Method and apparatus for routing calls based on the identification of the calling party or calling line

• US 7,062,028 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2003
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, Scott Crandall, Medders, Christopher Bertram
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Benny Quoc
• Application Number:
  US10/633,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/201.01, 379/201.12, 37920701-20716, 379/210.01, 379/212.01, 379/213.01, 379/214.01, 379/913, 379/917, 379/211.03, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 379/211.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• 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 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for routing calls for a subscriber based on the identification of the calling party or the originating line. Generally, the present invention operates to identify a calling party or originating line and then select a routing list based on this identification. Once a routing list has been selected, the call will be routed to the destination in the routing list. More specifically, when a call is received, an inquiry is made regarding the identity of the calling party or calling line. If the identification can be determined, then an attempt to retrieve a routing list associated with this identification is made. If a routing list has been provided for the identified party or line, the routing list will be retrieved. If a routing list has not been provided for the identified party or line, a default routing list will be selected for routing the call.

Claims

1. In an integrated computer telephony system including a call routing system, a method for routing a call, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of routing lists for a telephony subscriber, each of the routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising an ordered list of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached;

receiving a call from an originating source;

selecting a particular routing list from the plurality of routing lists based at least in part upon received identifying information; and

directing the call sequentially to the directory numbers on the particular routing list.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

determining identifying criteria, wherein the identifying criteria defines a basis for selecting the particular routing list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying criteria is determined to be one from the group comprising the identity of the originating source, the type of call, time of day, day of the week, and the calling line identification.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

providing a prompt requesting that the originating source provide identifying information; and

receiving from the originating source the identifying information.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

determining whether the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists;

responsive to determining the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving the routing list associated with the originating source, wherein the one routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list; and

responsive to determining the originating source is not associated with any routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving a default routing list, wherein the default routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list.

6. In an integrated computer telephony system including a call routing system, a method for routing a call, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of routing lists for a telephony subscriber of a private branch exchange coupled to a public switched telephone network, each of the routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising an ordered list of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached;

receiving a call from an originating source;

determining identifying criteria, wherein the identifying criteria defines a basis for selecting the particular routing list;

determining whether the call is external or internal to the private branch exchange;

selecting a particular routing list from the plurality of routing lists based at least in part upon the determination of whether the call is external or internal to the private branch exchange; and

directing the call sequentially to the directory numbers on the particular routing list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifying criteria is determined to be one from the group comprising the identity of the originating source, the type of call, time of day, day of the week, and the calling line identification.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

providing a prompt requesting that the originating source provide identifying information; and

receiving from the originating source the identifying information.

9. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

determining whether the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists;

responsive to determining the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving the routing list associated with the originating source, wherein the one routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list; and

responsive to determining the originating source is not associated with any routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving a default routing list, wherein the default routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list.

10. In an integrated computer telephony system including a call routing system, a method for routing a call, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of routing lists for a telephony subscriber, each of the routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising an ordered list of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached;

receiving a call from an originating source;

determining identifying criteria, wherein the identifying criteria defines a basis for selecting the particular routing list.

determining whether the call requires special processing;

responsive to determining the call does not require special processing, further including the steps of;

providing the originating source with keypad menu selection options;

receiving from the originating source a dual tone multi-frequency signal corresponding a keypad menu selection;

selecting a particular routing list from the plurality of routing lists based at least in part upon the received signal; and

directing the call sequentially to the directory numbers on the particular routing list.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifying criteria is determined to be one from the group comprising the identity of the originating source, the type of call, time of day, day of the week, and the calling line identification.

12. The method of claim 10, further including the steps of:

providing a prompt requesting that the originating source provide identifying information; and

receiving from the originating source the identifying information.

13. The method of claim 10, further including the steps of:

determining whether the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists;

responsive to determining the originating source is associated with one routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving the routing list associated with the originating source, wherein the one routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list; and

responsive to determining the originating source is not associated with any routing list of the maintained plurality of routing lists, retrieving a default routing list, wherein the default routing list associated with the originating source is the particular routing list.

14. A computer system for routing calls for a personal number subscriber based on the calling line identification of an originating party, comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory storage device operative to store a plurality of routing lists for said personal number subscriber, each of the routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising an ordered list of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached;

a receiving interface device coupled to said processing unit for receiving calls;

a transmitting interface device coupled to said processing unit for placing calls;

wherein the processing unit is operative to;

receive a call from an originating source;

select a particular routing list from the plurality of routing lists based at least in part upon received identifying information; and

direct the call sequentially to the directory numbers on the particular routing list.

15. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for selecting a routing list and directing a call based on an identifying criteria, and a data file containing a plurality of routing lists for a called party, wherein each of said routing lists comprises a plurality of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached, said directory numbers being in an order determined by the subscriber, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

maintaining a plurality of routing lists for a telephony subscriber, each of the routing lists being associated with at least one originating source and comprising an ordered list of directory numbers where the subscriber can be reached;

selecting a particular routing list from the plurality of routing lists based at least in part upon received identifying information; and

directing a received call sequentially to the directory numbers on the particular routing list.