Voice mail communication with call blocking

Claims

We claim:

1. In a switched communications network comprising:

a first central office switching system connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals including at least one service switching point for selectively providing switched communications between subscriber lines;

a second central office switching system connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals including at least one service switching point for selectively providing switched communications between subscriber lines;

said first and second central office switching systems being connected by trunks;

a network controller arranged separately from said central office switching systems and being connected to at least said service switching points connected to said central office switching systems through at least one service transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications between said central office switching systems via said trunks, said network controller storing pre-programmed call processing data associated with subscribers who are associated with said subscriber lines connected to consumer premise terminals connected to said central office switching systems;

a first centralized messaging system for storing messages directed to individual subscribers, said centralized messaging system including addressable storage not associated with individual subscribers;

a second centralized messaging system for storing messages directed to individual subscribers, said centralized messaging system including addressable storage not associated with individual subscribers;

each of said first and second central office switching systems providing selective communications between subscriber lines and said first and second centralized messaging systems, respectively;

a method comprising:

responsive to failure to complete a call to a called party, querying the calling party as to whether it is desired to leave a message;

following an affirmative indication forwarding a message from said calling party to said first centralized messaging system having said addressable storage;

storing said message in said addressable storage in said first centralized messaging system with address information associated with said second centralized messaging system;

forwarding from said addressable storage in said first centralized messaging system to said second centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said message stored in said first mentioned centralized messaging system;

storing said forwarded digital message information in said second centralized messaging system; and

notifying the called party of the availability of said message stored in said second messaging system.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the step of delivering said message to the called party as an audio voice message.

3. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of:

querying the calling party as whether a response is requested; following an affirmative indication including in the message forwarded between said addressable storages response request information requesting response.

4. A method according to claim 3 including the steps of delivering said message to the called party as an audio voice message with an audio voice request for a response including instructions for responding.

5. A method according to claim 4 including the steps of forwarding from said addressee to said second centralized messaging system having said addressable storage and storing therein the response;

forwarding from said addressable storage in said second centralized messaging system to said first centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said response stored in said second centralized messaging system, and storing said forwarded digital message information contained in said response in said first centralized messaging system; and

notifying the calling party of said response stored in said first centralized messaging system.

6. A method according to claim 5 including the step of delivering said response to the calling party as an audio voice message.

7. A method according to claim 1 including the step of billing the calling party for the transfer of said message.

8. A method according to claim 5 including the steps of billing the calling party for the transfer of said message and the transfer of said response.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein digital message information contained in the stored message is forwarded in packet form via packet switching.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein digital message information contained in the stored message is forwarded in Common Channel Signaling 7 (CCS7) format.

11. A method according to claim 5 wherein the digital message information contained in said stored response is forwarded in packet form via packet switching.

12. A method according to claim 5 wherein the digital message information contained in said stored response is forwarded in Common Channel Signaling 7 (CCS7) format.

13. In a switched communications network comprising a plurality of service switching points associated with subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals, said service switching points being connected by trunks for selectively providing switched communications between said subscriber lines, a network controller arranged separately from said trunks and being connected to at least some of said service switching points through at least one service transfer point to convey control data to effect communications via said trunks, said network controller storing pre-programmed call processing data associated with subscribers who are associated with said subscriber lines connected to consumer premises terminals, at least a first and a second of said service switching points being connected respectively to first and second centralized messaging systems for storing messages directed to individual subscribers, a method comprising:

responsive to failure to complete a call between a pair of subscriber premises terminals transferring a message from one said subscriber premises terminal to the other said subscriber premises terminal in said pair by;

forwarding said message from said one subscriber premises terminal to said first centralized messaging system and storing said message in said first centralized messaging system;

sending an inquiry to said network controller;

sending a message in reply to said inquiry from said network controller and in response to said reply message forwarding to said second centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said message from said one subscriber premises terminal stored in said first centralized messaging system, and storing said digital message information in said second centralized messaging system; and

notifying said other subscriber premises terminal of said pair of the availability of said message stored in said second centralized messaging system.

14. A method according to claim 13 including the step of delivering said message to said other subscriber premises terminal of said pair.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said message originates and terminates as an audio voice message, and is transferred as a packetized digital signal via packet switching.

16. A method according to claim 14 including the steps of: requesting a reply to said message; storing a reply in said second centralized messaging system; transferring digital message information contained in said stored reply from said second centralized messaging system to said first centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point, and storing said forwarded digital message information contained in said response in said first centralized messaging system; and notifying said originating subscriber premises terminal of the availability of said reply stored in said first messaging system.

17. A method according to claim 16 including the step of delivering said reply to said originating subscriber premises terminal as an audio voice signal.

18. In a switched communications network comprising a plurality of service switching points associated with subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals, said service switching points being connected by trunks for selectively providing switched communications between said subscriber lines, a network controller arranged separately from the trunks and being connected to at least some of said service switching points through at least one service transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications via said trunks, said network controller storing pre-programmed call processing data associated with subscribers who are associated with said subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals, at least a first and a second of said service switching points being connected respectively to first and second centralized messaging systems for storing messages directed to individual subscribers, a method comprising:

responsive to failure to complete a call between a calling subscriber premises terminal associated with said first service switching point and a called subscriber premises terminal associated with said second service switching point, transferring a message from said calling subscriber premises terminal to said called subscriber premises terminal by forwarding said message from said calling subscriber premises terminal to said first centralized messaging system and storing said message in said first centralized messaging system;

forwarding to said second centralized messaging system associated with the called subscriber premises terminal via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said message stored in said first centralized messaging system, and storing said digital message information in said second centralized messaging system; and

notifying the called subscriber premises terminal of said message stored in said second centralized messaqinq system.

19. A method according to claim 18 including the step of delivering said message to said called subscriber premises terminal.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said message originates and terminates as an audio voice message, and is transferred as a packetized digital signal via packet switching.

21. A method according to claim 19 including the steps of:

requesting a reply to said message; storing a reply in said second centralized messaging system; transferring digital message information contained in said stored reply from said second centralized messaging system to said first centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point, and storing said forwarded digital message information contained in said reply in said first centralized messaging system; and notifying said calling subscriber premises terminal of the availability of said reply stored in said first centralized messaging system.

22. A method according to claim 21 including the step of delivering said reply to said calling subscriber premises terminal as an audio voice signal.

23. In a switched communications network comprising:

a first central office switching system connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals including at least one service switching point for selectively providing switched communications between subscriber lines;

a second central office switching system connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals including at least one service switching point for selectively providing switched communications between subscriber lines;

said central office switching systems being connected via trunks;

a network controller arranged separately from said central office switching systems and being connected to at least said service switching points connected to said first and second central office switching systems through at least one service transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications, said network controller storing pre-programmed call processing data associated with subscribers who are associated with the subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals connected to said first and second central office switching systems;

a first centralized messaging system for storing messages directed to individual subscribers;

a second centralized messaging system for storing messages directed to individual subscribers;

each of said first and second central office switching systems providing selective communications between subscriber lines and one of said first and second centralized messaging systems associated with said subscriber lines for storing messages from said subscriber lines, a method comprising:

forwarding to one of said first and second centralized messaging systems a message addressed to a directory number associated with the other of said centralized messaging systems and storing said message in said one of said centralized messaging systems; and

forwarding to said other of said centralized messaging systems via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said message stored in said one of said centralized messaging systems.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said forwarding of a message to one centralized messaging system includes calling said system from a subscriber premises terminal, initiating a voice message through said terminal, and said storing comprises digitizing and storing said voice message in digital form.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein a message is delivered to said centralized messaging system in T1 format.

26. A method according to claim 23 wherein said information is forwarded to said other centralized messaging system in digital format.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein any translation in format in the message occurs as a function of the operation of the centralized messaging system.

28. A method according to claim 23 wherein the digital message information contained in said stored message is forwarded in Common Channel Signaling 7 (CCS7) format.

29. A method according to claim 23 wherein the digital message information contained in said stored message is forwarded by packet switching via a Common Channel Signaling network.

30. A method according to claim 23 including the step of storing said forwarded digital message information in said other centralized messaging system.

31. A method according to claim 30 including the step of delivering the digital message information stored in said other centralized messaging system as real-time analog audio information.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the message forwarded to said one centralized messaging system and stored therein is initiated as a real time audio signal.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the message is initiated and delivered via subscriber premises terminals comprising telephone stations.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein said forwarding of said digital message information from one centralized messaging system to the other centralized messaging system is effected between said first and second central office switching systems without the use of trunking connections therebetween.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said forwarding of said digital message information is effected without applying ringing signal.

36. A method according to claim 23 wherein said network controller, service switching points and service transfer points comprise at least a portion of a Common Channel Signaling System 7 (CCS7) associated with said central office switching systems.

37. A method according to claim 23 including a second network controller arranged separately from said central office switching systems and being connected to at least said service switching points connected to said central office switching systems through at least one service transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications, said second network controller storing pre-programmed call processing data associated with subscribers who are associated with the subscriber lines connected to consumer premise terminals connected to said central office switching systems.

38. In a switched communications network comprising a plurality of service switching points associated with subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals, said service switching points being connected by trunks for selectively providing switched communications between subscriber lines, a network controller arranged separately from the trunks and being connected to at least some of said service switching points through at least one service transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications, a first of said service switching points being connected to a first centralized messaging system for storing in addressable storages messages for directory numbers of subscriber lines associated with said second service switching point, a method comprising:

forwarding to said first centralized messaging system a message for a directory number for a subscriber line associated with said second service switching point and storing said message in said first centralized messaging system;

generating control data directing the forwarding of said message from said storage in said first centralized messaging system to said second centralized messaging system;

responsive to said control data forwarding to said second centralized messaging system via service switching points and at least one service transfer point digital message information contained in said message stored in said first centralized messaging system.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein said forwarding of a message to said first centralized messaging system includes establishing a connection between said first centralized messaging system and a subscriber premise terminal, initiating a voice message through said subscriber premises terminal, and said storing comprises digitizing and storing said voice message in digital form.

40. A method according to claim 38 wherein said digital message information is forwarded to said second centralized messaging system in digital format.

41. A method according to claim 38 wherein any translation in format in the message occurs as a function of the operation of a centralized messaging system.

42. A switched communications network comprising:

a first central office switching system connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals including at least one service switching point for selectively pro