System and method for routing calls to multi-function telephone numbers
First Claim
1. A method of processing a call made to a telephone number and directed to a specific communications device to which that telephone number is assigned, the method comprising:
- receiving a sequence of signals representing a set of prefix characteristics immediately preceding a telephone number, the set of prefix characteristics being distinguishable from said telephone number and defining a destination for said call, each telephone number having at least one destination; and
forwarding said call to the destination defined by the set of prefix characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of routing telephone calls to specific communications devices allows multiple communications devices to use a common telephone number. One telephone number may therefore be used to place calls to different communications devices in potentially different locations. Using such a system and method, the proliferation of telephone numbers and area codes can be sufficiently controlled, as the addition of cellular telephones, facsimile machines and pagers has created the need for increases in area codes and digits that must be dialed. The present system and method allows a caller to reach a desired communication device by first dialing a set of prefix characteristics representing a specific communications device followed by a telephone number to which that specific communications device is assigned.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of processing a call made to a telephone number and directed to a specific communications device to which that telephone number is assigned, the method comprising:
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receiving a sequence of signals representing a set of prefix characteristics immediately preceding a telephone number, the set of prefix characteristics being distinguishable from said telephone number and defining a destination for said call, each telephone number having at least one destination; and
forwarding said call to the destination defined by the set of prefix characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of directing a call to a specific communications device, comprising:
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allocating a plurality of sets of prefix characteristics to a plurality of communications devices, each communications device being a destination for a call and having one set of prefix characteristics;
receiving a call having a set of prefix characteristics and a telephone number;
determining the destination indicated by the set of prefix characteristics; and
routing the call to the communications device represented by the set of prefix characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for processing a call made to a telephone number and directed to a specific communications device to which that telephone number is assigned, the system comprising:
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a sequence of signals representing a set of prefix characteristics and a telephone number, the set of prefix characteristics immediately preceding the telephone number and being distinguishable from said telephone number and defining a destination for said call, each telephone number having at least one destination; and
a routing apparatus having a switching component and an identification component for determining the intended destination of a call and forwarding the call to that destination. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A routing system for directing calls to different communications devices having identical numbers, comprising:
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a network having a routing apparatus including a switching component and an identification component for processing a call to a destination, the call including a sequence of signals indicating a set of prefix characteristics and a telephone number, the destination being identified by the set of prefix characteristics; and
at least one communications device assigned to a telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification