Methods, Systems, and Products for Providing Telephony Services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing telephony services to customers. A metaservice is associated with a directory number. The metaservice is provisioned as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number. When a request is received for an advanced telephony service for the directory number, then the metaservice is provided to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.

1 . A method of providing telephony service, comprising:
 associating a metaservice with a directory number;   provisioning the metaservice as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number;   receiving a request for an advanced telephony service for the directory number; and   providing the metaservice to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising provisioning the metaservice as a legacy-compatible telephony service. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for a new service to be associated with the directory number. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing the metaservice on a server. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing the metaservice as a placeholder for advanced telephony services for the directory number. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating the metaservice with a signal to the directory number. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising querying a database to determine whether to provide the advanced telephony service to a call. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said advanced telephony service is at least one of an outbound call manager, an intercom, a personal dialing plan, a voice dialing service, and an originating call log. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing a billing system so that a metaservice line item appears on a customer's bill. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a web page on a server that explains advanced telephone services available via the metaservice. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a web page on a server that allows a customer to add new services through the metaservice. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing a user interface for the metaservice. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing a profile database that stores information describing the metaservice. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing the metaservice on server prior to installing the advanced telephony service on the server. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the metaservice as a call-forwarding service for legacy systems. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the metaservice to determine when a called party subscribes to the advanced telephony service. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the metaservice with the directory number comprises associating the metaservice with a trigger. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising advertising the metaservice. 
   
   
       19 . A system for providing telephony service, comprising:
 means for associating a metaservice with a directory number;   means for provisioning the metaservice as a pseudo-service for advanced telephony services for the directory number;   means for receiving a request for an advanced telephony service for the directory number; and   means for providing the metaservice to appear as the requested advanced telephony service.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for provisioning the metaservice as a legacy-compatible telephony service.