Method, apparatus and system for call leg selection

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for call leg selection is provided. In an embodiment, a call manger is provided which is connected to telephones that have the same telephone number. When the call manager receives an incoming call identifying that telephone number, the call manager sends a query to each of the telephones inquiring as to which telephone should receive the call. Depending on the response, the call manager will route the call to the appropriate one of the telephones.

1 . A call manager server for selecting a call leg comprising:
 an interface for connecting to a telephony network;   a processor connected to said interface via a bus; said processor configured to receive an incoming telephone call via said interface; said incoming call destined for a telephone number;   a memory unit connected to said processor via said bus; said memory unit configured to maintain an electronic list of one or more telephones each associated with said telephone number; each of said telephones connectable to said telephony network;   said processor further configured to send a query via said network to at least one of said telephones for identifying which of said at least one telephones is designated to receive said incoming call; and,   said processor further configured to receive responses to said query and based on said responses to route said incoming call to a designated one of said telephones.   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1  wherein said telephony network includes telephony infrastructure based on one or more of the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”), a private branch exchange, a packet switched network, a cellular telephony network, the Internet, and combinations thereof; and wherein said interface is configured to connect to said telephony infrastructure. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 1  wherein said telephony network includes a public switched telephone network portion that connects to at least one of said telephones and a cellular telephony network portion that connects to at least another one of said telephones. 
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 1  wherein said processor is configured to route said call to more than one of said telephones. 
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1  wherein said processor is configured to route said call to only one of said telephones. 
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 5  wherein said responses indicate whether one of said telephones is designated to receive said incoming call; and wherein said processor is configured to prioritize which one of said telephone is said designated one of said telephones if more than one of said responses indicate that more than one of said telephones is designated. 
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 6  wherein said processor is configured to prioritize based on a quality of service of a telephone network link that is connected to said telephones. 
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1  wherein said at least one telephone has a device address different from said telephone number and said query is sent over said network to said device address. 
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 8  wherein said telephone has two different device addresses and each of said device addresses associated with a different link within said telephone network; and wherein said responses represent which of said different links is to be used to route said incoming call. 
     
     
         10 . A method for selecting a call leg comprising:
 receiving an incoming call associated with a telephone number;   sending a query to at least one telephone associated with said telephone number; said query inquiring as to which telephone should receive said incoming call;   receiving responses indicating which telephone should receive said incoming call; and,   routing said call to a designated one of said telephones based on results of said responses.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising selecting said designated one of said telephones based on a quality of service of a link connected to said telephones. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said at least one telephone has two different device addresses; each of said device addresses being associated with a different link within a telephone network; said responses indicate represent which of said different links is to be used. 
     
     
         13 . A telephony device comprising:
 a microphone for receiving voice input;   an output device for generating output;   electronic circuitry connecting said microphone, and said output device;   said electronic circuitry configured to maintain a signal indicating whether said telephone device is designated to receive incoming calls destined for a telephone number;   said electronic device configured to maintain a device address for said telephony device;   said device address being different from said telephone number; and   said electronic circuitry configured to connect to a telephone network; said electronic circuitry further configured receive a query addressed to said device address; said query indicating whether said telephone device is designated to receive incoming calls destined for said telephone number; said electronic circuitry further configured to send a response to said query.   
     
     
         14 . The telephony device of  claim 13  wherein said output device is an earpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The telephony device of  claim 13  wherein said device address is one of an International Mobile Equipment Identity (“IMEI”) and a Media Access Control (“MAC”) address for telephone. 
     
     
         16 . The telephony device of  claim 10  wherein said query and said response are formed using the Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”). 
     
     
         17 . The telephone device of  claim 10  wherein said electronic circuitry is configured to connect to said telephone network by two different links and said electronic device is configured to maintain a device address respective to each of said different links; said response indicating which of said links to be used to route said incoming call. 
     
     
         18 . The telephone device of  claim 10  further comprising an input device for providing said signal.