Outgoing Call Handling System and Method

Abstract

A cellular system for handling outgoing calls from a mobile station ( 1 ) including a network element ( 8 ) being capable of recognizing voice commands and names, and has in memory a database of telephone numbers corresponding to an array of names. The mobile station ( 1 ) connects to the network element ( 8 ) and the mobile station user communicates the desired outgoing call function to the network element ( 8 ) by voice. This desired outgoing call function may be communicated while the mobile station ( 1 ) is engaged in using supplementary services provided by the network element ( 8 ), at any operational point in those services. The network element ( 8 ) evaluates the voice communication, retrieves any corresponding information, including telephone numbers, and communicates the necessary information needed by the mobile station ( 1 ) to carry out the desired function to the mobile station ( 1 ).

1 . A voice mail system comprising:
 a voice mail platform configured to connect with a mobile station of a user, the voice mail platform further configured to play a voice mail message stored in a mail box of a user while the mobile station is connected with the voice mail platform, wherein:   while connected with the mobile station, the voice mail platform is configured to receive a first command from the user to call a party that generated the voice mail message; and   before terminating the connection with the mobile station, the voice mail platform is further configured to send a second command to the mobile station including a platform call-back telephone number, the second command directing the mobile station to store the platform call-back telephone number in memory and to call the platform call-back telephone number after termination of a call with the party that generated the voice mail message.   
   
   
       2 . The voice mail system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 in response to termination of the call with the party, the mobile station calling the platform call-back telephone number stored in the memory.   
   
   
       3 . The voice mail system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 the voice mail platform receiving the call to the platform call-back telephone number and returning the user of the mobile station to a point at which a previous call to the voice mail platform was terminated.   
   
   
       4 . The voice mail system of  claim 1 , wherein the first command is a voice command from the user. 
   
   
       5 . The voice mail system of  claim 1 , wherein the second command comprises the platform call-back telephone number and a control signal directing an action to be taken by the mobile station in response to the first command. 
   
   
       6 . The voice mail system of  claim 1 , wherein the voice mail platform determines the platform call-back telephone number that will return the user of the mobile station to an operation point in service in which the mobile station was involved at the time the user initiated the first command. 
   
   
       7 . The voice mail system of  claim 1 , wherein the second command further comprises a telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message and the mobile station calls the telephone number of the party after termination of a call with the voice mail platform. 
   
   
       8 . The voice mail system of  claim 1 , wherein the second command comprises both a telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message and the platform call-back number to the voice mail platform, wherein after receiving the second command, the mobile station stores the platform call-back number in memory and begins to setup a call to the telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message. 
   
   
       9 . A voice mail method comprising:
 a voice mail platform connecting with a mobile station of a user;   the voice mail platform playing a voice mail message stored in a mail box of a user while the mobile station is connected with the voice mail platform,   while connected with the mobile station, the voice mail platform receiving a first command from the user to call a party that generated the voice mail message;   before terminating the connection with the mobile station, the voice mail platform sending a second command to the mobile station including a platform call-back telephone number; and   the second command directing the mobile station to store the platform call-back telephone number in memory and to call the platform call-back telephone number after termination of a call with the party that generated the voice mail message.   
   
   
       10 . The voice mail method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 the mobile station in response to termination of the call with the party, calling the platform call-back telephone number stored in the memory.   
   
   
       11 . The voice mail method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 the voice mail platform receiving the call to the platform call-back telephone number and returning the user of the mobile station to a point at which a previous call to the platform was terminated.   
   
   
       12 . The voice mail method of  claim 9 , wherein the first command is a voice command. 
   
   
       13 . The voice mail method of  claim 9 , wherein the second command comprises the platform call-back telephone number and a control signal directing an action to be taken by the mobile station in response to the first command. 
   
   
       14 . The voice mail method of  claim 9 , wherein the voice mail platform determines a platform call-back telephone number that will return the user of the mobile station to an operation point in service in which the mobile station was involved at the time the user initiated the first command. 
   
   
       15 . The voice mail method of  claim 9 , wherein the second command further comprises a telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message and the mobile station calls the telephone number of the party after termination of a call with the voice mail platform. 
   
   
       16 . The voice mail method of  claim 9 , wherein the second command comprises both a telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message and the platform call-back telephone number to the voice mail platform, wherein after receiving the second command, the mobile station stores the platform call-back telephone number in memory and begins to setup a call to the telephone number of the party that generated the voice mail message. 
   
   
       17 . A computer readable storage medium embedded with a computer voice mail program that when executed causes:
 a voice mail platform connecting with a mobile station of a user;   the voice mail platform playing a voice mail message stored in a mail box of a user while the mobile station is connected with the voice mail platform,   while connected with the mobile station, the voice mail platform receiving a first command from the user to call a party that generated the voice mail message;   before terminating the connection with the mobile station, the voice mail platform sending a second command to the mobile station including a platform call-back telephone number; and   the second command directing the mobile station to store the platform call-back telephone number in memory and to call the platform call-back telephone number after termination of a call with the party that generated the voice mail message.   
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  further comprising:
 the voice mail platform receiving the call to the platform call-back telephone number and returning the user of the mobile station to a point at which a previous call to the platform was terminated.   
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the second command comprises the telephone number and a control signal directing an action to be taken by the mobile station in response to the first command. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the voice mail platform determines the platform call-back telephone number that will return the user of the mobile station to an operation point in service in which the mobile station was involved at the time the user initiated the first command.