System With Call Forward Profile

• US 20120093038A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Kung, Fen-Chung, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Sankalia, Anish, Walker, Hopeton S., Wang, Spencer C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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 method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding telephone calls using a data network, the method comprising:

dialing an identifier of a first telephone from a second telephone, to make a call;

routing the call to a network device in the data network, by at least transmitting a first data message via the data network;

checking stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for said first telephone;

connecting said call to said first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found;

sending call forwarding information to said network device by at least transmitting a second data message via the data network, if there is an active call forwarding profile for said first telephone; and

routing the call to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the call forwarding profile is created based on a subscriber'"'"'s entry on or selection of information displayed on a touch-sensitive screen.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recognizing a subscriber'"'"'s words, spoken into a microphone to create or modify at least a portion of the call forwarding profile.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing on a display not integral to a customer premises equipment, prompts for receipt of information comprised in the call forwarding profile.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

interconnecting the customer premises equipment wirelessly with at least one device.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the customer premises equipment transmits through the data network, at least a new call destination number.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the new call destination number is transmitted in said second data message.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the customer premises equipment conforms to the signaling protocol SIP.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the customer premises equipment associated with the first telephone is hereinafter first customer premises equipment; and

the network device forwards the new call destination number through the data network to a second customer premises equipment associated with the second telephone.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using an alerting parameter in a call delivery message to instruct a customer premises equipment associated with the third telephone to generate a distinctive ringing tone on the third telephone to notify a subscriber that the call is a forwarded call and not a call originally directed to the third telephone.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the call comprises a stream of IP voice packets transmitted through the data network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network device uses at least a new call destination number to connect the call to the third telephone.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the active call forwarding profile specifies that calls are only to be forwarded during predetermined periods of time.

14. A system for forwarding telephone calls using a data network, the system comprising:

a plurality of telephones, each telephone having a unique identifier;

a network device for routing telephone calls between the plurality of telephones;

a customer premises device serving at least one telephone, wherein the customer premises device comprises a memory storing call forwarding profiles and means for determining if a call forwarding profile is active when a call is received at the customer premises device for the telephone;

wherein the call is routed to an appropriate telephone based on the call forwarding information contained in said active call forwarding profile.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a display not integral to the customer premises equipment; and

means for prompting for receipt of information comprised in the call forwarding profile.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for generating a distinctive ringing tone in the appropriate telephone to which the call is routed, so as to indicate that the call has been forwarded.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a computer connected to said customer premises equipment, for storing the call forwarding profiles in said memory comprised in the customer premises equipment.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for creating the call forwarding profile based on a subscriber'"'"'s entry on or selection of information displayed on a touch-sensitive screen.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the customer premises equipment comprises a wireless interface module.

20. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for selecting the call forwarding profile from among the call forwarding profiles in said memory comprised in the customer premises equipment.