Abstract:
A system and method of routing telephone calls to specific communications devices allows multiple communications devices to use a common telephone number. One telephone number may therefore be used to place calls to different communications devices in potentially different locations. Using such a system and method, the proliferation of telephone numbers and area codes can be sufficiently controlled, as the addition of cellular telephones, facsimile machines and pagers has created the need for increases in area codes and digits that must be dialed. The present system and method allows a caller to reach a desired communication device by first dialing a set of prefix characteristics representing a specific communications device followed by a telephone number to which that specific communications device is assigned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/751,870, filed Dec. 29, 2000, now pending, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/174,429, filed Jan. 4, 2000, whose entire contents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates generally to telecommunications systems. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of a set of prefix characteristics and a multi-function telephone number to direct a call to communications devices assigned to that telephone number. 
   2. General Background and State of the Art 
   Existing telephone systems have become inundated with cellular telephones, pagers, facsimile machines, and other communications devices which have strained the availability of telephone numbers. To ease the strain, three digit area codes have been added based upon geographic location to increase availability. This has proved to be only a temporary solution, and has resulted in some cities having many different area codes, increasing the numbers that must be dialed when placing a call. 
   One prior art technique attempts to bypass or replace a recipient company&#39;s switchboard operator (or other means of directing incoming calls) with a preprogrammed code attached to the telephone number. For example, one prior art technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,121 allows callers to dial preprogrammed codes and a telephone number to reach a desired recipient or communications device. Each five-digit destination code (prefix) (see Table 5, col. 13, lines 50–67 and col. 14, lines 50–63 of the reference) would route the call directly to a specific group such as Accounts Payable, Sales, Engineering Director, Laundry Room, etc. Over 1,000 destination codes would be needed to reach the many groups in various organizations. Hence, the reference, at col. 12, lines 45–46, contains the statement “Therefore, there is no inherent limit on the quantity of FP codes which can be defined in the future.” Each telephone number is assigned at least one functional property code, that when dialed along with the telephone number, directs the call to a destination. This allows one telephone number to be used multiple times for many different communications devices. The recipient of a call, however, is responsible for assigning a functional property code to all of their telephone numbers; callers must then remember hundreds of functional property codes for each telephone number they wish to dial, which can vary widely not only for the telephone numbers of each recipient, but also from recipient to recipient. This technique, therefore, lacks a uniform standard that would make it easy for callers to remember a particular code, and creates the possibility of a caller having to dial a large, multi-digit functional property code before every telephone number. Code dialing could be done indirectly by a device that displays the available groups and allows the caller to select a target grout such as “Sales.” 
   Another prior art technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,295, allows a caller to dial a telephone number for a recipient followed by a coded suffix. This technique is used where a recipient has multiple telephones or communications devices, each having a different telephone number. The coded suffix directs the call to another one of the recipient&#39;s telephone numbers without having to remember the actual number for the particular telephone or communications device. Therefore, the caller does not need to remember or record every telephone number of a recipient; instead, the caller needs to dial only one number, followed by the appropriate coded suffix. This technique, however, does not solve the problem of limited availability of usable telephone numbers, since all communications devices of a recipient would be independently reachable by a separate telephone number. 
   The present invention addresses these problems with a simple, easy to use set of prefix characterstics that can be widely and uniformly applicable and that ease the strain created by the proliferation of communications devices and area codes. When combined with a telephone number, the set of prefix characteristics directs calls to communications devices, where multiple communications devices are assigned to common telephone numbers. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system and method of routing calls to communications devices using multi-function telephone numbers, where a potentially large number of communications devices are assigned to a common telephone number. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system and method of routing calls to communications devices using multi-function telephone numbers, where a potentially large number of communications devices are assigned to a common telephone number. 
   It is also, in object of the invention to reduce the number of telephone numbers by allocating one number to many different communications devices. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a way to reduce the number of area codes needed. 
   INVENTION SUMMARY 
   The invention provides a system and method of routing calls to communications devices using multifunction telephone numbers. The invention routes calls to specific communications devices assigned to a common telephone number by dialing a set of prefix characteristics followed by a telephone number. A central network identifies a call as being intended for a specific communications device based upon the set of prefix characteristics and routes the call to that device, provided that the specific communications d-vice intended has been assigned to the telephone number. 
   The invention solves the problem of the proliferation of area codes and telephone numbers by allowing telephone numbers to be used for more than one communications device. A person having a voice line, a fax line, a cellular phone, a modem, a pager, or any other device requiring a telephone number may use one common telephone number for all of these devices. A caller wishing to contact this person on a specific one of his or her communications devices would dial the common telephone number, preceded by a short code designed to indicate to which of the communications devices the call is intended. Using this framework, a caller would only need to dial an area code when calling a different geographical location. 
   The present invention provides that any combination of prefix characteristics may be used to indicate a specific communications device. In one embodiment, a default-number may be set as a number not requiring a set of prefix characteristics, and such a number car be directed to any communications device. For example, a regular voice line phone may be set as a default line and would use the art currently existing. Additional line phones would then each be assigned a set of prefix characteristics. In another embodiment, a facsimile line may be dialed by first entering a set of prefix characteristics indicating a facsimile, for example the pound key (#). Another code may represent a wireless phone, for example the star key (*). Thus, on its most basic level, the present invention provides that the same 7-digit telephone number is the same telephone number for many different devices, but is actually at least an 8-digit telephone number. The following table illustrates an example of sets of prefix characteristics that can be used in the present invention: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
                 
               Long Distance 
             
             
                 
               Local Calls 
               Calls 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Line 
               234-5678 
               1-xxx-234-5678 
             
             
                 
               Facsimile 
               #-234-5678 
               1-xxx-#-234-5678 
             
             
                 
               Wireless 
               *-234-5678 
               1-xxx-*-234-5678 
             
             
                 
               Second Wireless 
               2*-234-5678 
               1-xxx-2*-234-5678 
             
             
                 
               Third Wireless 
               3*-234-5678 
               1-xxx-3*-234-5678 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The present invention therefore greatly reduces the array of 7-digit telephone numbers with which consumers-must contend. For example, a family of four with six separate phone numbers (1 line, 1 fax, and 4 wireless) would have their array of numbers reduced to virtually one number. The same consolidation of telephone numbers would also be highly beneficial to businesses. For example, members of a group of limousine drivers, company vice presidents or real estate agents, etc. could each have the same 7-digit line number as part of their 9-digit telephone number. In various groups, number recall is essentially reduced to one digit as shown below. In the following table, note also that for long distance calls, the local call numbers are preceded by the appropriate area code (1-XXX) as in the above table. The area code may also follow the *. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Phone Type 
               Local Calls 
               Group 1 
               Group 2 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               Line 
               234-5678 
               Residence 
               Real Estate Office 
             
             
                 
               Wireless 
               *-234-5678 
               Husband 
               Owner 
             
             
                 
               2 nd  Wireless 
               2*-234-5678 
               Wife 
               Agent 1 
             
             
                 
               3 rd  Wireless 
               3*-234-5678 
               Son 
               Agent 2 
             
             
                 
