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Media terminal adapter (MTA) routing of telephone calls based on caller identification information

  • US 8,675,856 B2
  • Filed: 08/01/2006
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for routing incoming telephone calls within a residence having a local area network, each incoming telephone call having caller identification information, the method comprising the steps of:

  • receiving an incoming telephone call;

    retrieving, from a media terminal adapter (MTA) located inside the residence and connected to a router, a routing table, wherein the routing table comprises a first column having incoming caller information, a second column having destination address information, and a third column identifying a location of at least one telephone inside the residence associated with the destination address information, wherein the location of the at least one telephone comprises a specific identification of a location of where inside the residence the at least one telephone is located, wherein the identification of the location further comprises identification of specific rooms and areas of the residence, wherein the destination address information comprises;

    a telephone number of the at least one telephone inside the residence and connected to the MTA, an internet protocol (IP) address of at least one IP phone connected to the router, and a type of connection interface between the MTA and the at least one telephone, wherein the type of connection interface comprises a wireless interface and an analog interface, and wherein the incoming caller identification information includes an originating caller name and originating telephone number; and

    performing a lookup operation on the routing table for the incoming telephone call, wherein performing the lookup operation comprises;

    identifying the caller information for the incoming telephone call, andidentifying the destination address information corresponding to the identified caller information, androuting the incoming telephone call to a telephone corresponding to the identified destination address information, wherein routing comprises determining the type of connection interface between the MTA, wherein when the interface is the wireless interface wirelessly routing the incoming telephone call to the telephone, and wherein when the interface is analog interface routing the incoming telephone call to the telephone via the physical connection interface;

    wherein the routing table is accessible to a user accessing, by a user, the routing on a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI resides on the MTA and is accessible on a computer connected to the MTA and located inside the residence, and wherein the GUI is configured to periodically display a list of all stored unassigned incoming calls;

    wherein the routing table is configurable by the user, wherein configuring the routing table comprises;

    entering the incoming caller information in the first column, entering the destination address information of the at least one telephone in the second column, and entering an identification of the location of the at least one telephone inside the residence in the third column;

    wherein configuring the routing table further comprises assigning the unassigned incoming calls to the at least one telephone inside the residence, wherein assigning the unassigned incoming calls comprises assigning a specific destination address and a specific location inside the residence; and

    wherein when an unassigned incoming telephone call is received and the incoming caller information is not in the routing table, the MTA is configured to route the unassigned incoming telephone call to a specific telephone located on the local area network and designated by the user.

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