Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network-based voice mail system. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the call should be routed to the voice mail system. If call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber. The subscriber is bridged into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy screening service engaged. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network voice mail system from a variety of remote telephone locations. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the subscriber's line is busy or whether the call goes unanswered. If remote call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber. The subscriber is patched into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call. The subscriber may set up a number of remote call monitoring filters, including an “always monitor” list, a “never monitor” list, and a schedule of days or times during which the subscriber allows or excludes remote call monitoring.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for selecting the content of Internet Call-Waiting messages. One method includes providing a selection of content for an Internet Call-Waiting message and allowing a customer/user to select the content of the Internet Call-Waiting message. The customer/user may select graphics, animation, and sound to accompany the Internet Call-Waiting message. Once the content is selected, the customer/user may then associate the content with a telephone number.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Abstract: Data is mapped between an advanced intelligent network (AIN) protocol message and an integrated services digital network (ISDN) protocol message for use by an intelligent network telecommunications system components. At a service control point, an AIN message is populated in an AIN protocol format with data required for providing a call handling service. The AIN message is routed to a switch associated with a service node. At the switch associated with the service node, an ISDN message is populated according to an ISDN protocol format with the data from the AIN message. If any data from any data field of the AIN message does not correspond to a matching data field of the ISDN message, a data field of the ISDN message is selected for populating with any data that does not correspond to a matching data field of the ISDN message. The ISDN message is routed to the service node that extracts the data from each data field of the ISDN message for providing the call handling service.

Abstract: A method for providing selected status announcements from a wireless telephone user to a caller comprising receiving an incoming call from a caller. The method further comprises that responsive to a determination that an automatic answering mode applies to the incoming call: receiving a pre-selected announcement action corresponding to the incoming telephone call and performing the pre-selected announcement action. If the pre-selected announcement action includes a hold announcement, then the incoming telephone call is answered by providing the caller with the hold announcement and placing the wireless telephone in mute mode until the user has taken the incoming telephone call. The method further comprises that responsive to a determination that a manual answering mode applies to the incoming call, receiving a user-selected announcement action.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received by while the subscriber in connected to an information network. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.

Abstract: A network-based call reception limiter is disclosed. The network-based call reception limiter prevents calls from ringing to a telephone. The network does so by directing calls made from a calling party to a third party, rather than directing the call to the party to which the calling party intended to be connected (the called party). The network may communicate the identity and/or calling time of the calling party to the called party during the period that the network directs calls away from the called party.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.

Abstract: A system configured to deliver wireline messages to terminating stations, such as telephones, using a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN). The wireline messages may be composed of text, ring tones, or other items. The wireline messages may be created using modified conventional telephones, mobile telephones, personal computers and the like. The wireline messages are stored within a wireline message database associated with a conventional service control point (SCP) contained in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). The wireline messages are delivered to a terminating station, such as a wireline telephone, after a trigger has been actuated. Wireline messages composed of text are displayed on a display screen incorporated within the terminating station or electrically coupled to the terminating station. Wireline messages composed of ring tones are played to alert a called party that an incoming call has been placed from a particular directory number.

Abstract: An apparatus for phonetically screening predetermined character strings. The apparatus includes a text-to-speech module, and a phonetic screening module in communication with the text-to-speech module. The phonetic screening module is for replacing a first character string with a second character string based on a phonetic enunciation by the text-to-speech module of the first character string.

Abstract: A method of validating a passcode in a telephone network comprises using a hash function to hash the directory number of a subscriber to a passcode-controlled service and comparing an entered passcode with the output of the hash function. Each subscriber to a passcode-controlled service is provided with a passcode that is equal to the hash of their directory number produced by a predetermined hash function, and that predetermined hash functions is provided to the various components of the network that may need to validate the subscriber's passcode. Each component of the network is thus able to validate the passcode without performing a database lookup.

Abstract: An on-demand caller ID service is disclosed. A customer dials an access code to retrieve calls made to his telephone number. An automated voicemail response system would repeat the telephone numbers and/or names associated with those telephone numbers that called over a predetermined time period, such as the last 24 hours. The customer is billed a per usage charge for each time he accesses the service. The customer may also subscribe to the service. Customers that are not subscribers of caller ID may utilize this service if they are seeking to track down an incoming call that may have been missed during the day. Also, customers who are away from their telephone line may remotely check who has called them by accessing the service.

Abstract: A system configured to deliver wireline messages to terminating stations, such as telephones, using a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN). The wireline messages may be composed of text, ring tones, or other items. The wireline messages may be created using modified conventional telephones, mobile telephones, personal computers and the like. The wireline messages are stored within a wireline message database associated with a conventional service control point (SCP) contained in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). The wireline messages are delivered to a terminating station, such as a wireline telephone, after a trigger has been actuated. Wireline messages composed of text are displayed on a display screen incorporated within the terminating station or electrically coupled to the terminating station. Wireline messages composed of ring tones are played to alert a called party that an incoming call has been placed from a particular directory number.

Abstract: A personalized caller ID service is provided. A subscriber to the service who is calling his own telephone line from a remote location may enter a personal identification number (PIN) after dialing the subscriber's telephone number. A database within the telephone network stores a text message along with the PIN, where the text message is preferably composed by the subscriber at the time of enrollment in the personalized caller ID server. When the PIN is entered, the text message is retrieved from the database and transmitted to the subscriber's caller ID equipment during call termination for display on that equipment. The invention may be embodied in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), wherein a termination attempt trigger (TAT) is provisioned on the subscriber's line. Upon actuation of the trigger, the service control point within the AIN instructs the service switching point that services the caller's line to prompt the caller for a PIN and collect the PIN digits.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network voice mail system from a variety of remote telephone locations. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the subscriber's line is busy or whether the call goes unanswered. If remote call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber via a remote call monitoring directory number provided by the subscriber. The subscriber is patched into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call. The subscriber may set up a number of remote call monitoring filters, including an “always monitor” list, a “never monitor” list, and a schedule of days or times during which the subscriber allows or excludes remote call monitoring.

Abstract: One or more voice mail messages, respectively, may be provided as one or more reminder messages. After the playing of a voice mail message, an option may be provided to use the message as a reminder message. Delivery information for the reminder message is obtained. The delivery information may include the user's telephone number, another telephone number, multiple telephone numbers, or identifiers for other devices. The delivery information also may include a designated time for delivery or different times for each of the destinations. The delivery of the reminder message may be password protected. The reminder message is delivered based on the delivery information. If the reminder message is password protected, the reminder message is delivered in response to receipt of the password.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for selecting the content of Internet Call-Waiting messages. One method includes providing a selection of content for an Internet Call-Waiting message and allowing a customer/user to select the content of the Internet Call-Waiting message. The customer/user may select graphics, animation, and sound to accompany the Internet Call-Waiting message. Once the content is selected, the customer/user may then associate the content with a telephone number.