Call handling system and method

• US 7,123,711 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cope, Warren B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US10/403,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/221.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends

Abstract

A call handling system for a call comprising a routing system configured to receive a key from a first call system and responsively transfer a query to a call processing system wherein the query indicates the key and wherein the call processing system is configured to receive the key and process the key by placing the key into a dialed number information service (DNIS) override field of a query response and is configured to transfer the query response to the routing system, and wherein the routing system is further configured to receive the query response and responsively send the key as DNIS to a second call system. The technology improves call handling capabilities of a call handling system thereby saving time and allowing for improved call handling efficiencies.

Claims

1. A call handling system for a call comprising:

a routing system configured to receive a key from a first call system and responsively transfer a first query to a call processing system wherein the first query indicates the key;

the call processing system configured to receive the key and process the key by placing the key into a dialed number information service (DNIS) override field of a first query response and configured to transfer the first query response to the routing system; and

the routing system further configured to receive the first query response and responsively send the key as DNIS to a second call system.

2. The call handling system of claim 1 wherein the first call system is configured to receive caller entered information over the call and transfer the caller entered information to a remote processor and wherein the first call system is further configured to receive the key and call handling instructions from the remote processor and in response send the key to the routing system.

3. The call handling system of claim 2 wherein the remote processor is configured to receive the caller entered information from the first call system and process the caller entered information to determine call handling instructions for the call and configured to associate the key with the caller entered information and transfer the key and the call handling instructions to the first call system.

4. The call handling system of claim 3 wherein the second call system is configured to receive the key from the routing system and transfer a second query to the remote processor indicating the key wherein the remote processor processes the key and transfers a second query response to the second call system including the caller entered information associated with the key.

5. The call handling system of claim 1 wherein the routing system is configured to receive a called number from the first call system and responsively transfer the first query to the call processing system wherein the first query indicates the key and the called number.

6. The call handling system of claim 5 wherein the call processing system is configured to receive the key and the called number and process the called number to determine routing instructions for the call and process the key by placing the key into the dialed number information service (DNIS) override field of the first query response and configured to transfer the first query response to the routing system including the routing instructions.

7. The call handling system of claim 5 wherein the routing system is configured to receive the key and the called number in a transfer command.

8. The call handling system of claim 7 wherein the transfer command comprises a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command.

9. The call handling system of claim 1 wherein the routing system comprises a switch within the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN).

10. The call handling system of claim 1 wherein the call processing system comprises a Service Control Point (SCP).

11. The call handling system of claim 1 wherein the remote processor is configured to determine the key based upon the caller entered information and the second call system is configured to associate the key with the caller entered information.

12. A method of handling a call, the method comprising:

in a routing system, receiving a key from a first call system, responsively transferring a first query indicating the key to a call processing system;

in the call processing system, receiving the key and placing the key into a dialed number information service (DNIS) override field of a first query response, transferring the first query response including the key in the dialed number information service (DNIS) override field; and

in the routing system, receiving the first query response and responsively transferring the key as DNIS to a second call system.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising in the first call system receiving caller entered information over the call and transferring the caller entered information to a remote processor and receiving the key and call handling instructions from the remote processor and in response sending the key to the routing system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising in the remote processor receiving the caller entered information from the first call system and determining call handling instructions for the call based on the caller entered information and associating the key with the caller entered information and transferring the key and the call handling instructions to the first call system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising in the second call system receiving the key as DNIS from the routing system and transferring a second query to the remote processor indicating the key and in the remote processor processing the key and transferring a second query response to the second call system including the caller entered information associated with the key.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving a called number from the first call system and responsively transferring the query to the call processing system wherein the query indicates the key and the called number.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising in the call processing system processing the called number to determine routing instructions for the call and transferring the first query response to the routing system including the routing instructions.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein receiving the called number and the key from the first call system comprises receiving the called number and the key in a transfer command.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the transfer command comprises a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) transfer command.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the routing system comprises a switch within the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN).

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the call processing system comprises a Service Control Point (SCP).