Dynamic call vectoring

• US 6,292,550 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Burritt, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/088,532
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 379/201, 379/265, 379/266, 379/207, 379/242
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13054 Expert system
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13352 Self-routing networks, real-time routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A telecommunications switching system such as a private branch exchange (100) processes calls as follows. When it receives (200) a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), the switching system invokes conventional vectoring (107) and commences processing the call by executing (202) the VDN'"'"'s call-processing vector. However, when it encounters (206) a “wait” vector command in the executing vector, the switching system sends (208) a notice of the call and the call'"'"'s identity to an external source of vectors, such as an expert system implemented on an adjunct processor (110). This notice functions as a request for another call-processing vector for the call. The expert system obtains (252-256) information relevant to processing of the call from the switching system and from external databases (111-112), and based on that information dynamically creates (258) a new call-processing vector for the call, in real time. When the switching system receives (220) this new vector, it replaces (222) the old vector with the new vector and continues processing of the call by restarting (224) vector processing and executing (202) the new vector. The switching system may obtain yet additional vectors for processing this call in the same manner as it obtained the second vector. The switching system may also obtain a new vector from the external source for each newly-received call.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call in a telecommunications switching system, comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving a call for processing, the switching system processing the call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system;

as a part of executing the first call-processing vector, the switching system requesting a call-processing vector for the call from a source external to the switching system;

in response to the request, the source selectively creating in real-time a second call-processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls and sending the second calls-processing vector to the switching system;

in response to receiving the second call-processing vector, comprising a plurality of vector commands, from the external source, the switching system processing the call by executing the received second call-processing vector instead of the first call-processing vector; and

in response to not receiving the second call-processing vector, the switching system processing the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

each call-processing vector comprises a program having a plurality of instructions, executable by the switching system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of processing by executing the received second call-processing vector comprises the steps of

as a part of executing the received second call-processing vector, the switching system secondly requesting another call-processing vector for the call from the external source;

in response to the second request, the source creating in real-time a third call-processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls and sending the third call-processing vector to the switching system; and

in response to receiving the third call-processing vector from the external source, the switching system continuing processing of the call by executing the received third call-processing vector.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving a second call for processing, the switching system processing the second call by executing the first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system;

as a part of executing the first call-processing vector, the switching system requesting another call-processing vector from the external source;

in response to the request, the source selectively creating in real-time a fourth call-processing vector for processing only said second call exclusive of other calls and sending the fourth call-processing vector to the switching system;

in response to receiving the fourth call-processing vector, the switching system processing the second call by executing the received fourth call-processing vector instead of the first call-processing vector; and

in response to not receiving the fourth call-processing vector, the switching system processing the second call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving a second call for processing, the switching system processing the second call by executing the first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system;

as a part of executing the first call-processing vector, the switching system requesting another call-processing vector from the external source;

in response to the request, the source creating in real-time a fourth call-processing vector for processing only said second call exclusively of other calls and sending the fourth call-processing vector to the switching system; and

in response to receiving the fourth call-processing vector, the switching system processing the second call by executing the received fourth call-processing vector instead of the first call-processing vector.

12. An apparatus that performs the method of claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11.

13. A computer-readable medium containing software which, when executed in a stored-program-controller switching system, causes the switching system to perform the method of claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11.

6. A method of processing a call in a telecommunications switching system, comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving for processing a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), processing the call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system and corresponding to the individual VDN;

as a part of executing the first call-processing vector, the switching system requesting another call-processing vector from a source external to the switching system;

in response to the request, the source selectively creating in real-time a second call processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls and sending the second call-processing vector to the switching system;

in response to receiving the second call-processing vector, comprising a plurality of vector commands, from the external source, the switching system continuing processing of the call by executing the second call-processing vector instead of continuing execution of the first call-processing vector; and

in response to not receiving the second call-processing vector, the switching system continuing processing of the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

as a part of executing the second call-processing vector, the switching system secondly requesting another call-processing vector from the external source;

in response to the second request, the source creating in real-time a third call-processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls and sending the third call-processing vector to the switching system; and

in response to receiving the third call-processing vector from the external source, the switching system continuing processing of the call by executing the third call-processing vector instead of continuing execution of the second call-processing vector.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the step of requesting comprises the steps of

encountering a predetermined command in the first call-processing vector during execution of the first call-processing vector; and

in response requesting the other call-processing vector from the external source.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the predetermined command is a “

wait”

command.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the step of requesting comprises the step of;

notifying the external source of an identity of the call.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

in response to requesting the other call-processing vector, the switching system first receiving a request from the external source for information relating to the call; and

in response to receiving the request from the external source, the switching system providing the requested information to the external source;

wherein

the external source creates the second call-processing vector in response to the provided information.

14. A telecommunications switching system comprising:

an effector of processing a received call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system, in response to receiving the call;

an effector of requesting a call-processing vector from a source that is external to the switching system, as a part of executing the first call-processing vector; and

an effector responsive to receiving from external source a second call-processing vector created in real-time by the external source in response to the request and for processing only said call exclusive of other calls and comprising a plurality of vector commands, of continuing processing of the call by executing the received second call-processing vector, and responsive to not receiving from the external source the second call-processing vector, of continuing processing of the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector.

15. A telecommunications switching system comprising:

first means, responsive to receipt for processing by the switching system of a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), for processing the call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system and corresponding to the individual VDN;

second means, cooperative with the first means, for requesting another call-processing vector from a source external to the switching system when called on to do so by the first means;

wherein the first means call on the second means to request the second call-processing vector as a part of executing the first call-processing vector; and

the first means are further responsive to receipt from the external source of a second call-processing vector comprising a plurality of vector commands, created by in real-time by the external source in response to the request and for processing only said call exclusive of other calls, for continuing processing of the call by executing the received second call-processing vector instead of continuing execution of the first call-processing vector, and are responsive to not receiving from the external source the second call-processing vector, for continuing processing of the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector.

16. An adjunct for use with a telecommunications switching system that processes a received call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system and as a part of executing the first call-processing vector requests another call-processing vector for the call from the adjunct, and responds to not receiving the second call-processing vector by continuing to process the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector, comprising:

an effector responsive to receipt of the request, of creating in real-time a second call-processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls; and

an effector of sending the second call-processing vector to the switching system to cause the switching system to continue processing the call by executing received said second call-processing vector instead of the first call-processing vector.

17. An adjunct for use with a telecommunications switching system that processes a received call by executing a first call-processing vector possessed by the switching system and as a part of executing the first call-processing vector requests another call-processing vector for the call from the adjunct, and responds to not receiving the second call-processing vector by continuing to process the call by continuing to execute the first call-processing vector, comprising:

means responsive to receipt of the request, for creating in real-time a second call-processing vector for processing only said call exclusive of other calls; and

means for sending the second call-processing vector to the switching system to cause the switching system to continue processing the call by executing received said second call-processing vector instead of the first call-processing vector.