METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING ROUTING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED TO A PARTY

• US 20100312912A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercier, Denis, Arsenault, Jonathan Allan, Wolf, Eric John
• Granted Patent: US 11,317,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/10 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4217 Managing service interactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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 3/44 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
• 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: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A method and system implemented by a network entity. The method comprising accessing communication routing information associated to a party. The communication routing information being indicative of at least a first termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed. The method further comprises monitoring at least one of location information, presence information and behavior information associated to the party and processing the communication routing information and the at least one of the location information, presence information and behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine the suitability of modifying the communication routing information. When it is determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification, causing the party to be advised.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a network entity, said method comprising:

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring behavior information associated to the party;

processing the communication routing information and the behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing the party to be advised when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the behavior information is indicative of a communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the behavior information is indicative that the party has logged on to a communication device, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the behavior information is indicative that the party has logged on to a communication device, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when a communication device in proximity to a location where said party has logged on to the communication device is not the at least one termination device specified in the communication routing information.

6. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the behavior information is indicative that a communication device associated with the party shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device that shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed is the at least one first termination device specified in said communication routing information.

7. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

determining a suggestion as to how to modify said communication routing information; and

providing said suggestion to the party.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein when the party originates an outgoing call from a communication device that is not the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that the communication device on which the customer has originated an outgoing call becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein when the party is in proximity to an associated communication device that has a cheaper cost structure than the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that the communication device with the cheaper cost structure becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein when the party is not in proximity to the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that a communication device that is in proximity to the customer becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

11. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein under a given set of circumstances the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that an incoming communication for the party is routed to an alternative termination device that has been identified as being a more desirable termination device under the given set of circumstance.

12. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein when a user of the at least one first termination device should not be disturbed, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that an incoming communication for the party is routed to voice mail.

13. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

requesting authorization from the party to modify the communication routing information in accordance with said suggestion provided to the party; and

modifying the communication routing information in accordance with said suggestion provided to the party upon authorization received from the party.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the party is advised via an instant text message when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the party is advised via IVR when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the party is advised via email when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

17. A softswitch configured to implement the method defined in claim 1.

18. A network entity comprising:

an interface operative for;

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring behavior information associated to the party;

a processing entity operative for;

processing the communication routing information and the behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing the party to be advised when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

19. A network entity as defined in claim 18, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed.

20. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the behavior information is indicative of a communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

21. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the behavior information is indicative that the party has logged on to a communication device, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

22. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the behavior information is indicative that the party has logged on to a communication device, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when a communication device in proximity to a location where said party has logged on to the communication device is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

23. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the behavior information is indicative that a communication device associated with the party shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device that shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed is the at least one first termination device specified in said communication routing information.

24. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing entity is further operative for:

determining a suggestion as to how to modify said communication routing information; and

providing said suggestion to the party.

25. A network entity as defined in claim 24, wherein when the party originates an outgoing call from a communication device that is not the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that the communication device on which the customer has originated an outgoing call becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

26. A network entity as defined in claim 24, wherein when the party is in proximity to an associated communication device that has a cheaper cost structure than the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that the communication device with the cheaper cost structure becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

27. A network entity as defined in claim 24, wherein when the party is not in proximity to the at least one first termination device, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that a communication device that is in proximity to the customer becomes one of the at least one first termination devices specified in the communication routing information.

28. A network entity as defined in claim 24, wherein under a given set of circumstances the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that an incoming communication for the party is routed to an alternative termination device that has been identified as being a more desirable termination device under the given set of circumstance.

29. A network entity as defined in claim 24, wherein when a user of the at least one first termination device should not be disturbed, the suggestion being to modify the communication routing information such that an incoming communication for the user is routed to voice mail.

30. A network entity as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

requesting authorization from the party to modify the communication routing information in accordance with said suggestion provided to the party; and

modifying the communication routing information in accordance with said suggestion provided to the party upon authorization received from the party.

31. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the party is advised via an instant text message when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

32. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the party is advised via IVR when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

33. A network entity as defined in claim 19, wherein the party is advised via email when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

34. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program element for execution by a processing unit to implement a modification entity, said program element comprising:

first program code for accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

second program code for monitoring behavior information associated to the party;

third program code for processing the communication routing information and the behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine the suitability of modifying said communication routing information; and

fourth program code for causing the party to be advised when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

35. A method implemented by a network entity, said method comprising:

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring location information associated to the party;

processing the communication routing information and the location information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing the party to be advised when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed.

37. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the location information is indicative of a geographical position of the party, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for being modified when the geographical position of the party is not in proximity to the at least one first termination device specified in said communication routing information.

38. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the location information is indicative of a geographical position of the party, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the party is in proximity to an alternative communication device having a cheaper cost structure than the at least one first termination device specified in said communication routing information.

39. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein monitoring the location information associated to the party is performed by monitoring one of GPS coordinates and cellular triangulation coordinates.

40. A network entity comprising:

an interface operative for;

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring location information associated to the party;

a processing entity operative for;

processing the communication routing information and the location information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing the party to be advised when said processing has determined that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

41. A method implemented by a network entity, said method comprising:

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring behavior information associated to the party;

processing the communication routing information and the behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing said communication routing information to be modified upon determination that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.

42. A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed, wherein the behavior information is indicative of a communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call is not the at least, one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

43. A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed, wherein the behavior information is indicative of a communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device from which the party has made an outgoing call is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

44. A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed, wherein the behavior information is indicative that the party has logged on to a communication device, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device is not the at least one first termination device specified in the communication routing information.

45. A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed, includes at least, one first termination device to which incoming communications are to be routed, wherein the behavior information is indicative that a communication device associated with the party shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed, the modification information being indicative that the communication routing information is suitable for modification when the communication device that shouldn'"'"'t be disturbed is the at least one first termination device specified in said communication routing information.

46. A network entity comprising:

an interface operative for;

accessing communication routing information associated to a party, the communication routing information being indicative of at least one termination device to which incoming communications for the party are to be routed;

monitoring behavior information associated to the party;

a processing entity operative for;

processing the communication routing information and the behavior information at least in part on the basis of modification information in an attempt to determine if said communication routing information is suitable for modification;

causing said communication routing information to be modified upon determination that the communication routing information is suitable for modification.