Method and apparatus for enhanced call routing in a telecommunication system

• US 7,099,453 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Jackson, Vanessa Besteda, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.08, 379/88.03, 379/216.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.05
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method for routing calls in a telecommunication system includes detecting data for a call from a calling party to a called party, providing a menu of options to the calling party and routing the call in accordance with information about the calling party, information about the called party or a menu selection.

Claims

1. A method for establishing call routing information from a subscriber to a call routing service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telecommunications system, the call routing service permitting customized call routing based on providing call routing options to a caller the method comprising:

providing to the subscriber a World Wide Web display including data entry slots configured to receive one or more call termination options and corresponding telephone numbers;

receiving from the subscriber, at a web server arranged for data communication with the subscriber, a data transmission containing data defining a spoken name or place to be uttered by a subsequent caller for the subscriber, the spoken name or place being related to the one or more call termination options and the corresponding telephone numbers; and

storing from the web server to at least one of a Service Control Point and a Service Node and an Intelligent Peripheral of the AIN telecommunication system the data for subsequent access and use during processing of a call from the caller to the subscriber by the AIN telecommunication system implementing the call routing service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the data transmission comprises receiving one or more TCP/IP packets from the subscriber over the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the data transmission comprises receiving a subscription number associated with the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the World Wide Web display comprises:

providing one or more call destination option fields arranged to receive data defining the one or more call termination options; and

providing one or more telephone number fields, each telephone number field corresponding to one or more call termination options.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising formatting the data into a subscriber profile.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving one or more TCP/IP packets from the subscriber comprises receiving in the one or more TCP/IP packets a subscription number or other identifying information for the subscriber and the selections of the subscriber.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein providing the World Wide Web display further comprises providing an alpha entry field which may be filled with data defining a location, an individual or other text message to be delivered to a caller calling the subscriber.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein providing one or more telephone number fields comprises providing a data entry field on the World Wide Web display configured to receive data defining a telephone number and wherein providing one or more call termination option fields comprises providing a data entry field on the World Wide Web display configured for actuation to associate a call termination option field with a telephone number field.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the data transmission comprises receiving data representative of telephone numbers entered in the one or more telephone number fields and call termination option information associated with the one or more telephone number fields.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing information about the subscriber profile to a subscriber in response to a request from the subscriber for updating the information about the subscriber profile.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

communicating the subscriber profile for storage at one of the Service Control Point and the Service Node and the Intelligent Peripheral.