System and method for providing call management services in a virtual private network using voice or video over Internet protocol

Abstract

A system and method for providing call management services in a Virtual Private Network of the present invention uses the advantages of end-to-end Internet Protocol signaling. The system and method of the present invention includes a user profile which offers both a customer address and a user name as search keys. The method includes locating the called party who may be at a multiplicity of possible physical locations, evaluating the calling and called party privileges, routing preferences and busy/idle status for establishing permission to set up the call, determining an optimum route to establish the telephone call. Due to the system and method of the present invention, the telephone call takes the optimum route and preferably the most direct route to the destination with a high probability of completion.

1 - 50 . (canceled)  
     
     
         51 . A method for allowing a calling party to influence a call routing decision prior to call completion, comprising in combination: 
 receiving a call request for a subscriber from a calling party;    determining that the subscriber is not available;    invoking a logic tree to determine what options are available for routing a call, wherein the logic tree matches data associated with the subscriber and data associated with the calling party to determine what options are available; and    providing the calling party with the available options prior to establishing the call in a signaling message.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein determining that the subscriber is not available includes determining that the subscriber is currently on a call, has invoked a call forwarding feature, or has invoked a restricting feature.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the data associated with the subscriber includes routing preferences, bandwidth reservation, and overriding busy status.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the data associated with the calling party includes an identification of the calling party's work group and role within the work group.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the options are selected from the group consisting of terminating the call request, redirecting the call request, and completing the call request.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein redirecting the call request includes redirecting the call request to a destination selected from the group consisting of another number associated with the subscriber, a number associated with a current location of the subscriber, a number associated with another person, a call attendant, and a voice messaging system.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein completing the call request includes interrupting an active call that includes the subscriber.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the logic tree receives the data associated with the subscriber and the calling party via Session Initiation Protocol messaging.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising receiving from the calling party a selection of one of the available options for routing the call and routing the call based on the selection.  
     
     
         60 . A method for providing call management services in a wired Virtual Private Network that supports user mobility, comprising in combination: 
 receiving a call request for a subscriber roaming in the wired Virtual Private Network, wherein the call request includes at least one of a name and a first number assigned to the subscriber, and wherein the subscriber has registered his current location in the network using a second number assigned to the location;    translating the at least one name and first number assigned to the subscriber to the second number assigned to the location;    obtaining a profile for the subscriber using the at least one of a name and a first number assigned to the subscriber; and    completing the call request at the subscriber's current location based on the profile.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising determining whether the subscriber is present in the Virtual Private Network.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the subscriber registers his current endpoint by providing the first number and a password prior to receiving the call request.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the endpoint is assigned to another subscriber in the network.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the subscriber's profile includes routing preferences, bandwidth reservation, overriding a busy status.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the subscriber's profile is located in a centralized database that maintains subscriber profiles for subscribers of the network.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the centralized database arranges the subscriber profiles in a hierarchy.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein obtaining a profile for the subscriber includes performing a query of a directory server.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein obtaining a profile for the subscriber includes propagating information within a call setup message.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising assigning the endpoint to the subscriber.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising associating the subscriber's profile with the second number assigned to the endpoint.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the second number serves as a global address for location management within the network.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the global address is stored in the subscriber's profile.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the second number is provided to a Public Switched Telephone Network as a caller identification.  
     
     
         74 . A telephone network system for providing call management services, comprising in combination: 
 a call agent that receives a call request from a calling party for a subscriber of a wired network, wherein the call request includes at least one of a name and a number associated with the subscriber;    a directory server that translates the at least one name and number associated with the subscriber into a current network address, wherein the current network address is a number associated with a physical location of the subscriber in the wired network; and    a portability server that provides the subscriber's current network address to the directory server.    
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the portability server allows the subscriber to identify his current physical location in the wired network.  
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the directory server matches preferences and privileges of the calling party and the subscriber prior to completing a call.  
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the directory server downloads service logic from a centralized database to the call agent.  
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the call agent is assigned to a gateway, and controls and manages data for the gateway.  
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the call agent assigned to the gateway exchanges signaling messages with another call agent assigned to another gateway to set up inter-gateway calls.