Outbound call rules routing

• US 7,502,457 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Book, Nancy Ann, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Gruchala, Carol Shifrin, Moy, William M., Neuwald, Peter Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/084,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,567 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220.01, 379/352, 379/114.22, 379/144.01, 379/207.03, 379/88.02, 379/204.01, 379/211.02, 379/93.24, 379/210.01, 379/112.01, 455/445, 709/225, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

An AIN service for provides a subscriber the ability to configure outbound call routing rules. Using telecommunications variables such as time of call, call busy status, call unanswered status, and numbers dialed, a subscriber is enabled to configure a service control point to perform an action such as forward a call, send a page with a message, use a dial-around number, or send a PIN. A web browser interface may be used by the subscriber to configure the SCP.

Claims

1. A communication processor for controlling an outbound communication, comprising:

a memory that stores outbound communication rule information for a rule that is configurable by a subscriber to a service with which the outbound communication is originated, that governs processing for the outbound communication, and that includes a condition and an action to be taken for the outbound communication when the condition is satisfied; and

a sender that sends, in response to receiving a network device message from a network device which receives the outbound communication and sends the network device message to the communication processor when the condition is satisfied, a communication processor message including the action to be taken for controlling the outbound communication.

2. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the outbound communication rule information is configurable over the internet.

3. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the service is a telecommunications service, and

wherein the subscriber is a subscriber to the telecommunications service.

4. The communications processor of claim 1,

wherein the action relates to forwarding the outbound communication.

5. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the action relates to requiring submission of a personal identification (PIN) number.

6. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the outbound communication rule information is configurable for a subscriber using a web browser.

7. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the action relates to disallowing the outbound communication.

8. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the action relates to routing the outbound communication via a carrier associated with a dial-around code.

9. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the outbound communication rule information comprises a plurality of actions.

10. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the outbound communication rule information comprises a plurality of conditions.

11. The communication processor of claim 1,

wherein the outbound communication rule information comprises a plurality of rules.

12. A method for controlling an outbound communication, comprising:

storing outbound communication rule information for a rule that is configurable by a subscriber responsible to a service with which the outbound communication is originated, that governs processing for the outbound communication, and that includes a condition and an action to be taken for the outbound communication when the condition is satisfied; and

sending, in response to receiving a network device message from a network device which receives the outbound communication and sends the network device message to the communication processor when the condition is satisfied, a communication processor message including the action to be taken for controlling the outbound communication.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the network device initiates an action in response to receiving the communication processor message.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether at least a portion of a dialed number satisfies a condition of the outbound communication rule information.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the network device forwards the outbound communication to a number other than the dialed number based on the action of the outbound communication rule information.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein the action relates to blocking the outbound communication when the outbound communication is to a destination indicated by the condition.

17. The method of claim 12,

wherein a page is sent to a paging device based on the action of the outbound communication rule information.

18. The method of claim 12,

wherein the outbound communication rule information is configurable by the subscriber via a service management system.

19. The method of claim 12,

wherein the outbound communication rule information is configurable by the subscriber via a web server.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the outbound communication rule information is configurable via the web server by the subscriber using a web client.

21. The method of claim 12,

wherein the network device initiates a plurality of actions to be taken based on the action.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether outbound communication information in the communication processor message satisfies a plurality of conditions.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether outbound communication information in the communication processor message satisfies conditions of a plurality of rules.