ZA200106745B

ZA200106745B - Method for routing telephone calls and/or addressed data files which are transmitted via local or global networks.

Info

Publication number: ZA200106745B
Application number: ZA200106745A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Ewa Jurczyk-Clemens; Johannes Wissing
Original assignee: O Tel O Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-02-17
Filing date: 2001-08-15
Publication date: 2003-01-09
Also published as: AU3416700A; ATE288654T1; NO20013991D0; NO20013991L; CZ20012974A3; EP1201074A1; DE50009429D1; EP1201074B1; WO2000049795A1; SK11552001A3; DE19906347A1; CA2363164A1; HUP0200357A2; PL349890A1

Description

a <, & for forwarding telephone calls and/or addressed files which are sent out electronically via local or global networks

Description

The invention relates to a method for forwarding telephone calls and/or addressed files which are sent out electronically via local or global networks. Files can be sent out electronically via telephone lines as faxes. However, the term used should alse include e-mails, where any other types of files, e.g. images, graphics, video or sound files, programs, etc., can also be sent out in addition to texts.

It is known for the directory number of a number of receiving devices to be stored at one identification number and for incoming telephone calls or files which are addressed with the identification number as destination number to be forwarded to at least one receiving device, the directory number of which is stored at the identification number. By inputting the corresponding directory number, the user can define the device to which incoming telephone calls or faxes are to be forwarded. The instruction for the forwarding can be input via the keypad of a telephone which is set up for a digital data transmission or for multifrequency dialing (DTMF). For this purpose, forwarding must be activated and the desired telephone number must be input as destination number via the keypad of the telephone. The user-guided input of multi-digit directory numbers is complicated and associated with great time expenditure which impairs the use of the function.

In the document GB 2 315 191, a forwarding method is described in which a list of possible forwarding destinations is generated by the user by means of a procedure or corresponding key. This list is stored at a central location (e.g. in a switching system) and processed in accordance with the forwarding sequence specified. The order is dynamically adapted in accordance with time (hours and days of the week) and hit probability of the forwarded calls, and stored in a "service profile".

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¢ The document EP 0 498 593 describes a call forwarding system in which a forwarding list can be programmed. This list is processed in such a manner that the call is forwarded to the first number of the forwarding list and processes a particular (programmed) number of calls. If the handset is not picked up (or the telephone is busy), the call is forwarded to the second number of the list, etc. The forwarding list is stored in a "Service Control Processor" (SCP).

The document W098/26621 discloses a method and system of call forwarding in which a forwarding list is also used; in this case with the possibility that various services (e.g. voice, data or fax) can be forwarded to different destinations. For this purpose, one forwarding list is stored for each service.

The invention is based on the object of developing the method described initially, in such a manner that the instruction for forwarding incoming telephone calls and/or electronic files to directory numbers of devices which are frequently used alternately in practice, can be input and changed in a simple and rapid manner.

On the basis of a method for forwarding telephone calls, faxes and the like, in which the directory numbers of a number of receiving devices are stored under a single identification number and incoming telephones calls and files which are addressed with the identification number as destination number are forwarded to at least one receiving device,

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&- directory number of which is stored under the identification number, the object is achieved, in accordance with the invention, in that the storage spaces for the directory numbers are in each case permanently allocated to one key on the keypad of a telephone set up for digital data transmission or for a multifrequency dialing method, and a forwarding sequence for accessing the storage spaces is predetermined by the order in which the keys are operated after having previously been activated by an input code, the input of the forwarding sequence is stored and terminated by pressing a key of the telephone which triggers a delimiting signal, and the storage spaces are interrogated in the input forwarding sequence if a telephone call or a file is received under the identification number, and the telephone call or the file is forwarded to the directory number stored in the relevant storage space.

The invention is based on the consideration that persons can be reached predominantly either via devices which are installed at home or in the office and operate in the landline network, or via a mobile telephone, and user-friendly handling of the forwarding function is possible if the directory numbers of the devices predominantly used in practice are permanently allocated to storage spaces and the order in which the storage spaces or, respectively, the directory numbers stored there are selected in the course of the forwarding can be flexibly determined by the user.

According to the invention, this is achieved by allocating a particular key on the telephone keypad to each storage space and predetermining the forwarding sequence by means of the order in which the keys are operated in the course of the input mode. The user, by operating the keys, determines the directory numbers which are activated in the case of forwarding and the order in which the connection is set up.

