Method for public access to private phone numbers and other telephonic peripherals using a caller access code

• US 7,280,535 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Hillenbrand, George, Kredo, Thomas J., Knight, Stephen D., Bergman, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): QURESHI, AFSAR M
• Application Number:
  US10/823,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370351-356, 370/389, 370/395.21, 370/395.52, 709/220, 709/227, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A caller places a telephone call and enters an access code when calling a subscriber. The caller'"'"'s access code signal is generated by the caller when the caller inputs his or her access code. The call is transmitted over the Public Switched Telephone Network to a subscriber'"'"'s telephone number. A Call Router Server capable of receiving the caller'"'"'s telephone call and the caller'"'"'s access code signal is provided. The Call Router Server detects the caller'"'"'s access code signal and then directing the caller'"'"'s telephone call to the subscriber to be completed in a particular manner based upon the caller'"'"'s access code. An Access Code Server which is Web server is provided that allows a subscriber to input the manner in which incoming telephone calls will be received and completed based upon the access code signal that is received by the Call Router Server. This information is stored on a Database Server, which instructs the Call Router Server on the proper routing pattern of the incoming telephone call.

Claims

1. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

an Access Code Server for receiving call routing data, said Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network such as the Internet;

a Database Server selectively coupled to the Access Code Server for receiving and for storing said call routing data; and

a Call Router Server for routing incoming telephone calls to based upon said call routing data received from said data server.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to a VoIP phone.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to a PSTN phone.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to a PSTN telephonic peripheral.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to an Internet telephonic peripheral.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to a PSTN telephonic peripheral.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to an Internet telephonic peripheral.

8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises:

means for selecting at least one telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of one-way pagers, two-way pagers, emergency operator fallback, wireless phones, private lines, call waiting, call query, voice mail boxes, personalized messages, and video conferencing.

9. A method of routing telephone calls based on an access code comprising:

receiving a signal sent by a subscriber containing data for routing an incoming telephone call based on access codes input by a caller over a public-packet switching network such as the Internet;

storing the call routing data on how an incoming call should be routed based on access codes;

receiving an incoming telephone call and an access code signal representing an access code input by a caller; and

routing the incoming telephone call based upon the access code signal and the call routing data.