Unified messaging/call routing configuration using palmtop computer

Abstract

A method of routing telephone calls, emails and faxes using a palmtop computer. Using a date book forming a part of a personal information manager application of a palmtop computer, the user enters an appointment into the date book. Such an appointment has a starting and an ending time. The user then selects (either at the time of entry of the appointment or after receipt of an alarm reminder of the appointment) a destination telephone number for routing of telephone calls between the starting time and the ending time. This selection can be in the form of a menu selection of a predetermined profile for routing telephone calls. The palmtop computer then sends a representation of the destination telephone number, the starting time and the ending time to a telephone call server (and/or email server and/or fax server), so that the telephone call server routes telephone calls to the destination telephone number between the starting time and the ending time.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A method of controlling routing of telephone calls and communication using an electronic device comprising: 
 entering calendar appointment information including an appointment time and a routing profile identifier into the electronic device; and    sending the calendar appointment information to a telephone server, the telephone server having access to a data record that relates the routing profile identifier with a routing profile;    wherein the routing profile includes instructions as to how to route calls directed to a preset telephone number during the appointment time.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the calendar appointment information further includes a date, a start time, and an end time.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the routing profile includes information as to: 
 i) at least one source from which incoming calls are to be accepted; and    ii) one or more destination to which accepted incoming calls are to be routed.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 activating an alert on the electronic device notifying a user of an entered calendar appointment before and proximate to the start time of the calendar appointment.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the alert is an audio alert.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the alert is a visual alert.  
     
     
         29 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a communication link to a telephone server;    a visual display; and    a processor adapted to: 
 execute a calendar program providing a first user interface on the visual display that enables a user to enter appointment information including an appointment time and a routing profile identifier;  
 send the appointment information to the telephone server over the communication link;  
 wherein the telephone server has access to a data record that relates the routing profile identifier with a routing profile including instructions as to how to incoming calls directed to a preset telephone number during the appointment time.  
   
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein the calendar program executable on the processor further provides a second user interface on the visual display that enables a user to create a new routing profile.  
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the calendar program executable on the processor further enables the user to modify the preset telephone number.  
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein the appointment information further includes a date, a start time, and an end time.  
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein the routing profile includes at least one source from which incoming calls are to be accepted and one or more destinations to which accepted incoming calls are to be routed.  
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the calendar program executable on the processor further activates an alert notifying a user of an entered calendar appointment before and proximate to the start time of the calendar appointment.  
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the alert is shown on the visual display.  
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 a speaker;    wherein the alert is delivered through the speak as an audio alert    
     
     
         37 . A computer readable medium having stored instructions that when executed on a processor implement a method of controlling routing of telephone calls and communication using an electronic device, the method comprising: 
 entering a calendar appointment information including an appointment time and a routing profile identifier into the electronic device; and    sending the calendar appointment information to a telephone server, the telephone server having access to a data record that relates the routing profile identifier with a routing profile;    wherein the routine profile includes instructions as to how to route calls directed to a preset telephone number during the appointment time.    
     
     
         38 . The computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the calendar appointment information further includes a date, a start time, and an end time.  
     
     
         39 . The computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the routing profile includes information as to: 
 i) at least one source from which incoming calls are to be accepted; and    ii) at least one destination to which accepted incoming calls are to be routed.    
     
     
         40 . The computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the method of controlling routing of telephone calls and communication using an electronic device further comprises: 
 activating an alert on the electronic device notifying a user of an entered calendar appointment before and proximate to the start time of the calendar appointment.    
     
     
         41 . The computer readable medium of  claim 40 , wherein the alert is an audio alert.  
     
     
         42 . The computer readable medium of  claim 40 , wherein the alert is a visual alert.