Multiple routing options in a telecommunications service platform

• US 7,894,586 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Galvin, Thomas Joseph, Chib, Rupika, Gross, Karen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US10/843,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,478 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.16, 379 8818- 8828, 37920101-20103, 37920106-20108, 37920111-20112, 37920701-20705, 379/207.8, 37920711-20713, 379/209.01, 379/210.01, 37921101-21104, 379/212.01, 379/214.01, 379196-198
• US Class Current: 379/207.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• 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

Abstract

A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include call routing options. In a first call routing option, calls are routed to each phone number in a sequence of phone numbers until a live answer of the call is realized. In a second routing option, the routing of the call is based upon a schedule. Thus, a current time, current day of the week or current date may determine what phone number is called when an incoming call is routed. Routing may also be associated with personal identification numbers (PINs). In such an instance, a caller enters a PIN to identify the caller and the PIN is used to determine what routing profile to apply.

Claims

1. A method for supporting telecommunication services, the method comprising:

designating a telephone number for a subscriber for placing calls to a platform, wherein the subscriber is a person;

assigning a plurality of passcodes to the subscriber; and

establishing a menu of service options for presentation to a caller upon receipt of a call to the platform using the designated telephone number, wherein the menu of service options is based on one of the passcodes supplied by the caller, and the caller is not the subscriber,

wherein different ones of the passcodes correspond to different ones of the service options.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the service options provides a sequence of telephone numbers specified by the subscriber for communicating with the subscriber.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein another one of the service options provides attempting the sequence of telephone numbers until live communication is established with the subscriber.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein one of the passcodes identifies the subscriber.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the subscriber configures one of the service options via a call to the platform using the designated telephone number.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the service options include a voicemail service and a facsimile service.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the passcodes are personal identification numbers (PINs).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the designated number is a toll free telephone number.

9. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for supporting telecommunication services, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

designating a telephone number for a subscriber for placing calls to a platform, wherein the subscriber is a person;

assigning a plurality of passcodes to the subscriber; and

establishing a menu of service options for presentation to a caller upon receipt of a call to the platform using the designated telephone number, wherein the menu of service options is based on one of the passcodes supplied by the caller, and the caller is not the subscriber,

wherein different ones of the passcodes correspond to different ones of the service options.

10. A computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein one of the service options provides a sequence of telephone numbers specified by the subscriber for communicating with the subscriber.

11. A computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein another one of the service options provides attempting the sequence of telephone numbers until live communication is established with the subscriber.

12. A computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein one of the passcodes identifies the subscriber.

13. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the subscriber configures one of the service options via a call to the platform using the designated telephone number.

14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the service options include a voicemail service and a facsimile service.

15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the passcodes are personal identification numbers (PINs).

16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the designated number is a toll free telephone number.

17. A system for supporting telecommunication services, the system comprising:

an automated call distributor (ACD) configured to receive a call placed by a caller using a telephone number associated with a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is a person and the caller is not the subscriber, and a plurality of passcodes are assigned to the subscriber and correspond to a plurality of service options; and

a response unit communicating with the ACD, the response unit being configured to present the caller with a menu of the service options based on a particular one of the passcodes provided by the caller, wherein different ones of the passcodes correspond to different ones of the service options.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein one of the service options provides a sequence of telephone numbers specified by the subscriber for communicating with the subscriber.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein another one of the service options provides attempting the sequence of telephone numbers until live communication is established with the subscriber.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein one of the passcodes identifies the subscriber.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the subscriber configures one of the service options via a call using the telephone number associated with the subscriber.

22. A system according to claim 17, wherein the service options include a voicemail service and a facsimile service.

23. A system according to claim 17, wherein the passcodes are personal identification numbers (PINs).

24. A system according to claim 17, wherein the designated number is a toll free telephone number.