Customer premises call handling
First Claim
1. A method for processing voice calls directed to a connection leading to a customer premises, the method comprising:
- a) receiving at the customer premises a signal over the connection carrying a call request indicative of an incoming voice call, wherein the call request includes call destination data conveying a call destination identifier;
b) distinguishing an intended recipient of the voice call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receive a voice call over the connection at least in part based on information contained in the call destination data;
c) causing the voice call to be forwarded to a single voice mail box that is common to the plurality of recipients, the single voice mail box having a plurality of voice prompts, each of the voice prompts being associated with a respective one of the plurality of recipients; and
d) playing one voice prompt of the plurality of voice prompts associated with the single voice mail box, wherein the one voice prompt that is played is determined based on the call destination data included in the call request.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer readable storage medium holding a program element for execution by a processor for processing voice calls. The program element comprises an input interface to receive at a customer premises a signal carrying a call request indicative of an incoming voice call, wherein the call request includes a call destination identifier. Also present, a processing element at a customer premises coupled to the input interface. The processing element processes the call destination data to distinguish the call destination identifier from other call destination identifiers that the signal can carry. The processing element also processes the call request to select a handset to which the incoming call is to be linked on the basis of the call destination identifier and links the voice call to the handset. Also provided are a telephone system and method and a telephone system and method involving forwarding calls to voice mail services.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for processing voice calls directed to a connection leading to a customer premises, the method comprising:
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a) receiving at the customer premises a signal over the connection carrying a call request indicative of an incoming voice call, wherein the call request includes call destination data conveying a call destination identifier; b) distinguishing an intended recipient of the voice call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receive a voice call over the connection at least in part based on information contained in the call destination data; c) causing the voice call to be forwarded to a single voice mail box that is common to the plurality of recipients, the single voice mail box having a plurality of voice prompts, each of the voice prompts being associated with a respective one of the plurality of recipients; and d) playing one voice prompt of the plurality of voice prompts associated with the single voice mail box, wherein the one voice prompt that is played is determined based on the call destination data included in the call request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A telephone system, comprising:
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a) a set of handsets at a customer premises; b) a base station at a customer premises having; i) an input for connection to a connection leading to a customer premises, wherein the connection is capable of carrying voice calls; and ii) an input interface to receive a signal over the connection carrying a call request indicative of an incoming voice call, wherein the call request includes call destination data conveying a call destination identifier; c) a voice mail box that is common to a plurality of recipients; and d) a processing element at a customer premises coupled to the input interface for; i) distinguishing an intended recipient of the voice call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receiving a voice call over the connection at least in part based on information contained in the call destination data; ii) forwarding the incoming voice call to a single voice mail box that is common to the plurality of recipients, the single voice mail box having a plurality of voice prompts, each of the voice prompts being associated with a respective one of the plurality of recipients; and iii) playing one voice prompt of the plurality of voice prompts associated with the single voice mail box, wherein the one voice prompt that is played is determined based on the call destination data included in the call request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification