Auto-matching of a phone extension to a tracked individual within a domain

• US 8,265,254 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Crucs, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US12/752,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20110243316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 37920712-20714, 379/142.1, 379/201.06, 379/211.02, 379/88.18, 379/88.2, 379/88.21
• US Class Current: 379/207.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target

Abstract

A system and methods for telephoning individuals associated with a domain. A current location of a given individual within a domain is automatically determined and the given individual is automatically associated with a telephone extension number based on the current location of the given individual. As the given individual moves around within the domain, the associated telephone extension number associated with the given individual is updated. A receptionist or other individual within the domain may select to telephone the given individual thereby automatically accessing and dialing the telephone extension number currently associated with the given individual in response to selecting to telephone the given individual. If the given individual is not currently located within the domain, an external telephone number associated with the given individual may be automatically accessed and dialed in response to selecting to telephone the given individual.

Claims

1. A system for telephoning individuals associated with a domain, said system comprising:

means for automatically determining a current location of a first individual within a domain;

means for automatically associating said first individual with a telephone extension number based on determining said current location of said first individual;

means for selecting to telephone said first individual;

means for automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said first individual in response to selecting to telephone said first individual;

means for automatically determining a second current location of a second individual within said domain;

means for automatically associating said second individual with a second telephone extension number based on determining said second current location of said second individual;

means for selecting to telephone said second individual;

means for automatically accessing said second telephone extension number associated with said second individual in response to selecting to telephone said second individual;

means for automatically determining that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain;

means for automatically associating said third individual with an out-of-domain flag based on determining that said third individual is not currently being tracked;

means for selecting to telephone said third individual; and

means for automatically accessing a first external telephone number associated with said third individual in response to selecting to telephone said third individual.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for automatically dialing said telephone extension number associated with said first individual in response to automatically accessing said telephone extension number.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for determining that a current location of said second individual is an external location being external to said domain;

means for automatically associating said second individual with a second external telephone number based on determining that a current location of said second individual is an external location;

means for selecting to telephone said second individual; and

means for automatically accessing said second external telephone number associated with said second individual in response to selecting to telephone said second individual.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising means for automatically dialing said second external telephone number associated with said second individual in response to accessing said second external telephone number.

5. A method for telephoning individuals associated with a domain, said method comprising:

automatically determining a current location of a first individual within a domain using a spatial tracking system;

automatically associating said first individual with a telephone extension number using a domain controller based on determining said current location of said first individual;

selecting to telephone said first individual using a domain telephone system;

automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said first individual using said domain controller in response to selecting to telephone said first individual;

automatically determining a second current location of a second individual within said domain using said spatial tracking system;

automatically associating said second individual with a second telephone extension number using said domain controller based on determining said second current location of said second individual;

selecting to telephone said second individual using said domain telephone system;

automatically accessing said second telephone extension number associated with said second individual using said domain controller in response to selecting to telephone said second individual;

automatically determining that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain;

automatically associating said third individual with an out-of-domain flag based on determining that said third individual is not currently being tracked;

selecting to telephone said third individual using said domain telephone system; and

automatically accessing a first external telephone number associated with said third individual using said domain controller in response to selecting to telephone said third individual and based on said out-of-domain flag.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising automatically dialing said telephone extension number associated with said first individual using said domain telephone system in response to automatically accessing said telephone extension number.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining that a current location of said second individual is an external location being external to said domain using said spatial tracking system;

automatically associating said second individual with a second external phone number using said domain controller based on determining that a current location of said second individual is an external location;

selecting to telephone said second individual using said domain telephone system; and

automatically accessing said second external phone number associated with said second individual using at least one of said domain controller and said domain telephone system in response to selecting to telephone said second individual.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising automatically dialing said second external phone number associated with said second individual using said domain telephone system in response to accessing said second external phone number.

9. A domain controller for enhancing a telephone system within a domain, said domain controller comprising:

means for receiving a first current location of a first tracked individual within a domain and a first individual identifier of said first tracked individual from a spatial tracking system of said domain;

means for associating said first individual identifier with a first telephone extension number based on said first current location;

means for receiving a request to telephone said first tracked individual from a telephone system of said domain;

means for accessing said first telephone extension number associated with said first tracked individual in response to receiving a request to telephone said first tracked individual;

means for sending said first telephone extension number to said telephone system;

means for receiving a second current location of a second tracked individual within said domain and a second individual identifier of said second tracked individual from said spatial tracking system of said domain;

means for associating said second individual identifier with a second telephone extension number based on said second current location;

means for receiving a request to telephone said second tracked individual from a telephone system of said domain;

means for accessing said second telephone extension number associated with said second tracked individual in response to receiving a request to telephone said second tracked individual;

means for sending said second telephone extension number to said telephone system;

means for receiving a no-track data indicator, indicating that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain, and a third individual identifier of said untracked third individual from said spatial tracking system of said domain;

means for associating said third individual identifier with an out-of-domain flag based on said no-track data indicator;

means for receiving a request to telephone said third individual from said telephone system of said domain; and

means for accessing said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual in response to receiving a request to telephone said untracked third individual.

10. The domain controller of claim 9 further comprising means for sending said out-of-domain flag to said telephone system in response to accessing said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual.

11. The domain controller of claim 9 further comprising:

means for accessing an external phone number associated with said third individual in response to accessing said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual; and

means for sending said external phone number to said telephone system.

12. A system for telephoning individuals associated with a domain, said system comprising:

means for automatically determining a current location of each of a plurality of individuals within a domain;

means for automatically associating each of said plurality of individuals with a telephone extension number based on determining said current location of each of said plurality of individuals;

means for selecting to telephone a first one of said plurality of individuals;

means for automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said first one of said plurality of individuals in response to selecting to telephone said first one of said plurality of individuals;

means for selecting to telephone a second one of said plurality of individuals;

means for automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said second one of said plurality of individuals in response to selecting to telephone said second one of said plurality of individuals;

means for automatically determining that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain;

means for associating said third individual with an out-of-domain flag based on determining that said third individual is not currently being tracked;

means for selecting to telephone said untracked third individual; and

means for accessing said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual in response to selecting to telephone said untracked third individual.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for automatically dialing said telephone extension number associated with said first one of said plurality of individuals in response to automatically accessing said telephone extension number.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for determining that a current location of any of said plurality of individuals is an external location being external to said domain;

means for automatically associating said any of said plurality of individuals with an external phone number based on determining that a current location of said any of said plurality of individuals is an external location; and

means for automatically accessing said external phone number associated with one of said any of said plurality of individuals in response to selecting to telephone said one of said any of said plurality of individuals.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for automatically dialing said external phone number associated with said one of said any of said plurality of individuals in response to accessing said external phone number.

16. A method for telephoning individuals associated with a domain, said method comprising:

automatically determining a current location of each of a plurality of individuals within a domain using a spatial tracking system;

automatically associating each of said plurality of individuals with a telephone extension number using a domain controller based on determining said current location of each of said plurality of individuals;

selecting to telephone a first one of said plurality of individuals using a domain telephone system;

automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said first one of said plurality of individuals using said domain controller in response to selecting to telephone said first one of said plurality of individuals;

selecting to telephone a second one of said plurality of individuals;

automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with said second one of said plurality of individuals in response to selecting to telephone said second one of said plurality of individuals;

automatically determining that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain;

associating said third individual with an out-of-domain flag based on determining that said third individual is not currently being tracked;

selecting to telephone said untracked third individual; and

accessing said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual in response to selecting to telephone said untracked third individual.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising automatically dialing said telephone extension number associated with said first one of said plurality of individuals using said domain telephone system in response to automatically accessing said telephone extension number.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining that a current location of any of said plurality of individuals is an external location being external to said domain using said spatial tracking system;

automatically associating said any of said plurality of individuals with an external phone number using said domain controller based on determining that a current location of any of said plurality of individuals is an external location;

selecting to telephone one of said any of said plurality of individuals using said domain telephone system; and

automatically accessing said external phone number associated with said one of said any of said plurality of individuals using at least one of said domain controller and said domain telephone system in response to selecting to telephone said one of said any of said plurality of individuals.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising automatically dialing said external phone number associated with said one of said any of said plurality of individuals using said domain telephone system in response to accessing said external phone number.

20. A system for enhancing the ability to telephone individuals associated with a domain, said system comprising:

a spatial tracking system configured for automatically determining a current location of each of a plurality of individuals within a domain;

a domain controller operatively interfacing to said spatial tracking system and configured for automatically associating each of said plurality of individuals with a telephone extension number as said current location of each of said plurality of individuals is determined, and further configured for automatically accessing said telephone extension number associated with one of said plurality of individuals after a user selects to telephone said one of said plurality of individuals,

wherein said domain controller is further configured to;

receive a second current location of a second tracked individual within said domain and a second individual identifier of said second tracked individual from said spatial tracking system,

associate said second individual identifier with a second telephone extension number based on said second current location,

receive a request to telephone said second tracked individual from a telephone system of said domain,

access said second telephone extension number associated with said second tracked individual in response to receiving a request to telephone said second tracked individual,

send said second telephone extension number to said telephone system,

receive a no-track data indicator, indicating that a third individual is not currently being tracked within said domain, and a third individual identifier of said untracked third individual from said spatial tracking system,

associate said third individual identifier with an out-of-domain flag based on said no-track data indicator,

receive a request to telephone said third individual from said telephone system of said domain, and

access said out-of-domain flag associated with said untracked third individual in response to receiving a request to telephone said untracked third individual.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising a domain telephone system operatively interfacing to said domain controller and configured for allowing a user to select to telephone any of said plurality of individuals, and further configured for automatically dialing said telephone extension number associated with said one of said plurality of individuals after said telephone extension number is automatically accessed by said domain controller.