesting that a voice communication session be established is received. The system 100 may include in the text message: the name of the calling party; the time and/or date of the signaling message; the telephone number or address of the calling party; other information associated with the communication session or with the caller; and/or combinations thereof.

The member may update the member profile through a telephone interface or through a network interface. For example, a member may call a telephone number to update a member profile. The telephone interface may prompt the member to enter a member identification code to verify and authenticate the caller. Once authenticated, the phone interface may allow the member to enter digits, speak, and/or a combination thereof to update the member profile. The member may also use the internet or other data network to access a website to update the member profile. Additionally, the network interface may prompt the user member identification code to verify and authenticate the caller prior to updating the member profile.

Using a telephone (e.g., a touch-tone telephone) or the internet, each member can activate or deactivate call forwarding of their personal telephone, update forwarding numbers in the member's profile, update which forwarding numbers are valid, indicate the time period during which the forwarding numbers are valid, activate/deactivate text messaging notifications when a caller attempts to reach the member, add/delete/modify forwarding numbers, and the like, respectively. As will be discussed in more detail below, one or more authenticated members may also update a custom greeting announcement (e.g., record a new message, upload a new message, etc.) that may be generated to prompt the caller to enter information selecting which member the caller wishes to contact.

After a member or group of members establishes an interactive communication session with a device account, the system 100 may receive a signaling message for establishing a communication session with a communication device associated with the member. System 100 may also receive a signaling message from a user attempting to reach a called party who has not established an interactive communication session directing device account. To establish a communication session, a user may dial a called number, causing the calling communication device 102 to generate telephone signals (e.g., dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones) that may be communicated to the service switching point 104 (see also fig. 1, reference numeral 1). The calling communication device 102 may be a telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a laptop computer, a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone, a mobile phone, a satellite phone, any kind of communication or computer device, and/or combinations thereof. The service switching point 104 may receive the telephony signals and may generate telephony signaling messages for signaling to another device (e.g., a switch, gateway, etc.) communicatively coupled to the network 106 to establish the communication session. For example, the telephony signaling message may be a signaling system 7 Initial Address Message (IAM) used to establish a telephone call with service switching point 108 over network 106. The network 106 may be, as is well known, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), other telephone networks, and/or combinations thereof. The telephony signaling message may include a called number associated with the called communication device 110, which is dialed by a user of the calling communication device 102 requesting that a communication session be established between the calling communication device 102 and the called communication device 110. The telephony signaling message may also include information identifying the calling communication device 102, such as an address or number associated with the calling communication device 102, a time and date when the telephony signaling message was generated, other information associated with the request to establish a communication session, and/or combinations thereof. A communication session may refer to a connection between various devices and the originating communication device 102 over one or more telephone and/or data networks used to communicate signals (e.g., voice, data, etc.).

The service switching point 104 can transmit the telephony signaling message to the network 106, and the network 106 can route the telephony signaling message to the service switching point 108 based on the called number. The service switching point 108 may process the telephony signaling message to determine whether an interactive communication session guide option is associated with the called number. The interactive communication session guide option may indicate that the called number included in the telephony signaling message is a group contact number associated with the interactive communication session guide account. For example, the interactive communication session steering device option may be an advanced intelligent network termination attempt. If the serving switching point 108 determines that the called number is not associated with any interactive communication session guide options, the serving switching point 108 may establish a communication session for the device associated with the called number according to conventional techniques (see fig. 1, reference numeral 5A).

If the service switching point 108 determines that the called number matches the group contact number associated with the interactive communication session directing device option, the service switching point 108 may abort establishing a communication session for the communication device associated with the called group contact number and may send a query to the service control point 116 through a Service Transfer Point (STP)114, which may direct network traffic, to determine the service status of the members associated with the group contact number (see fig. 1, reference numeral 3). For example, the service switching point 108 may abort establishing a telephone call and may send a query to the service control point 116 to determine the service status of the members associated with the group telephone number. Service control point 116 may be, for example, an advanced intelligent network service control point, and may also include a database for storing one or more interactive communication session guide accounts. For example, service switching point 104, service switching point 108, service transfer point 114, and service control point 116 may communicate using a telephony signaling protocol, such as signal system 7(SS 7).

