Private communications network with wildcard dialing

• US 20080043972A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Ruetschi, Johannes, LoBuono, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/216.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424

Abstract

A private communications network and method of managing calls in a private communications network. Connected communications devices register with the network and are assigned aliases, with aliases for groups of registered devices sharing one or more common digits. Dialing strings for in-network calls are monitored for inclusion of a wildcard (e.g., *) which are treated as a “don'"'"'t care.” The wildcard invokes group features, such as placing a conference call, invoking a hunting feature and invoking a pickup feature. The call is distributed/connected to the group corresponding to the remaining digits.

Claims

1. A private communications network comprising:

a plurality of communications devices at private communications network stations;

a group membership registry listing aliases registered for each of said plurality of communications devices and including at least one group of a plurality of said aliases; and

at least one communications server monitoring said plurality of communications devices for inclusion of a selected wildcard in a dialed number and responsive to encountering said selected wildcard, selectively providing group features for calls placed from a respective calling communications device.

2. A private communications network as in claim 1, wherein each said included wildcard is treated as a “

don'"'"'t care”

for dialing.

3. A private communications network as in claim 1, wherein ones of said plurality of communications devices are digital telephones and said selected wildcard is the star (*) key.

4. A private communications network as in claim 1, wherein said group features include placing a conference call, invoking a hunting feature and invoking a pickup feature.

5. A private communications network as in claim 1, wherein said group features are invoked by entering *c for a conference call, *h for hunting and *p for pickup.

6. A method of managing private network calls, said method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring dialing strings for in-network calls;

b) identifying any dialed strings including a wildcard;

c) identifying a group of communications devices associated with each identified dialed string; and

d) selectively connecting an originating communications device to devices in said group.

7. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 6, wherein an identified said wildcard is treated as a “

don'"'"'t care”

in said each identified dialed string.

8. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 6, wherein said wildcard is the star (*) key on a digital telephone.

9. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 6, wherein an identified said wildcard initiates invoking group features for a corresponding call, said call being connected according to a respective invoked group feature.

10. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 9, wherein said group features include placing a conference call, invoking a hunting feature and invoking a pickup feature.

11. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 9, wherein said wildcard is the star (*) key on a telephone and said group features are invoked by entering *c for a conference call, *h for hunting and *p for pickup.

12. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 9, wherein calls placed with dialing strings identified as not including wildcards are placed normally.

13. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 6, wherein before the step (a) of monitoring dialing strings, said method comprises:

a1) registering communications devices with said private network; and

a2) assigning aliases to groups of registered said communications devices, aliases for each group sharing one or more common digits.

14. A method of managing private network calls, said method comprising the steps of:

a) registering communications devices with said private network;

b) assigning aliases to groups of registered said communications devices, aliases for each group sharing one or more common digits;

c) monitoring dialing strings for in-network calls;

d) identifying any dialed strings including a wildcard, each said wildcard being treated as a “

don'"'"'t care”

in said each identified dialed string;

e) identifying one of said groups as being associated with each identified dialed string; and

f) selectively connecting an originating communications device to devices in each said one of said groups.

15. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 14, wherein an identified said wildcard initiates invoking group features for a corresponding call, said call being selectively connected responsive to a respective invoked group feature.

16. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 15, wherein said wildcard is a star (*) in a respective dialing string.

17. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 16, wherein said group features include placing a conference call, invoking a hunting feature and invoking a pickup feature.

18. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 17, wherein group features are invoked by entering *c for a conference call, *h for hunting and *p for pickup.

19. A method of managing private network calls as in claim 14, wherein calls placed with dialing strings identified as not including wildcards are placed normally.