Geographical call routing for a non-emergency calling service

• US 7,853,003 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sabinson, Richard E., Thompson, Brenda S, Fosburgh, Gregory Steven, Tamasi, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US12/632,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.12, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/216.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/266.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.04
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/047 Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position H04N1/0402 and H04N1/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method for location-based communicating includes defining a first service area and a second service area for a service provider. The method also includes associating, at a memory apparatus accessible to a networked data processing apparatus, the first service area with multiple locations within the first service area and the second service area with multiple locations within the second service area.

Claims

1. A method for location-based communicating, comprising:

defining a first service area and a second service area for a service provider; and

associating, at a memory apparatus accessible to a networked data processing apparatus, the first service area with multiple locations within the first service area and the second service area with multiple locations within the second service area,

wherein which of the first service area and the second service area a communicating party is in is determined by the networked data processing apparatus when the communicating party is determined to be at one of the multiple locations in one of the first service area and the second service area, and information specified for a service location of the service provider for the determined first service area or second service area the communicating party is in is forwarded when the communicating party is in one of the first service area and the second service area.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the networked data processing apparatus, the service provider based on information received from the communicating party at a networked communications apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein the networked communications apparatus is used for location-based communicating for a plurality of service providers, and a different plurality of predefined service areas have been defined for each of the plurality of service providers.

4. The method according to claim 2,

wherein the service provider is identified using a first identifier, received from the communicating party, that identifies the service provider.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein whether the communicating party is in one of the first service area and the second service area is determined by determining geographic information used to define the first service area and the second service area, using a second identifier that identifies an address of the communicating party.

6. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the address of the communicating party is a communications address of the communicating party.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the information specified for a service location for the determined first service area or second service area the communicating party is in comprises an address of the service provider location.

8. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the address of the service provider location is a communications address of the service provider location.

9. A method for location-based communicating, comprising:

defining a first service area and a second service area for a service provider; and

associating, at a memory apparatus accessible to a networked data processing apparatus, the first service area with multiple locations within the first service area and the second service area with multiple locations within the second service area,

wherein the service provider is identified, by the networked data processing apparatus, based on information received from a communicating party at a networked communications apparatus,

wherein whether a plurality of service provider locations are provided for the identified service provider is determined, a location of the communicating party relative to a predefined service area for a service provider location is determined when the plurality of service provider locations are provided for the identified service provider, and one of the plurality of service provider locations is selected based on the determined location of the communicating party relative to the predefined service area, and

wherein information specific to the selected service provider location is forwarded.

10. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the information specific to the selected service provider location comprises an address of the selected service provider location.

11. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the information specific to the selected service provider location is used to route at least one communication from the communicating party to the selected service provider location.

12. The method according to claim 11,

wherein the location of the communicating party relative to the predefined service area is determined using information specific to an intermediate communications device from which the information is received at the networked communications apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the determining the location of the communicating party relative to the predefined service area comprises determining a closest service provider location to the communicating party.

14. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the information specific to the selected service provider location comprises an address of the service provider location.

15. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the address of the service provider location is a communications address of the service provider location.

16. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the networked communications apparatus is used for location-based communicating for a plurality of service providers, and a different plurality of predefined service areas have been defined for each of the plurality of service providers.

17. A method for location-based communicating, comprising:

defining a first service area and a second service area for a service provider; and

associating, at a memory apparatus accessible to a networked data processing apparatus, the first service area with multiple locations within the first service area and the second service area with multiple locations within the second service area,

wherein the service provider is identified, by the networked data processing apparatus, based on information received from a communicating party at a networked communications apparatus,

wherein whether a service provider location is provided for at least one service area for the identified service provider is determined, a location of the communicating party relative to the at least one service area is determined, and the service provider location is selected based on the determined location of the communicating party relative to the at least one service area, and

wherein information specific to the selected service provider location is forwarded.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the information specific to the selected service provider location comprises an address of the selected service provider location.

19. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the information specific to the selected service provider location is used to route at least one communication from the communicating party to the selected service provider location.

20. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the location of the communicating party relative to the at least one service area is determined by determining a closest service provider location to the communicating party.