The service status may indicate whether the member profile of any member has activated session-screening to screen (screen) the communication session according to the calling number or calling address associated with the calling communication device 102. The session mask may prevent the establishment of a communication session for the group contact number and/or the forward-to number from the masked calling communication device 102. The service status may also mask the calling communication device 102 if the number or address is not recognized. For example, a database of the service control point 116 may store a table of known calling numbers and/or calling addresses. If the calling number or calling address is not recognized, the service control point 116 may return routing instructions to the service switching point 108 to route the communication session to the intelligent peripheral (IPe)120 to interact with the caller to request that the caller enter an identification code before routing the communication session to its destination. The intelligent peripheral 120 may prompt the caller for an identification code and may transfer the received identification code to the service control point 116. If the service control point 116 identifies that the received identification code matches an identification code stored in a database of the service control point 116, the service control point 116 may further check the service status to determine how to route the communication session. If the service control point 116 does not identify the received identification code, the service control point 116 may terminate the communication session or may route the communication session to a group contact number.

The service status may also indicate whether call forwarding is valid for any members associated with the called group contact number. In response to the query from the service switching point 108, the service control point 116 may check the database of the service control point 116 and may return an indication in the service state whether the forwarding-state column 204 includes any valid forwarding numbers (i.e., "yes" in column 204, see fig. 1, reference numerals 4 and 5). If the service status indicates that the transfer is not valid for any member, the service control point 116 may return a routing instruction to the service switching point 108 to route the communication session to the group contact number (see fig. 1, reference numeral 5A). For example, the service control point 116 may generate an authorization termination response message that indicates that the service switching point 108 completed the call to the called group telephone number.

If the service status indicates that the transfer is valid for one or more members, the service control point 116 may return a routing instruction to the service switching point 108 to route the communication session to the intelligent peripheral (IPe)120 (see FIG. 1, reference numerals 5, 5B). The service control point 116 may also communicate with intelligent peripherals 120 via a network 118. For example, the network 118 may be a shared TCP/IP network that links the service control point 116 to the intelligent peripherals 120, and/or to other systems and devices that may use TCP/IP protocols. For example, network 118 may be used when certain service features require the use of the TCP/IP protocol, such as updating an interactive communication session director account.

The smart peripheral 120 may store a custom greeting announcement associated with the group contact number. When an interactive communication session guide account is established, a member may create a custom greeting announcement. The routing instructions received from the service control point 116 may include a group contact number, and upon receiving the routing instructions, the smart peripheral device 120 may identify a customized greeting announcement according to the group contact number. The smart peripheral device 120 can then generate a signal at the calling communication device 102 for generating a custom greeting announcement, prompting the user of the calling communication device 102 to enter a response. The smart peripheral 120 may generate digital and/or analog signals that may produce an audible announcement, a visual announcement, a textual announcement, and/or combinations thereof at the calling communication device 102. The response to the custom greeting announcement may be, for example, speech, input text, dual tone multi-frequency tones, other types of input, and/or combinations thereof. For example, the custom greeting announcement may be a recorded message for the group member (e.g., "you are already turning on jensen's home if you want to turn on mary, press 1, turn on michael, press 2, turn on mark, press 3, turn on other family members, please not hang up"). The customized greeting announcement may prompt the user of the calling communication device 102 to press a key or speak a certain number to reach a particular member. Once the caller enters a response to the customized greeting announcement, the service switching point 108 may transfer the response to the intelligent peripheral 120 (see fig. 1, reference numeral 5B). The intelligent peripheral 120 may receive the response and may transfer the response to the service control point 116 (see fig. 1, reference numeral 6).

In response, the service control point 116 may return routing instructions to the service switching point 108 to transfer the communication session to a stored transfer number or to complete a call to the called group contact number. If the response does not correspond to a member having a valid forwarding number as indicated in the member profile (see, e.g., figure 2, column 204), the service control point 116 may instruct the service switching point 108 to route the communication session according to the called group contact number (see figure 1, numeral 5A). For example, service switching point 108 may route a telephone call to communication device 110 associated with the called group telephone number. If the response corresponds to a member with a valid forwarding number, the service control point 116 can instruct the service switching point 108 to route the communication session to the forwarding communication device 112 associated with the valid forwarding number (see FIG. 1, reference numeral 8). For example, the service switching point 108 may route the telephone call to the forwarding communication device 112 associated with the forwarding number instead of the called communication device 110 associated with the called group contact number. In a further example, if the transfer address is a text address and the signaling message requests that a voice communication session be established, the service control point 116 can instruct the smart peripheral 120 to generate a message notifying the caller that a voice communication session may not be established and can automatically transfer a text message to the text message address to notify a member that the caller is attempting to contact the member. The intelligent peripheral 120 may also prompt the caller to determine whether the caller wishes to terminate the communication session or route the communication session to a group contact number.

