Automated system and method for call handling

• US 5,805,688 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US West Advanced Technologies, Inc. (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Apte, Madhav V., Gillespie, Donald E., Bruening, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/541,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 379/221, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/201, 379/207, 379/127, 379/94, 379/265, 379/266, 379/243, 379/142
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A system and method for automatically routing telephone calls to a subscriber selected from a group of subscribers having a common calling number. The system and method are directed for use in a local exchange portion of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). A database in electrical communication with the system is operative to store a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding location data as well as a unique destination number for each of the subscribers and corresponding unique location data. A service control point or adjunct processor in electrical communication with the database processes the call handling request signal to select one of the destination numbers to route the call to. The processing requires determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal, determining the user location data and comparing the user location data to the appropriate subscriber location data to select a corresponding destination number.

Claims

1. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common non-access code group calling number, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator integrated with the AIN for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

a storage device integrated with the AIN and in communication with the signal generation means for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding user location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each of the plurality of subscribers and corresponding unique subscriber location data, said unique subscriber destination numbers corresponding to said common non-access code group calling number; and

a processor integrated with the AIN and in communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select the unique subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processor operative to

determine the user calling number from the call handling request signal, and to

determine the corresponding user location data, wherein said processor

compares the user location data to the subscriber location data to select the unique subscriber destination number and

routes the call to the unique subscriber destination number selected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user location data comprises zip code information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user location data comprises census grid code information.

4. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common non-access code group calling number, a unique subscriber destination number, and unique zip code data, an automated system for handling a call from a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator integrated with the AIN for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

a storage device integrated with the AIN in communication with the signal generation means for storing (a) a first directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each calling number assigned a corresponding user zip code, and (b) a second directory assigned to said common non-access code group calling number comprising predetermined groups of said unique zip code data, each group assigned a corresponding subscriber destination number;

a processor integrated with the AIN in communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processor operative to determine the user calling number from the call handling request signal, wherein said processor

compares the user calling number to the first directory to determine the user zip code,

compares the user zip code to the second directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number, and

routes the call to the subscriber destination number selected.

5. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers each assigned a common non-service access code group calling number, a unique subscriber destination number, and unique census grid code data, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the common non-service access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

a storage device in electrical communication with the signal generation means for storing (a) a first directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each calling number assigned a corresponding user census grid code, and (b) a second directory assigned to said common nonservice access code group calling number comprising predetermined groups of said unique census grid code data, each group assigned a corresponding subscriber destination number;

a processor in electrical communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processor operative to determine the user calling number from the call handling request signal, wherein said processor

compares (i) the user calling number to the first directory to determine the user census grid code, and (ii)

the user census grid code to the second directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number, and

routes the call to the subscriber destination number selected,

wherein the signal generator storage device, and processor are components of the AIN.

6. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common non-special access code group calling number, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-special access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

providing a storage device for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each of the plurality of subscribers and corresponding unique subscriber location data, each unique subscriber destination number corresponding to said common non-special access code group calling number; and

processing the call handling request signal to select the unique subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

determining the corresponding user location data;

comparing the user location data to the subscriber location data to select the unique subscriber destination number; and

routing the call to the unique subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

7. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common non-access code group calling number, a unique subscriber destination number, and unique zip code data, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

providing a storage device for storing (a) a first directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each calling number assigned a corresponding user zip code, and (b) a second directory assigned to the common non-access code group calling number comprising a plurality of predetermined groups of said unique zip code data, each group assigned a corresponding subscriber destination number;

processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

comparing the user calling number to the first directory to determine the user zip code; and

comparing the user zip code to the second directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number;

routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

8. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers each assigned a common non-access code group calling number, a unique subscriber destination number, and unique census grid code data, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

providing storage means for storing (a) a first directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each calling number assigned a corresponding census grid code, and (b) a second directory assigned to the common non-access code group calling number comprising predetermined groups of said unique census grid code data, each of the groups of said unique census grid code data assigned a corresponding subscriber destination number;

processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

comparing the user calling number to the first directory to determine the user census grid code; and

comparing the user census grid code to the second directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number;

routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

9. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common non-access code group calling number, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of a call, including a user calling number;

providing a database for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding user location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each of the subscribers and corresponding unique subscriber location data indexed by day and time, wherein each of said unique subscriber destination numbers corresponds to said common non-access code group calling number; and

processing the call handling request signal to select one of the subscriber destination numbers to route the call to, the processing means comprising;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

determining the user location data and the day and time of the call;

comparing the user location data to the subscriber location data to select the destination number; and

routing the call to the destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

10. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the unique non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including the unique non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

a storage device operative in the AIN and in communication with the signal generator for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding user location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each of the plurality of subscribers having a unique non-access code calling group number and corresponding unique subscriber location data; and

a processor operative in the AIN and in electrical communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select the unique subscriber destination number to which to route the call, the processor operative to determine the non-access code group calling number and corresponding calling group from the call handling request signal, and to determine the user calling number and corresponding user location data from the call handling request signal, wherein said processor

compares the determined user location data to the corresponding unique subscriber location data of the determined calling group to select the unique subscriber destination number; and

routes the call to the selected unique subscriber destination number.

11. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned a unique destination number and further assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups, each calling group assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including the non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

a storage device in electrical communication with the signal generator for storing (a) a primary directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each user calling number assigned a corresponding user zip code, and (b) a plurality of secondary directories, each of the secondary directories assigned one of the unique non-access code group calling numbers and comprising predetermined groups of unique zip code data, each of the groups of unique zip code data assigned one or more corresponding subscriber destination numbers;

a processor in electrical communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select the corresponding subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processor operative to determine the group calling number and a corresponding one of the plurality of secondary directories from the call handling request signal, and to determine the user calling number from the call handling request signal, wherein the processor

compares the user calling number to the primary directory to determine the corresponding user zip code,

compares the user zip code to the determined secondary directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number, and

routes the call to the corresponding subscriber destination number selected;

wherein the signal generator, storage device, and processor are components of the AIN.

12. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned a unique subscriber destination number and further assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups, each of the plurality of predetermined calling groups further assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the unique non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the system comprising:

a signal generator for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including the non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

a storage device in electrical communication with the signal generator for storing (a) a primary directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each of the plurality of user calling numbers assigned a corresponding census grid code, and (b) a plurality of secondary directories, each of the plurality of secondary directories assigned one of the unique non-access code group calling numbers and comprising predetermined groups of unique census grid code data, each group of unique census grid code data assigned one or more unique subscriber destination numbers;

a processor in electrical communication with the storage device for processing the call handling request signal to select one of the unique subscriber destination numbers to route the call to, the processor operative to determine the unique group calling number and corresponding secondary directory from the call handling request signal, and to determine the user calling number from the call handling request signal, wherein the processor

compares the user calling number to the primary directory to determine the user census grid code, and

compares the user census grid code to the determined secondary directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number, and

routes the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein the signal generator, storage device, and processor are components of the AIN.

13. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups and each calling group assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the unique non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of a call, including the non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

providing a storage device for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding user location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each subscriber of each calling group and corresponding unique subscriber location data; and

processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the group calling number, calling group, and corresponding subscriber location data from the call handling request signal;

determining the user calling number and corresponding user location data from the call handling request signal;

comparing the determined user location data to the corresponding subscriber location data of the determined calling group to select the subscriber destination number; and

routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

14. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned a unique subscriber destination number and further assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups, each calling group assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including the non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

providing storage means for storing (a) a primary directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each user calling number assigned a corresponding user zip code, and (b) a plurality of secondary directories, each of the secondary directories assigned one of the non-access code group calling numbers and comprising predetermined groups of unique zip code data, each group of unique zip code data assigned one or more subscriber destination numbers;

processing the call handling request signal to select one of the subscriber destination numbers to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the non-access code group calling number, calling group, and corresponding secondary directory from the call handling request signal;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

comparing the user calling number to the primary directory to determine the user zip code; and

comparing the determined user zip code to the determined secondary directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number;

routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

15. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers assigned a unique subscriber destination number and further assigned to one of a plurality of predetermined calling groups, each calling group further assigned a unique non-access code group calling number, an automated method for handling a call made by a user to the common non-access code group calling number without user prompting, the method comprising:

generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including the non-access code group calling number and a user calling number;

providing storage means for storing (a) a primary directory comprising a plurality of user calling numbers, each user calling number assigned a corresponding census grid code, and (b) a plurality of secondary directories, each of the secondary directories assigned one of the non-access code group calling numbers and comprising predetermined groups of unique census grid code data, each group of unique census grid code data assigned one or more subscriber destination numbers;

processing the call handling request signal to select one of the subscriber destination numbers to route the call to, the processing comprising;

determining the non-access code group calling number, calling group and corresponding secondary directory from the call handling request signal;

determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal;

comparing the user calling number to the primary directory to determine the user census grid code; and

comparing the user census grid code to the determined secondary directory to select the corresponding subscriber destination number;

routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein generating, storing, processing, and routing are performed via components of the AIN.

16. For use in a local exchange of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a plurality of subscribers, each assigned a common group calling number, an automated system for handling a call made by a user to the common group calling number without user prompting or a special access code, the system comprising:

a Service Switching Point (SSP) for generating a call handling request signal representing selected parameters of the call, including a user calling number;

a database in electrical communication with the SSP for storing (a) a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding user location data, and (b) a unique subscriber destination number for each of the plurality of subscribers and corresponding unique subscriber location data, each unique subscriber destination number corresponding to said common group calling number;

a Service Control Point (SCP) in electrical communication with the database for processing the call handling request signal to select the subscriber destination number to route the call to by determining the user calling number and the user location data from the call handling request signal, whereby the user location data is compared to the subscriber location data to select the subscriber destination number; and

a Service Transfer Point (STP) for routing the call to the subscriber destination number selected;

wherein the SSP, database, SCP, and STP are components of the AIN.