WO2008008056A1

WO2008008056A1 - Method and system for management and routing of telecommunications on data and telephone lines

Info

Publication number: WO2008008056A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/026790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Ricci
Original assignee: New I.P. Investments, Llc
Priority date: 2006-07-10
Filing date: 2006-07-10
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: BRPI0712880A2

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible telephone number assignment system is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of a caller can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services' responses on behalf of their users.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT AND ROUTING OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON DATA AND TELEPHONE LINES

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to telecommunications systems, and more specifically to methods and systems for managing and routing telecommunications data for multiple users.

Background of the Invention

[0002] The continuous and explosive development of new computer and telecommunications technologies is very well known. For example, people use computers, telephones, and cellular phones daily in their work and/or daily life. As these technologies evolve, they begin to take on characteristics of one another. For example, the telephone is no longer, as in Meucci's time, a system that carries a voice from one end of the wire to another. Instead, it has become a multi-faceted apparatus capable of managing data as well as voice transmissions. As a result, telephones are now capable of connecting to the Internet, downloading e-mail, accessing chat rooms and so on. Some of the services that allow telephone users to better organize their work include call waiting, call transfer, call diversion, call forwarding, and call conferencing. [0003] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a prior art call-diversion telephone system (TS) 100.

TS 100 typically includes one or more users 114 that communicate to a telephone company, though a fixed or portable telephone, an instruction to divert any incoming call from a caller 112 to a secondary number 118.

[0004] For example, during call diversion, the telephone company diverts incoming calls to user 114 to secondary telephone number 118._. Accordingly, during call diversion, calls placed by incoming caller 112 to user 114 will be directly connected to derivative telephone 118, since the telephone company will have by-passed user 114.

[0005] The bi-passing of user 114 by the telephone company makes it difficult to provide on-line answering services. That is, by completely bi-passing user 114, the person answering derivative telephone number 118 may not have adequate information to properly respond to caller 112.

[0006] Accordingly, more advanced answering services are available in the prior art. Figure

2 further illustrates the answering services available with prior art systems. For example, advanced telephone system (ATS) 200, provides a user 214 with the ability to request a telephone answering service from a provider 216. User 214 then proceeds to register for the service with 216 by means of creating an account.

[0007] During registration, user 214 is assigned one or more exclusive telephone numbers.

However, it is difficult for provider 216 and/or user 214 to predict the total number of telephone numbers needed. Moreover, as provider 216 provides services to more and more users 214, provider 216 will need even more telephone numbers to accommodate them. Currently many providers 216 request more telephone numbers than initially needed in order to provide for additional users 214 or numbers. That is, a provider 216 may request 999 phone numbers, while provider 216 only has four hundred users 216. Moreover, upon customer turnover, provider 216 often cannot reassign the previous customer's numbers because of the confusion and problems caused by such reassignment. In addition, providers 216 often do not have adequate information about users 214 or the incoming callers when answering calls on behalf of users 214. Accordingly, there is a need for a service that provides on-line answering services that has flexibility in terms of the information and the total number of telephone numbers provided. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible telephone number assignment system is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of a caller can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services' responses on behalf of their users.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, can best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which like parts can be referred to by like numerals: [0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a call-diversion telephone system in accordance with the prior art;

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a, advanced telephone system in accordance with the prior art;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary telephone answering service in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary registration procedure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary answering service method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary call routing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary sub-user registration method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

[0018] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show the exemplary embodiment by way of illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments can be realized and that logical and mechanical changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method descriptions can be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented.

[0019] For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, application development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) can not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative and/or additional functional relationships and/or physical connections can be present in a practical system. [0020] The various system computing components discussed herein can include one and/or more of the following: a host server and/or other computing systems including a processor for processing digital data; a memory coupled to said processor for storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; an application program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing processing of digital data by said processor; a display device coupled to the processor and memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and a plurality of databases. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the computing systems can include an operating system (e.g., MVS, Windows NT, 95/98/2000/XP, OS2, UNIX, MVS, TPF, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, AIX, etc.) as well as various conventional support software and drivers typically associated with computers. [0021] The present invention can be described herein in terms of functional block components, screen shots, optional selections and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks can be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention can employ various integrated circuit components (e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like), which can carry out a variety of functions under the control of one and/or more microprocessors and/or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention can be implemented with any programming and/or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, Visual Basic, SQL Stored Procedures, extensible markup language (XML), with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines and/or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention can employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like.

