Methods for handling communication requests received for former users of a communication system

• US 20060190531A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Incorporated (MLN TopCo Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitel Incorporated (MLN TopCo Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gallick, Robert Lawrence, Mihaylo, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

The methods for handling a communication request received for a former user of a communication system include sending updated address book information for the former user to an initiator'"'"'s address book, redirecting the communication request to the forwarding address for the former user, redirecting the communication request to an assigned replacement of the former user, or any combination of the above. Additionally, the replacement'"'"'s address book information may be sent to the initiator'"'"'s address book for updating. In one embodiment, a replication of the former user'"'"'s address book is retained to assist in determining how to handle the received communication request.

Claims

1. A method for handling a communication request received for a former user of a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the communication system, the communication request addressed to the former user of the communication system from a first party, the first party having an address book comprising address information for a plurality of contacts;

determining if the former user has a forwarding address comprising a new communication information;

determining if the forwarding address can be sent from the communication system to the address book of the first party; and

sending a command to the first party address book to update the book with the new communication information for the former user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party address book is updated without further action required from the first party.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the first party to accept an update to the address book.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the communication request can be redirected to the forwarding address and if so, sending a command to the first party to redirect the communication request.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the former user has a replacement user of the communication system that can receive the communication request and if so, redirecting the communication request to the replacement user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising redirecting the communication request to an assigned replacement user of the communication system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending a command to the first party address book to update the book with address information for the replacement user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining steps comprise referring to a replication of a contacts list comprising communication information for a plurality of contacts associated with the former user.

9. A method for handling a communication request received for a former user of a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the communication system, the communication request addressed to the former user of the communication system from an initiating system;

determining if the former user has a forwarding address comprising a new contact information;

determining if the communication request can be redirected to the forwarding address; and

sending a command to the initiating system to redirect the communication request to the forwarding address of the former user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a command to the initiating system to update an address book with the forwarding address for the former user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining steps comprise referring to a replication of a contacts list comprising communication information for a plurality of contacts associated with the former user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning a status to each contact on the contact list and if the initiating system is on the contact list, then the status of the initiating system determines if the communication request can be redirected.

13. A method for handling a communication request received for a former user of a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the communication system, the communication request addressed to the former user of the communication system from a first party, the first party having an address book comprising communication information for a plurality of contacts associated with the first party;

referring to a replication of a contacts list comprising communication information for a plurality of contacts associated with the former user;

determining, from the replication, if the communication request can be redirected to a forwarding address of the former user;

determining, from the replication, if the forwarding address of the former user can be sent to update the address book of the first party; and

sending a command to the first party to perform actions in response to the determining steps.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first party address book is updated without further action required from the first party.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising prompting the first party to accept an update to the address book.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising assigning a status to each contact on the contacts list and if the first party is on the contact list, then the status of the first party determines if the communication request can be redirected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein assigning the status comprises either a personal status or a business status and the communication request is redirected if the first party is a personal status.