Virtual telephone extension
First Claim
1. A communication routing system comprising:
- a computer server that includes a relational database storing association information between user identifiers and communication device identifiers and that is configured to modify, in the relational database, wherein each of the user identifiers serves as virtual extensions for indicating at least one different possible communication device identifier that identifies where telephone calls made to the user identifier should be routed, the association information to include an association between a particular user identifier and a particular communication device by;
receiving, over the Internet, user account login data from the particular communication device;
identifying, based upon the user account login data, the particular user identifier from the user identifiers stored in the relational database; and
creating or providing, in response to the identifying, the association between the particular user identifier and the particular communication device; and
a call router circuit configured to receive telephone calls that use a prefix portion which identifies a portal communication device coupled to the call router circuit, and that are made to the user identifier, and to route the telephone calls made to the user identifier to the particular communication device, in response to the association between the particular user identifier and the particular communication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for routing communications. A plurality of communication devices are coupled to a communications network. Each communication device has a device identifier. A user-programmable database associates each of a plurality of user identifiers with a device identifier. A call-routing switch arrangement is coupled to the communication network through a portal communication device having a portal identifier. A user designates a destination user identifier when making a communication. The call-routing switches the call, directing the call to a destination device identifier responsive to the user-programmable database association between the destination user identifier and a device identifier. According to certain aspects, communications are directed to users and are routed to associated equipment, a user identifier serving as a virtual extension number. Users remotely program the database to direct their calls to communication devices at various geographic, voice mail and e-mail destinations.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communication routing system comprising:
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a computer server that includes a relational database storing association information between user identifiers and communication device identifiers and that is configured to modify, in the relational database, wherein each of the user identifiers serves as virtual extensions for indicating at least one different possible communication device identifier that identifies where telephone calls made to the user identifier should be routed, the association information to include an association between a particular user identifier and a particular communication device by; receiving, over the Internet, user account login data from the particular communication device; identifying, based upon the user account login data, the particular user identifier from the user identifiers stored in the relational database; and creating or providing, in response to the identifying, the association between the particular user identifier and the particular communication device; and a call router circuit configured to receive telephone calls that use a prefix portion which identifies a portal communication device coupled to the call router circuit, and that are made to the user identifier, and to route the telephone calls made to the user identifier to the particular communication device, in response to the association between the particular user identifier and the particular communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for use with a communication routing system comprising:
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storing, in a relational database of a computer server, association information between user identifiers and communication device identifiers; at the computer server, modifying, in the relational database, association information to create an association between a particular user identifier and a particular communication device by; receiving, over the Internet, user account login data from the particular communication device; identifying, based upon the user account login data, the particular user identifier from the user identifiers stored in the relational database; and storing, in the relational database, the association between the particular user identifier and a particular communication device; receiving, at a call router circuit, telephone calls made to the user identifier; and routing, using the call router circuit, the telephone calls made to the user identifier to the particular communication device, in response to the association between the particular user identifier and the particular communication device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification