Method of redirecting a telephone call to an alternate destination
First Claim
1. In a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another, a method for redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps ofresponding at an originating one of said switches to receipt of a call identified by a called telephone number associated with said one telephone station set by obtaining from a database system associated with said switching system at least a redirect code, said database system deriving said redirect code as a function of said called number,forwarding said call from said originating switch to a destination switch, said destination switch then responding by causing said call to be forwarded to said one telephone station set, andresponding at said originating switch to either a first condition, indicating that said call has not been answered, or a second condition, indicating that a party answering said call has requested redirection of said call, by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch identified as a function of said redirect code, wherein said other destination switch then forwards said call to said other telephone station set.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A facility is provided for redirecting a call from one destination point in a communications network to another destination point in the event that the call is not answered within a predetermined period of time, or in the event that after the call has been answered, the called party requests such redirection.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another, a method for redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps of
responding at an originating one of said switches to receipt of a call identified by a called telephone number associated with said one telephone station set by obtaining from a database system associated with said switching system at least a redirect code, said database system deriving said redirect code as a function of said called number, forwarding said call from said originating switch to a destination switch, said destination switch then responding by causing said call to be forwarded to said one telephone station set, and responding at said originating switch to either a first condition, indicating that said call has not been answered, or a second condition, indicating that a party answering said call has requested redirection of said call, by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch identified as a function of said redirect code, wherein said other destination switch then forwards said call to said other telephone station set.
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5. A method of muting a call through a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another, said method comprising the steps of
responding at an originating one of said switches to receipt of an incoming call identified by a called telephone number by deriving an associated destination code and a redirect code as a function of said called number, forwarding said call from said one switch to a destination switch identified by said destination code, said destination switch then responding by causing said call to be extended to a station set identified by said called number, and responding at said one switch to an absence of receipt within a predetermined period of time of an indication from said destination switch indicating that said call has not been answered or, if said call has been answered, receipt of an indication requesting redirection of said call by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch whose destination code is derived as a function of said redirect code.
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9. A method for use in a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another, said method redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps of:
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responding at an originating one of said switches to receipt of a call identified by a called telephone number associated with said one telephone station set by deriving an associated destination code and a redirect code as a function of said called number, forwarding said call to a destination switch identified by said destination code, said destination switch then responding by causing said call to be forwarded to said one telephone station set, and responding at said originating switch to receipt of an indication indicative of a request to redirect the call to another telephone station set by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch serving said other telephone station, in which the identity of said other destination switch is derived as a function of said redirect code.
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10. A method for use in a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another and each connected to a centralized data base, said method being operative for redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps of:
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responding at one of said switches to an incoming telephone call associated with a called telephone number defining a predetermined telephone service by supplying at least said called telephone number to said centralized data base, said one of said switches being an originating switch for said call, responding at said one switch to receipt from said data base of at least a telephone number associated with said one telephone station set and a call redirect code by forwarding said call to a destination switch identified as a function of the telephone number associated with said one telephone station set, and responding at said one switch to receipt from said destination switch of an indication requiring redirection of said call by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch identified as a function of said redirect code and serving said other telephone station set. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for use in a switching system comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to one another, said method of redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps of:
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responding at an originating one of said switches to receipt of a telephone call identified by a called telephone number associated with said one telephone station set by deriving at least a redirect code as a function of said called number, forwarding said call from said originating switch to a destination switch for presentation to said one telephone station set, and responding at said originating switch to a predetermined condition requiring redirection of said call by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch identified as a function of said redirect code, in which said other destination switch serves said other telephone station set and in which said predetermined condition is one of a plurality of call redirection conditions including at least ring no answer and post answer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of redirecting a call from one telephone station set to another telephone station set, said method comprising the steps of:
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processing an incoming call received at one of a plurality of switches forming a communications system by causing information associated with said call to be translated into at least a redirect code and a destination code, said one of said plurality of switches King an originating switch for said call, forwarding said call to a destination switch identified by said destination code and serving said one telephone station set, and responding thereafter at said one switch to a condition requiting redirection of said call by redirecting said call from said destination switch to another destination switch identified as a function of said redirect code and serving said other telephone station set, said redirect code being a code other than a telephone number.
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Specification