EP0610625A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic network automatic call distribution
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-12-06
Abstract
Abstract When one switch (1) in an automatic call distribution (ACD) network has blocked services, calls are distributed to another switch (e.g. 2,3,4 or 5) with available services; such distribution is based on information stored in each switch (in 16). The stored information comprises a list of switches within the network wherein an availability status is associated with each service, and an availability status of a trunk connecting the initial switch and the other switches (2,3,4 or 5) in the network. Each switch sends an updated status to the other switches via a signaling network (107) whenever a service changes status.
Inventors
- 👤 Hsing-Tsuen Chen
- 👤 Donald Maltby Parrish, Jr.
- 👤 Paul Raymond Sand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/523; H04M3/5237; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/64; H04Q3/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for use in an automatic call distribution (ACD) system, said ACD system comprising a plurality of interconnected switching systems, each of said plurality of switching systems offering a plurality of services, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a call for one of said services at a first of said plurality of switching systems; in response to said first switching system determining that it cannot provide said service, said first switching system determining which of said plurality of switching systems is available to provide said service based on information stored in said first switching system; and distributing said call to said determined switching system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said switching systems are interconnected by trunks, and each of said plurality of switching systems maintains a table of trunk availability to the switches and a table of service availability, wherein said step of determining which of said plurality of switching systems is available to provide said service includes consulting said trunk availability table and said service availability table and determining which of said switching systems has both an available trunk and available services.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of switching systems informs the other switching systems about the availability of services for said each switching system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said switching systems are also interconnected by a signaling network, wherein said informing comprises sending a message on said signaling network to the other switching systems when a threshold of availability of said services is reached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said informing is controlled by comparing said message traffic to a threshold so that said signaling network is not flooded by messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said service availability table comprises a plurality of levels of availability, and wherein said step of determining which of said plurality of switching systems is available to provide said service includes determining which of said plurality of switching systems has the highest level of availability.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for use in a switching network, said network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, said method comprising the steps of: determining a destination at a first node; determining at said first node one or more of said plurality of nodes to route through based on information stored in said first node; and routing to said one or more nodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said nodes are interconnected by trunks, and each of said plurality of switching systems maintains a table of trunk availability to adjacent nodes and a table of trunk availability from adjacent nodes to nodes adjacent to said adjacent nodes, wherein said step of determining one or more of said plurality of nodes to route through includes consulting both of said tables and determining the best path through the nodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said nodes are also interconnected by a signaling network, wherein each of said nodes informs its adjacent nodes of its trunk status by sending messages on said signaling network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
An automatic call distribution (ACD) system, said ACD system comprising: a plurality of interconnected switching systems, each of said plurality of switching systems offering a plurality of services; distribution means responsive to receipt of a request for a service when said service is not available at said switching system for determining which of said plurality of switching systems is available to provide said service based on information stored in said first switching system, said information concerning availability of other switches; and distribution means for distributing said call to said determined switching system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said switching system are interconnected by trunks, and each of said plurality of switching systems includes trunk availability means and service availability means, wherein said determining means includes determining which of said plurality of switching systems is available to provide said service by consulting said trunk availability means and said service availability means to determine which of said switching systems has both an available trunk and said service available.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said switching systems are also interconnected by signaling means for delivering messages among said switching systems, wherein each of said switching systems further comprises: means for informing the other switching systems via said signaling means when a threshold of availability of said services is reached at said each of said switching systems.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
A telecommunication system for routing calls from a first switch to a destination point in the system comprising: interconnections between said first switch and one or more nodes; a plurality of paths between said one or more nodes and additional points; storage means in said first switch for storing an indication of the accessibility of said destination point via each of said plurality of paths; and routing means in said first switch for selecting one of the interconnections based on the stored indication; whereby the likelihood of a successful connection to the destination point is enhanced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A telecommunication system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the destination point is one of a plurality of operator stations in an ACD arrangement and the stored indication includes availability of such operator stations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A telecommunication system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the plurality of paths are trunks and the stored information is obtained via a signaling system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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