System and method for dynamically routing communications

• US 20040028208A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nortz, Douglas M., Carnazza, James M., Guha, Arun, Sharples, Russell P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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: 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

Abstract

A system and method for routing an incoming call to a subscriber-selected destination number in accordance with dynamic data concerning the subscriber provided by an address book, a calendar and a presence server. A routing system routes the incoming call in accordance with a subscriber-defined routing rule associated with the originating number of the incoming call, as determined from the address book. The routing rule may specify that the incoming call be routed to a destination number associated with the current date and time, as indicated by the calendar. The routing rule may specify, alternatively or in addition thereto, that the incoming call be routed to a destination number associated with a presence-enabled service on which the subscriber is currently active. The subscriber or caller may also be alternatively notified of the routing of the incoming call.

Claims

1. A method for selectively forwarding an incoming call over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the method comprising:

receiving the incoming call;

retrieving a subscriber-defined routing rule associated with the incoming call; and

routing the call over the PSTN according to subscriber-defined information including the subscriber-defined routing rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving further comprises:

identifying the incoming call by originating number or called number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving comprises:

matching an originating number of the incoming call with a contact number in a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving comprises:

retrieving the subscriber-defined routing rule from a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined information comprises

a contact number,

a routing rule associated with a contact number,

a destination number,

a destination number associated with a time period,

a destination number associated with a subscriber presence on a client application, or

any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the destination number is a home telephone number, a cellular telephone number, an office telephone number, a voice mail telephone number, or any other phone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of routing comprises:

routing the incoming call to a destination number,

routing the incoming call to a destination number associated with a current time period,

routing the incoming call to a destination number associated with a subscriber presence on a client application, or

any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of

identifying the incoming call as being directed to a subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined information comprises at least one subscriber entry including one or more records in one or more tables, each record comprising:

at least one contact number; and

a subscriber-defined routing rule associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined routing rule is a default routing rule.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined routing rule comprises a routing instruction selected from the group consisting of:

route the incoming call to a called number,

route the incoming call according to subscriber calendar information,

route the incoming call according to subscriber presence information,

route the incoming call to a voicemail system,

route the incoming call to a messaging system,

forward a message to a calling party,

forward a notification to the subscriber, and

disconnect the incoming call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification is performed using at least one of

a telephone service,

an email service,

a paging service,

a messaging service, or

an instant messaging service.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more routing instructions are performed until the incoming call is forwarded to a destination according to the subscriber-defined information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the subscriber calendar information comprises:

at least one time slot; and

an associated destination number.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the subscriber presence information includes at least one of

a client application identifier,

a destination number associated with a client application, or

an indicator of whether a subscriber is currently using a client application.

16. A system for selectively forwarding an incoming call, the system comprising:

a receiver operative to receive the incoming call;

a database comprising subscriber-defined information including at least one contact number and at least one routing rule associated with the contact number;

a search unit for determining from the database a first routing rule corresponding to an originating number of the incoming call; and

a routing unit for routing the incoming call via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) according to the first routing rule.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the subscriber-defined information further comprises

a destination number,

a destination number associated with a time period,

a destination number associated with a subscriber presence on a client application, or

any combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the receiver is further operative to identify the incoming call as being directed to a subscriber.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first routing rule comprises a routing instruction selected from the group consisting of:

route the incoming call to a called number,

route the incoming call according to subscriber calendar information,

route the incoming call according to subscriber presence information,

route the incoming call to a voicemail system,

route the incoming call to a messaging system,

forward a message to a calling party,

forward a notification to the subscriber, and

disconnect the incoming call.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a calendar database of subscriber calendar information including

at least one time slot; and

an associated destination number.

21. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a presence server providing subscriber presence information including at least one of;

a client application identifier,

a destination number associated with a client application, or

an indicator of whether a subscriber is currently using a client application.

22. A system for selectively forwarding an incoming call, the system comprising:

an address book database including at least one contact number and at least one routing rule associated with the contact number;

an incoming call identification unit operative to identify the originating number of the incoming call;

an address book search algorithm operative to determine a first routing rule corresponding to the originating number;

a calendar server including at least one time slot and an associated destination number;

a presence server including at least one client application identifier and an associated destination number; and

a routing unit operative to route the incoming call to a destination number determined by the first routing rule.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the incoming call identification unit is further operative to identify the incoming call as being directed to a subscriber.