               4 th  Wireless 
               4*-234-5678 
               Daughter 
               Agent 3 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Additionally, the invention provides that different sets of prefix characteristics may be used, depending upon a variety of factors, such as market preference and infrastructure criteria for implementation. Using the above table, it is clear that a large number of additional lines and devices are able to be included for every telephone number, limited only by the number of available combinations of digits on a telephone keypad. The reduction in telephone numbers would also have the societal benefit of correcting other major problems. In addition to each telephone subscriber being potentially accessible by a multitude of communications devices through only one telephone number plus a set of prefix characteristics, much larger areas would be served by each area code, with the result that local calls would require only 7 digits and not 11 digits. Also, the availability of 8-digit cellular numbers will be greatly expanded by the inclusion of all existing 7-digit numbers. Additionally, number recall, dialing accuracy, number acquisition and accounting records would all reach greater levels of productive efficiency. 
   Each U.S. area code includes 792 assignable three-digit prefixes which produces 7.92 mill on phone numbers. These numbers presently serve line, fax, and wireless phones. By going to eight digits on fax and wireless, the present invention separates these groups so each has its own full complement of numbers. With each area code now dedicated to roughly 7.9 million line phone numbers, 75% of U.S. area codes can be eliminated and seven-digit line dialing maintained. In the case of wireless, the two-digit prefix (2* through 9*) would provide another 63 million wireless numbers per area code, etc. This is highly significant in view of the run-away growth of wireless phones ir the U.S. from 11 million (1992) to 86 million (1999). However, the invention makes it feasible for wireless phones to have two or more input lines, such as office and home numbers. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of processing a call, the method comprising: informing the customers of the telecommunications system that one of a plurality of unique sets of symbol headings is normally, but not always, associated with one type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunications system (e.g., in advertising and/or in a service contract); assigning one of a plurality of unique multi-digit e.g., common 7-digit) telephone numbers to each selected customer (e.g., subscriber) of the telecommunications system within each area code of each local area and granting said each selected customer having a specific communications device that is connected to the telecommunications system the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said unique sets of symbol headings plus said unique multi-digit telephone number to identify the specific communications device other than a land voice line to the other customers of the telecommunications system; receiving a sequence of signals representing a specific set of symbol headings plus a specific unique (e.g., within an area code) multi-digit (e.g., common or multi-functional) telephone number that has been dialed by a caller, the combination of the specific set of prefix characteristics plus said specific multi-digit telephone number and no other common 7-digit telephone number alone identifying the specific communications device that is the destination for said call; and connecting said call to the specific communications device that is the destination for said call without necessarily determining the type of communications device to which the call is directed. For example, in dialing a combination that includes a particular set of symbol headings, the particular set of symbol headings dialed does not alone indicate to the downstream equipment that the customer desires to send a fax message, i.e., communicate with a fax machine. Preferably, the specific set of symbol headings is the # symbol and the # symbol plus said specific multi-digit telephone number identifies a specific fax machine or a specific second voice line with or without an associated facsimile machine. Preferably, the specific set of symbol headings is the * symbol and * symbol plus said specific multi-digit telephone number identifies a first specific cellular telephone. Preferably, the specific set of symbol headings is a digit plus the * symbol and the * symbol plus said specific multi-digit telephone number identifies another specific cellular telephone. 
   In preferred embodiments of the invention, the following results necessarily follow from practicing the invention: (1) providing about 7.92 million assignable combinations for landline voice communication devices within each area code, about 7.92 million assignable combinations for facsimile or second landline voice communications devices within each area code, and about 71.28 million assignable combinations for cellular telephone communications devices within each area code, which equals a grand total of about 87.12 million assignable combinations available within each area code; (2) at least increasing by a factor of 11 the number of assignable combinations within each area code when compared to the number of assignable numbers available within an area code of a conventional telecommunications system; thereby allowing at least the number of area codes to be reduced from 302 to 54 when compared to a said conventional telecommunications system; (3) substantially eliminating the overlay practice of providing two area codes in a specific local area and requiring customers to dial three extra digits or ten digits to reach a specific communications device within said specific local area; (4) providing three separate and distinct numbering complements consisting of a first complement of common 7-digit telephone numbers for landline voice communications devices, a second complement of 8-digit combinations containing a # symbol for facsimile communications devices and a third complement of 8-digit or 9-digit combinations containing a * symbol for cellular communications devices, thereby eliminating the extensive processing required by said conventional telecommunications system to determine whether a common 7-digit telephone number is being used by a landline voice communications device, a facsimile communications device or a cellular communications device; and (5) eliminating the practice of splitting a region of said conventional telecommunications system previously served by an existing single area code into two halves whenever the existing area code reaches its maximum capacity of 7.92 million subscribers, and adding a new area code in one of the halves of the region, forcing one half or 3.96 million subscribers to accept a new 10-digit telephone number containing said new area code, at a great level of inconvenience, stress and cost of changing telephone numbers with the addition of each new area code. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of directing a call to a specific communications device, comprising: announcing to (e.g., informing in some way) the customers of a telecommunications system that one of a plurality of unique symbols is normally (e.g., but not in a mandatory way) associated with a particular type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunications system; assigning one of a plurality of unique (e.g., within each area code) common 7-digit telephone numbers to each selected customer of the telecommunications system and granting said each selected customer having a specific communications device the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said unique symbols plus said unique (e.g., multi-function or common) 7-digit telephone number to identify the specific communications device (e.g., landline telephone, facsimile machine, cellular telephone, etc.) to other customers of the telecommunications system (and/or to other customers of other telecommunications systems); and receiving a call having been initiated by a caller by dialing a combination comprising a specific unique symbol and a specific telephone number; determining the destination indicated by the combination, no other common 7-digit telephone number alone indicating said destination; and routing the call to the specific communications device represented by the combination. Preferably, the specific unique symbol is the pound key and the pound key plus said specific telephone number identifies a specific facsimile machine or a specific second voice line with or without an associated facsimile machine. Preferably, the specific unique symbol is the star key and star key plus said specific common 7-digit telephone number identifies a first specific cellular telephone. Preferably, the specific unique symbol is a digit plus the star key and star key plus said specific common 7-digit telephone number identifies another specific cellular telephone. Preferably, the method further comprises directing the call to a cellular processing network if the specific unique symbol and the specific common 7-digit telephone number indicates that the call is being made to a specific cellular telephone. 
   In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention is a system for processing a call made to a (e.g., multi-function or common) telephone number and directed to a specific communications device to which that telephone number is assigned (e.g., linked in the minds of customers), the system comprising: means for announcing to the customers of a telecommunications system that one of a plurality of suggested sets of symbol headings is normally associated with a single type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunications system; means for assigning one of a plurality of common telephone numbers to each selected customer of the telecommunications system and granting said each selected customer having a specific communications device the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said suggested sets of symbol headings plus said common telephone number (e.g., linked to the selected customer in the minds of other customers) to identify the specific communications device to other customers of the telecommunications system; a sequence of signals representing a specific set of symbol headings and a specific common telephone number that have been dialed by a caller, the sequence of signals being the sole directory number for the specific communications device (which directory number may or may not be listed), the set of symbol headings immediately preceding the common telephone number, being distinguishable from said common telephone number and together with said common telephone number defining a destination for said call; and a routing apparatus having a switching component and an identification component for determining the intended destination of the call and connecting the call to that destination. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a routing system for directing calls to different communications devices having identical telephone numbers, said system comprising: an administrative subsystem comprising means for informing the customers of a telecommunications system that one of a plurality of suggested symbols is normally (but not always) associated with each type of communications device that is connectable to a telecommunications system and means for assigning one of a plurality of unique telephone numbers (e.g., within an area code) to each selected customer of the telecommunications system and granting said each selected customer having a specific communications device the exclusive right to optionally use a combination comprising any one of said plurality of suggested symbols plus said unique telephone number to identify the specific communications device (e.g., of any available type) to other customers of the telecommunications system; a network subsystem having routing apparatus including a switching component and an identification component for processing a call to a destination, the call including a sequence of signals indicating a set of symbol headings and a telephone number that have been dialed by a caller, the destination being identified by the set of symbol headings, the sequence of signals being a directory number for the specific communications device; and at least one communications device assigned to a telephone number; wherein said the set of symbol headings does not necessarily indicate to said routing apparatus that the specific communications device is a particular type of communications device. For example in a preferred embodiment of the invention an 8-digit facsimile number and an 8-digit cellular telephone number of each selected customer would each contain the common 7-digit landline number of the selected customer. 
   In a further preferred embodiment, in a telecommunications system in which at least some subscribers control a plurality of communications devices, a system for routing a telephone call to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, the invention is a system comprising: means for accepting a combination comprising a heading and a common telephone number (e.g., one linked in the mind of callers and/or in a directory with a particular subscriber) as an indication that a caller desires to reach the specific communications device of the particular subscriber (e.g., a line telephone, a cellular telephone, a facsimile machine, or a pager), said specific communications device of the particular subscriber being reachable by the caller&#39;s dialing no other telephone number (e.g., each specific communications device is associated with only one directory number); and means for routing said telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber. For example, in a preferred embodiment, using a # symbol as a code does not indicate to the means for routing that the caller desires to send a fax message. This is conventionally done by the calling tone, a one-second burst of 1100 Hertz occurring every three seconds, that is produced by the caller&#39;s fax machine. Preferably, the means for accepting is selected from the group consisting of: a line telephone, a cellular or wireless telephone, a facsimile machine, and a pager. Preferably, said heading is selected from the group consisting of: a prefix that precedes an area code, a prefix that follows an area code, a suffix that precedes an area code, and a suffix that follows an area code. Preferably, said heading is the # symbol and the # symbol plus said common telephone number identifies a specific fax machine or a specific second voice line with or without an associated facsimile machine. Preferably, said heading is the * symbol and * symbol plus said common telephone number identifies a first specific cellular telephone. Preferably, said heading is a digit plus the * symbol and the digit plus the * symbol plus said common telephone number identifies another specific cellular telephone. Preferably, said heading is a digit plus the # symbol and the digit plus the # symbol plus said common telephone number identifies another specific voice land line with or without an associated facsimile machine. 
