US5588048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Geographically mapped telephone routing method and system
Assignee: 800 Adept Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-28
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Granted: 1996-12-24
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Expires: 2016-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for direct routing of telephone calls made by a caller originating from within specific calling areas to one of a plurality of locations of a second party according to certain criteria established by the second party. This routing is accomplished based on the assignment of latitude and longitude coordinates to a potential caller's location. Once these coordinates are assigned to each of the potential callers, the second party's criteria is applied to assign the potential caller to a second party. Such criteria could be existence within a previously-defined geographic area, a custom defined geographic area, or through calculations such as the shortest distance between coordinate points. Once all such assignments have been made, a database is assembled to be used by a long distance carrier for direct routing of telephone calls from callers to an assigned second party.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel E. Neville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/4872; H04M3/493; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13091; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13282; H04Q2213/13376; H04Q2213/13383; H04Q2213/13512; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for direct routing a telephone call from a first party who has an originating telephone number at a specific location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates who dials a telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to a second party having a plurality of service locations, said system comprising: means for allocating individual latitude and longitude coordinates to each originating telephone number of all potential first parties; means for defining the boundaries of one or more geographical areas which can be of any size and shape according to predetermined criteria, each point along said boundaries being defined by latitude and longitude coordinates; means for assigning to each originating telephone number of said potential first parties a telephone number of a service location of a second party that will receive calls originating from within the boundary of a geographic area defined by said means for defining in which the individual latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of each of said potential first parties lie; means for determining the originating telephone number of the first party from which said telephone call is to be routed; and direct routing means for direct routing said telephone call to a service location of the second party assigned to said originating telephone number of the first party by said means for assigning.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for direct routing a telephone call from a first party who has an originating telephone number at a specific location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates who dials a telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to a second party having a plurality of service locations, said system comprising: means for allocating individual latitude and longitude coordinates to each originating telephone number of all potential first parties; means for defining the boundaries of one or more geographical areas which can be of any size and shape according to predetermined criteria, each point along said boundaries being defined by latitude and longitude coordinates; means for assigning to each originating telephone number of said potential first parties a telephone number of a service location of a second party that will receive calls originating from within the boundary of a geographic area defined by said means for defining in which the individual latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of each of said potential first parties lie; means for determining the originating telephone number of the first party from which said telephone call is to be routed; and direct routing means for direct routing said telephone call to a service location of the second party assigned to said originating telephone number of the first party by said means for assigning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for allocating, defining and assigning are comprised by a database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said database resides at a long distance telephone service provider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said long distance telephone service provider has equipment capable of accommodating 800-type telephone traffic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to the second party is an 800-type telephone number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined criteria is defined by the second party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of the first party define the street address of the first party.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to the second party comprises one of an 800, 900 or special access code telephone number.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for direct routing a telephone call from a first party who has an originating telephone number at a specific location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates who dials a telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to a second party having a plurality of service locations, said method comprising the steps of: allocating individual latitude and longitude coordinates to each originating telephone number of all potential first parties; defining the boundaries of one or more geographical areas which can be of any size and shape according to predetermined criteria, each point along said boundaries being defined by latitude and longitude coordinates; assigning to each originating telephone number of said potential first panics a telephone number of a service location of a second party that will receive calls originating from within the boundary of a geographic area defined in said step of defining in which the individual latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of each of said potential first parties lie; determining the originating telephone number of the first party from which said telephone call is to be routed; and directly routing said telephone call to a service location of the second party assigned to said originating telephone number of the first party by said step of assigning.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for direct routing a telephone call from a first party who has an originating telephone number at a specific location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates who dials a telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to a second party having a plurality of service locations, said method comprising the steps of: allocating individual latitude and longitude coordinates to each originating telephone number of all potential first parties; defining the boundaries of one or more geographical areas which can be of any size and shape according to predetermined criteria, each point along said boundaries being defined by latitude and longitude coordinates; assigning to each originating telephone number of said potential first panics a telephone number of a service location of a second party that will receive calls originating from within the boundary of a geographic area defined in said step of defining in which the individual latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of each of said potential first parties lie; determining the originating telephone number of the first party from which said telephone call is to be routed; and directly routing said telephone call to a service location of the second party assigned to said originating telephone number of the first party by said step of assigning.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said steps of allocating, defining and assigning are performed in a database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said database resides at a long distance telephone service provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said long distance telephone service provider has equipment capable of accommodating 800-type telephone traffic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to the second party is an 800-type telephone number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said predetermined criteria is defined by the second party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the latitude and longitude coordinates of the specific location of the first party define the street address of the first party.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said telephone number including digits uniquely characteristic to the second party comprises one of an 800, 900 or special access code telephone number.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-24 | 2000-06-24 | 2000-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-24 | 2004-06-24 | 2004-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-24 | 2008-06-24 | 2008-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |