System and method for implementing and accessing call forwarding services

Abstract

A provisioning server implements a telephony service associated with a user, in which calls involving a directory number of the user are processed in accordance with the telephony service and customized call service data. The provisioning server interfaces a call processor with a web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform. The provisioning server includes a first interface for receiving the customized call service data from the web server, and a second interface for receiving at least portion of the customized call service data from the IVR platform. The provisioning server also includes a third interface for sending the customized call service data to be stored in a database accessible to the call processor. An instruction is received over the first interface or the second interface to activate the telephony service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and the IVR platform.

1 . A provisioning server implementing a telephony service associated with a user, in which calls involving a directory number of the user are processed in accordance with the telephony service and customized call service data, the provisioning server being configured to interface a call processor with a web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in a telecommunications network, the provisioning server comprising: 
 a first interface configured to receive the customized call service data from the web server, the web server receiving the customized call service data, entered by the user, from the web client;    a second interface configured to receive at least portion of the customized call service data from the IVR platform; and    a third interface configured to send the customized call service data to be stored in a database accessible to the call processor,    wherein an instruction is received over the first interface or the second interface to activate the telephony service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and the IVR platform.    
   
   
       2 . The provisioning server of  claim 1 , wherein the telephony service comprises a call forwarding service.  
   
   
       3 . The provisioning server of  claim 2 , wherein the customized call service data comprises a schedule for activating and deactivating the call forwarding service, the call processor providing instructions to route a call placed to the directory number of the user to a predetermined forwarding number based on the schedule.  
   
   
       4 . The provisioning server of  claim 2 , wherein the customized call service data comprises a priority list having at least one priority telephone number.  
   
   
       5 . The provisioning server of  claim 4 , wherein the customized call service data further comprises at least one priority forwarding number corresponding to the at least one priority telephone number, the call processor providing instructions to route a call placed from the at least one priority telephone number to the directory number of the user to a previously determined priority forwarding number.  
   
   
       6 . The provisioning server of  claim 5 , wherein a call placed from a number other than the at least one priority number is routed to the directory number of the user.  
   
   
       7 . The provisioning server of  claim 4 , wherein the customized call service data comprises a rejection list having at least one rejection telephone number.  
   
   
       8 . The provisioning server of  claim 7 , wherein the customized call service data further comprises at least one rejection forwarding number corresponding to the at least one rejection telephone number, the call processor providing instructions to route a call placed from the at least one rejection telephone number to the directory number of the user to a previously determined rejection forwarding number.  
   
   
       9 . A computer readable medium that stores a computer program, executable by a computer, for implementing a call forwarding service for a user, the call forwarding service including customized call service data associated with a directory number of the user, the medium comprising: 
 a receiving code segment executable to receive customized call service data through a provisioning server that interfaces a call processor with both a web server in the Internet and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the web server having received the customized call service data over the Internet;    a storing code segment executable to cause the customized call service data to be stored in a database accessible to the call processor;    a receiving code segment executable to receive an instruction to activate the call forwarding service, in accordance with the customized call service data, via one of the web server and the IVR platform; and    a processing code segment executable to process a call placed to the directory number of the user according to the customized call service data.    
   
   
       10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the customized call service data comprises a forward-to number.  
   
   
       11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the call processing comprises routing the call to the forward-to number.  
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the call service data comprises a schedule for activating and deactivating the call forwarding service, the call processing further comprising providing instructions to route the call to the forward-to number only when the schedule indicates an activation period of the call forwarding service.  
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , the schedule being modified by the user accessing the web server via a web client.  
   
   
       14 . A web server for implementing a telephony service associated with a user, in which a call processor in a telecommunications network processes calls involving a directory number of the user in accordance with the service and call service data customized by the user for the service, the web server comprising: 
 a first interface configured to receive the customized call service data from the user; and    a second interface configured to send the customized call service data to a provisioning server, the provisioning server being configured to forward at least a portion of the customized call service data to the call processor for processing calls, and to interface the call processor with the web server and an interactive voice response (IVR) platform in the telecommunications network,    wherein an instruction is sent to the call processor via the provisioning server to activate the service, in accordance with the customized call service data.    
   
   
       15 . The web server of  claim 14 , wherein the customized call service data comprises at least one of a schedule, a priority screening list, and a rejection screening list.  
   
   
       16 . The web server of  claim 15 , wherein the instruction to activate the service is received from either the web server or the IVR platform.  
   
   
       17 . The web server of  claim 16 , wherein the web server is accessible to the user via a web client.  
   
   
       18 . The web server of  claim 17 , wherein a first set of instructions for defining at least one of the schedule, the priority screening list, and the rejection screening list is received via the web client.  
   
   
       19 . The web server of  claim 16 , wherein the user provides a second set of instructions for defining at least one of the schedule, the priority screening list, and the rejection screening list via the IVR.  
   
   
       20 . The web server of  claim 14 , wherein the IVR provides the call forwarding service data to a dual tone multi-frequency telephone.