# US 8,472,428 B2 · Methods and systems for line management

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- Number: US 8,472,428 B2
- Document ID: US8472428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/720,971
- Filed: 2003-11-24
- Published: 2005-05-19
- Granted: 2013-06-25
- Earliest claimed: 2001-02-27
- Assignees: Verizon Data Services Inc.; Telesector Resources Group, Inc.
- Applicants: Craig L. Reding; Mahesh Rajagopalan; Alin D'Silva; Ziauddin Majid; Satya Raju; John R. Reformato; Shadman Zafar
- Inventors: Craig L. Reding; Mahesh Rajagopalan; Alin D'Silva; Ziauddin Majid; Satya Raju; John R. Reformato; Shadman Zafar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8472428B2

## CPC

- H04M 3/54: Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber {(based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308)}
- H04Q 3/0037: {involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]}
- H04W 4/16: Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
- H04M 3/42263: {where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism}
- H04M 2207/12: intelligent networks
- H04M 2242/28: Services making use of subscriber schedule information
- H04Q 2213/13093: Personal computer, PC
- H04Q 2213/13098: Mobile subscriber
- H04Q 2213/13196: Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
- H04Q 2213/13282: Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
- H04Q 2213/13345: Intelligent networks, SCP
- H04Q 2213/13378: Speech recognition, speech analysis
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Methods and Systems are provided for managing one or more communications lines associated with a user of a communications network. A service center may receive from a user line management information regarding one or more of the user's communications lines. This line management information may include a request from the user to handle all calls to the communications line in a particular manner (e.g., forward all calls to a different number). This line management information may also include information regarding scheduling the handling of calls to the communications line (e.g., scheduling call forwarding) or a request to handle calls differently based on information identifying the origination of the call (e.g., caller-ID). The service center may then forward instructions to the communications network such that the components (e.g., SSP or SCP) of the communications network implement the user's modifications. Additionally, the service center may be provided with information, in real-time, regarding a call to the communications line that may include, for example, the caller-ID for the incoming call. The service center may then determine how the call should be handled and forward instructions to the communications network to handle the call according to the user's requests.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server, line management information from the user over the data network, the server being in communication with the data network and the voice network, the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
determining, at the server, whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
generating, at the server, an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the generating comprising:
obtaining, from a database, information associated with the identified communications line;
determining, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
generating, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality; and
transmitting the generated instruction to the voice network component to implement the requested modification.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the generated instruction comprises transmitting the generated instruction to a service control point.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the generated instruction to the service control point comprises transmitting the generated instruction to a service provisioning and creation environment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the generated instruction comprises transmitting the generated instruction to a switch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the communications line comprises contact information, the contact information comprising at least one of a contact name and a contact phone number.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on at least one of the contact name and the contact phone number.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on a user-defined time schedule and the time the call is received.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein:
the additional communications device comprises one or more processors providing voice mail services; and
the requested modification identifies the one or more processors based on at least one of the contact name and the contact phone number.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the additional communications device comprises one or more processors for playing an audible signal indicative of the communications line being unavailable.

### Claim 10

A system for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, the system comprising:
a first interface for connecting to the data network;
a second interface for connecting to the voice network; and
a server comprising one or more processors in communication with the first and second interfaces, the server being configured to:
receive line management information from the user via the first interface, the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
determine whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
generate an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the server being further configured to:
obtain, from a database, information associated with the identified communications line;
determine, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
generate, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality, and
transmit the generated instruction, via the second interface, to the voice network component to implement the requested modification.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a recent change engine for receiving the generated instruction from the server and transmitting the generated instruction to a service control point.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the service control point includes a service provisioning and creation environment and wherein the recent change engine is capable of transmitting the generated instruction to the service provisioning and creation environment of the service control point.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a recent change engine for receiving the generated instruction from the server and transmitting the generated instruction to a switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the switch includes a table and wherein the recent change engine is capable of modifying the table.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on contact information, the contact information comprising at least one of a contact name and a contact phone number.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on a user-defined time schedule and a time the call is received.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the additional communications device comprises one or more processors providing voice mail services.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the additional communications device comprises one or more processors for playing an audible signal indicative of the communications line being unavailable.

### Claim 19

A system for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, the system comprising:
means for receiving, at a server, line management information from the user over the data network, the server being in communication with the data network and the voice network, the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
means for determining, at the server, whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
means for generating, at the server, an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the means for generating comprising:
means for obtaining, from a database, information associated with the identified communications line;
means for determining, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
means for generating, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality; and
means for transmitting the generated instruction to the voice network component to implement the requested modification.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting the generated instruction to a component of the voice network comprises means for transmitting the generated instruction to a service control point.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting the generated instruction to the service control point comprises means for transmitting the generated instruction to a service provisioning and creation environment.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting the generated instruction to the component of the voice network comprises means for transmitting the generated instruction to a switch.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the information identifying the communications line comprises contact information, the contact information comprising at least one of a contact name and a contact phone number.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on at least one of the contact name and the contact phone number.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the requested modification identifies the additional communications device based on a user-defined time schedule and the time the call is received.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the additional communications device comprises one or more processors providing voice mail services.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the additional communications device comprises one or more processors for playing an audible signal indicative of the communications line being unavailable.

### Claim 28

A method for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server, line management information from the user over the data network, the server being in communication with the data network and the voice network, the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
determining, at the server, whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
generating, at the server, an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the generating comprising:
obtaining, from a database, information associated with the identified communications line;
determining, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
generating, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality; and
transmitting the generated instruction to a service control point of the voice network to implement the requested modification.

### Claim 29

A system for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, comprising:
a first interface for connecting to the data network;
a second interface for connecting to the voice network; and
a server comprising one or more processors in communication with the first and second interfaces, the server being configured to:
receive line management information from the user via the first interface the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
determine whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
generate an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the server being further configured to:
obtain, from a database, information associated with the identified communications line;
determine, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
generate, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality; and
transmit the generated instruction, via the second interface, to a service control point of the voice network to implement the requested modification.

### Claim 30

A system for management of a communications line associated with a communications device and with a user of a communications network, the communications network comprising a voice network and a data network, the system comprising:
means for receiving, at a server, line management information from a device over the data network, the server being in communication with the data network and the voice network, the line management information comprising:
information identifying the communications line; and
information requesting a modification to the identified communications line, the requested modification identifying an additional communications device to which calls received by the identified communications line are forwarded;
means for determining, at the server, whether the requested modification would change a procedure for handling of calls directed to the identified communications line;
means for generating, at the server, an instruction to implement the requested modification when the requested modification would change the procedure, the means for generating comprising:
means for obtaining, from a database, information associated with the identified communication line;
means for determining, based on the obtained information, a property of the communications network associated with the communications line, the communications network property being indicative of a functionality of a component of the voice network that services the identified communications line that is required to implement the modification; and
means for generating, based on at least the communications network property, a signal to implement the requested modification at the voice network component in accordance with the functionality; and
means for transmitting the generated instruction to a service control point of the voice network to implement the requested modification.