Method for public access to private phone numbers and other telephonic peripherals using a caller access code

• US 6,798,772 B2
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Hillenbrand, George, Kredo, Thomas J., Knight, Stephen D., Bergman, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): QURESHI, AFSAR M
• Application Number:
  US09/390,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/338, 370/356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/396, 370/395.21, 370/395.52, 709/220, 709/223, 709/227, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A caller places a telephone call and enters an access code when calling a subscriber. The caller'"'"'s access code signal is generated by the caller when the caller inputs his or her access code. The call is transmitted over the Public Switched Telephone Network to a subscriber'"'"'s telephone number. A Call Router Server capable of receiving the caller'"'"'s telephone call and the caller'"'"'s access code signal is provided. The Call Router Server detects the caller'"'"'s access code signal and then directing the caller'"'"'s telephone call to the subscriber to be completed in a particular manner based upon the caller'"'"'s access code. An Access Code Server which is Web server is provided that allows a subscriber to input the manner in which incoming telephone calls will be received and completed based upon the access code signal that is received by the Call Router Server. This information is stored on a Database Server, which instructs the Call Router Server on the proper routing pattern of the incoming telephone call.

Claims

1. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

a Call Router Server in communication with a Database Server and an Access Code Server in communication with the Database Server,

the Call Router Server for receiving an incoming PSTN telephone call from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and for routing the call in accordance with instructions received from the Database Server, said telephone call made by a caller over the PSTN to a subscriber, said Call Router Server having a Subscriber Rules Program containing instructions for routing incoming PSTN telephone calls to the subscriber, said Call Router Server receiving from the caller an incoming access code signal representing an access code generated by the caller and transmitted over the PSTN, the Call Router Server routing the incoming PSTN telephone call as an outgoing telephone call based in whole or in part on the access code,

the Database Server in communication with the Call Router Server and the Access Code Server for storing routing data received from the Access Code Server and for receiving an access code from the Call Router Server and generating data signals for routing the incoming PSTN telephone call in accordance with routing instructions corresponding to the access code, and

the Access Code Server in communication with the Database Server, coupled to a public packet-switching network such as the Internet and hosting a web page accessible by the subscriber, said Access Code Server receiving from the subscriber one or more access codes and one or more sets of routing data corresponding to each access code for directing the routing of a call and generating an Access Code Preference Signal comprising information for routing a call in accordance with a given access code.

2. The communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call of claim 1 further comprising:

the outgoing telephone call being an outgoing Internet phone call; and

the Call Router Server having a PSTN Phone to VoIP Phone Converting Mechanism.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to at least one PSTN telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of one-way pagers, two-way pagers, emergency operator fallback, wireless phones, call waiting, call query, voice mail boxes, personalized messages, and video conferencing.

4. The communications system of claim 3 where the Access Code Server is programmable to allow access to telephonic peripherals for predefined periods of time.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to at least one Internet telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of Internet one way pagers, Internet two way pagers, emergency operator fallback, e-mail with voice attachment, Internet call waiting, call query, personalized messages, Internet call limits and Internet video conferencing.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to one or more PSTN private lines.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to one or more VoIP private lines.

8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the access code is a DTMF signal.

9. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the access code is a verbal alphanumeric access code.

10. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the access code is the caller'"'"'s own voice.

11. The communications system of claim 1 further comprising:

the Call Router Server having a CLID Recognizing Subsystem to determine the CLID of an incoming telephone call and further comprising a Subscriber Rules Program containing instructions on how to route the telephone call based at least part upon the CLID of the telephone call;

the Access Code Server programmable to override access code programmed call routing in accordance with one or more selected CLIDS, the Access Code Server sending selected CLID call routing data to the Database Server;

the Database Server storing CLID call routing data, the Database Server sending call routing data to the Call Router Server based at least in part on the CLID of the incoming telephone call.

12. The communications system of claim 11 further comprising:

the Access Code Server programmable to override CLID call routing with access code call routing, the Access Code Server sending access code call routing data to the Database Server;

the Subscriber Rules Program of the Call Router Server programmed to determine if the access code sent by a caller is an access code programmed to override CLID call routing;

the Database Server sending call routing data to the Call Router server.

13. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Access Code Server is programmable by the subscriber to forward callers to an alternative permanent telephone number so as to create Virtual Number Portability.

14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the Access Code Server is further programmable by the subscriber to input the manner in which incoming telephone calls will be received by the alternative permanent telephone number.

15. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Access Code Server is programmable by the subscriber to have certain callers be queried based on their access codes and having the query forwarded to the subscriber who may then decide the manner in which the call will be routed.

16. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Access Code Server is programmable by the subscriber to have certain callers be queried based on their failure to provide access codes and having the query forwarded to the subscriber who may then decide the manner in which the call will be routed.

17. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the PSTN incoming phone call further comprises and transfers the call to a switch using one or more of local number portability, call forwarding, or an Advanced Intelligent Network.

18. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

an Access Code Server for receiving call routing data, said Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network such as the Internet;

a Database Server selectively coupled to the Access Code Server for receiving and for storing said call routing data; and

a Call Router Server for routing incoming telephone calls to telephonic peripherals in accordance with instructions received from said Database Server, wherein the Call Router Server comprises means for providing limited access to a private line using a public line.

19. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to a VoIP phone.

20. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to a PSTN phone.

21. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to a PSTN telephonic peripheral.

22. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming PSTN phone call to an Internet telephonic peripheral.

23. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to a PSTN telephonic peripheral.

24. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for routing an incoming VoIP phone call to an Internet telephonic peripheral.

25. The communications system of claim 18 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises:

means for selecting at least one telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of one-way pagers, two-way pagers, emergency operator fallback, wireless phones, private lines, call waiting, call query, voice mail boxes, personalized messages, and video conferencing.

26. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

an Access Code Server for receiving call routing data, said Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network such as the Internet;

a Database Server selectively coupled to the Access Code Server for receiving and for storing said call routing data; and

a Call Router Server for routing incoming telephone calls to telephonic peripherals in accordance with instructions received from said Database Server, wherein the Call Router Server comprises means for providing Virtual Number Portability.

27. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

an Access Code Server for receiving call routing data, said Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network such as the Internet;

a Database Server selectively coupled to the Access Code Server for receiving and for storing said call routing data, wherein the Database Server comprises means for providing Individual Virtual Number Portability; and

a Call Router Server for routing incoming telephone calls to telephonic peripherals in accordance with instructions received from said Database Server.

28. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

an Access Code Server for receiving call routing data, said Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network such as the Internet;

a Database Server selectively coupled to the Access Code Server for receiving and for storing said call routing data; and

a Call Router Server for routing incoming telephone calls to telephonic peripherals in accordance with instructions received from said Database Server, wherein the Call Router Server comprises means for providing CLID Routing overriding Access Code Routing.

29. The communications system of claim 28 wherein the Call Router Server further comprises means for providing Access Code Routing overriding CLID routing.

30. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

a Call Router Server for receiving and controlling an incoming VoIP telephone call made by a caller to a subscriber over a public packet-switching network, said Call Router Server also for receiving an incoming access code signal representing an access code, where the access code signal is generated by the caller and transmitted over an Internet, the Call Router Server routing the incoming VoIP telephone call as an outgoing telephone call based in whole or in part on the access code, the Call Router Server having a Subscriber Rules Program containing instructions for routing the incoming VoIP telephone call, the Subscriber Rules Program generating a Call Routing and Control Information Signal which instructs the Call Router Server how to route the incoming VoIP telephone call;

a Database Server in communication with the Call Router Server for supplying call routing data of the subscriber to the Call Router Server; and

an Access Code Server in communication with the Database Server for receiving access codes and information regarding call treatment based in whole or in part on the access code, the Access Code Server located on a public packet-switching network and hosting a web page for access by the subscriber and generating an Access Code Preference Signal containing information as to the desired call routing for a given access code.

31. The communications system of claim 30 further comprising:

the outgoing telephone call is an outgoing PSTN phone call; and

the Call Router Server having a VoIP Phone to PSTN Phone Converting Mechanism.

32. The communications system of claim 30 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to at least one PSTN telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of one-way pagers, two-way pagers, emergency operator fallback, wireless phones, private lines, call waiting, call query, voice mail boxes, personalized messages, and video conferencing.

33. The communications system of claim 30 wherein one subscriber selected access code provides a caller with restricted access to at least one Internet telephonic peripheral from the group consisting essentially of Internet one way pagers, Internet two way pagers, emergency operator fallback, e-mail with voice attachment, Internet call waiting, VoIP private lines, call query, personalized messages, Internet call limits, and Internet video conferencing.

34. A communications system for controlling the flow of a telephone call comprising:

a Call Router Server in communication with a Database Server and an Access Code Server in communication with the Database Server,

the Call Router Server for receiving an incoming PSTN and VoIP telephone call and an access code generated by a caller and for routing the incoming call in accordance with data received from the Database Server, the Call Router Server routing the incoming telephone call as an outgoing PSTN or VoIP telephone call based in whole or in part on the access code, the Call Router Server having a Subscriber Rules Program containing instructions for routing incoming PSTN and VoIP telephone calls to the subscriber;

the Database Server in communication with the Call Router Server and the Access Code Server, the Database Server receiving an access code from the Call Router Server and generating data for the Call Router Server Subscriber Rules Program to route the incoming telephone call in accordance with routing instruction corresponding to the access code; and

the Access Code Server in communication with the Database Server, coupled to a public packet-switching network such as the Internet and hosting a web page accessible by the subscriber, said Access Code Server receiving from the subscriber one or more access codes and one or more sets of routing information corresponding to each access code for directing the routing of a call and generating an Access Code Preference Signal comprising information for routing a call in accordance with a given access code.

35. The communication system of claim 34 where the PSTN incoming phone call further comprises and transfers the call to a switch using one or more of local number portability, call forwarding, or an Advanced Intelligent Network.