Once a communication session is established between the calling communication device 102 and the called communication device 110 or the transferring communication device 112, the calling communication device 102 and the called communication device 110 or the transferring communication device 112 can exchange analog, digital, video, voice signals and/or combinations thereof via the communication session. The signals may include digital data (e.g., internet protocol packets, frames, cells, etc.) and/or telephony signals (e.g., voice signals, call setup signals, signaling system 7 signals, etc.). The communication session may transmit signals via a telephone call, a session initiation protocol conversation, a voice over data (VoD) call, a voice over IP (VoIP) call, other systems for transmitting digital and/or voice signals over one or more networks as is well known, and/or combinations thereof.

Thus, in routing a communication session to a called party, system 100 may interact with the caller to determine which number to use (i.e., forward number, called number) depending on who the caller is attempting to reach. The system 100 can intelligently route the communication session without any interaction with anyone at the called communication device associated with the called group contact number unless the member profile of the member to be reached indicates that the communication session is not to be transferred to the forward-to-number.

The system 100 may also allow each member to independently control which number is used to connect callers attempting to reach a particular member, and may route communication sessions to a forwarding number when the member leaves a location associated with the group contact number. Members can also activate/deactivate transitions independently by modifying their respective member profiles. The system 100 can allow members to transfer a communication session by determining which member the caller is attempting to contact rather than based on the called number. System 100 may also advantageously transfer communication sessions according to a called party rather than a calling party. Further, the system 100 can advantageously determine whether to route the communication session to the destination communication device before completing routing the communication session to the communication device associated with the called group contact number, and can redirect the communication session without requiring anyone at the communication device associated with the called group contact number to answer. The system 100 may also advantageously suspend establishing the communication session prior to establishing communication with the called communication device. Thus, the communication transfer may be initiated before the no-answer condition is received at the called communication device, which may not involve the called party (other than the member the caller is attempting to contact) having to answer the called communication device and may also save time by not requiring the caller to wait for the no-answer condition at the called communication device before transferring the communication session to the transferring communication device. The system 100 can also accommodate both active and inactive call forwarding conditions for the member.

The above principles may also be employed in voice over data (VoD) network calls. Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary system 300 for establishing a connection for a data-based voice communication device 316 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 4 includes reference numbers 1-6 to illustrate the communication flow between the various devices of fig. 3. It is noted that fig. 3 is exemplary and that system 300 may include other devices that are local and/or remote with respect to each other, and that functions described as being performed at a particular device may be performed at other devices instead of, or in addition to, being performed at the particular device.

Initially, as discussed above, a user or group of users may establish an interactive communication session guide account with a telecommunications provider, and each member may create a member profile. An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system 312 may store an interactive communication session guide account along with each member profile. The interactive voice response system 312 may also receive dual tone multi-frequency updates to the member profile, and a web server (not shown) may receive the member profile updates via the internet. The interactive voice response system 312 and web server may also reside in the application server 310, or may also reside at a separate server or other location. Application server 310 and interactive voice response system 312 can process the data signaling messages to determine whether to route the communication session according to the called number or to route the communication session according to the forwarding number.

To initiate a communication session, a user may dial a sequence of digits representing a called number at the communication device 302. For example, the dialed digit sequence may be a two-tone multi-frequency tone. A switch (not shown) on the telephone network 304 (e.g., public switched telephone network, plain old telephone service, etc.) may receive the dialed digits and may generate a telephone signaling message (e.g., signaling system 7 initial address message) (see also fig. 4, reference numeral 1) that includes the called number, and may also include the number or address of the communication device 302 and/or information associated with the generation of the telephone signaling message (e.g., time, date, etc.). The telephone network 304 can route the telephone signaling message to a gateway 306 (e.g., a public switched telephone network gateway) associated with the communication device 316 based on the called number. Upon receipt, the gateway 306 may convert the telephony signaling messages into data signaling messages suitable for transmission over the data network 308. For example, the data signaling message may be a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE (INVITE) message including a called number for establishing a SIP dialog over data network 308. The gateway 306 may transmit a data signaling message to the application server 310 according to the called number for routing the communication session through the data network 314 (see also fig. 4, reference numeral 2). For communication sessions initiated over the data network 308 rather than from the telephone network 304, the communication device 302 may generate data signaling messages and the system 100 may not include the gateway 306. For example, the communication device 302 may be a SIP client and may transfer a data signaling message including a called number to the application server 310 via the data network 308.