[0022] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention can be embodied as a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention can take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, and/or an embodiment combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium can be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like. [0023] The present invention is described herein with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (e.g., systems), and computer program products according to various aspects of the invention. It will be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block and/or blocks. [0024] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart block and/or blocks. The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer- implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block and/or blocks.

[0025] Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by either special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions and/or steps, and/or suitable combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0026] As used herein, the term network can include any electronic communications means which incorporates both hardware and software components of such. Communication among the components and/or parties in accordance with the present invention can be accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, point-of-interaction device (point-of-sale device, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, kiosk, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), etc.), online communications, off-line communications, wireless communications, transponder communications, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), networked and/or linked devices and/or the like. Moreover, the invention can also be implemented using TCP/IP communications protocols, IPX, Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI and/or any number of existing and/or future protocols. If the network is in the nature of a public network, such as the Internet, it can be advantageous to presume the network to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers. Specific information related to the protocols, standards, and application software utilized in connection with the Internet is generally known to those skilled in the art and, as such, need not be detailed herein.

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary telephone answering service

(TAS) 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. TAS 300 comprises an answering service provider (ASP) 316 configured for facilitating answering services for one or more users 314. ASP 316 is configured to communicate with one or more controllers 308, described in detail herein. ASP 316 can communicate with controller 308 via a network, a telephone line, a fiber optics line, radio-frequency, blue tooth, and the like. Controllers 308 facilitate communication between one or more callers 312 and users 314.

[0028] As used herein, the phrase "answering services" includes management of telephone data and information, including, but not limited to call waiting, call transferring, call diversion, call forwarding, three-way calling, multi-party conferencing, and the like. For example, in one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, ASP 316 is configured to store information about user 314 and information for user 314 on one or more ASP 316 databases. [0029] User 314 can be any type of user, such as, for example, a mail-order business, a customer service center, a user of a toll-free number, a user of an informational line, a business, a government entity, and the like. In addition, user 314 can comprise one or more telephonic device, such as, for example, a cellular phone, a standard telephone, a switchboard, a computer and the like. User 314 can gain access to ASP 316 by registering with ASP 316. By registering, user 314 of TAS 300 contacts ASP 316 and provides ASP 316 with business information.

[0030] ASP 316 can include one or more computers or computing systems, a local database, a remote database, a portable storage device, an employer, a financial institution, a non-financial institution, a company, the military, the government, a school, a travel entity, a transportation authority, a security company, and/or any other system or entity that is authorized to receive and store user identifying information and associate the identifying information with user 314. While ASP 316 is described herein as providing answering services for user 314, ASP 316 can be configured to provide any type of service to user 314, such as, for example, call forwarding, ticketing services, booking services, and the like.

[0031] The telephone lines described herein can include any type of telephony or data communications lines, for example, voice telephone lines, data lines, Internet networks, radio- frequency channels and/or the like. The telephone numbers described herein can include any type of telephone number or identification code, including an IP address, standard telephone number, cellular telephone number, voice-over IP (VOIP ) numbers and/or the like.

[0032] In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, ASP 316 can be configured to request a specific quantity of telephone numbers and/or telephone lines for each user 314. Upon receiving the specific quantity of telephone lines, ASP 316 makes the lines available to users 314 and ASP 316 can assign unique identifying information associated with the lines to each user 314. [0033] In another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, user 314 obtains one or more lines and/or numbers from the telephone company and communicates this information to ASP 316 directly and/or through controller 308.

[0034] For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary registration procedure 400 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. During registration, user 314 can contact ASP 316 (step 401) to submit business information to ASP 316 (step 403). User 314 can contact ASP 316 and submit business information in person, through a computer and/or Internet, through software and/or hardware, through a third-party, through a kiosk and/or registration terminal, and/or by any other direct or indirect means, communication device or interface for user

314 to contact ASP 316.

[0035] As used herein, business information can include information regarding the business and/or services of user 314, such as, for example, telephone numbers, business hours, accounting procedures, internal business information, general business information such as maps, hotels, ticketing, booking and/or reservation information, the number of sub-users, and/or sub-user information of user 314.

[0036] Upon receiving the business information, ASP 316 and/or user 314 can correlate and/or register the business information and one or more user identification codes (step 405), such as, for example the telephone number and/or IP address that a telecommunications entity (i.e.

AT&T, Verizon, etc.) has assigned to user 314 to create a data packet (step 407). For example, the identification code can be any number or code (i.e. a serial number, alphanumeric number, or other type of code) that is unique to each user 314 of TAS 300.

[0037] While Figure 4 is described with respect to correlating the business information with one or more user identification codes, ASP 316 and/or user 314 can also correlate the business information and/or identification code with the telephone number of user 314. As used herein, a data packet may include the information relating to at least one of a user information, business information, and/or any other information. After correlating the identification code with the data packet, ASP 316 can store the data packet in a database, digital format and/or any storage medium known in the art (step 409).

[0038] For example, ASP 316 is configured with one or more local, remote or other databases used for data packet storage and retrieval. The ASP databases can be a graphical, hierarchical, relational, object-oriented or other database. The databases are configured such that each data packet and can be suitably retrieved from the databases and provided to ASP 316 and/or user 314 using the identification code of user 314.

[0039] With reference to another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary answering service method (ASM) 500, in which ASP 316 utilizes the identification code of user 314 to provide answering services. [0040] During ASM 500, user 314 receives one or more calls from caller 312 (step 502).

User 314 can then provide a response to caller 312 (step 504). By providing a response to caller 312, user 314 can answer the call, provide a specific ring-back response, and/or any other type of response known in the art to caller 312. For example, in one embodiment, controller 308 can be configured to divert caller 312 from user 314 to ASP 316 after a certain number of rings. [0041] Simultaneously or at a subsequent time, user 314 can place the call on hold and/or temporarily refrain from answering caller 312 (step 506). For example, user 314 can manually and/or electronically providing a response, place the call on hold, and/or otherwise refrain from answering the call from caller 312. As such, user 314 can use one or more software and/or hardware protocols, systems and/or devices in order to facilitate steps 504 and 506. [0042] For example, in one exemplary embodiment, user 314 uses controller 308 software to facilitate steps 504 and 506. That is, controller 308 can be configured to temporarily store information about caller 312 on one or more controller 308 databases upon receiving the call at user 314. Controller 308 databases may be configured similar to ASP 316 databases, described herein. Controller 308 can also be configured to provide a response to caller 312 and/or temporarily place caller 312 on hold.

[0043] Simultaneously, or shortly thereafter, controller 308 and/or user 314 can be configured to contact ASP 316 and transfer the temporarily stored information about caller 312 to ASP 316 (step 508). Controller 308 and/or user 314 can also transmit the identification code associated with user 314 to ASP 316, in order to facilitate recognition of user 314 by ASP 316 (step 510). By transmitting information and/or a user 314 identification code to ASP 316, controller 308 and/or user 314 can use any communication method described herein. Upon receiving the call and/or transmission from controller 308 and/or user 314, ASP 316 can use the information and/or identification code to recognize user 314. For example, ASP 316 can use the identification code of user 314 to access the data packet of user 314 stored on one or more ASP 316 databases (step 512). [0044] Simultaneously and/or afterwards, controller 308 and/or user 314 can transfer the call from caller 312 to ASP 316 (step 514). Upon transfer of the call from user 314 to ASP 316, ASP 316 can answer the call and use information from the data packet to respond to caller 312 as if ASP 316 was user 314 (step 516).

[0045] While ASM 500 illustrates a method in which user 314 and/or controller 308 provides a response to the call from caller 312 and places the call on hold, ASP 316 can provide a response to the call instead of user 314, place the call on hold instead of user 314 and/or controller 308 and/or perform any of the steps outlined above. [0046] With reference again to the exemplary embodiment depicted in Figure 3, controller

308 can be configured with one or more hardware and/or software protocols, systems, routines, and the like. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, controller 308 comprises software that is installed and/or communicates with the telephone of user 314, which instructs the user 314 telephonic device to divert an incoming call. In another exemplary embodiment, user 314 can bypass controller 308 and manually determine whether to answer or divert incoming call 312 to ASP 316.

[0047] In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, controller

308 is configured with one or more processors to facilitate transfer and management of telephone communications and data. For example, controller 308 can be configured with a call answering processor, call transferring processor, and the like. For example, the number and/or identification code of user 314 can be associated with the answering processor and/or call transfer processor to facilitate call answer and transfer by controller 308.

[0048] Controller 308 can be configured to respond and/or answer to an incoming call from caller 312. By responding and/or answering the call, controller 308 can provide a vocal response, a ring-back response, place the call on hold, and/or answer or respond in a manner that is undetectable and/or detectable by caller 312. In addition, controller 308 can be configured to associate the identification code of user 314 with the call from caller 312, transfer the call to ASP 316, and/or perform any other transfer and/or transmission process.

[0049] Controller 308 can also be configured to be connected directly and/or through a network to ASP 316. For example, controller 308 can be connected to one or more answering components of ASP 316, one or more call switching components of ASP 316 and/or one or more third party switching components. Controller 308 is configured to recognize the identification code of user 314 and to associate the number and/or identification code with the user 314 data packet stored on one or more databases of ASP 316.

[0050] In accordance with an exemplary, more advanced embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 6, controller 308 can comprise a processor 610 that can be used to facilitate a call routing system 600. Call routing system 600 comprises processor 610 configured with a device 625 for assigning answering criteria for different sub-users 601, 603, 605 of user 314. For example, each sub-user 601, 603, 605 is assigned a different number and/or identification code

611, 613, 615. These numbers and/or identification codes 611, 613, 615 are associated with one or more user 314 data packets and or sub-user 601, 603, 605 data packets stored on ASP 316.

[0051] Processor 610 and/or ASP 316 can use different identification codes 611, 613, 615 to facilitate call management and distribution. For example, when multiple incoming calls from callers

612, 622, 632 are placed to sub-users 601, 603, 605 of user 314, processor 610 and/or ASP 316 can use identification codes 611, 613, 615 to prioritize the call answering by ASP 316. For example, processor 610 and/or ASP 316 can be configured to route all incoming calls to users 601 with identification code 611 to broadband line 650 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., and then to traditional telephone line 675 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. While three sub-users 601, 603, 605, three callers 612, 622, 632 and three identification codes 611, 613, 615 are illustrated in exemplary Figure 6, the present invention contemplates the use of any number of users, sub-users, callers, numbers and/or identification codes.

[0052] In order to facilitate call management in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the various telecommunications devices of users 601, 603, 605 and/or ASP 316 can be configured to facilitate call routing. For example, the various telecommunications devices can be configured to use a routing program to route calls based on the sub-user 601, 603, 605 identification codes, as described above. In addition, the telecommunications devices of sub- users 601, 603, 605 can be used to facilitate transfer of calls from callers 612, 622, 632 to ASP 316 using a routing program and/or the identification codes of sub-users 601, 603, 605. For example, in one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, ASP 316 and/or the telecommunications devices of sub-users 601, 603, 605 can receive identification code 611 and can correspond this code with sub-user 601, user 314 and/or caller 612.

[0053] Accordingly, ASP 316 does not have to assign the same amount of telephone numbers as the corresponding amount of sub-users 601, 603, 605. Instead, each user 314 is assigned one telephone number, and each sub-user 601, 603, 605 is associated with the telephone number using an identification code. As a result, ASP 316 can provide a flexible service of band, numbers and/or telephone lines available to ASP 316. For example, in one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, during user 314 registration, ASP 316 and/or user 314 may correlate one or more sub-users 601, 603, 605 with the user 314 identification code. In another embodiment, ASP 316 and/or user 314 may correlate a different level of service with each sub-user 601, 603, 605.

[0054] In yet another exemplary advanced embodiment in accordance with the present invention, as more sub-users are added to the account of user 314, each sub-user can undergo a registration procedure, similar to the one outlined in Figure 4. For example, an exemplary sub-user registration method 700 is illustrated in Figure 7. During sub-user registration, sub-user 601 contacts ASP 316 (step 701). Sub-user 601 may contact ASP 316 because sub-user 601 was not previously registered with ASP 316, because sub-user 601 may want to alter or change its previous registration information, and/or for any other reason relating to sub-user registration. Upon and/or after contacting ASP 316, sub-user 601 can transmit a user 314 identification code and/or sub-user 601 information to ASP 316 (step 703). The user 314 identification code can be used to recognize user 314 information (step 705) and/or to locate the data packet associated with user 314. [0055] Upon recognizing and/or locating user 314 information, ASP 316 can assign a new identification code to sub-user 601 (step 707) and can correlate the new identification code with the user 314 data packet, the sub-user information and/or the user 314 identification code (step 709, step 711). Accordingly, depending on the preference of user 314 and/or sub-user 601, the information of each sub-user 601 can be correlated directly with the user 314 identification code and/or the user 314 data packet.

[0056] The association of sub-user 601 information with the user 314 data packet facilitates flexibility with respect ASP answering services. For example, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ASP 316 can be configured to facilitate call-diversion, call-forwarding, and/or any other type of answering service for user 314 and/or sub-users 601, 603, 605. That is, if a user and/or sub-users requests ASP 316 answering services, one or more human or mechanical operators of ASP 316 can receive one or more identification codes of user 314 and/or sub-users 601, 603, 605 whenever a call is placed to any of user 314 or sub-users 601, 603, 605. These identification codes, in turn, may be used by ASP 316 to instantaneously access one or more data packets associated with user 314 and/or sub-users 601 , 603, 605.

[0057] More specifically, and with reference again to Figure 6, ASP 316 can also be configured to recognize which user 314 and/or sub-user 601, 603, 605 each caller 612, 622, 632 is attempting to reach. That is, ASP 316 can use the user 314 identification code or sub-user identification codes 611, 613, 615 associated with a call to accurately access the relevant data packet information of user 314 and/or sub-user 601, 603, 605. For example, if caller 612 is attempting to call sub-user 601, the call contains identification code 611, that is associated with sub-user 601. This identification code 611 can be forwarded to ASP 316, and ASP 316 can use identification code 611 to access the sub-user 601 information stored in an ASP 316 data packet. ASP 316 can then use this sub-user 601 information to respond to caller 612 in an informed manner, as if ASP 316 was sub-user 601.

[0058] The present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes in modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and/or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, and/or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed and/or inherent to such process, method, article, and/or apparatus. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the invention unless expressly described as "essential" and/or "critical."

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for facilitating routing of telecommunications data, comprising: a controller configured to receive an incoming call to a user, said controller having a user identification code associated with it; an answering services provider; an answering services provider database, wherein said answering services provider database is configured to associate and store information of said user; wherein said controller is configured to transfer said incoming call and said user identification code to said answering services provider; wherein said answering services provider is configured to use said user identification code to access said stored user information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to have a sub-user identification code associated with it, wherein said sub-user identification code is associated with said user identification code.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said answering services provider is configured to receive user information from said user during registration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said answering services provider is further configured to associate said user identification number with said user information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said answering services provider is further configured to form a data packet comprising said user identification number and said user information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said answering services provider is further configured to store said data packet on said answering service database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said answering services provider is further configured to use said stored user information to respond to said incoming call.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said answering services provider is configured to use said stored data packet to respond to said incoming call.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to transfer incoming call information to said answering services provider.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said answering services provider is configured to use said incoming call information to identify said incoming call.

11. A method for user registration in an answering service, comprising: receiving user information from a user; associating an identification number with said user information; forming a data packet comprising said identification number and said user information; and storing said data packet on an answering service database.

12. A method for providing answering services to a user, comprising: receiving a transferred call, wherein said transferred call comprises an incoming call to said user; receiving transferred call information, wherein said transferred call information comprises incoming caller information and a user identification code; and responding to said transferred call using said incoming caller information and said user identification code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said steps of receiving a transferred call and receiving transferred call information comprise receiving said transferred call and said transferred call information from a controller associated with said user.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising using said user identification code to access a data packet stored in an answering services provider database.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising extracting user information from said data packet and using said extracted user information to respond to said transferred call.