The method can be conducted in such a manner that during the forwarding, a further interrogation of the storage spaces is ended as soon as a connection has been established to one of the stored

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Q numbers. The method is suitably also conducted in such a manner that incoming telephone calls are forwarded to a mailbox if the forwarding sequence is deactivated by triggering an identification or no connection to one of the directory numbers successively dialed as determined by the forwarding sequence is established.

Dual allocation of keys of the telephone keypad is required if, in addition to a plurality of storage spaces for telephone numbers, a number of storage spaces is also provided for directory numbers of fax devices and devices for electronic data processing. Within the context of the teaching according to the invention, the forwarding sequence for the directory numbers of fax devices and devices for electronic data processing is preferably input by operating the keys allocated to the telephone numbers in combination with an additional key which outputs an identification signal for the type of data communication. The storage spaces for the directory numbers of telephone devices, fax devices and data processing devices which are operated in close vicinity, e.g. in a private household, can be allocated to the same key, in which arrangement the key for the identification signal must be additionally pressed for inputting the forwarding sequence to fax devices and data processing devices. During the input of the forwarding sequence, the user has the possibility of differently determining the forwarding for telefax devices and telephone . devices.

The user has the possibility of changing all directory numbers via the keypad of the telephone after having previously input an identification. Three keys are suitably occupied by directory numbers which are not changed or are only changed rarely. The storage spaces of these keys are suitably reserved for directory numbers of devices at heme and in the office which are operated in the landline network, and for a mobile radio connection. The storage space allocated to the fourth key can be used for destination numbers which are frequently changed by the user. The four keys are preferably arranged in a square, the preferred specifications for the keys being the numbers "4", "2", "6" and "8". These digits are associated with the letters "H" (for home), "0" (for office), "M" (for mobile radio) and vv" (for variable connection). Other arrangements, preferably in a square, should not be excluded. Finally, it is within the scope of the invention that telephone devices are used whose keypad has additional station keys for setting the forwarding sequence, in which "arrangement the station keys and the keys of the

&:- keypad allocated to the storage spaces outputting the same signals.

This ensures that the method can be operated both with conventional operating telephone devices and telephone devices which have additional station keys and that the devices can also be used in combination.

Claims

& claims:

1. A method for forwarding telephone calls and/or addressed files which are sent out electronically via local or global networks, in which the directory numbers of a number of receiving devices are stored under a single identification number and incoming telephone calls and files which are addressed with the identification number as destination number are forwarded to at least one receiving device, the directory number of which is stored under the identification number, characterized in that the storage spaces for the directory numbers are in each case permanently allocated to one key on the keypad of a telephone set up for digital data transmission or for a multifrequency dialing method, and a forwarding sequence for accessing the storage spaces is predetermined by the order in which the keys are operated after having previously been activated by an input code, the input of the forwarding sequence is stored and terminated by pressing a key of the telephone which triggers a delimiting signal, and the storage spaces are interrogated in the input forwarding sequence if a telephone call or a file is received under the identification number, and the telephone call or the file is forwarded to the directory number stored in the relevant storage space.

2. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the further interrogation of the storage spaces is terminated as soon as a connection has been established to one of the stored directory numbers.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

: a PCT/DE00/00340 v > characterized in that incoming telephone calls are forwarded to a mailbox if the forwarding sequence is deactivated by triggering an identification or no connection to one of the directory numbers successively dialed as determined by the forwarding sequence is established.

4. The method as claimed in claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the forwarding sequence for the directory numbers of fax devices and devices for electronic data processing is input by operating the keys allocated to the telephone numbers in combination with an additional key which outputs an identification signal for the type of data communication.

5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage spaces are allocated to four keys of the telephone keypad which are arranged in a square.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that three keys are allocated to directory numbers which are permanently set up or are changed only rarely and the directory number allocated to the fourth : key can be varied after previously having input an identification via the keypad of the telephone.

7. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that telephone devices are used, the keypad of which has additional station keys for setting the forwarding sequence, in which arrangement the station keys and the keys of the standard keypad allocated to the storage spaces output the same signals.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

9. A new method for forwarding telephone calls and/or addressed files, substantially as herein described. AMENDED SHEET