Telecommunications system sequence calling

• US 5,487,111 A
• Filed: 07/29/1993
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slusky, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/099,114
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 379/40, 379/51, 379/92, 379/216, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/201, 379/67, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/211.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a call sequencing facility allows a caller who is trying to reach a called subscriber to be routed to each of a sequence of telephone numbers specified by the subscriber, even though a call placed to one such telephone number is answered.

Claims

1. A method, for use in a telecommunications system, for automatically routing a call made to a particular called number in accordance with a previously stored sequence of telephone numbers, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said called number, and

in response to a signal supplied by said caller, routing said call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal is input from a telephone keypad.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal is a command spoken by said caller.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said called number is a telephone service number.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

storing, in association with each of a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers, first and second call forwarding telephone numbers,

in response to a call initiated after said storing step from a caller to a particular one of said subscriber telephone numbers extending said call to the associated first call forwarding telephone number, and

in response to a signal supplied by said caller, extending said call to said second call forwarding telephone number after said call has been completed to said first call forwarding number.

6. A method for use in a telecommunications system in which an incoming telephone call originated by a caller is routed in accordance with a sequence of telephone numbers specified by a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said incoming telephone call;

selecting one of said sequence of telephone numbers and routing said incoming call in accordance with the selected telephone number,

responsive to a signal supplied by said caller, selecting a next one of said sequence of telephone numbers, and

routing said incoming call in accordance with said next one of said sequence of telephone numbers even though the call placed to the previous selected telephone number had been completed.

7. A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a telephone call, placed by a caller from a telephone set to a subscriber by putting the telephone set in an off-hook state and by thereafter dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, is routed to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, while said telephone set is maintained in an off-hook state, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to said dialing of said telephone call, and

in response to an indication supplied by said caller, routing said telephone call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said indication is a signal input from a telephone keypad.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said indication is a command spoken by said caller.

10. A method for use in a telecommunications system of a type in which, during a single telephone call placed by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular telephone number, attempts are made to connect said calling telephone set with each location of a predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations previously specified by a subscriber associated with said particular telephone number, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving said predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations in response to said telephone call, and

in response to an indication from said caller, connecting said calling telephone set to a particular one of said call forwarding locations of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous call forwarding location of said sequence.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said indication is a signal input from a telephone keypad.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said indication is a command spoken by said caller.

13. A method of a type in which, when a telephone call to a subscriber is initiated by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, telephone switching equipment responds to the dialing of said particular subscriber telephone number by routing the call to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, where, in said method, while a connection between said telephone switch and said calling telephone set is maintained, said telephone call is routed to a particular one of the telephone numbers of said sequence, even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number of said sequence, said telephone call being routed to said particular one of said telephone numbers in response to an indication from said caller.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said indication is a signal input from a telephone keypad.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said indication is a command spoken by said caller.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said subscriber telephone number contains a prefix, "700".

17. A method for use in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of:

a) establishing in response to dialing subscriber a telephone number from a calling telephone station, a connection between said calling telephone station and a telecommunications switching apparatus within said telecommunications system,

b) extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a first call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said first call forwarding telephone station,

c) monitoring said connection between said calling telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus for an appearance on said connection of a call sequencing request from said calling telephone station, and

d) if said call sequencing request does appear on said connection between said telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus, maintaining that connection and extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a second call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said second call forwarding telephone station,

e) steps c) and d) being carried out even after any answering by said first call forwarding telephone station in response to the extending of said forward connection thereto.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein steps c) and d) are carried out even after said first call forwarding telephone station is hung up after having been answered.

19. A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a plurality of sequences of telephone numbers are each stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of called numbers, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving, in response to the placing of a call by a calling party to a particular one of said called numbers, the associated one of said plurality of sequences of telephone numbers; and

in response to a signal supplied by said calling party, routing said call to said sequence of telephone numbers, said call being routed to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein each one of said plurality of called numbers contains a three-character prefix which identifies a particular type of personal telephone service.