System and method for automatically distributing communications to selected locations

• US 6,169,904 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1993
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blumhardt, Mark Sheldon, Ayala, Rajasekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/088,708
• Time in Patent Office: 2,735 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265, 379/266, 379/230, 379/51, 379/58, 379/59, 379/62, 379/97, 379/201, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/207
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A system and method for automatically distributing communications to selected locations includes switching means which is provided in electrical communication with a calling party'"'"'s CPE device and a plurality of secondary parties'"'"' CPE devices. As disclosed, the system may be adapted for use in both advanced intelligent networks (AIN) and non-AIN arrangements. Similarly, the switching means may be provisioned with automatic call distribution (ACD) architecture or, in specified AIN arrangements, with a Service Node or advanced functionality controlled by a properly interfaced service control point (SCP) or adjunct. In operation, the switching means parks incoming communication on queue while performing selected routing functions in an attempt to locate the secondary party if one of the plurality of selected communication addresses. In the preferred embodiment, the selected routing functions are performed in a predetermined sequence.

Claims

1. For use in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), a system for automatically routing communications from a calling party having a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device to a secondary party having a single calling number for a plurality of CPE devices, each of said secondary party CPE devices placed at a different geographic location and having a corresponding communication address, the system comprising:

a Service Switching Point (SSP) in electrical communication with said calling party CPE device and said plurality of secondary party CPE devices, said SSP provisioned with Automatic Call distribution (ACD) architecture;

a Signal Transfer Point (STP) in electrical communication with said central office SSP; and

a Service Control Point (SCP) in electrical communication with said STP, said SCP adapted to forward control signals to said SSP causing said communications to be parked on queue in said ACD while said ACD performs selected routing functions in a predetermined sequence in an attempt to locate said secondary party at one of said communication addresses.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of said secondary party CPE devices comprises a telephone.

3. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) in electrical communication with said SCP and said SSP, said IP adapted to receive instructions from said SCP to page said secondary party.

4. A system as in claim 1, further including a voice mail system in electrical communication with said SSP.

5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising Log-in means in electrical communication with said SSP for initiating a Log-in Number unique to said secondary party such that said secondary party may receive said communication from any subscribing CPE device.

6. For use in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), a method of automatically routing communications from a calling party CPE device to a secondary party having a single called number for a plurality of CPE devices, each of said secondary party CPE devices placed at a different geographic location and having a corresponding communication address, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a Service Switching Point (SSP) provisioned with Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) architecture in electrical communication with said calling party CPE device and said plurality of secondary party CPE devices;

providing a Signal Transfer Point (STP) in electrical communication with said SSP;

providing a Service Control Point in electrical communication with said STP;

routing said communication signals from said calling party CPE device to said SSP;

identifying said called number as that of said secondary party;

generating a control signal for receipt by said SSP, said control signal directing said SSP to park said communication on queue in said ACD;

performing selected routing functions in a predetermined sequence in an attempt to locate said secondary party at one of said communication addresses.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of paging said secondary party.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of initiating a Log-in Number unique to said secondary party from any CPE device so as to receive said communication.

9. A system for automatically routing communications from a calling party having a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device to a secondary party having a single calling number for a plurality of CPE devices, each of said secondary party CPE devices placed at a different geographic location and having a corresponding communication address, the system comprising:

switching means in electrical communication with said calling party CPE device and said plurality of secondary party CPE devices for routing said communications, said switching means provisioned with Automatic Call distribution (ACD) architecture, wherein said communications may be parked on queue in said ACD while said ACD performs selected routing functions in a predetermined sequence in an attempt to locate said secondary party at one of said communication addresses.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein each of said secondary party CPE devices comprises a telephone.

11. A system as in claim 9, further comprising paging means in electrical communication with said switching means for paging said secondary party.

12. A system as in claim 11, further comprising Log-in means in electrical communication with said switching means for initiating a Log-in Number unique to said secondary party such that said secondary party may receive said communication from any subscribing CPE device.

13. A method of automatically routing communications from a calling party CPE device to a secondary party having a single called number for a plurality of CPE devices, each of said secondary party CPE devices placed at a different geographic location and having a corresponding communication address, the method comprising the steps of:

providing switching means provisioned with Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) architecture in electrical communication with said calling party CPE device and said plurality of secondary party CPE devices;

routing said communications from said calling party CPE device to said switching means;

identifying said called number as that of said secondary party;

parking said communication on que in said ACD;

performing selected routing functions in a predetermined in an attempt to locate said secondary party at one of said communication addresses.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of paging said secondary party.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of initiating an ACD Log-in Number unique to said secondary party from any subscribing CPE device so as to receive said communication.