Upon receiving the data signaling message, application server 310 may process the called number to determine whether an interactive communication session guide option is associated with the called number. The interactive communication session guide option may indicate that the called number is a group contact number associated with the interactive communication session guide account. If not associated with the interactive communication session guide option, the application server 310 may route the communication session through the data network 314 according to a called number that allows the communication device 316 to establish the communication session for communicating with the communication device 302.

If the called number is associated with an interactive communication session guide option, application server 310 may determine a service status of a member profile for the interactive communication session guide account associated with the interactive communication session guide option. The service status may indicate whether any member profile contains a valid forwarding number. For example, application server 310 may store a table similar to that shown in FIG. 2, and may return a valid service state if column 204 includes "YES" for any member profile, and may return an invalid service state if column 204 includes "NO" for each member profile. As discussed above, the service state may also mask communication sessions from various calling communication devices and/or from unrecognized numbers and/or addresses. If the service status indicates that no member has an activated forwarding number, the application server 310 may route the communication session according to a called group contact number that allows the communication device 316 to communicate with the communication device 302. The application server 310 may also generate an alert signal (e.g., a ringtone, music, text, etc.) to alert the user of the called communication device 302 as to the established communication session.

If the service status indicates that one or more members have a valid forwarding number, application server 310 may route the data signaling message to interactive voice response system 312 (see also FIG. 4, reference numeral 3). As discussed above, the interactive voice response system 312 can generate a signal for generating a custom greeting announcement at the communication device 302 that prompts the user of the communication device 302 to enter a response. Once the user of the communication device 302 enters the response, the interactive voice response system 312 can index a table (e.g., table 200 of fig. 2) on the application server 310 (or back-end database) with the response to identify the member profile associated with the response and determine whether the identified member profile includes a valid forwarding number.

If the response is not associated with a member having a valid forwarding number, the interactive voice response system 312 may instruct the application server 310 to route the communication session according to the called group contact number that allows the communication device 316 to communicate with the communication device 302.

If the response selects a member with a valid forwarding number, interactive voice response system 312 may instruct application server 310 to redirect the communication session to the valid forwarding number indicated in the member profile associated with the member (see also FIG. 4, reference numeral 4). As such, the application server 310 may generate a second computer signaling message (e.g., a session initiation protocol invite request) including a valid forwarding number and forward the second computer signaling message to the gateway 306 (see also fig. 4, reference numeral 5) over the data network 308. The gateway 306 may convert the second computer signaling message to a second telephony signaling message (e.g., a signal system 7 origination address message) and may transfer the second telephony signaling message to a switch associated with the communication device 302 (see also fig. 4, reference numeral 6). The switch may then use the active forwarding number included in the second telephony signaling message to route the communication session to the forwarding communication device (not shown) according to the forwarding number. The transferring communication device may communicate with the communication device 302 through a communication session via a telephone network, a data network, and/or a combination thereof.

Additionally, if the member profile includes a valid forwarding number that is a text message address (e.g., an email address, a text message address, etc.), the interactive voice response system 312 may notify the caller that a data-based voice call may not be established for the forwarding communication device, and may generate a signal for prompting the caller to select or speak a message that may be converted to text and forwarded to the member to forward text information (e.g., an email, test information, etc.) that informs the caller of the member attempting to reach, or to connect to a called group contact number to leave a voice message or speak with another member. If the caller chooses not to leave a message (e.g., hang up, etc.), the interactive voice response system 312 may also automatically generate and send a text message (e.g., email, text information, etc.) including information identifying the caller (e.g., name, telephone number, etc.) and information about the data signaling message (e.g., time, date, etc.).

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow chart 500 for processing signaling messages and for establishing a communication session according to an exemplary embodiment. Flowchart 500 may begin at 502 and may continue to 504.

