One number LAN based calendar

• US 7,974,401 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Intervoice Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Polcyn, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar; Ahmad F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Khai N
• Application Number:
  US09/574,317
• Time in Patent Office: 4,064 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.12, 379/100.11, 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/209, 379/201.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/218.01, 705/9
• US Class Current: 379/211.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• 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 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• 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 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 : for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 : Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A system and method for providing data communication between an information system, such as a LAN, and a communication system, such as a PBX operating under control of an automatic call routing system, is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, data as to a particular LAN user'"'"'s schedule, as reflected in an electronic calendar application, is used to properly route calls via the automatic call routing system. Alternative embodiments providing for the scheduling of events in the electronic calendar as well as the dissemination of information through the communication system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for completing calls from a calling party directed to a particular called party, said system comprising:

calendaring information with respect to said called party stored on a general purpose processor-based system;

means for providing select portions of said calendaring information to an automatic call routing system, wherein a call routing scheme of said call routing system is modified to route calls as a function of said select portions of said calendaring information;

means for gleaning said select portions of said calendaring information from a data file stored on said general purpose processor-based system; and

means for manipulating said gleaned information to provide said calendaring information in a format suitable for augmentation into call routing information of said call routing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said calendaring information comprises a data file associated with a electronic calendar program operable on a personal computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing means is operable automatically.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said automatic operation of said providing means is initiated upon modification of said calendaring information stored on said general purpose processor-based system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said automatic operation of said providing means is initiated at a preselected time interval.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing means further comprises:

means for selectively disseminating at least a portion of said calendaring information through said call routing system, wherein said disseminated calendaring information results in a humanly perceptible reproduction of said at least a portion of said calendaring information.

7. A method for completing calls from a calling party directed to a particular called party comprising:

storing calendaring information including specific events scheduled with respect to said called party on a general purpose processor-based system;

providing select portions of said calendaring information to an automatic call routing system, wherein a call routing scheme of said call routing system is modified to route calls as a function of said select portions of said calendaring information;

gleaning said select portions of said calendaring information from a data file stored on said general purpose processor-based system; and

manipulating said gleaned information to provide said calendaring information in a format suitable for augmentation into call routing information of said call routing system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said calendaring information comprises a data file associated with a electronic calendar program operable on a personal computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing step is operable automatically.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said automatic operation of said providing step is initiated upon modification of said calendaring information stored on said general purpose processor-based system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said automatic operation of said providing step is initiated at a preselected time interval.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing step further comprises:

disseminating at least a portion of said calendaring information through said call routing system, wherein said disseminated calendaring information results in a humanly perceptible reproduction of said at least a portion of said calendaring information.

13. A system for completing calls from a calling party to a called party, said system comprising:

calendaring information with respect to said called party stored in a data format operable with a processor-based system, wherein said calendaring information comprises a data file associated with a electronic calendar program operable on a personal computer;

a processor-based system in communication with said calendaring information and a call routing system, wherein said processor-based system operates under control of an algorithm to provide portions of said calendaring information to said call routing system and thereby modify operation of said call routing system to route calls as a function of said portions of said calendaring information; and

wherein said processor-based system operating under control of said algorithm gleans said select portions of said calendaring information from a data file, and manipulates said gleaned information to provide said calendaring information in a format suitable for augmentation into call routing information of said call routing system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said algorithm provides said portions of said calendaring information to said call routing system automatically.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said automatic operation provided by said algorithm is initiated upon modification of said calendaring information.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said automatic operation provided by said algorithm is initiated at a preselected time interval.