Abstract:
A method includes receiving a notification that indicates that a call from a caller has been received at a remote network-based messaging system at a computer terminal. The computer terminal is connected to the remote network-based messaging system via a data connection. The method includes displaying a pop-up view at the computer terminal to notify a subscriber of the call. The pop-up view includes call screening options and an option to add information identifying the caller to an electronic address book that is not a call log. The method includes sending a request to intercept the call from the computer terminal to the remote network-based messaging system via the data connection and sending information that indicates a destination device from the computer terminal to the remote network based messaging system. The call is routed from the remote network-based messaging system to the destination device.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a Continuation Patent Application of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/205,688, filed on Jul. 26, 2002 and entitled “REALTIME CALL SCREENING,” the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a method and system for use in connection with a network-based messaging system and a remote subscriber terminal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Network-based messaging systems, such as voice-mail systems have been replacing stand-alone answering machines that connect to an individual subscriber telephone. Such network-based messaging systems offer many advantages over stand-alone answering machines, including advanced voice-mail features such as remote message retrieval and user convenience. However, one advantage of the stand-alone answering machines over network-based messaging is that the user can monitor an incoming message in real-time and determine if they want to intercept the message and engage in a conversation with the caller (i.e., call screening). Conventional network-based messaging systems have not offered a call screening feature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a system that includes a network-based messaging system; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart that illustrates a method for use with a network-based messaging system; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a first pop-up display at a subscriber terminal after receipt of a call where a message is to be recorded at a network-based server; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a second pop-up display at a subscriber terminal for use during call screening; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a third pop-up display at a subscriber terminal for use during call interception; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a fourth pop-up display at a subscriber terminal for use as a soft phone interface; and 
         FIGS. 7-9  disclose a flow chart illustrating a more detailed method of using the network-based messaging system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is generally related to methods for use in connection with network-based messaging systems and related systems. 
     In accordance with a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a call at the network-based messaging system and providing a notification to a subscriber of the network-based messaging system that the call has been received and that a message for the subscriber is to be recorded. The subscriber is located remotely from the network-based messaging system. 
     In accordance with another particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a notification that the call has been received at the remote network-based messaging system and screening the call by monitoring a voice message played at a subscriber terminal while the voice message is being recorded at the remote network-based messaging system. 
     In accordance with another particular embodiment, the system includes a computer server and a notification module. The computer server is associated with the remote subscriber terminal and includes a voice message storage unit to store voice messages. The notification module is to notify the remote subscriber terminal when a call is received at the computer server and when a voice message is to be recorded. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the system includes a gateway responsive to a call destined for a telephone subscriber, a media server responsive to the gateway, an application server associated with a remote subscriber computing device, and a directory server responsive to the media server. The media server includes a voice-mail greeting and voice-mail prompt generator. The application server provides a notification to the remote subscriber computing device in response to a call being received at the media server. The directory server is to identify the application server registered for use by the subscriber. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  100 , including a network-based messaging system, is disclosed. The system  100  includes the public switched telephone network (PSTN)  102 , the public Internet  104 , a voice gateway  106 , a media server  108 , and an application server  110 . The system  100  further includes a directory server  112  accessible by the media server  108 , a representative call originator  114 , a personal computer used as a subscriber data terminal  120 , a telephone subscriber  116 , and an alternate phone number for the subscriber  118 . 
     In this particular embodiment, the telephone service subscriber  116  and the alternate phone number  118  are coupled to the PSTN  102 . Likewise, the call originator  114  is also coupled to the PSTN  102 . The media server  108  is coupled to the voice gateway  106  via a Voice over Internet Protocol connection  122  (VoIP). The media server  108  includes an audio greeting generator and voice message prompt unit  128  and voice message storage  130 . The personal computer subscriber terminal  120  includes client service software  216 . A subscriber terminal  120  is coupled to the public internet  104  via a conventional connection  132 , such as a modem or a high speed data connection. 
     During operation, a telephone call originated by caller  114  is originally directed towards a telephone destination for the subscriber, such as telephone service subscriber  116 . In the event that the telephone subscriber  116  has a busy line, or is otherwise engaged, the call from originator  114  may be directed to the voice gateway  106 . In this scenario, the voice gateway  106  converts the phone call from the originating caller  114  to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data packet call  122  and directs the call to the media server  108 . The media server  108  requests, via the directory server  112 , an appropriate application server associated with the destination subscriber  116 . Using a look-up function with the directory server  112 , the media server  108  determines that the destination subscriber  116  is connected online via subscriber terminal  120  and determines the associated application server  110  to support such subscriber. In this illustrated case, the associated application server to support the subscriber  116  is the application server  110 . Although only a single application server is shown, it should be understood that the media server  108  may be coupled to many different application servers that support different subscribers. 
     After determining the associated application server  110 , and upon receipt of the call at media server  108 , an audio greeting is produced by audio greeting generator  128  and a voice message prompt such as a “beep” tone that prompts the caller  114  to leave a message. As the message is to be left by the caller  114  and stored within the voice message storage unit  130 , the application server  110  sends a notification message via the internet  104  to the subscriber terminal  120 . At this point, a notification may be displayed to the subscriber terminal  120 , such as via a pop-up screen that lets the subscriber  120  learn of the message that is to be recorded at the network in the voice message storage unit  130 . The subscriber at terminal  120  may elect to ignore the recorded message or may elect to screen the message. In the event the caller decides to screen the incoming message, the voice message being recorded at voice message storage unit  130  is also bridged through the application server  110  to the service subscriber terminal  120 . At this point, the subscriber terminal  120  may be used to listen to the message being recorded by caller  114  in real time as the message is being recorded and stored at the voice message storage unit  130  within media server  108 . This function is referred to as real-time call screening. 
     In addition, the subscriber terminal  120  may be used to request an intercept action. In this case, the voice message recording function may be interrupted and the original call may be forwarded to an alternate phone number for the subscriber, such as alternate phone number  118 . In this particular example, the media server  108  interrupts the voice message recording and the gateway  106  directs call forwarding through the PSTN  102  such that a phone connection is established between caller  114  and the subscriber using alternate phone  118 . Although an alternate PSTN phone number is illustrated, the alternate phone may be another communication device used by the subscriber, such as a cellular phone, the personal computer  120 , or any other alternative communication device accessible via either the public switched telephone network (PSTN)  102  or the internet  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flow chart is provided that illustrates a method of operation of the system  100 . A call is received at a network-based messaging system, at step  202 . The subscriber is notified that the call has been received and that a voice message for the subscriber is to be recorded, at step  204 . An example display to provide such notification to the subscriber is illustrated in the pop-up screen shot of  FIG. 3 . Call screening options are provided including a call monitoring option, at  206 . An example of a call screening option display is shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition to the call monitoring option, in the example shown in  FIG. 4 , other options such as ignoring the message, adding the caller to the address book, canceling the call screening option, and interrupting or accepting the call is shown. 
     Upon receipt of the subscriber request, such as when the subscriber selects one of the call screening options from the display menu, a call screening action is performed as selected by the subscriber. Examples of call selection actions are accepting the call, ignoring the call, or performing a call intercept operation, at step  208 . The subscriber may then be provided with a call interception option menu, such as the display selection shown in  FIG. 5 , at step  210 . Upon subscriber request, such as receiving a subscriber request in response to the display menu shown in  FIG. 5 , a call interception action is performed. As an example, based on the subscriber request from the display menu of  FIG. 5 , the system may intercept the call during voice message recording and then route the call to an alternate subscriber terminal. An example of a suitable alternate subscriber terminal is a wireless phone, an alternate telephone, or a soft phone telephone interface at the subscriber computer, such as the interface illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The soft phone telephone interface and the pop-up displays of  FIG. 3-5  may be provided by client software loaded at the subscriber computer, such as the client software  216 . The call interception action is illustrated, at step  212 . 
     After completion of the call, such as completion of the call screening operation, or completion of a live call connection to the alternate phone number, the call may be disconnected, at step  214 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a more detailed description of the method of operation of the system  100  is illustrated. With this method, the PC client, such as software  216  located within the subscriber computer terminal  120  at the subscriber&#39;s location, connects to a remote application server and provides authorization and authentication information, at  702 . The application server registers the subscriber client location with the directory server. The subscriber is now set up for call screening operation, at step  704 . 
     A call originator places a call to the subscriber&#39;s phone number and there is either no answer or the line is busy. The call is then forwarded to a service access number that terminates on a voice gateway connected to the network-based messaging system, at  706 . The gateway converts the call to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and connects the call to a media server. 
     The media server uses the inbound call information provided by PSTN to the gateway connection and determines how to handle the call, at step  708 . The media server access the directory server to find subscriber information, including whether the subscriber is online and to which particular application server the subscriber client is currently connected, at  710 . The media server sends the application server a message telling it to notify the subscriber of an inbound call. The media server plays the subscriber&#39;s greeting to the caller, at  712 . The application server sends an inbound call message to the client running on the subscriber&#39;s PC, at step  714 . A particular example of a pop-up display that notifies the PC client user of the inbound call is illustrated at  FIG. 3 . At the end of the recorded greeting; the caller is prompted to leave their message, at step  716  and processing continues, at  720 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the method is continued from step  720  to method step  802  where the subscriber activates the PC client interface indicating a desire to screen the inbound call. The PC client then notifies the application server of the subscriber selection, at step  802  and as illustrated by the second pop-up display at  FIG. 4 . The application server informs the media server that it needs to bridge the call with a listen only mode to the PC client, at  804 . While the media server stores the message, the subscriber hears the message as it&#39;s being left and recorded, at  806 . The subscriber clicks on the connect call button at the PC client and the PC client signals the application sever of the subscriber selection as illustrated by the third pop-up display shown in  FIG. 5 , at step  808 . The application server notifies the media server and the media server instructs the caller to wait for a direct connection to the subscriber, at step  810 . The media server informs the gateway how to connect the caller to the subscriber, at  812  and the process continues at  820 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , processing continues from  820  to step  902  where the subscriber has selected a call intercept action from the display menu such as from the display shown in  FIG. 5 . Based on the subscriber selection, at decision block  904 , processing continues either using a VoIP/PC interface, at  906 , routing to an alternative subscriber device, at  908 , or to an alternate telephone at  910 . Where a VoIP connection is selected, the gateway connects the caller to the subscriber to the PC client, for example using the VoIP channel, at  906 . Where an alternative subscriber device is selected, the gateway connects the caller to the subscriber using the telephone network. The alternative subscriber device may be accessed through another network, such as a cellular network coupled to the PSTN, in the case where the selected subscriber device is a wireless phone, at  908 . Where the alternative telephone is selected, the gateway call transfers the call to the subscriber on the alternate phone using the telephone network, at  910 . 
     The disclosed real-time call screening capability is provided by a multi tiered service that offers the following advantages to the conventional network-based offering: (1) a pop-up alert message that notifies the on-line user that they are receiving a message to their network based mail box; (2) a pop up alert to provide the user the options of a) ignoring the alert and allowing the recording of the message to continue, and b) monitoring the message as it is being recorded; and (3) electing to intercept the message and, and in essence, pick up the call utilizing either an assigned phone (PSTN, wireless, IF, etc) or a derived voice soft phone via the computer. Thus, the disclosed system and method provide enhanced functionality to network-based voice mail.