   In a telecommunications system, a preferred embodiment of the invention is a system for routing a telephone call to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, said system comprising: means for assigning a common telephone number to the particular subscriber; means for accepting the common telephone number alone as an indication that a caller desires to reach the specific communications device of the particular subscriber, said specific communications device of the particular subscriber being a first voice landline telephone; means for accepting a combination comprising a symbol and the common telephone number as an indication that the caller desires to reach another specific communications device of the particular subscriber, said specific communications device of the particular subscriber being reachable by the caller&#39;s dialing no other common 7-digit telephone number; and means for routing said telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, an 8-digit facsimile number and an 8-digit cellular telephone number of the particular customer would each contain the common 7-digit landline number of the particular customer. 
   In another preferred embodiment implemented in a telecommunications system, the invention is a routing system for routing a telephone call to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber within an area code, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a common 7-digit telephone number to the particular subscriber; means for accepting the common 7-digit telephone number alone as an indication that a caller desires to reach the specific communications device of the particular subscriber, said specific communications device of the particular subscriber being a first voice landline device; means for accepting an 8-part or 9-part telephone number comprising a heading and the common 7-digit telephone number as an indication that the caller desires to reach another specific communications device of the particular subscriber, said other specific communications device of the particular subscriber being reachable by the caller&#39;s dialing no other common 7-digit telephone number; and means for routing said telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber. Preferably, said caller has the option of using as the heading a # for a facsmile device or a second voice device, a * for a first cellular device, or a 2*, a 3*, a 4*, a 5*, a 6*, a 7*, a 8*, or a 9* for another cellular device. Preferably, in this embodiment, 7.92 million voice landline devices or other devices, 7.92 million facsimile devices or other devices, and 71.28 million cellular devices or other devices are reachable with the area code, for a total of 87.12 million communications devices of any type being reachable within the area code. 
   In another preferred embodiment implemented in a telecommunications system, the invention is a method for routing a telephone call to a specific communications device of one of a plurality of subscribers within an area code, said method for routing comprising: assigning a common 7-digit telephone number to the one of a plurality of subscribers; accepting the common 7-digit telephone number alone as an indication that a caller desires to reach the specific communications device of the one of a plurality of subscribers, said specific communications device being a first voice landline device; accepting an 8-part or 9-part telephone number comprising a heading and the common 7-digit telephone number as an indication that the caller desires to reach another specific communications device of the one of a plurality of subscribers, said other specific communications device being reachable by the caller&#39;s dialing no other common 7-digit telephone number; and routing said telephone call to the specific communications device of the one of the plurality of subscribers. Preferably, said caller has the option of using as the heading a # for a facsimile device or a second landline voice device, a * for a first cellular device, or a 2*, a 3*, a 4*, a 5*, a 6*, a 7*, a 8*, or a 9* for another cellular device. In this embodiment, 7.92 million voice landline devices or other devices, 7.92 million facsimile devices or other devices, and 71.28 million cellular devices or other devices are reachable with the area code, for a total of 87.12 million communications devices of any type being reachable within the area code. With preferred embodiments, the availability of telephone numbers for subscribers within each area code increases from 7.92 million telephone numbers in the background art, to 87.12 million telephone numbers with the present invention, where the increase of 79.2 million telephone numbers is derived from the addition of 10 new headings (e.g., #, *, and 2* through 9*) to the present block of 7.92 million telephone numbers, to produce said increase of 10×7.92 or 79.2 million new telephone numbers. 
   In yet another preferred embodiment in a telecommunications system having 199.1 million residential subscribers, the invention is a method for routing a telephone call to a specific communications device of one of said residential subscribers, said method for routing comprising: assigning a common 7-digit telephone number to the residential subscriber; accepting the common 7-digit telephone number alone as an indication that a caller desires to reach a first voice landline communications device of the residential subscriber or accepting an 8-part or 9-part telephone number comprising a heading and the common 7-digit common telephone number as an indication that the caller desires to reach a cellular telephone communications device of the residential subscriber, said cellular telephone communications device being reachable by the caller&#39;s dialing no other common 7-digit telephone number; and routing said telephone call to the appropriate communications device of the residential subscriber. Preferably, in this embodiment, the residential subscriber can choose any one of the residential subscriber&#39;s 7-digit, 8-digit or 9-digit telephone numbers to be his basic one-number system because they are all exclusively assigned to him; all of telephone numbers that include the residential subscriber&#39;s 7-digit telephone number are assigned exclusively as a set to the residential subscriber; said set of telephone numbers is permanently (exclusively) assigned to the residential subscriber as long as one of them is being used; a telephone number that included the residential subscriber&#39;s 7-digit telephone number that is not being used is held in a standby mode and cannot be disconnected and assigned to any other subscriber because it is exclusively assigned to the residential subscriber; and with the invention disclosed herein a portion of the 199.1 million residential telephone subscribers would be assigned telephone numbers for landline telephone service and cellular telephone service that contained the same 7-digit telephone number, thereby releasing that portion of common 7-digit telephone numbers for other subscribers. Thus, for each million subscribers that have, in the background art, two separate 7-digit telephone numbers, consisting of a common 7-digit landline telephone number and a separate 7-digit cellular telephone number, would have, with preferred embodiments of the present invention, one common 7-digit landline telephone number and an 8-digit cellular telephone number that contains a * plus the exact same common 7-digit landline telephone number, thereby releasing one million common 7-digit telephone numbers for use by other subscribers. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram flowchart of the overall operation of a system implementing the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an overall schematic view of the system of the present invention, showing the components of a network implementing the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the schematic components of  FIG. 2 , showing internal components of each major part of a network implementing the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram flowchart of the overall operation of a system implementing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In block  10 , a call is placed, such as for example from a wireless or cellular phone, facsimile machine or line phone. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the call is placed by dialing a set of prefix characteristics plus a telephone number. The telephone number is preferably preceded (but may be followed) by the set of prefix characteristics that together indicate a destination for each call. Each destination is a specific, intended communications device. A specific communications device may be a cellular or wireless telephone, a line telephone, a facsimile machine, a pager, or any other device now known or developed in the future which may be capable of receiving a call over a public telephone network. This specification intends that the terms wireless and cellular can be used interchangeably to refer to any telephone which communicates by transmitting and receiving signal using radio waves or other wireless forms of communication. 
   In one embodiment, the initial prefix characteristic is a C (or 2) for cellular or an F (or 3) for facsimile, followed by the telephone number. In another embodiment, a double-digit prefix is entered prior to the telephone number. For example, a caller can dial l# (or 4#) for Internet, P# (or 7#) for pager, S# (or 7#) for satellite, and W# (or 9#) for wireless. In yet another embodiment, the two-digit prefix can include two non-numeral characters, such as for example ** or #*. 
   Telephone keypads may also be modified to allow additional symbols to appear on the keypad. Each touch-tone digit is a unique combination of two single-frequency tones. The frequencies are arranged in a matrix. As the button is pushed for a specific digit, the appropriate combination of two tones is generated, corresponding to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal axes. The frequencies corresponding to the horizontal axis are called low band and are 697 Hz, 770 Hz, 852 Hz, and 941 Hz. The frequencies corresponding to the vertical axis are called high band and are 1209 Hz, 1336 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 1633 Hz. When a button is pushed, two tones at the frequencies corresponding to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal axes are produced. A central processing network or mobile switching center senses the frequencies of the tones and determines the dialed digit. For example, if the digit 8 were pushed, two frequencies would be generated simultaneously and filtered and detected to determine the dialed digit. 
   However, there are four frequencies for the vertical axis and only three columns of digits on stands rd telephone keypads. Therefore, there are four available buttons on every keypad that are not used or provided for. Accordingly, four more symbols may be placed on each keypad. In the present invention, these symbols could be used as prefix characteristics to indicate an intended communications device. For example, Greek letters may be used as buttons on a keypad, such as φ, λ, π or ψ. These could therefore be used to create set of prefix characteristics where φ represents a wireless phone, λ represents a facsimile machine, π represents a pager, and ψ represents a line phone. 
   Each keypad digit is also expressed as a so-called BCD (binary coded decimal) four-bit code. The * is equivalent to a binary 1011, which is a decimal eleven (11), and the # is equivalent to a binary 1100, which is a decimal twelve (12). Also available are three unused BCD (binary coded decimal) four-bit codes that represent each digit. These are binary 1010 (ten), 1101 (thirteen), and 1110 (fourteen). Another row of three or more new symbols may be provided on new phones or with an inline attachment on present phones. Each symbol may designate a specific function like fax, wireless, Internet, pager, etc. and may be utilized in the same manner as the * for wireless that was previously described. 
   Block  12  of  FIG. 1  shows the procession of a call made from a wireless phone. If the call placed in block  10  is made using a cellular telephone, the call is routed through a local network for processing. Current wireless networks include a base station, or cell site, and a mobile switching center. 
   Wireless phone refers to any cellular or portable telephone that transmits on radio waves to a nearby wireless network and then over a standard telephone network to a line telephone or to a cellular tower and back to a nearby cellular or other portable telephone. This includes wireless telephones that transmit and receive on high frequency bands, as well as cellular systems that transmit via community radar sites or a satellite or other means instead of a local cellular tower. The term wireless phone will be used in this specification to refer to any wireless device, including a cellular telephone or other portable telephone. Line phone will be used in this specification to refer to any telephone using standard telephone lines to transmit and receive telephone calls. 
   The system and method of the present invention is compatible with the existing wireless infrastructure. Each wireless telephone has a 10-digit number called a Mobile Identification Number (MIN). To receive calls, the telephone searches for its MIN on a paging channel, and to transmit calls, the telephone transmits its MIN. The present invention can be integrated into the current wireless system in several ways. For example, the 10-digit MIN can be extended one or more digits. For incoming wireless calls using a one-digit set of prefix characteristics, the present 10-digit MIN can be used, with the mobile switching center ignoring the set of prefix characteristics and completing the call by paging with the present 10-digit MIN. In this example, the operation of the wireless system proceeds as normal. However, for incoming calls with the 2 or more digit set of prefix characteristics, one digit may be added to the MIN, or in the alternative, a two-step paging process may use the 10-digit MIN. This update may be required only on wireless phones that feature multiple customers sharing numbers one digit apart. In another example, for calls routed through the Public Switches Telephone Network (PSTN), the same switching presently used by the PSTN to route the 10-digit wireless telephone number is utilized. In a further example, for the 11-digit version of the single-digit set of prefix characteristics, the routing may be processed by tone signaling, which ir presently used for control and status indications. The unique tone of a key, for example the * key, which is made by combining the frequencies of 941 Hz and 1209 Hz, acts as a call signal denoting a wireless number. 