At 504, the service switching point 108 can receive a telephony signaling message including a called number and a calling number and/or calling address associated with the calling communication device 102.

At 506, the service switching point 108 can determine whether the interactive communication session guide option is associated with the called number. If not, the flow diagram may continue to 522. If so, the flow diagram 500 may continue to 508.

At 508, the service switching point 108 can determine that the called number is a group contact number according to the interactive communication session directing device options and can generate and issue a query to the service control point 116 including the group contact number and the calling number and/or calling address associated with the calling communication device 102.

At 510, the service control point 116 may determine whether the screening is valid for any members of the interactive communication session steering device account associated with the group contact number. If so, the flow diagram 500 may continue to 512. If not, the flow diagram 500 may continue to 514.

At 512, the service control point 116 may determine whether the calling number and/or calling address associated with the calling communication device 102 is identified. If so, the flow diagram 500 may continue to 514. If not, the service control point 116 may instruct the intelligent peripheral 120 to prompt the caller for an identification code. If the entered identification code corresponds to a known identification code, then the flow diagram 500 may continue to 514. If not, then flowchart 500 may continue with 522. The service control point 116 may also terminate the communication session (not shown).

At 514, the service control point 116 may process the interactive communication session directing device account including one or more member profiles associated with the group contact number included in the query to determine whether any of the member profiles have a valid forwarding number. If not, flowchart 500 may continue with 522. If so, then flowchart 500 may continue with 516.

At 516, the service control point 116 can transfer routing instructions to the service switching point 108 to route the communication session to the smart peripheral device 120, the smart peripheral device 120 can retrieve the customized greeting announcement (e.g., speak by 1 and bob, speak by 2 and mary, etc.) based on the group contact number and can generate a signal at the calling communication device 102 for generating the customized greeting announcement.

At 518, the smart peripheral device 120 may receive and process the response to the customized announcement entered by the user at the calling communication device 102. The response may identify which member the user is attempting to contact. The intelligent peripheral 120 may transfer the response to the service control point 116.

In 520, the service control point 116 can determine whether the response to the input is a valid input and can transfer the routing instructions to the service switching point 108 based on the determination. The entered response may be valid if the response is available to index an interactive communication session directing device account corresponding to the member profile. If the entered response is valid, flowchart 500 may continue with 526. If the entered response is not valid, the service control point 116 may transfer the routing instructions to the service switching point 108 and the flowchart 500 may continue to 522. Also, if the response is not valid, the service control point 116 may instruct the intelligent peripheral 120 to replay the announcement.

In 522, the service switching point 108 may route the communication session to the called communication device 110 associated with the called group contact number according to the routing instructions.

At 524, the service switching point 108 can transfer an alert signal at the called communication device 110 of the communication session to alert the user. The user may or may not listen and the communication session may be terminated by user input at the calling communication device 102 or at the called communication device 110. For example, a user may hang up a telephone call, which may send a "hang up" signal instructing system 100 to terminate a communication session. Flowchart 500 may then continue to 532 and end.

At 526, the service control point 116 may process the response indexing the table 200 to identify a particular member profile and may determine whether the forwarding number is valid for the particular member. If not valid for the particular member, then flowchart 500 may continue with 522. If so, the flow diagram 500 may continue to 528.

In 528, the service control point 116 can forward routing instructions that instruct the service switching point 108 to forward the communication session according to a forward-to-number associated with the forwarding communication device 112. For example, the service switching point 108 may route the communication session to the member's mobile phone instead of to the member's home phone.

In 530, the service switching point 108 can transfer an alert signal for alerting a user at the transferring communication device 112 of the established communication session. The user may or may not listen and user input at the calling communication device 102 or at the called communication device 110 may terminate the communication session. For example, the user may hang up the phone, which may send a "hang up" signal instructing the system 100 to terminate the communication session. Flowchart 500 may then continue to 532 and end.

Thus, a family resident having two or more members may use the interactive communication session directing device service to redirect calls to their desired forward-to-number. Two or more people sharing a house, apartment, or dormitory may also utilize the service. In addition, a small business may use the call receiving service instead to provide uninterrupted telephone access to its customers. A customer calling a company's primary number may hear the greeting and may choose to be transferred directly to the desired employee. The system 100 implementing the interactive communication session guide may also connect customers with employees in the office or often on business trips.

In the foregoing specification, various exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (24)

1. A method for establishing a communication session, comprising:

processing a telephony signaling message, the telephony signaling message including a called number and a calling number associated with a calling communication device, the signaling message requesting establishment of a communication session to the called number;

determining, using a service control point, that the calling number is not recognized;

using the service control point and based on the determination, instructing the intelligent peripheral to prompt the caller to enter an identification code prior to routing the communication session, the identification code being used to verify and authenticate the caller;

the service control point, in response to identifying that the identification code entered by the caller matches an identification code stored in a database of the service control point:

determining that the called number is associated with an account that includes a member profile with a valid forwarding number;

generating a signal for generating an announcement associated with the account;

receiving a response to the advertisement; and

determining whether the response is associated with the member profile having the valid forward-to-number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: routing the communication session according to the called number if the response is not associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: routing the communication session according to the valid forwarding number if the response is associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the member profile indicates that the valid forwarding number is valid during a particular time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the response corresponds to a particular member of a plurality of members.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the member profile is stored in a table in a database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the table stores a plurality of member profiles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the member profile may store a plurality of forwarding numbers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the called number comprises an email address, a text message address, an internet protocol address, a data network address, or a telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the called number is associated with the account further comprises: identifying an interactive communication session directing device option associated with the called number.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive communication session guide option comprises an advanced intelligent network interactive communication session guide option.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating and transferring a text message comprising information about the caller and/or associated with the signaling message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling message comprises a calling number.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: masking the communication session according to the calling number.

15. A system for establishing a communication session, comprising:

a switch that receives a telephony signaling message including a called number and a calling number associated with a calling communication device to identify an interactive communication session direction device option associated with the called number and generates a query, the signaling message requesting establishment of a communication session;

a service control point communicatively coupled to the switch, the service control point configured to receive the query and store an account including a member profile with a valid transfer number, the service control point is further configured to process the query and return routing instructions for routing the communication session, wherein the service control point is further configured to use the service control point to determine that the calling number is not recognized and to use the service control point and, based on the determination, instruct an intelligent peripheral to prompt a caller to enter an identification code prior to routing the communication session, the identification code being used to verify and authenticate the caller, and the service control point is further configured to identify whether the caller-entered identification code matches an identification code stored in a database of the service control point; and

an intelligent peripheral communicatively coupled to the switch and/or the service control point, the intelligent peripheral adapted to transmit a signal for generating an announcement via the communication session, process a response to the announcement, and transfer the response to the service control point in response to the service control point identifying that the identification code entered by the caller matches an identification code stored in the database of the service control point, wherein the service control point receives the response from the intelligent peripheral and determines whether the response is associated with the member profile having the valid transfer number.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the service control point further comprises a database.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the member profile indicates that the valid forwarding number is valid during a particular time interval.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein if the response is not associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number, the service control point instructs the switch to route the communication session according to the called number.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein if the response is associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number, the service control point instructs the switch to route the communication session according to the valid forwarding number.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the service control point generates and transfers a text message comprising information about the caller and/or associated with the signaling message.

21. A system for establishing a communication session, comprising:

an application server that receives a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) telephony signaling message including a called number and a calling number associated with a calling communication device, identifies an interactive communication session guide option associated with the called number, and generates a query, the telephony signaling message requesting that a communication session be established, wherein the application server is further configured to use a service control point to determine that the calling number is not recognized and to use the service control point and, based on the determination, instruct an intelligent peripheral to prompt a caller to enter an identification code prior to routing the communication session, the identification code being used to verify and authenticate the caller, and the application server is further configured to use the service control point to identify whether the caller-entered identification code matches an identification code stored in a database of the service control point;

an interactive voice response system communicatively coupled to the application server, the interactive voice response system configured to receive the query and store an account including a member profile having a valid forwarding number, the interactive voice response system further configured to process the query and, in response to the service control point identifying that the identification code entered by the caller matches an identification code stored in the database of the service control point, transmit a signal for generating an announcement and process a response to the announcement via the communication session, the interactive voice response system further configured to determine whether the response is associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the interactive voice response system instructs the application server to generate and transfer text messages that include information about callers and/or associated with the signaling message.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the interactive voice response system instructs the application server to route the communication session according to the called number if the response is not associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the interactive voice response system instructs the application server to route the communication session according to the valid forwarding number if the response is associated with the member profile having the valid forwarding number.