System for providing calling party selection of destination when multiple telephones share the same telephone number

• US 6,643,365 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Richied, Joan Marie, Dunn, James Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/547,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/229, 379/230, 379/221.01
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A telecommunications system that recognizes “post-fix” codes after directory numbers are dialed. Such post-fix codes provide the calling party with the ability to invoke features or functions before the call is routed. By use of a post-fix code (for example, *X or *XX) the caller may, for example, control routing of a telephone call.

Claims

1. A method for use in a telecommunications system for providing calling party selection of one of a plurality of destinations that share a common directory number, said telecommunications system comprising a service circuit node and a plurality of switches including an originating switch and a terminating switch, each of said plurality of destinations is connected to one of said plurality of switches by a uniquely identified termination, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a call by entering a directory number and a post-fix code at said originating switch by said called party;

routing said directory number and post-fix code through said telecommunications system according to said directory number, thereby delivering said directory number and said post-fix code to the service circuit node;

said service circuit node translating said directory number to determine a plurality of terminations for said directory number;

said service circuit node selecting one of the plurality of terminations responsive to said post-fix code; and

said service circuit node sending the one of said terminations to said destination switch.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of responsive to receipt of said post-fix code, said service circuit node prompting said calling party for further information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said service circuit node includes at least one dual-tone, multi-frequency detector, said method further including the step of said calling party signaling to said service circuit node via dual-tone, multi-frequency signaling.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said service circuit node includes a voice response unit, said method further including the step of said calling party signaling to said service circuit node via voice.

5. A service circuit node that facilitates setting up a call from a calling party to a destination when the destination shares a common directory number with a plurality of other destinations, said service circuit node comprising:

means for receiving from an originating switch of a telephone switching system, a directory number and post-fix code entered by the calling party;

means for translating the directory number to a plurality of terminations;

means for selecting one of the plurality of terminations responsive to said post-fix code; and

means for sending the one of said terminations to a destination switch of the telephone switching system.

6. A method for use in a service circuit node operably connected to a telephone switching system for providing calling party selection of one of a plurality of destinations that share a common destination directory number, each of said plurality of destinations having a unique termination that defines how the telephone switching system completes a call to the destination, said method comprising the service circuit node performing steps of:

receiving from an originating switch of the switching system, a message having a destination directory number and post-fix code associated with a call from the calling party;

translating said destination directory number to determine a plurality of terminations associated with said directory number;

selecting one of said plurality of terminations responsive to said post-fix code according to a predefined translation of said post-fix code; and

sending the one of said terminations to a destination switch of the telephone switching system.