   Calls passing through the wireless network that are determined to be long distance, i.e., to an area code outside of the regional location of the caller, are routed to a central processing network in block  14  and then to a central processing network in the geographical area where the destination of call is located, as shown in block  16 . Here, a signal processor and central processing unit determine whether the call is intended for a specific wireless phone, or another destination. If the call is intended for a wireless phone, the call is then routed to the wireless network in the same geographical area, the wireless network including the base station and the mobile switching center. This is shown in block  24 . At this point, because of the prefix characteristic dialed preceding the telephone number, it has been determined that the intended communications device is a particular wireless telephone. Accordingly, the call is then routed to the appropriate wireless phone. This is shown in block  30 . If the call if intended for a line phone, the call is routed to the specific communications device as shown in block  28 . 
   Calls passing through the wireless network that are determined to be intended for other wireless phones proceed through the base station and mobile switching center. Calls that are intended for local wireless phones are routed to the intended wireless phone as shown in block  20 . Calls that are intended for out of the region are routed to another wireless network in the appropriate region as shown in block  22  and then routed to the intended wireless phone in block  28 . 
   Calls may be placed from a wireless phone and intended for another wireless phone without the need for a set of prefix characteristics, as long as the intended telephone number has no other communications devices assigned to it, or as long as the intended telephone number has the a wireless phone as a default device. 
   If the call placed in block  10  is made from a line telephone using customary telephone lines, the call proceeds to the local central processing network as shown in block  14 . If the call is intended for a geographic area outside of the local calling area, it is routed to a central processing network in the intended area as shown in block  16 . The central processing network is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) typically used in the telecommunications field for managing telephone call volume. If it is a local call, the ventral processing network performs call identification and routing functions. The central processing network includes a signal processor and a switching matrix to identify and route calls. The signal processor includes a microprocessor that receives a signal containing the call through an input. The signal processor reads the prefix characteristics at the beginning of the call to determine the intended communications device. Software at the signal processor determines the intended destination and outputs the call to a switch processor and then to the switching matrix, which routes the call to the appropriate location. This location may be either a specific communications device or another central processing network. The central processing network then routes the call to the intended communications device as shown in block  18 . 
     FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a telecommunications network incorporating the present invention. Telephone calls placed from a wireless phone  10  travel over a wireless connection to a base station  12 . The call is transferred to a mobile switching center (MSC)  14 . If the call is intended for another wireless phone, it is either directly routed to the intended wireless phone  24 , or it is routed to another mobile switching center  14  and their on to the intended wireless phone. 
   A wireless phone  10  communicates by radio signals directly or via satellite with a base station  12  within its area. The base station  12  converts incoming audio from the MSC  14  into RF (radio frequency) for transmitting to the wireless phone  10  and converts outgoing radio signals from the wireless phone  10  for transfer to the MSC  14  via a land line or microwave link. If the call is intended for another wireless phone  24 , the MSC  14  routes the call to the destination wireless phone  24 . 
   If the call is intended for another specific communications device, such as a line telephone  16 , or for a wireless phone in a different regional location, the MSC  14  routes the call to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  18  in the call area in which the original call is made. The PSTN  18  processes the call and determines whether it is intended for a locally-based device or a device in another geographical location. If intended for a locally-based device, it is either routed to the appropriate device in the case of non-wireless calls, or to an additional mobile switching center (MSC)  20  for processing if the call is intended for a wireless telephone  24 . If the call is intended for a device, wireless or otherwise, in another geographic location, the call is routed to an additional PSTN  22 . The additional PSTN  22  repeats the previous process, routing the call to a locally-based device, an MSC  20 , or another PSTN  22  until the call reaches its intended destination. 
     FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the components of the system of  FIG. 2 . The baseband voice signal (analog or digital) of the wireless phone  10  is converted into RF signals for communication between the base station  12  and the wireless phone  10 . This is accomplished at the base station  12 , which includes a transceiver  28  having a transmitter  30 , a receiver  32 , and a scanning receiver  34 . 
     FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the components of the system of  FIG. 2 . The baseband voice signal (analog or digital) of the wireless phone  10  is converted into RF signals for communication between the base station  12  and the wireless phone  10 . This is accomplished at the base station  12 , which includes a transceiver  28  having a transmitter  30 , a receiver  32 , and a scanning receiver  34 . 
   The base station  12  also includes a system controller  36  that coordinates the operation of all base station equipment based on commands received from the MSC  14 . The functions of the system controller  36  include control signal routing and message processing. The system controller  36  inserts control channel signaling messages, sets up voice channels, and operates the radio location/scanning receiver. In addition, the system controller  36  monitors equipment status and reports operational and failure status to the MSC  14 . 
   The MSC  14  coordinates all communication channels and processes. The MSC  14  processes requests for service from wireless phones and land line callers, and routes calls between the base station  12  and the PSTN  18 . The MSC  14  receives the dialed digits, creates and interprets call processing tones, and routes the call paths. 
