Telecommunication system with improved area codes

• US 7,848,508 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VJC Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Victor Chartrand
• Inventors: Chartrand, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy, Thjuan K
• Application Number:
  US12/228,717
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.14, 379/142.1, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 709/206
• US Class Current: 379/221.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/154 Functional or symbolic dial plan such as license plate numbers

Abstract

An apparatus and/or method for routing telephone calls to a communications device of a particular subscriber within an area code. A preferred embodiment is a system for routing a telephone call from a caller to a specific communications device situated in an area identified by an area code, said system comprising: means for assigning a first telephone number to a particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber; wherein said area code is a two-character U.S. postal state abbreviation.

Claims

1. In a telecommunication system that is capable of routing telephone calls to a communications device of a particular subscriber within an area code, a system for routing a telephone call from a caller to said specific communications device, said system comprising:

means for assigning a first telephone number to the particular subscriber; and

means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing the area code;

wherein said area code is a two-character postal state abbreviation for the desired state, possession or military state.

2. The system of claim a 1 wherein the two-character postal state abbreviation for the desired state, possession or military state is selected from the following list:

3. A telecommunication system comprising:

a call routing system and a plurality of telephones that are connected to said call routing system;

wherein each of said telephones is situated within an area having an area code;

wherein each of said telephones comprises a keypad; and

wherein said call routing system is operated by a software program that accepts a subscriber area code that is a two-character postal state abbreviation.

4. A telecommunication system comprising:

a call routing system; and

a plurality of telephones that are connected to said call routing system;

wherein each of said telephones comprises a keypad having a dedicated key that when pressed or dialed causes said telephone to send a signal to said call routing system indicating that said call is a long distance call; and

wherein said call routing system is operated by a software program that accepts an area code that is a two-character postal state abbreviation.

5. The telecommunication system of claim 4 wherein, said dedicated key is labeled “

L-D.”

6. A method of processing a call, the method comprising:

informing a customer of a telecommunication system that is capable of routing calls to a plurality of communications devices of said customer that one of a plurality of unique sets of symbol headings is associated with one type of communications device that is connectable to said telecommunication system;

assigning one of a plurality of seven-digit telephone numbers available within an area code of a local area to said customer of said telecommunication system and granting said customer having a specific communications device that is connected to said telecommunication system the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said unique sets of symbol headings plus said seven-digit telephone number to identify said specific communications device other than a voice landline device to the other customers of said telecommunication system, said specific communications device being identified as one of said plurality of communications devices of said customer;

receiving a sequence of signals representing said area code plus a specific set of symbol headings plus a specific seven-digit telephone number that has been dialed by a caller, the combination of the specific set of symbol headings plus said specific seven-digit telephone number and no other seven-digit telephone number alone identifying said specific communications device that is the destination for said call; and

connecting said call to said specific communications device that is the destination for said call without the need for said telecommunication system to determine the type of communications device to which said call is directed;

wherein only one specific communications device of said customer has its own seven-digit telephone number;

wherein no other communications device shares a line with said voice landline device; and

wherein said area code is a two-character postal state abbreviation.

7. A system for processing a call made to a telephone number and directed to a specific communications device to which that telephone number is assigned, the system comprising:

means for announcing to a customer of a telecommunication system that is capable of routing calls to a plurality of communications devices of the customer that one of a plurality of suggested sets of symbol headings is associated with a single type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunication system;

means for assigning one of a plurality of telephone numbers to the customer of the telecommunication system and granting the customer having a specific communications device the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said suggested sets of symbol headings plus said telephone number to identify the specific communications device to other customers of the telecommunication system, the specific communications device being identified as one of the plurality of communications devices of the customer;

a sequence of signals representing a specific set of symbol headings and a specific telephone number that have been dialed by a caller, the sequence of signals being the sole directory number for the specific communications device, the set of symbol headings immediately preceding the telephone number, being distinguishable from said telephone number and together with said telephone number defining a destination for said call; and

a routing apparatus having a switching component and an identification component for determining the intended destination of the call and connecting the call to that destination without the need for the telecommunication system to determine the type of communications device to which the call is directed;

wherein only one specific communications device of each selected customer has its own seven-digit telephone number; and

wherein no other communications device shares a line with said specific communications device; and

wherein said area code is a two-character postal state abbreviation.

8. A routing system for directing calls to different communications devices having identical seven-digit voice landline telephone numbers, said system comprising:

an administrative subsystem comprising means for informing a customer of a telecommunication system that is capable of routing calls to a plurality of communications devices of the customer that one of a plurality of symbol headings is associated with each type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunication system and means for assigning one of a plurality of telephone numbers to the customer of the telecommunication system and granting said customer having a specific communications device the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said plurality of symbol headings plus said telephone number to identify the specific communications device to other customers of the telecommunication system, the specific communications device being identified as one of the plurality of communications devices of the customer;

a network subsystem having a routing apparatus including a switching component and an identification component for processing a call to a destination, the call including a sequence of signals indicating a particular one of said plurality of symbol headings and a particular telephone number that have been dialed by a caller, the sequence of signals being the sole directory number for the specific communications device; and

at least one communications device assigned to a telephone number;

wherein said particular one of said plurality of symbol headings does not indicate to said routing apparatus that the specific communications device is a particular type of communications device;

wherein only one specific communications device of each selected customer has its own seven-digit telephone number;

wherein no other communications device shares a line with said specific communications device; and

wherein said area code is a two-character postal state abbreviation.