Methods, systems, and products for processing calls

• US 7,983,408 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Bedingfield, James C. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US12/238,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20090016519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/201.12, 379/216.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.04, 379/355.05, 379/357.03
• US Class Current: 379/216.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing calls. An alias is associated to a called party'"'"'s destination number. When the alias is then dialed for a call, the call is routed to the destination number. Exemplary embodiments thus enable a user to make calls without having to dial a long string of numbers. The user, instead, may simply select and dial an easy-to-remember alias associated with the called party.

Claims

1. A method for processing a call, comprising:

determining, by a server, whether a dialed digit string is a complete string;

if the dialed digit string is a complete string, then the server routes the call to the dialed digit string;

if the dialed digit string is not a complete string, then the server determines whether the dialed digit string is a valid string according to a calling party'"'"'s personal dialing plan;

if the dialed digit string is valid, then the server retrieves a destination number that corresponds to the dialed digit string; and

routing the call to the destination number.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating dialing strings of any length with user-selected aliases.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically adding digits to the dialed digit string.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the dialed digit string.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning an alias to the destination number.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the alias as the dialed digit string.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a special feature digit to indicate the dialed digit string is to be interpreted according to the calling party'"'"'s personal dialing plan.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a prefix that indicates the dialed digit string is to be interpreted according to the calling party'"'"'s personal dialing plan.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a special purpose key to indicate the dialed digit string is to be interpreted according to the calling party'"'"'s personal dialing plan.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a suffix that indicates the dialed digit string is to be interpreted according to the calling party'"'"'s personal dialing plan.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a string of alphanumeric characters that indicates the dialed digit string is to be interpreted as an alias.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically adding a “

1”

to the destination number.