Call programming apparatus and method

Abstract

A method of routing incoming telephone calls and programming routing options and apparatus that allows incoming calls to be routed according to various criteria programmed by a subscriber.

1 . A call programming method for establishing a customer profile for processing subsequently received calls to a subscriber, the method comprising:
 in response to a received subscriber data entry; entering one of
 a one number programming routine, 
 a sequential number programming routine, and 
 a simultaneous number programming routine; 
   receiving subscriber entries defining the processing of subsequently received calls to the subscriber to establish the customer profile; and   storing the customer profile for subsequent access when processing calls for the subscriber.   
     
     
         2 . The call programming method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 entering a web-based subscriber interaction process.   
     
     
         3 . The call programming method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter a call forwarding number;   receiving a web page from the subscriber including the call forwarding number; and   storing the call forwarding number for subsequent access when processing calls for the subscriber.   
     
     
         4 . The call programming method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 in a subsequent web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber for one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded to the call forwarding number; and   receiving a response web page from the subscriber including information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         5 . The call programming method of  claim 4  wherein receiving a web page including information defining the one or more time periods comprises:
 receiving in the response web page from the subscriber information defining a period start time for each time period and information defining a period end time for each period.   
     
     
         6 . The call programming method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 entering a graphical user interface-based subscriber interaction process.   
     
     
         7 . The call programming method of  claim 1  wherein entering a one number programming routine comprises:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter a call forwarding number;   receiving a web page from the subscriber including the call forwarding number; and   storing the call forwarding number for subsequent access when processing calls for the subscriber.   
     
     
         8 . The call programming method of  claim 1  wherein entering a one number programming routine comprises:
 in a graphical user interface with the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter a call forwarding number;   receiving over the graphical user interface with the subscriber information from the subscriber including the call forwarding number; and   storing the call forwarding number for subsequent access when processing calls for the subscriber.   
     
     
         9 . The call programming method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 in the graphical user interface with the subscriber, prompting the subscriber for one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded to the call forwarding number; and   receiving over the graphical user interface with the subscriber information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         10 . The call programming method of  claim 9  wherein receiving over the graphical user interface information defining the one or more time periods comprises:
 receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber information defining a period start time for each time period; and   receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber information defining a period end time for each period.   
     
     
         11 . The call programming method of  claim 1  wherein entering a sequential number programming routine comprises:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting for a first sequential call forwarding number for a time period;   receiving a web page from the subscriber including information defining the first sequential call forwarding number;   in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter another sequential call forwarding number; and   prompting the subscriber to enter additional sequential call forwarding numbers until all sequential call forwarding numbers have been entered.   
     
     
         12 . The call programming method of  claim 11  wherein entering the sequential number programming routine further comprises:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the sequential number programming routine; and   receiving a web page from the subscriber including the information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         13 . The call programming method of  claim 1  wherein entering a sequential number programming routine comprises:
 over a graphical user interface to the subscriber, prompting for a first sequential call forwarding number for a time period;   receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber information defining the first sequential call forwarding number;   over the graphical user interface, prompting the subscriber to enter another sequential call forwarding number; and   prompting the subscriber to enter additional sequential call forwarding numbers until all sequential call forwarding numbers have been entered.   
     
     
         14 . The call programming method of  claim 13  wherein entering the sequential number programming routine further comprises:
 over the graphical user interface, prompting for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the sequential number programming routine; and   receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber the information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein entering a simultaneous number programming routine comprises:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber for a first simultaneous call forwarding number for a time period;   receiving a web page from the subscriber including information defining the first simultaneous call forwarding number;   in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter another simultaneous call forwarding number; and   prompting the subscriber to enter additional simultaneous call forwarding numbers until all simultaneous call forwarding numbers have been entered.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein entering the simultaneous number programming routine further comprises:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the simultaneous number programming routine; and   receiving a web page from the subscriber including the information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein entering a simultaneous number programming routine comprises:
 over a graphical user interface, prompting the subscriber for a first simultaneous call forwarding number for a time period;   receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber information defining the first simultaneous call forwarding number;   over the graphical user interface, prompting the subscriber to enter another simultaneous call forwarding number; and   prompting the subscriber to enter additional simultaneous call forwarding numbers until all simultaneous call forwarding numbers have been entered.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein entering the simultaneous number programming routine further comprises:
 over the graphical user interface, prompting the subscriber for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the simultaneous number programming routine; and   receiving over the graphical user interface from the subscriber including the information defining the one or more time periods.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter a schedule override routine; and   receiving a web page from the subscriber including information selecting the schedule override routine.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 if the schedule override routine is selected, in a web page sent to the subscriber, prompting the subscriber to enter an override call forwarding number; and   receiving a web page from the subscriber including information defining the override call forwarding number.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 in a web page sent to the subscriber, repeating the override call forwarding number to the subscriber; and   receiving a web page from the subscriber including verification information for the override call forwarding number.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 over a graphical user interface, prompting the subscriber to enter a schedule override routine; and   receiving over the graphical user interface information selecting the schedule override routine.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 if the schedule override routine is selected, prompting the subscriber over the graphical user interface to enter an override call forwarding number; and   receiving over the graphical user interface information defining the override call forwarding number.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 repeating the override call forwarding number over the graphical user interface to the subscriber; and   receiving over the graphical user interface verification information for the override call forwarding number.