Automatically sequentially ringing alternative telephone numbers

• US 7,194,080 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Song, Ping, Contractor, Sunil H., Levine, David A., Zhang, Zhiqiang Zeeman, Patterson, Greg N., Worsham, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu; Benny Quoc
• Application Number:
  US09/896,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 37921102-21104, 379/221.08
• US Class Current: 379/211.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained

Abstract

A Service Control Point (SCP) has a call list associated with the main telephone number of a called party. When a calling party attempts to contact the called party by calling the main number, but cannot reach the main number, a Service Switching Point (SSP) fires a trigger. One trigger is a T_No_Answer trigger, which is fired in response to a call to the main number that is not answered within a predefined number of rings. Another trigger is a T_Busy trigger that is fired in response to a call to the main number that is made when the main number is busy. Each trigger causes the SCP to access the call list and to cause the SSP to ring an alternative telephone number associated with the main telephone number. If this attempt to reach the called party also fails, then the SSP again fires the trigger and an attempt is made to connect the calling party to the next number on the call list. If the call list is exhausted before the calling party is connected to a number on the called party'"'"'s call list, then a message can be played to the calling party. Alternatively, the calling party may be connected to a voice mailbox associated with the called party or may receive a busy tone.

Claims

1. A sequential number ringing system connecting a calling party to a first alternative number associated with a main number dialed by the calling party, the system comprising:

a Service Control Point (SCP) with a sequential ring application (SRA) resident thereon; and

a first call list associated with the main number and containing the first alternative number; and

a second call list containing at least one second alternative number;

a Service Switching Point (SSP) provisioned with a trigger list associating the main number with a T_Busy trigger and with a T_No_Answer trigger;

wherein the SSP connects the calling party to the main number in response to the main number being answered;

wherein the SSP is further operative to fire the T_Busy trigger in response to a determination that a call to the main number cannot be connected because the main number is busy;

wherein the SSP is further operative to fire the T_No_Answer trigger in response to a determination that a call to the main number cannot be connected because the main number is not answered within a predefined ring number;

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SSP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the T_Busy trigger has been fired;

wherein the SCP is communicatively coupled to a plurality of SSPs; and

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SSP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the T_No_Answer trigger has been fired;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

2. The sequential number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the call list contains a second alternative number.

3. The sequential number ringing system of claim 2,

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SSP to connect the calling party to the second alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the first alternative number is busy;

and

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the SSP to connect the calling party to the second alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the first alternative number is not answered.

4. The sequential number ringing system of claim 3, wherein a determination that the telephone associated with the first alternative number is busy is made by detecting a next event notification.

5. The sequential number ringing system of claim 3, wherein a determination that the telephone associated with the first alternative number is not answered is made by detecting a next event notification.

6. The sequential number ringing system of claim 2, wherein the first alternative number is associated with a first likelihood, the first likelihood indicating the probability that a call can be completed to the first alternative number;

and

wherein the second alternative number is associated with a second likelihood, the second likelihood indicating the probability that a call can be completed to the second alternative number.

7. The sequential number ringing system of claim 6, wherein the first alternative number and the second alternative number are ordered within the call list in accordance with the first likelihood and the second likelihood.

8. The sequential number ringing system of claim 1, wherein the call list can be modified through a remote access point.

9. The sequential number ringing system of claim 8, wherein the remote access point is a web site hosted by a web server.

10. A method for using a Service Control Point (SCP) to connect a calling party to an alternative number associated with a main number, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt from the calling party;

ringing the main number, in response to receiving the call attempt, wherein the main number is the number dialed by the calling party;

determining whether the main number is busy;

determining whether the main number is not answered;

causing the SCP to determine a first alternative number from a first call list or a second call list associated with the main number;

causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is busy; and

causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is not answered;

wherein the SCP is communicatively coupled to a plurality of Service Switching Points;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

11. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 10.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing the SCP to determine a second alternative number from a second call list associated with the main number.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the second alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the first alternative number is busy.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining that the telephone associated with the first alternative number is busy by detecting a next event notification.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the second alternative number, in response to a determination that a telephone associated with the first alternative number is not answered.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the telephone associated with the first alternative number is not answered by detecting a next event notification.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

assigning a first likelihood to the first alternative number, the first likelihood indicating a probability that a call can be completed to the telephone associated with the first alternative number; and

assigning a second likelihood to the second alternative number, the second likelihood indicating a probability that a call can be completed to the telephone associated with the second alternative number.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising ordering the first alternative number and the second alternative number within the call list in accordance with the first likelihood and the second likelihood.

19. A method for using a Service Control Point (SCP) to connect a calling party to an alternative number associated with a main number, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt from the calling party;

provisioning a T_Busy trigger associated with the main number;

provisioning a T_No_Answer trigger associated with the main number;

ringing the main number, in response to receiving the call attempt, wherein the main number is the number dialed by the calling party;

determining whether the main number is busy;

determining whether the main number is not answered;

causing a Service Switching Point (SSP) to fire the T_Busy trigger, in response to a determination that the main number is busy;

causing the SSP to fire the T_No_Answer trigger, in response to a determination that the main number is not answered;

causing the SCP to determine the alternative number from a first call list or a second call list associated with the main number, in response to the firing of the T_Busy trigger;

causing the SCP to determine the alternative number from a first call list or a second call list associated with the main number, in response to the firing of the T_No_Answer trigger;

causing the SSP to ring the alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is busy;

causing the SSP to ring the alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is not answered;

wherein the SOP is communicatively coupled to a plurality of SSPs;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

