Multimedia call routing in an IP network
First Claim
1. A feature server programmed for processing voice over Internet Protocol telephone calls to a subscriber'"'"'s directory number in a packet network, said programmed feature server performing the steps of:
- storing a subscriber administrable questionnaire for eliciting information from callers as to the disposition of calls made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number;
responding to a limited bandwidth call control message from a caller containing the caller'"'"'s IP address by forwarding to said caller a copy of said questionnaire;
inserting into said questionnaire an indication of the time at which said questionnaire was submitted to said caller;
receiving said questionnaire filled-in by said caller;
processing said call made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number in accordance with the information contained in said filled-in questionnaire; and
further communicating with said caller using a mixture of limited bandwidth and maximum bandwidth messages.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A feature server, e.g., a stored program controller, processes calls to a subscriber'"'"'s main directory number in a packet network by submitting a subscriber-administered questionnaire to callers. The information in the questionnaire, when completed by the calling party, can be used to automatically route the call or to reposition the call in the incoming call queue. Alternatively, the completed, or even partially completed questionnaire may be displayed in a “pop up” window to a subscriber'"'"'s operator who can then use the information to assist the caller or, without-need of answering the call, to reposition the call within the queue or to divert the call to another directory number. In addition, information previously provided in a questionnaire completed by a caller is stored so that when the caller calls again, the stored information may be employed to more efficiently process the call.
86 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A feature server programmed for processing voice over Internet Protocol telephone calls to a subscriber'"'"'s directory number in a packet network, said programmed feature server performing the steps of:
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storing a subscriber administrable questionnaire for eliciting information from callers as to the disposition of calls made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number;
responding to a limited bandwidth call control message from a caller containing the caller'"'"'s IP address by forwarding to said caller a copy of said questionnaire;
inserting into said questionnaire an indication of the time at which said questionnaire was submitted to said caller;
receiving said questionnaire filled-in by said caller;
processing said call made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number in accordance with the information contained in said filled-in questionnaire; and
further communicating with said caller using a mixture of limited bandwidth and maximum bandwidth messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A feature server programmed for processing voice over Internet Protocol telephone calls to a subscriber'"'"'s directory number in a packet network, said programmed feature server performing the steps of:
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storing a subscriber administrable questionnaire for eliciting information from callers as to the disposition of calls made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number;
responding to a limited bandwidth call control message from a caller containing the caller'"'"'s IP address by forwarding to said caller a copy of said questionnaire and inserting into said questionnaire an indication of the time at which said questionnaire was submitted to said caller, said call control message consisting of any of the following messages;
admission request, admissions confirm, call setup, call proceeding, call alerting and connect;
receiving said questionnaire filled-in by said caller;
processing said call made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number in accordance with the information contained in said filled-in questionnaire;
further communicating with said caller using a mixture of limited bandwidth and maximum bandwidth messages;
according a priority to an individual call within the call queue that is frozen such that no subsequent call may reduce said individual call'"'"'s position in the queue;
advancing said call in said queue when said time indication exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
altering the assigned priority in accordance with commands form an operator'"'"'s terminal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A feature server programmed for processing voice over Internet Protocol telephone calls to a subscriber'"'"'s directory number in a packet network, said programmed feature server performing the steps of:
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storing a subscriber administrable questionnaire for eliciting information from callers as to the disposition of calls made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number, wherein said questionnaire includes an option allowing the caller to request a call back at a later time;
responding to a limited bandwidth call control message from a caller containing the caller'"'"'s IP address by forwarding to said caller a copy of said questionnaire;
receiving said questionnaire filled-in by said caller, wherein information pertaining to said caller is stored until said call back;
processing said call made to said subscriber'"'"'s directory number in accordance with the information contained in said filled-in questionnaire; and
further communicating with said caller using a mixture of limited bandwidth and maximum bandwidth messages. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification