Global directory registering telephony dialing information

• US 20070127661A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Didcock, Clifford
• Application Number:
  US11/294,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127661A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/198
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

An enterprise-wide directory publishes a set of globally available and globally meaningful dialing information according to preset rules.

Claims

1. In an enterprise system comprising:

One or more private branch exchanges connected to a public switched telephone network;

One or more servers interconnected by a wide area network; and

One or more networks interconnecting the exchanges and the servers;

the improvement comprising;

A directory presented via the wide area network and accessible via the servers, said directory providing a common view of directory information of locations of the system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the directory comprises resource information of dial plans of locations accessible via the private branch exchanges and via the servers.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the servers includes a processor executing instructions comprising:

Accessing the dial plan of a destination to be contacted;

Deducing from the accessed dial plan a dial-able phone number for dialing the destination users, wherein the dial-able phone number is based on a location accessing the dial plan and the location of the destination; and

Initiating a connection to the destination using the deduced dial-able phone number.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the dial plan is a data structure comprising:

A first field defining a country code of the location;

A second field defining an in-country prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is the same as the country code of the location specified in the first field;

A third field defining an international prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is different than the country code of the location specified in the first field; and

A fourth field defining an extension length for the location.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the data structure further comprises:

A fifth field defining a trunk access code of the location;

A sixth field defining an international access code of the location; and

A seventh field defining a national number prefix of the location.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the servers includes a processor executing instructions comprising:

Accessing the dial plan of a destination user to be contacted;

Deducing a dial-able phone number for dialing from the accessed dial plan, wherein the dial-able phone number is based on a location accessing the dial plan and the location of the destination; and

Initiating a connection to the destination using the deduced dial-able phone number.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the directory of a location includes number classes used to determine whether a caller is permitted to place calls to the location of the directory.

8. A method of telephonically communicating between a plurality of systems, each having a different access code, said method comprising:

Accessing by an originating system a directory specifying a dial plan for a destination user;

Deducing a dial-able phone number for dialing from the originating system to the destination system wherein the dial-able phone number is based on the location of the originating system and the location of the destination system;

Initiating by the originating system a connection to the destination system using the deduced dial-able phone number.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the directory comprises resource information of dial plans of locations accessible via the servers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the directory of a location includes number classes, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether a caller is permitted to place calls to the location of the directory as a function of the number classes.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the servers includes a processor executing instructions comprising:

Accessing the dial plan of a destination to be contacted;

Deducing a dial-able phone number for dialing from the accessed dial plan, wherein the dial-able phone number is based on a location accessing the dial plan and the location of the destination; and

Initiating a connection to the destination using the deduced dial-able phone number.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the dial plan is a data structure comprising:

A first field defining a country code of the location;

A second field defining an in-country prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is the same as the country code of the location specified in the first field;

A third field defining an international prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is different than the country code of the location specified in the first field; and

A fourth field defining an extension length for the location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the data structure further comprises:

A fifth field defining a trunk access code of the location;

A sixth field defining an international access code of the location; and

A seventh field defining a national number prefix of the location.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein each of the servers includes a processor executing instructions comprising:

Accessing the dial plan of a destination to be contacted;

Deducing a dial-able phone number for dialing from the accessed dial plan, wherein the dial-able phone number is based on a location accessing the dial plan and the location of the destination; and

Initiating a connection to the destination using the deduced dial-able phone number.

15. A data structure for a dial plan of a location, said dial plan being part of a directory, said data structure comprising:

A first field defining a country code of the location;

A second field defining an in-country prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is the same as the country code of the location specified in the first field;

A third field defining an international prefix for use by a calling location having a country code which is different than the country code of the location specified in the first field; and

A fourth field defining an extension length for the location.

16. The data structure of claim 15 further comprising:

A fifth field defining a trunk access code of the location;

A sixth field defining an international access code of the location; and

A seventh field defining a national number prefix of the location.

18. The data structure of claim 15 wherein the directory includes number classes which are applied to users and unauthenticated callers to control outbound calling.

17. The data structure of claim 17 wherein the dial plan includes number classes which are applied to users and unauthenticated callers to control outbound calling.