System with call forward profile

• US 9,300,699 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Kung, Fen-Chung, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Sankalia, Anish, Walker, Hopeton S., Wang, Spencer C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US14/155,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/220.01, 379/142.07, 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding at least voice over Internet Protocol (IP) calls, the method comprising:

receiving via an IP network, dialed digits of a telephone number dialed from a second telephone to a first telephone;

checking a plurality of stored call forwarding profiles, to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone;

if an active call forwarding profile is not found by said checking;

ensuring that adequate network resources are available to accommodate a voice over IP call, at least by sending a request via the IP network;

after allocation of the network resources is indicated at least by receipt of an acknowledgment via the IP network, connecting the voice over IP call to the first telephone; and

releasing the network resources when the voice over IP call is terminated; and

if the active call forwarding profile is found by said checking;

ensuring that adequate network resources are available to accommodate a voice over IP call, at least by sending a request via the IP network;

after allocation of the network resources is indicated at least by receipt of an acknowledgment via the IP network, connecting the voice over IP call to a third telephone based on a call forwarding information comprised in the active call forwarding profile, wherein a new call destination number in the call forwarding information is used to automatically connect the voice over IP call to the third telephone; and

releasing the network resources when the voice over IP call is terminated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the active call forwarding profile is created based on a subscriber'"'"'s entry on or selection of information displayed on a touch-sensitive screen.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recognizing a subscriber'"'"'s words, spoken into a microphone to create or modify at least a portion of the active call forwarding profile.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing prompts on a display, to receive the call forwarding information to be stored in the active call forwarding profile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the new call destination number is transmitted through the IP network to a customer premises equipment associated with the second telephone.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

interconnecting the customer premises equipment wirelessly with at least one device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using an alerting parameter in a call delivery message to instruct a customer premises equipment associated with the third telephone to generate a distinctive ringing tone on the third telephone to notify a subscriber that the voice over IP call is a forwarded call and not a call originally directed to the third telephone.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the active call forwarding profile specifies that calls are only to be forwarded during predetermined periods of time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

multiple destination numbers including said new call destination number are transmitted via the IP network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the multiple destination numbers are transmitted simultaneously in another data packet.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein:

connection of the voice over IP call is performed by a call manager.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a customer premises equipment receives the new call destination number from a call manager; and

connection of the voice over IP call is performed by the customer premises equipment.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the dialed digits form a valid sequence, prior to connection of the voice over IP call.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the telephone number is on or off the IP network, prior to connection of the voice over IP call.

11. A system for forwarding voice over Internet Protocol (IP) calls, the system comprising:

one or more processors coupled to a memory, the one or more processors being configured to;

receive via an IP network, dialed digits of a telephone number dialed from a second telephone to a first telephone;

check stored call forwarding profiles in the memory, to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for a first telephone, when the first telephone is dialed from a second telephone to initiate the voice over IP call;

responsive to the active call forwarding profile being not found by checking stored call forwarding profiles;

ensure that adequate network resources are available to accommodate a voice over IP call, at least by sending a request via the IP network;

after allocation of the network resources is indicated at least by receipt of an acknowledgment via the IP network, connect the voice over IP call to the first telephone; and

release the network resources when the voice over IP call is terminated; and

responsive to the active call forwarding profile being found by checking stored call forwarding profiles;

ensure that adequate network resources are available to accommodate a voice over IP call, at least by sending a request via the IP network;

after allocation of the network resources is indicated at least by receipt of an acknowledgment via the IP network, connect the voice over IP call to a third telephone based on a call forwarding information comprised in the active call forwarding profile, wherein a new call destination number in the call forwarding information is used to automatically connect the voice over IP call to the third telephone; and

release the network resources when the voice over IP call is terminated.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

create the call forwarding profile based on a subscriber'"'"'s entry on or selection of information displayed on a touch-sensitive screen.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

recognize a subscriber'"'"'s words, spoken into a microphone to create or modify at least a portion of the active call forwarding profile.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

provide prompts on a display, to receive the call forwarding information to be stored in the active call forwarding profile.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

transmit the new call destination number through the IP network to a customer premises equipment associated with the second telephone.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

wirelessly interconnect the customer premises equipment with at least one device.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

use an alerting parameter in a call delivery message to instruct a customer premises equipment associated with the third telephone to generate a distinctive ringing tone on the third telephone to notify a subscriber that the voice over IP call is a forwarded call and not a call originally directed to the third telephone.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the active call forwarding profile specifies that calls are only to be forwarded during predetermined periods of time.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

transmit via the IP network, multiple destination numbers including said new call destination number.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the multiple destination numbers are transmitted simultaneously in another data packet.

25. The system of claim 11 wherein:

connection of the voice over IP call is performed by a call manager.

26. The system of claim 11 wherein:

a customer premises equipment receives the new call destination number from a call manager; and

connection of the voice over IP call is performed by the customer premises equipment.

27. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine whether the dialed digits form a valid sequence, prior to connection of the voice over IP call.

28. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine whether the telephone number is on or off the IP network, prior to connection of the voice over IP call.