METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROUTING CALLS BASED ON IDENTIFICATION OF THE CALLING PARTY OR CALLING LINE

• US 20020146103A1
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: HOLT, SCOTT C., MEDDERS, CHRISTOPHER B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for routing calls for a subscriber based on the identification of the calling party or the originating line. Generally, the present invention operates to identify a calling party or originating line and then select a routing list based on this identification. Once a routing list has been selected, the call will be routed to the destination in the routing list. More specifically, when a call is received, an inquiry is made regarding the identity of the calling party or calling line. If the identification can be determined, then an attempt to retrieve a routing list associated with this identification is made. If a routing list has been provided for the identified party or line, the routing list will be retrieved. If a routing list has not been provided for the identified party or line, a default routing list will be selected for routing the call.

Claims

1. In an integrated computer telephony system including a call routing system, a method for routing a call based on the identity of an originating source of said call, comprising the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of routing lists, each said routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising a plurality of directory numbers;

receiving said call from said originating source;

selecting a routing list associated with said originating source from said plurality of routing lists; and

directing said call according to said routing list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises the steps of:

detecting a directory number of said originating source;

retrieving an associated routing list for said directory number; and

retrieving a default routing list if said associated routing list does not exist.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises the steps of:

requesting said originating source to provide an identification code;

receiving said identification code;

retrieving an associated routing list for said identification code; and

retrieving a default routing list if said associated routing list does not exist.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said integrated computer telephony system provides a calling line identification service and said selecting a routing list step further comprises the steps of:

receiving a calling line identification for said originating party;

retrieving an associated routing list for said calling line identification; and

retrieving a default routing list if said associated routing list does not exist.

5. In a program module responsive to receiving communications for a personal number subscriber, a method for routing a communication to said subscriber, comprising the steps of:

maintaining plurality of routing lists, each said routing list being associated with at least one originating party and at least one personal number and comprising a plurality of directory numbers;

receiving a communication directed to a personal number from an originating party;

selecting a routing list associated with said personal number and said originating party; and

routing said call in accordance with said routing list.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises the steps of:

detecting a directory number for said originating party;

retrieving an associated routing list for said directory number; and

retrieving a default routing list if said associated routing list does not exist.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises the steps of:

requesting said originating party to enter an identification code;

receiving said identification code;

retrieving an associated routing list for said identification code and said personal number; and

retrieving a default routing list if said associated routing list does not exist.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises selecting said routing list from a group of routing lists identified for said originating party based on the day of the week said communication is received.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises selecting said routing list from a group of routing lists identified for said originating party based on time of day said communication is received.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting a routing list step further comprises selecting said routing list from a group of routing lists identified for said originating party based on the day of the week and the time of the day said communication is received.

11. A computer system for routing calls for a personal number subscriber based on the CLID of an originator, comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory storage device operative to store a plurality of routing lists for said personal number subscriber, each said routing list comprising a plurality of directory numbers;

a receiving interface device coupled to said processing unit for receiving calls;

a transmitting interface device coupled to said processing unit for placing calls;

said processing unit being operative to;

receive a call on said interface device, said call being directed to said personal number subscriber;

detect a CLID for said originating party;

retrieve an associated routing list from said memory storage device for said CLID;

retrieve a default routing list from said memory storage device if said associated routing list does not exist; and

direct said call setup request in accordance with said routing list.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said processing unit directs said call setup request by:

(a) selecting a first directory number from said routing list;

(b) routing said call to said first directory number;

(c) receiving communication disposition information from said first directory number; and

(d) if said communication disposition indicates said routing step failed, selecting a next directory number from said routing list and repeating steps (b)-(d) at said next directory number.

14. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 13, wherein said identifying criteria comprises a CLID message and said step of obtaining an identifying criteria further comprises receiving said CLID message.

15. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 13, wherein said identifying criteria comprises a DTMF code sequence and said step of obtaining an identifying criteria further comprises detecting said DTMF code sequences.

16. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 13, wherein said identifying criteria comprises a DTMF code sequence and said step of obtaining an identifying criteria further comprises the steps of:

providing keypad menu selection options to said called party; and

receiving a DTMF signal corresponding to a keypad menu selection from said called party.

13. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for selecting a routing list based on an identifying criteria, and a data file containing a plurality of routing lists for a called party, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

receiving a communication for said called party;

obtaining said identifying criteria;

retrieving a routing list from said data file based on said identifying criteria; and

directing said communication in accordance with said routing list.