Method and apparatus for prioritizing telephone calls

• US 5,625,680 A
• Filed: 02/07/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldman, Shelley B., Foladare, Mark J., Weber, Roy P., Silverman, David P., Murray, Nancy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/385,004
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/243, 379/127, 379/142, 379/199
• US Class Current: 379/199
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/54 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 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method and apparatus for prioritizing telephone calls that allow the caller to specify priority criteria relating to a call and the recipient to specify priority criteria relating to the treatment of incoming calls. The caller designates priority of the call based on specified priority criteria. The caller'"'"'s specified priority criteria is stored in a database in the telephone service provider'"'"'s network, is retrieved from the database when the caller places a call and is transmittal with the call through the telephone network. The call recipient designates specified priority criteria for incoming calls. The call recipient'"'"'s specified priority criteria is stored in a database and is retrieved from the database in response to incoming calls. The treatment of a call, i.e. connection, termination or redirection, is based on comparison of the caller'"'"'s specified priority criteria and the call recipient'"'"'s specified priority criteria.

Claims

1. A method of processing telephone calls in a telephone network, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a caller priority criteria and storing said caller priority criteria in a database;

receiving from a call recipient priority criteria and storing said call recipient priority criteria in a database;

assigning to a telephone call from said caller to said call recipient said previously stored caller priority criteria; and

directing said telephone call based on a comparison of said previously stored caller priority criteria and said previously stored call recipient priority criteria.

2. The method of processing telephone calls according to claim 1, wherein said directing step includes connecting said telephone call from said caller to said call recipient if said priority criteria specified by said caller satisfies said priority criteria specified by a call recipient.

3. The method of processing telephone calls according to claim 1, wherein said directing step includes rerouting said telephone call to a destination other than to the call recipient'"'"'s telephone number if said priority specified by said caller does not satisfy said priority criteria specified by said call recipient.

4. The method of processing telephone calls according to claim 1, wherein said directing step includes terminating said telephone call if said priority specified by said caller does not satisfy said priority specified by said call recipient.