Telephonic communications – Special services – Call diversion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2002-10-01
Hong, Harry S. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Special services
Call diversion
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06459784
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of European Patent Application No. 98460032.0, which was filed on Aug. 21, 1998.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to telecommunications systems, and, more particularly, to private automatic branch exchange (PABX) and/or public automatic exchanges in telecommunications systems and to a method for the definition of a call forward operation within a telecommunications system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, a private automatic branch exchange (PABX) manages a plurality of telephone sets distributed geographically within the premises of an undertaking, where each user makes use of one of these telephone sets. It is useful to be able to forward a call from one telephone set (known as the forwarded set) to another (known as the destination set) so that the calls intended for the forwarded set finally reach the destination set.
Conventionally, two types of call forward function are available to a telephone set user: a local call forward function and a remote call forward function.
In the first case (definition of a local forward function), the user, by means of his telephone keypad, keys in a code associated with the local call forward function, and then the number of the destination telephone set to which the call must be forwarded. Thus, the telephone set on which the local call forward operation has been programmed is the forwarded telephone set by default. Following the above two operations, a call reaching the forwarded telephone set is <<rerouted>> to the destination telephone set.
In the second case (definition of a remote call forward operation), the user, by means of his telephone keypad, keys in a code associated with the remote call forward function and then the number of the originator telephone set from which the call forward operation must take place (the forwarded telephone set). Consequently, following this programming operation, a call reaching the forwarded telephone set is rerouted to the telephone set on which the user has programmed the call forward operation. In other words, for a remote call forward operation, the destination telephone set is the telephone set on which the remote call forward programming has been done.
It appears that this solution presents several drawbacks.
First of all, each (local or remote) call forward function requires the user to have knowledge of a distinct code. Thus, to be able to perform both types of call forwarding operation, two different codes are necessary.
Then, it is not possible to program a call forward operation from a telephone set that is not involved in this forward operation (namely a set that is neither the forwarded telephone set nor the destination telephone set).
Furthermore, it is necessary to have preliminary knowledge of the number of the telephone set corresponding to the originator number and/or destination number.
Finally, the user may make a mistake when keying in the number of the telephone set (local forward) or that of the forwarded telephone set (remote forward). An error of this kind leads to a wrong rerouting.
The present invention is aimed especially at overcoming these different drawbacks of the prior art.
More specifically, one of the goals of the present invention is to provide a method for the definition of a call forward operation that requites only one code to generate a local call forward operation or a remote call forward operation.
An additional goal of the invention is to provide a method of this kind enabling the definition, furthermore, of a call forward operation from a telephone set that is not involved in the call forward operation defined (i.e. a method enabling the definition of a third-party call forward operation).
Another goal of the invention is to provide a method of this kind enabling a reduction of the risks of wrong rerouting due to a keying error on the number of the originator telephone set (or forwarded telephone set) or of the destination telephone set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These various goals as well as others that shall appear hereinafter are achieved according to the invention by means of a method for the definition of a call forward operation, within a telecommunications system, for forwarding calls from an originator identifier towards the destination identifier, wherein the method comprises the following successive steps:
a user, from a user terminal (sometimes called a “definition terminal”), activates a generic call forward function;
the system proposes a first default value of said originator identifier;
the user makes a first choice between:
validating said default first value of said originator identifier;
determining and then validating a first other value of said originator identifier;
the system proposes a second default value of said destination identifier;
the user makes a second choice between:
validating said second default value of said destination identifier;
determining and then validating a second other value of said destination identifier.
The general principle of the invention relies therefore on the use of a generic call function enabling the definition of various forms of call forward operations.
Owing to the presentation of a default value of the originator identifier and/or the destination identifier, the call forward defining operation is facilitated. This provides for a gain in time when at least one of these two default values is validated. Indeed, the user does not have to enter the value or values. Furthermore, reducing the quantity of information (the identifier of the originator user terminal and/or the identifier of the destination user terminal) entered by the user results in a reduction of the risks of wrongful rerouting through keying errors.
The invention also enables the definition of a third type of call forward operation, namely a call forward operation performed by means of a user terminal that is not involved in the call forward operation (namely a user terminal whose identifier is neither that of the originator user terminal nor that of the destination user terminal).
Advantageously, said originator identifier and said destination identifier belong to the group comprising:
numbers assigned to elements of the telecommunications system;
user names;
combinations of at least one element number and at least one user name.
It is clear that the identifier is generally applicable to any type of identifier.
Preferably, said elements of the telecommunications system belong to the group comprising:
telephone sets;
answering and/or recording machines;
equipment providing for voice messaging services;
microcomputers.
This list of course is not exhaustive.
Advantageously, said definition user terminal belongs to the group comprising:
telephone sets;
microcomputers.
It is clear that any type of device fulfilling the functions of a telephone set may be suitable as a user terminal.
It must be noted that the telephone sets notably comprise wire telephone sets and mobile telephone sets used in radio-communication systems.
Advantageously, the step in which the user determines said first other value comprises a step of entry and/or a step for the selection, from a first list of predetermined values, of said first other value.
It will be noted that these two actions (entry and selection) may be proposed successively. The selection action has the advantage, as compared with the entry operation, of reducing the risks of wrong rerouting due to a keying error on the identifier of the originator user terminal. Furthermore, this enables an increase in the speed of the operation for defining the call forward operation.
Preferably, the step in which the user determines said second other value comprises a step of entry and/or a step for the selection, from a second list of predetermined values, of second other value.
Preferably, said method is implemented in at least one automatic exchange or switch of said telecommunications system.
Advantageously, said first default value or other value of said originator identifier belongs to the group c
Humphrey George A.
LeBoulzec Didier
Avaya Technology Corp.
Freedman Barry H.
Hong Harry S.
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