Patent EP0501903A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0501903A1
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Method and apparatus for flexible and optimal telephone call acceptance and routing
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-02-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A telephone call is made by a calling party (10, 18). The telephone call is routed through a telephone network (15) to a piece of terminal equipment (12, 20). The terminal equipment analyzes call information associated with the telephone call. The call information is divided into separate call attributes, such as calling telephone number and called telephone number. One or more number lists, stored in the terminal equipment, are then searched to see if they contain an entry that matches the call attributes. If a match is not found, the call is rejected. If one or more matches is found, the call is routed as specified by the number list entry having the most optimal match. The number lists can be easily user-modified.
Inventors
- 👤 David Gleen Carlson
- 👤 Thomas Edward Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/436; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for accepting a telephone call based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising the step of: dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; searching a number list for a number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; finding a matching number list entry; and accepting said telephone call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method for accepting a telephone call based on call information associated with said telephone call, according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: determining an environment attribute; searching a number list for a number list entry matching and said environment attribute; finding a matching number list entry; and accepting said telephone call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said finding step further comprises the step of: deciding that an exact matching number list entry exists in said number list.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said finding step further comprises the step of: deciding that a wildcard matching number list entry exists in said number list.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said finding step further comprises the step of: deciding that a generic matching number list entry exists in said number list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said finding step further comprises the step of: routing said telephone call to a telephone associated with said matching number list entry.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for rejecting a telephone call based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising the step of: dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; searching a number list for a number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; determining that a matching number list entry does not exist in said number list; rejecting said telephone call.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step further comprises the step of: deciding that an exact matching number list entry does not exist in said number list.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step further comprises the step of: deciding that a wildcard matching number list entry does not exist in said number list.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step further comprises the step of: deciding that a generic matching number list entry does not exist in said number list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of: deciding that an exact matching number list entry does not exist in said number list; deciding that a generic matching number list entry does not exist in said number list; and deciding that a wildcard matching number list entry does not exist in said number list.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for routing a telephone call based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising the step of: dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; searching a number list for a first number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; finding a first matching number list entry; assigning a first count to said first number list entry, said first count indicating how optimally said first number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes; searching said number list for a second number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; finding said second number list entry; assigning a second count to said second number list entry, said second count indicating how optimally said second number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes; determining that said second count indicates a more optimal match than said first count; and routing said telephone call to a telephone associated with said second number list entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said first assigning step further comprises the steps of: indicating in said first count that said first number list entry contains a valid match; determining a weighting factor for each of said plurality of call attributes; and incrementing said first count by said weighting factor associated with one of said plurality of call attributes each time data in said number list entry exactly matches said one of said plurality of call attributes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for routing a telephone call based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising the step of: dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; determining an environment attribute; searching a number list for a first number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute; finding a first matching number list entry; assigning a first count to said first number list entry, said first count indicating how optimally said first number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute; searching said number list for a second number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute; finding said second number list entry; assigning a second count to said second number list entry, said second count indicating how optimally said second number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute; determining that said second count indicates a more optimal match than said first count; routing said telephone call to a telephone associated with said second number list entry.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said first assigning step further comprises the steps of: indicating in said first count that said first number list entry contains a valid match; determining a weighting factor for each of said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute; incrementing said first count by said weighting factor associated with one of said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute each time data in said number list entry exactly matches said one of said plurality of call attributes and said environment attribute.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for accepting a telephone call from a telephone network based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising: terminal equipment connected to said telephone network, said terminal equipment having a processor and storage and further comprising: means for dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; means for searching a number list for a number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; means for finding a matching number list entry; and means for accepting said telephone call.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said telephone call is a data telephone call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said telephone call is a voice telephone call.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a first telephone connected to said terminal equipment and associated with said matching number list entry; and means for routing said telephone call to said first telephone.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for routing a telephone call from a telephone network based on call information associated with said telephone call, comprising: terminal equipment connected to said telephone network, said terminal equipment having a processor and storage and further comprising: means for dividing said call information into a plurality of call attributes; means for searching a number list for a first number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; means for finding a first matching number list entry; means for assigning a first count to said first number list entry, said first count indicating how optimally said first number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes; means for searching said number list for a second number list entry matching said plurality of call attributes; means for finding said second number list entry; means for assigning a second count to said second number list entry, said second count indicating how optimally said second number list entry matches said plurality of call attributes; means for determining that said second count indicates a more optimal match than said first count; and means for routing said telephone call to a telephone associated with said second number list entry.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first assigning means further comprises: means for indicating in said first count that said first number list entry contains a valid match; means for determining a weighting factor for each of said plurality of call attributes; and means for incrementing said first count by said weighting factor associated with one of said plurality of call attributes each time data in said number list entry exactly matches said one of said plurality of call attributes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said indicating means changes said first count from -1 to 0.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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