Virtual telephone extension
US8027332B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/42263
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Call routing to user communication devices is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, a call-routing switch arrangement uses data in a programmable database to associate or match incoming calls with destination user-communication devices for users employing two or more user identifiers. The incoming calls are then routed to the destination user-communication devices in response to the match. In some applications, the user identifiers include local and virtual telephone numbers for a particular user, the local number pertaining to a geographical location relating to the user's communication device or to a service via which the user's communication device is connected (e.g., a mobile telephone service), and the virtual telephone number to a different geographical location. In this context, a virtual number allows telephone calls to be made to a particular user to give the impression to a caller that the user is located or has offices in a particular geographical location pertaining to an area code in the virtual number.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.