US5465295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Caller directed routing of a telephone call based on a dialed suffix
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-20
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Granted: 1995-11-07
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Expires: 2014-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The routing of telephone calls in a telecommunications network is enhanced by providing a method for associating a plurality of telephone numbers assigned to a particular subscriber with respective codes such that a caller may dial one of the subscriber's telephone numbers and a code associated with another one of the subscriber's telephone number in order to direct the routing of the call to the latter telephone number.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel S. Furman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/47; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/002; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of processing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system comprising a plurality of interconnected switches, said method comprising the steps of responsive to receipt of said telephone call at an originating one of said switches, receiving a sequence of telephone keypad digits associated with said telephone call, in which said sequence of telephone keypad digits represents a caller dialed telephone number and suffix code, said suffix code immediately following said telephone number and being distinguishable from said telephone number, translating said received dialed telephone number and said received suffix into another telephone number, and forwarding the telephone call to a destination identified by the other telephone number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of processing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system comprising a plurality of interconnected switches, said method comprising the steps of responsive to receipt of said telephone call at an originating one of said switches, receiving a sequence of telephone keypad digits associated with said telephone call, in which said sequence of telephone keypad digits represents a caller dialed telephone number and suffix code, said suffix code immediately following said telephone number and being distinguishable from said telephone number, translating said received dialed telephone number and said received suffix into another telephone number, and forwarding the telephone call to a destination identified by the other telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said code includes at least one dialed non-numeric character and at least one dialed digit, and wherein said method further comprises the step of using said at least one character to distinguish said code from said telephone number and using said at least one dialed digit to associate said other telephone number with said dialed number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein said non-numeric character is a star (*) sign or a pound (#) sign.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing said dialed telephone number as a root telephone number in a list of telephone numbers and associating other telephone numbers in said list with said root telephone number as a function of respective codes such that said other telephone number and said dialed code form one entry in said list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of arranging at least one other entry in said list so that said one other entry implements a call forwarding functionality.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 5 further comprising the step of partitioning said one other entry into first and second fields, said first field containing a call forwarding telephone number and said second field containing a predetermined locator code operative for associating said received telephone number with said call forwarding number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said received code is a standardized code associating said other telephone number with said dialed telephone number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 6 wherein said other telephone number is a cellular telephone number.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said other telephone number is associated with a voice mail service and wherein said step of forwarding includes the step of forwarding the telephone call to the voice mail service identified by the other telephone number, rather than to the dialed telephone number.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of routing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of receiving from a caller a sequence of dialed digits representing a dialed telephone number and a suffix code distinguishable from said telephone number by a delimiter interposed between said telephone number and said suffix, identifying one of a plurality of stored lists of telephone numbers as a function of said received telephone number and selecting one of said telephone numbers from said one list as a function of said suffix code, and forwarding said telephone call to a destination identified by said one telephone number.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of routing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of receiving from a caller a sequence of dialed digits representing a dialed telephone number and a suffix code distinguishable from said telephone number by a delimiter interposed between said telephone number and said suffix, identifying one of a plurality of stored lists of telephone numbers as a function of said received telephone number and selecting one of said telephone numbers from said one list as a function of said suffix code, and forwarding said telephone call to a destination identified by said one telephone number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising the steps of storing said received telephone number in said list as a root telephone number, and associating other telephone numbers in said list with said root telephone number as functions of respective codes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising the step of arranging at least one entry in said list so that said at least one entry implements a call forwarding functionality.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method set forth in claim 12 further comprising the step of partitioning said at least one entry into at least first and second fields, said first field containing a call forwarding number and said second field containing a predetermined locator code operative for associating said received telephone number with said call forwarding number.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of routing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system formed from a plurality of switching equipments, said method comprising the steps of creating at least one database common to said switching equipments and storing a plurality of lists of telephone numbers in said one database, said lists being associated with respective telephone numbers, associating each of the telephone numbers in a list with a respective code, responding, at one of said switching equipments, to receipt of a telephone call associated with a called telephone number and a respective code entered by a caller by sending said called telephone number and said code to said one database, said entered telephone number and said respective code being separated from one another by a predetermined delimiter, and arranging said one database so that it (a) identifies the associated one of said lists as a function of the called telephone number, (b) reads from the associated one of said lists a telephone number associated with the received code and (c) sends the read telephone number to said one switching equipments so that said one switching equipment may forward said call to a destination identified by said read telephone number.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of routing a telephone call in a public telecommunications system formed from a plurality of switching equipments, said method comprising the steps of creating at least one database common to said switching equipments and storing a plurality of lists of telephone numbers in said one database, said lists being associated with respective telephone numbers, associating each of the telephone numbers in a list with a respective code, responding, at one of said switching equipments, to receipt of a telephone call associated with a called telephone number and a respective code entered by a caller by sending said called telephone number and said code to said one database, said entered telephone number and said respective code being separated from one another by a predetermined delimiter, and arranging said one database so that it (a) identifies the associated one of said lists as a function of the called telephone number, (b) reads from the associated one of said lists a telephone number associated with the received code and (c) sends the read telephone number to said one switching equipments so that said one switching equipment may forward said call to a destination identified by said read telephone number.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-06 | 1999-05-08 | 1999-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-06 | 2003-05-08 | 2003-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-06 | 2007-05-08 | 2007-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |