Method and system for conditionally routing calls

• US 6,944,444 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, David G., Gillespie, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/642,203
• Time in Patent Office: 1,851 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/461, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/428, 455/445, 455/414.1, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/214.01
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A method for conditionally forwarding a call for use in a communication network including a switching center in communication with at least one alternative system, an Intelligent Peripheral, and a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber having at least one directory number. The method includes providing a service location register in communication with the switching center, the service location register operative to retrieve stored call termination parameters for each of the subscriber directory numbers and call information for each incoming call to a directory number, the call termination parameters including call forwarding features. A busy or no answer condition is detected for a call to a directory number and a request is forwarded to the service location register for routing instructions. Service logic is applied to forward the call to a Direct Inward Dialing (DID) number of a resource on the IP and service logic is applied to terminate the call at the directory number or route the call to the at least one alternative system.

Claims

1. For use in a communication network including a switching center in communication with at least one alternative system, an Intelligent Peripheral (IP), and a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber having at least one Directory Number (DN), a method for conditionally forwarding a call, comprising:

providing a service location register in communication with the switching center, the service location register operative to retrieve stored called termination parameters for each of the subscriber'"'"'s DNs, and call information for each incoming call to a DN, the call termination parameters including call forwarding features;

detecting a busy or no answer condition for a call to a DN;

forwarding a request to the service location register for routing instructions; and

applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call, wherein applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call comprises;

determining whether the call was routed via the IP and processing the call according to the determination;

determining based on the calling party Directory Number if the call is a business or a personal call;

forwarding the call to a first alternative system if the call is a business call; and

forwarding the call to a second alternative system if the call is a personal call.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the switching system is a Mobile Switching System (MSC).

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the service location register is a Wireless Service Location Register (WSLR™

).

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining if the calling party directory number has been restricted.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the call is forwarded to the at least one alternative system only if the calling party directory number is unrestricted.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the time of day the call was placed.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the day of the week the call was placed.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the date the call was placed.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one alternative system comprises a Voice Messaging System.

10. For use in a wireless communication network including a switching center in communication with at least one voice messaging system, an Intelligent Peripheral (IP), and a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber having at least one Directory Number (DN), a method for conditionally forwarding a call, comprising;

providing a Wireless Service Location Register (WSLR™

) in communication with the switching center, the WSLR™

operative to retrieve stored called termination parameters for each of the subscriber'"'"'s DNs, and call information for each incoming call to a DN, the call termination parameters including call forwarding features;

detecting a busy or no answer condition for a call to a DN;

forwarding a request to the WSLR™

for routing instructions; and

applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call, wherein applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call comprises;

determining whether the call was routed via the IP and processing the call according to the determination;

determining based on the calling arty Directory Number if the call is a business or a personal call;

forwarding the call to a first alternative system if the call is a business call; and

forwarding the call to a second alternative system if the call is a personal call.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the switching system is a Mobile Switching System (MSC).

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining if the calling party directory number has been restricted.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the call is forwarded to the at least one voice messaging system only if the calling party directory number is unrestricted.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the time of day the call was placed.

15. A method as in claim 10, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the day of the week the call was placed.

16. A method as in claim 10, wherein the step of applying service logic includes determining the date the call was placed.

17. For use in a communication network including at least one alternative system, an Intelligent Peripheral (IP), and a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber having at least one Directory Number (DN), a system for conditionally forwarding a call, comprising:

a switching center in communication with the at least one alternative system, the switching center operative to detect a busy or no answer condition for a call to a DN and forward a request for routing instructions; and

a service location register in communication with the switching center, the service location register operative to retrieve stored call termination parameters for each of the subscriber DN'"'"'s, and call information for each incoming call to a DN, the call termination parameters including call forwarding features, the service location register further operative to apply service logic to receive the request for routing instructions from the switching center, and applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call, wherein applying service logic to determine a disposition for the call comprises;

determining whether the call was routed via the IP and processing the call according to the determination;

determining based on the calling party Directory Number if the call is a business or a personal call;

forwarding the call to a first alternative system if the call is a business call; and

forwarding the call to a second alternative system if the call is a personal call.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the switching center is a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the at least one alternative system is a voice Messaging System (VMS).

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the service location register is a Wireless Service Location Register.