Apparatus and method for calendar based call routing

• US 6,477,374 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1998
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Beyda, William J., Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/071,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/461, 379/209, 379/210, 379/211, 379/220, 379/221, 379/100.08
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A telecommunications system is provided whereby call routing may be based on a pre-programmed calendar of time-date associations. Moreover, the routing may be selective, based on caller-identification information. In particular, when a call arrives at a messaging server (804), such as a PBX or TOL server, a LAN database is checked. The LAN database points to a calendar (916, 918) corresponding to the user. The calendar (918) is queried to determine the user'"'"'s location. The caller ID information is checked to determine whether the caller is authorized for forwarding. If so, the call is forwarded based on the calendar.

Claims

1. A system for routing telephone calls, comprising:

a local area network;

a plurality of workstations coupled to said local area network, said plurality of workstations adapted for voice communication over said local area network;

means for setting one or more selected time periods; and

means for routing telephone calls to particular workstations for a user based on said one or more selected time periods;

wherein said setting means is accessible via any of said plurality of workstations.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means includes means for identifying one or more callers whose calls may be routed during said one or more selected time periods.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said routing means includes means for routing selected calls responsive to said identifying means during said one or more selected time periods.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means includes a Web browser.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means includes a local application program.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means includes means for accessing a user calendar.

7. A system according to claim 2, wherein said routing means includes means for providing call back to a caller whose call may not be routed during said one or more predetermined time periods.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said routing means includes means for accepting a call back.

9. A system according to claim 1, including means for routing said telephone calls to a called party'"'"'s voice mail.

10. A system according to claim 1, including means for providing a caller of said user with a reminder to call back said user if said user is unavailable.

11. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a local area network;

a plurality of workstations coupled to said packet network, said plurality of workstations adapted for telephone calls over said local area network;

means for providing user scheduling information; and

means for routing one or more telephone calls based on said user scheduling information;

wherein said providing means is accessible via any of said plurality of workstations.

12. A telecommunications system according to claim 11, said routing means including means for reading caller identification information and routing said one or more telephone calls based on said caller ID information.

13. A telecommunications system according to claim 11, said user scheduling information including date information.

14. A telecommunications system according to claim 13, said user scheduling information including time of day information.

15. A telecommunication system according to claim 12, said routing means including means for providing call back to a caller whose call is identified as not being routable.

16. A telecommunication system according to claim 15, said providing means including means for accepting or rejecting a called back call.

17. A method for routing telephone calls in one or more networks, one of said networks comprising a local area network having multiple workstations adapted for handling telephone calls, the method comprising:

setting one or more selected time periods; and

routing telephone calls to particular workstations for a user based on said one or more selected time periods;

wherein said setting comprises setting said one or more time periods via any of said plurality of workstations.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said setting includes identifying one or more callers whose calls may be routed during said one or more selected time periods.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said routing includes routing selected calls responsive to said identifying during said one or more selected time periods.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said setting includes using a Web browser.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein said setting includes using a local application program.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein said setting includes accessing a user calendar.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein said routing includes providing call back to a caller whose call may not be routed during said one or more predetermined time periods.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said routing includes accepting a call back.

25. A method according to claim 18, including providing said one or more callers with a call back reminder after said one or more callers have been disconnected.