   The MSC&#39;s main components are the system controller  36 , communication controllers  38 , a switching assembly  40 , operator terminals  42 , and subscriber database registers  44 . The system controller  36  guides the MSC  14  by coordinating the base stations, MSC switching functions, and PSTN connections. The system controller  36  creates and interprets commands between the MSC  14  and the base stations, controls the MSC switch, validates customers requesting access, maintains air time and PSTN billing records, and monitors for equipment failures. The communications controllers  40  process and buffer voice and data information between the MSC, base stations and PSTN. They combine voice paths with high-speed data and, in reverse, separate voice paths from high-speed data. 
   The switching assembly  40  connects base stations and the PSTN  18  with either a physical connection (analog) or a logic path (digital). Analog switches require a physical connection between switch paths. Current digital wireless switches use digital communication links. The switching assembly  40  is a high speed matrix memory storage and retrieval system that provides virtual connections between the base station voice channels and the PSTN voice channels. Operator terminals  42  control maintenance and administrative functions. An operator terminal  42  may be a computer monitor and keyboard dedicated to controlling equipment and modifying the subscriber database registers. 
   The system controller  36  processes various subscriber database registers  44 , such as Authentication Center (AC), Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor Location Register (VLR), ard Billing Center. The Authentication Center (AC) stores and processes information required to authenticate a wireless phone. During authentication, the AC processes information from the wireless phone and compares it to previously stored information. If the processed information matches, the wireless phone passes. 
   The Home. Location Register (HLR) is a subscriber database register  44  containing each customer&#39;s Mobile Identification Number (MIN), which is the 10-digit phone number, and 11-digit Electronic Serial Number (ESN) of the wireless phone to uniquely identify each customer. Each wireless phone is created with a unique eleven-digit electronic serial number (ESN). The first three digits represent the manufacturer, and the last eight are a serial number. The combined MIN and ESN uniquely identify a valid subscriber. Each customer&#39;s user profile includes the selected long distance carrier, calling restrictions, service fee charge rates, and other selected network options. The subscriber can change and store the changes for some feature options in the HLR-(such as call forwarding). The system controller  36  uses this information to authorize system access and process individual call billing. 
   The HLR register is a set of bits of high-speed memory within a central processing unit. Instructions fetch the data to the register from a database in a magnetic hard disk memory. The subscriber database registers  44  are critical, so they are regularly backed up, typically on tape, to restore the information if the HLR system fails. 
   The Visitor Location Register (VLR) contains a subset of a subscriber&#39;s HLR information for use while roaming. The VLR eliminates the need for the visited MSC to continually check with the visitor&#39;s HLR each time access is attempted. The visitor&#39;s information is temporarily stored in the VLR memory, and then erased either when the wireless phone registers in another system or after a specified period of inactivity. 
   The base station  12  may command the wireless phone  10  to respond to commands (system orders) independent of the user&#39;s knowledge. This includes system registration commands. When the wireless phone receives an order, it will setup its response message (a flag) to indicate that it will access the system as a response to a system order. 
   The present system of sending line calls from a wireless phone  10  is not affected by the present invention. The originating wireless phone  10  dials the 7-digit or the 10-digit line number and the call is routed by the MSC  14  to the nearby PSTN  18  to the line phone  16  or through several PSTNs to a long distance line phone  16 . The present invention also has no effect on line phone to line phone calls. All originating 7-digit and 10-digit calls from a line phone to another line phone would be routed in the present manner through the PSTNs. 
   When the call reaches the PSTN  18  in  FIG. 3 , the set of prefix characteristics and telephone number are processed by a signal processor  46  which determines the communications service to which the call is intended. The call enters a central processing unit  48  in the signal processor  46 . The signal processor may include a memory unit having database registers, such as a customer database, an 800 number translation register an area code routing register, and a DN-to-ILAN translation register. This register includes tables that translate Direct Number signals to Internal Line Appearance Number signals for processing telephone calls. 
   After a call having a set of prefix characteristics and a telephone number is processed by the central processing unit  48  and the signal processor  46 , the call is sent through the central processing unit output port to a switching processor  50  and then to the switching matrix  52  after the call&#39;s destination is determined. The switching matrix  52  then routes the call to the particular component of the PSTN  18  that will transmit the call to the intended destination. For example, if the set of prefix characteristics plus the telephone number indicates that the call is intended for a local line telephone, the switching matrix  52  routes the call through a line connection to the intended device. If the set of prefix characteristics plus the telephone number indicates that the call is intended for a local wireless phone, the switching matrix  52  routes the call to an MSC in the local area, which in turn identifies the intended destination and routes the call appropriately. If the set of prefix characteristics plus the telephone number indicates that another specific communications device is intended, such as a pager, the switching matrix  52  also routes the call accordingly. Furthermore, if the set of prefix characteristics plus the telephone number indicates that the call is intended for a specific communications device, wireless or otherwise, in another geographic location, the switching matrix  52  routes the call to another PSTN  22 , where a signal processor having a central processing unit identifies the communications device intended using the set of prefix characteristics plus the telephone number and instructs the switching matrix  52  to route the call accordingly. (Note: The above discussion is written from the user&#39;s viewpoint. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the set of prefix characteristics is actually part of the assignable telephone number. The term “plus the telephone number” refers only to that portion of the assignable telephone number containing seven numerical digits.) 
   It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the set of prefix characteristics may be a set of suffix characteristics dialed at the conclusion of a telephone number. In another example, the set of prefix characteristics dialed to indicate a particular communications device may include symbols not currently included on telephones but which are possible in light of the frequencies associated with the telephone keypads. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.