Self-learning intelligent call routing gatekeeper

• US 20030008642A1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Punjabi, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• 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 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A gatekeeper (109) including a compare unit (204) and a record unit (206). The compare unit (204) receives call requests and accesses a database which is a record of where a called party picked up the call, e.g., at home, at the office, via a mobile phone, or via an emergency number. The compare unit (204) performs an analysis such as a “closest neighbor” analysis to determine the location of the user at the time of day closest to that of the present call. The call is then routed to the user at that location. The record unit (206) then makes the appropriate notation in the database for the latest call.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

local area network;

one or more telecommunications devices coupled to said local area network;

a switching unit coupled to said local area network, said switching unit adapted to associate a plurality of numbers with a user, record a time and associated number at which said user has been reached, and perform a closest neighbor comparison of previous calls to determine where to connect a current call.

2. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, said switching unit further adapted to switch calls to said user at particular locations at programmed times.

3. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 2, said switching unit comprising an H.323 gatekeeper.

4. A telecommunications gatekeeper, comprising:

a control processor adapted to process incoming and outgoing calls, wherein users have one or more numbers associated with them;

a record unit adapted to store in a memory a call history associated with particular users; and

a compare unit adapted to perform a closest neighbor comparison of said call history to determine at which of said one or more numbers to connect the call.

5. A telecommunications gatekeeper in accordance with claim 4, said control unit programmable to switch calls to said users at particular numbers at particular times.

6. A telecommunications gatekeeper in accordance with claim 5, said compare unit adapted to perform said closest neighbor comparison if a call is not connected to a programmed number at the programmed time.

7. A telecommunications gatekeeper in accordance with claim 4, wherein said call history is updated after every call.

8. A telecommunications gatekeeper in accordance with claim 4, wherein said call history is cleared after a predetermined period.

9. A method, comprising:

maintaining a call history of calls to one or more numbers of a particular user;

receiving a new call;

performing a closest neighbor comparison on said call history to determine at which of said numbers to switch said new call;

connecting said new call; and

updating said call history.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising first attempting to switch a call to a user-programmed time associated call location.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising clearing said call history after a predetermined period has elapsed.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, said control unit programmable to switch calls to said users at particular numbers at particular times.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, said compare unit adapted to perform said closest neighbor comparison if a call is not connected to a programmed number at the programmed time.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said call history is updated after every call.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said call history is cleared after a predetermined period.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a control processor adapted to process incoming and outgoing calls, wherein users have one or more numbers associated with them;

providing a record unit adapted to store in a memory a call history associated with particular users; and

providing a compare unit adapted to perform a closest neighbor comparison of said call history to determine at which of said one or more numbers to connect the call.