Method and apparatus for supporting voice message services with automatic rebound in a wireless intelligent network

A wireless communications system providing a voice messaging service for a subscriber, the subscriber associated with a voice mailbox for the voice messaging service, the subscriber utilizing a wireless device, the wireless communications system comprising:

• a voice messaging system (VMS);
• a serving mobile switching center (MSC) connected to the VMS;
• means for requesting a first routing number from a service control point (SCP) by the serving MSC in response to the subscriber invoking the voice messaging service;
• means for establishing a connection between the wireless device and the VMS through the serving MSC utilizing the first routing number, the connection enabling the subscriber to retrieve a voice message deposited by a call sender;
• means for saving a bookmark by the VMS in response to the subscriber's interaction with the voice messaging service, the bookmark indicating a location in the voice mailbox;
• and
• means for redirecting the connection from the VMS to the call sender's directory number (DN) through the serving MSC and an intelligent peripheral (IP) by the VMS in response to the subscriber invoking a call sender option.

An article of manufacturing comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a voice message system (VMS) to support a voice message service in a wireless communications system for a subscriber, the wireless communications system comprising a serving mobile switching center (MSC), a service control point (SCP), and intelligent peripheral (IP), and the VMS, the VMS comprising a computer, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising:
• computer readable program code means for causing the computer to establish a connection between the wireless device and the VMS through the serving MSC utilizing a first routing number, the connection enabling the subscriber to retrieve a voice message deposited by the subscriber;
• computer readable program code means for causing the computer to save a bookmark, the bookmark indicating a location in a voice mailbox in response to the subscriber's interaction with the voice messaging service;
• computer readable program code means for causing the computer to redirect the connection from the VMS to the call sender's DN through the serving MSC and the IP in response to the subscriber invoking a call sender option;
• computer readable program code means for causing the computer to re-establish the connection between the wireless device and the VMS in response to a rebound indicator;
• and
• computer readable program code means for causing the computer to resume the voice messaging service for the subscriber by the VMS utilizing the bookmark.

A method for providing a voice messaging service for a subscriber in a wireless communications system, the subscriber associated with a voice mailbox for the voice messaging service, the voice mailbox associated with a voice messaging system (VMS), the subscriber utilizing a wireless device, the wireless device being served by a serving mobile switching center (MSC), the method comprising the steps of:

• requesting a first routing number from a service control point (SCP) by the serving MSC responsive to the subscriber invoking the voice messaging service;
• establishing a connection between the wireless device and the VMS through the serving MSC utilizing the first routing number, the connection enabling the subscriber to retrieve a voice message deposited by a call sender;
• saving a bookmark by the VMS, the bookmark indicating a location in the voice mailbox responsive to the subscriber's interaction with the voice messaging service;
• and
• redirecting the connection from the VMS to a call sender's directory number (DN) through the serving MSC and an intelligent peripheral (IP) by the VMS responsive to the subscriber invoking a call sender option.

A method for an intelligent peripheral (IP) to support a voice messaging service for a subscriber in a wireless communications system, the subscriber associated with a voice mailbox for providing the voice messaging service, the wireless communications system comprising a serving mobile switching center (MSC), a service control point (SCP), a voice messaging system (VMS), and the IP, the subscriber utilizing a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call sender's directory number (DN) from the SCP;
• accepting an incoming call from the wireless device through the serving MSC, the incoming call utilizing a third routing number;
• initiating an outgoing call to the call sender's DN responsive to the step of accepting an incoming call;
• establishing a connection between the wireless device and the call sender's DN through the serving MSC, the connection bridging the incoming call and the outgoing call;
• notifying the SCP by the IP about a rebound indicator;
• and
• ending the connection through the serving MSC responsive to receiving an instruction from the serving MSC.