System and method for dynamically routing communications

• US 8,194,833 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carnazza, James M., Guha, Arun, Nortz, Douglas M., Sharples, Russell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US12/335,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.07, 379/211.02, 379/221.01, 379/265.01, 379/265.12, 379/220.01, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/142.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 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

Abstract

A system and method for routing an incoming call to a subscriber-selected destination number in accordance with dynamic data concerning the subscriber provided by an address book, a calendar and a presence server. A routing system routes the incoming call in accordance with a subscriber-defined routing rule associated with the originating number of the incoming call, as determined from the address book. The routing rule may specify that the incoming call be routed to a destination number associated with the current date and time, as indicated by the calendar. The routing rule may specify, alternatively or in addition thereto, that the incoming call be routed to a destination number associated with a presence-enabled service on which the subscriber is currently active. The subscriber or caller may also be alternatively notified of the routing of the incoming call.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding a call over a circuit switched telephone network, comprising:

receiving the call;

identifying the call by an originating number, wherein the identifying comprises determining whether the originating number is associated with a subscriber-defined group;

retrieving a subscriber-defined routing rule associated with the originating number of the call, wherein the subscriber-defined routing rule is based on the subscriber-defined group; and

routing the call over the circuit switched telephone network according to subscriber-defined information including the subscriber-defined routing rule, wherein the subscriber-defined information comprises a destination number associated with a presence of a subscriber on a client application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving comprises:

matching the originating number of the call with a contact number in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving comprises:

retrieving the subscriber-defined routing rule from a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined information further comprises:

a destination number associated with a time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the destination number associated with the time period comprises an office telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing comprises:

routing the call to the destination number associated with the presence of the subscriber on the client application.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

identifying the call as being directed to the subscriber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined information further comprises a subscriber entry including a plurality of records in a table, each record comprising:

a contact number; and

the subscriber-defined routing rule associated therewith.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined routing rule is a default routing rule.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber-defined routing rule comprises a plurality of routing instructions comprising an instruction to route the call according to subscriber calendar information and an instruction to route the call according to subscriber presence information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

executing the plurality of routing instructions until the call is forwarded to a destination according to the subscriber-defined information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber calendar information comprises:

a time slot; and

an associated destination number.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber presence information includes:

a client application identifier,

the destination number associated with the presence of the subscriber on the client application, and

an indicator of whether the subscriber is currently using the client application.

14. A system for selectively forwarding a call, comprising:

a receiver operative to receive the call;

a database comprising subscriber-defined information including a contact number and a routing rule associated with the contact number, wherein the subscriber-defined information comprises a destination number associated with a presence of a subscriber on a client application;

a search unit for determining from the database a first routing rule corresponding to an originating number of the call, wherein the first routing rule is based on a subscriber-defined group associated with the originating number of the call; and

a routing unit for routing the call via a circuit switched telephone network according to the first routing rule.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the subscriber-defined information further comprises:

a destination number associated with a time period.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is further operative to identify the call as being directed to the subscriber.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a calendar database of subscriber calendar information including

a time slot; and

an associated destination number.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a presence server providing subscriber presence information including;

a client application identifier,

the destination number associated with the presence of the subscriber on the client application, and

an indicator of whether the subscriber is currently using the client application.

19. A system for selectively forwarding a call, comprising:

a call identification unit operative to identify an originating number of the call, wherein the originating number is associated with a subscriber-defined group, and to determine a first routing rule corresponding to the originating number, wherein the first routing rule is based on the subscriber-defined group;

a presence server including an identifier of a client application and a destination number; and

a routing unit operative to route the call over a circuit switched telephone network to the destination number determined by the first routing rule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the call identification unit is further operative to identify the call as being directed to a subscriber.