20. A method for using a Service Control Point (SCP) to connect a calling party to an alternative number associated with a main number of a called party, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt from the calling party;

ringing the main number, in response to receiving the call attempt, wherein the main number is the number dialed by the calling party;

determining whether the main number is busy;

determining whether the main number is not answered;

causing the SCP to determine a first alternative number from a first call list or a second call list associated with the main number, wherein the first call list includes a plurality of alternative telephone numbers that are sequentially ordered based upon a probability of connecting the calling party to called party;

causing the SOP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is busy;

causing the SOP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is not answered;

wherein the SOP is communicatively coupled to a plurality of Service Switching Points;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of alternative telephone numbers are listed in an order beginning with the telephone number at which the probability of connecting to the called party is highest and ending with the telephone number at which the probability of connecting to the called party is the lowest.

22. The method of claim 20, further including:

calculating the probabilities of connecting the called party to the called party at the alternative telephone numbers included in the first call list based upon the historical likelihood of the connecting the calling party to the alternative telephone numbers; and

sequentially ordering the alternative telephone numbers included in the first call list based on the calculated probabilities.

23. A method for using a Service Control Point (SCP) to connect a calling party to an alternative number associated with a main number of a called party, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt from the calling party;

ringing the main number, in response to receiving the call attempt, wherein the main number is the number dialed by the calling party;

determining whether the main number is busy;

determining whether the main number is not answered;

causing the SCP to select a first call list or a second call list from a plurality of user created call lists associated with the main number;

causing the SCP to determine a first alternative number from the first call list;

causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is busy;

causing the SCP to connect the calling party to the first alternative number, in response to a determination that the main number is not answered;

wherein the SCP is communicatively coupled to a plurality of Service Switching Points;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the SCP selects the first call list from the plurality of user created call lists using the time of day that the call attempt was made.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the SCP selects the first call list from the plurality of user created call lists using the identity of the calling party.

26. The method of claim 23, further including:

determining whether the first call list is enabled, wherein the first call list is only selected responsive to the first call list being enabled.

27. The method of claim 26, further including:

enabling access by a given party to the plurality of user created call lists; and

permitting the given party to manually select which call lists of the plurality of call lists are enabled.

28. The method of claim 26, further including:

enabling access by a given party to the plurality of user created call lists; and

permitting the given party to create selection rules that govern the automatic determination of which call lists of the plurality of call lists are enabled.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the first call list includes a sequential ordered list of alternative telephone numbers, and the SCP determines the first call list based on the sequential ordered list.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the SCP determines the first call list from the plurality of user created call lists based on the number of alternative telephone numbers included in the first call list.

31. A sequential number ringing system connecting a calling party to a first or second alternative number associated with a main number dialed by the calling party, the system comprising:

a first Service Switching Point (SSP) connected to a caller telephone;

a second Service Switching Point (SSP) connected to a called telephone having a main telephone number associated therewith, the first SSP and second SSP being connected by a voice trunk communication link and a first SS7 data communication link, wherein the second SSP is provisioned with a trigger list associating the main number with a T_Busy trigger and with a T_No_Answer trigger;

wherein the second SSP is operative to connect the caller telephone to the called telephone in response to the called telephone being answered;

wherein the second SSP is further operative to fire a T_Busy trigger in response to a determination that a call to the called telephone cannot be connected because the called telephone is busy;

wherein the second SSP is further operative to fire the T_No_Answer trigger in response to a determination that a call to the called telephone cannot be connected because the called telephone is not answered within a predefined ring number;

a Service Control Point (SCP) connected to the first SSP by a second SS7 data communication link and connected to the second SSP by a third SS7 data communication link;

a Sequential Ring Application (SRA) resident on the SCP, the SRA having a first call list associated with the main number and containing the first alternative number and a second call list associate with the main number and containing second alternative number;

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the second SSP to connect the caller telephone to the first or second alternative number, in response to a determination that the T_Busy trigger has been fired by the second SSP; and

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the second SSP to connect the caller telephone to the first or second alternative number, in response to a determination that the T_No_Answer trigger has been fired by the second SSP;

wherein the first call list is used under a first set of conditions and the second call list is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.

32. A sequential number ringing system connecting a calling party to a first alternative number associated with a main number dialed by the calling party, the system comprising:

a first network element with a sequential ring application (SRA) resident thereon; and

a first call list associated with the main number and containing the first alternative number; and

a second network element provisioned with a trigger list associating the main number with a busy signal and with a no answer signal;

wherein the second network element connects the calling party to the main number in response to the main number being answered;

wherein the second network element is further operative to send the busy signal in response to a determination that a call to the main number cannot be connected because the main number is busy;

wherein the second network element is further operative to send the no answer signal in response to a determination that a call to the main number cannot be connected because the main number is not answered within a predefined ring number;

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the second network element to connect the calling party to the first or second alternative number, in response to a determination that the busy signal has been sent;

wherein the first network element is communicatively coupled to a plurality of second network elements; and

wherein the SRA is operative to cause the second network element to connect the calling party to the first or second alternative number, in response to a determination that the no answer signal has been sent;

wherein the first alternative number is used under a first set of conditions and the second alternative number is used under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions.