Abstract:
In one embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a method for providing a missed calls log. The method comprises, in a messaging service that communicates with a telephony network, creating a missed calls log of call context information for calls forwarded to the messaging service from the telephony network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In web-based applications, call logs require infrastructure support from the underlying voice network. For example, in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks, call log functionality requires integration with a softswitch. In wireless telephone networks, adding call log functionality requires wireless Intelligent Network development. And in Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) networks, call logs require Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) development.  
         [0002]     Although such call logs that are based on the underlying voice network can provide logging for users&#39; inbound and outbound calls, such functionality can be expensive and complex, particularly for TDM and wireless networks.  
         [0003]     Another type of call log is held in a Caller ID device in a customer&#39;s home, but such call logs are not integrated with the underlying voice network.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     There is a need for a simple, inexpensive way to provide identification of missed calls to telephone customers. In one embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a method for providing a missed calls log. The method comprises, in a messaging service that communicates with a telephony network, creating a missed calls log of call context information for calls forwarded to the messaging service from the telephony network.  
         [0005]     In further, related embodiments, the method may further comprise providing remote access to the missed calls log to a user of the messaging service. The messaging service may comprise a voicemail service or Unified Messaging Service. The telephony network may comprise a Voice over Internet Protocol network, a wireless network, a Time Division Multiplexed network, an Advanced Intelligent network, or any combination thereof. Providing the remote access may comprise providing access to the messaging service over the telephony network, or over a web interface. The missed calls log may comprise calls wherein a message was left on the messaging service, or may comprise calls wherein no message was left on the messaging service. The call context information may comprise a calling number, a redirecting number, and a called number; and may also comprise a privacy indicator. The call context information may be provided to the messaging service over a data link from the telephony network. The data link may be a Primary Rate Interface link or Signaling System 7 link.  
         [0006]     In another embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a system for providing a missed calls log. The system comprises a messaging service missed calls module for creating, in a messaging service that communicates with a telephony network, a missed calls log of call context information for calls forwarded to the messaging service from the telephony network.  
         [0007]     In further, related embodiments the system may comprise a remote access module for providing remote access to the missed calls log to a user of the messaging service. The messaging service may comprise a voicemail service or Unified Messaging Service.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing a missed calls log. Execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the step of, in a messaging service that communicates with a telephony network, creating a missed calls log of call context information for calls forwarded to the messaging service from the telephony network. Execution of the one or more sequences of instructions may further cause the one or more processors to perform the step of providing remote access to the missed calls log to a user of the messaging service.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a computer program propagated signal product embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation medium, such propagated signal carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing a missed calls log. Execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the step of, in a messaging service that communicates with a telephony network, creating a missed calls log of call context information for calls forwarded to the messaging service from the telephony network. In a further, related embodiment, execution of the one or more sequences of instructions further causes the one or more processors to perform the step of providing remote access to the missed calls log to a user of the messaging service. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a call flow for a voicemail subscriber calling to access messages, when an embodiment according to the invention is installed in the voicemail system;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a call flow for a Unified Messaging Service subscriber calling to access messages, when an embodiment according to the invention is installed in the Unified Messaging Service;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a call flow for accessing missed calls log information through the telephone, for a voicemail or Unified Messaging Service system in which an embodiment according to the invention is installed;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a graphical user interface, such as a web interface, through which a customer may access a messaging service missed calls log according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the information flow from a telephony network to a messaging service platform in which an embodiment according to the invention is installed; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the architecture of a messaging service  614  in which an embodiment according to the invention may be implemented. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Telephone customers often check their Caller ID device when they return to their homes, generally before checking voicemail. Thus, identifying missed calls is an important aspect of telephone customer behavior. Customers have a desire for a missed calls log; and a low cost missed calls log that can be accessed remotely would be particularly useful.  
         [0018]     An embodiment according to the invention therefore provides a missed calls log in a voicemail service or other messaging service, and allows remote access to the missed calls log over a telephone or web interface. In addition to being low cost and allowing remote access, such a missed calls log fills a gap in existing messaging services, in that present voicemail systems only provide customers with calling information for the approximately 20% of callers to a voicemail system who actually leave a voice message.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a call flow for a voicemail subscriber calling to access messages, when an embodiment according to the invention is installed in the voicemail system. In block  101 , the voicemail system welcomes the user and requests their personal identification number, which the user enters at  102 . At  103 , if the personal identification number is invalid, the system exits  104  (or requests the number again); and if the personal identification number is valid, the system proceeds to block  105 . In block  105 , the voicemail system informs the user of the number of new voice messages that the user has, along with the number of new missed calls; and gives the user the option of listening to the messages, as well as the option of accessing the missed calls log.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a call flow for a Unified Messaging Service (UMS) subscriber calling to access messages, when an embodiment according to the invention is installed in the Unified Messaging Service. In block  201 , the UMS system welcomes the user and requests their personal identification number, which the user enters at  202 . At  203 , if the personal identification number is invalid, the system exits  204  (or requests the number again); and if the personal identification number is valid, the system proceeds to block  205 . In block  205 , the UMS system informs the user of the number of new voice messages, faxes, and e-mails that the user has, along with the number of new calls; and gives the user the option of accessing the voice messages, faxes, and e-mails, as well as the option of accessing the calls log.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a call flow for accessing missed calls log information through the telephone, for a voicemail or Unified Messaging Service system in which an embodiment according to the invention is installed. Having selected the option in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2  of accessing the missed calls log at  301 , the customer is given the option at  302  of listening to a list of new missed calls or the last ten missed calls, and enters their selection at  303 . For each new call  304  (or similarly for each of the last ten missed calls), the system provides the user, at  305 , with an indication of the name of the caller and the time of day at which they called. At  306 , the user is given the option of hearing the call information again, saving the call information, deleting the call information, calling the number back, or hearing further available information about the call.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a graphical user interface, such as a web interface, through which a customer may access a messaging service missed calls log according to an embodiment of the invention. Such a graphical user interface may be used for both voicemail and UMS services. The interface shows the date of the missed calls in column  401 , the time of the calls in column  402 , the caller&#39;s number  403 , and the caller&#39;s name  404 . Column  405  lists notes for each call, such as “add” or “view,” and column  406  provides a flag indicator for missed calls of high importance. Missed calls that the user has not yet viewed or returned can be indicated in a bold font  407 , while other calls are indicated in normal font  408 ; and the interface may allow call items to be selected or to be acted upon, in a similar way to that used in other graphical interfaces. It should be appreciated that the details of the telephone and web interfaces of  FIGS. 1-4  need not be followed exactly, in embodiments according to the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the information flow from a telephony network  501  to a messaging service platform  502  in which an embodiment according to the invention is installed. A caller&#39;s call information  503  is carried from the caller&#39;s phone  504  to the subscriber&#39;s home phone  505 . At this stage  503 , the call information  503  includes the calling number and the called number. Such information may be provided, for example, over a Signaling System 7 (SS7) link  506  in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  501 , although the messaging service may be used with other types of networks having different links. For example, the messaging service may be used with a Voice over Internet Protocol network, a wireless network, a Time Division Multiplexed network, an Advanced Intelligent network, or any combination thereof. If the subscriber&#39;s phone  505  is busy or does not answer, the call is forwarded to the messaging service platform  502  (such as a voicemail or UMS platform), via a data link  508 , such as a Primary Rate Interface (PRI) link or Signaling System 7 (SS7) link. The call context information  507  forwarded to the messaging service platform  502  includes the calling number, the subscriber&#39;s number (or redirecting number), and the platform&#39;s telephone number (the called number). This call context information  507  is normally used for inbound call integration (the process of matching inbound calls to voicemail accounts); however, in an embodiment according to the invention, it is used to create a missed calls log in the messaging service. The call context information  507  may include a privacy indicator, such as where the caller&#39;s telephone number is marked as PRIVATE or where the calling number is marked as UNKNOWN and is not provided by the underlying telephone network. In order to provide privacy indicators, it may be preferable to present the data to the messaging service platform  502  over PRI or SS7 links.  
         [0024]     In an embodiment according to the invention, when calls are presented on the inbound data link  508  of the messaging service platform  502 , regardless of whether or not the caller leaves a message, the call is logged in a missed calls log.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the architecture of a messaging service  614  in which an embodiment according to the invention may be implemented. A caller  609  and subscriber  610  are connected to any of several different types of telephone network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network  611 , wireless network  612 , or the internet  613 . These networks are linked to the messaging service  614  by appropriate data links, such as SMDI links  615 , ISDN or PRI links  616 , SMPP links  617 , or HTML or SMTP links via gateway  618 . The messaging service  614  may be, for example, a voicemail service or Unified Messaging Service. The messaging service  614  may include voice call components  619  such as a telephone user interface application server  620 ; and application server components  621  such as a web server  622 , a master directory server  623 , an access unit  624 , a message transfer agent  625 , and a message store  626 . The application server components  621  may communicate with a Storage Area Network  627 . The messaging service may also include internet access components  628 . Among other things, the telephone user interface application server  620  may provide the telephone user interface, such as that presented in  FIGS. 1-3 , for an embodiment according to the invention. The web server  622  may provide the subscriber web user interface, such as that presented in  FIG. 4 , for an embodiment according to the invention. The master directory server  623  may store subscriber information such as service class, password, preferences, address book, configuration, phone numbers, and so on; and may be tightly coupled to the web server  622 . The access unit  624  may be used by the telephone user interface application server  620  and the web server  622  to retrieve message inventories, messages, greetings, name announcements, and so on. The message transfer agent  625  may be used by the telephone user interface application server  620  and the web server  622  to transfer e-mails. The message store  626  may provide storage for the Unified Messaging Service, and may hold voice, facsimile, or e-mail messages.  
         [0026]     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a messaging service missed calls module retrieves the call context information  507  (of  FIG. 5 ) from the data links  508  that connect the underlying network  501  to the messaging service  502 ; collects the call context information into a missed calls log that may stored using storage area network  627 ; and allows the user to access the missed calls log via a remote access module such as the telephone user interface application server  620  or the web server  622  (of  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0027]     It should be appreciated that the methods described herein may be implemented in a variety of ways, including by using one or more processors to execute one or more sequences of instructions, which may be embodied on a computer-readable medium, or as a computer program product embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation medium.  
         [0028]     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.