Abstract:
Components of a telephone system often do not evolve in lock-step with other system improvements. For a variety of reasons, a component in a system may be operational to enable telephone calls utilizing a particular dialing format but be inoperable for calls utilizing a different format. Telephone number formats were initially numeric. The number of digits and format of the digits was often determined based on a country-specific dialing plan. Many countries have moved to more digits or alphanumeric formats (e.g., URIs). By capturing these enhanced addresses and generating an associated unique identifier, internal networks may utilize legacy numbering systems internally and, once the call reaches an edge device, route them based upon the enhanced address.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is generally directed toward telephone call processing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Legacy systems exist in various forms. Legacy telephony systems may be limited to only numeric characters and typically only a certain number of digits. In the United States, legacy telephone numbers are ten digits; in Germany, seven; and, in India, thirteen. In contrast, enhanced systems may utilize more digits (e.g., Germany&#39;s fifteen digits and India&#39;s eight digits). Enhanced systems may also utilize alphanumeric and special characters, such as addresses utilizing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), Uniform Resource Name (URN), or Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). Compatibility issues between the legacy and enhanced system are commonplace. 
         [0003]    Legacy systems are improved to become enhanced systems, such as when countries expand numbering digits (e.g., when India transitioned from a seven-digit public switched telephone network (PSTN) local number to an eight-digit number or Germany&#39;s move from the E.164 thirteen digits format to the E.164 fifteen digit format). Often upgraded switches are required to enable parsing of more digits. The switches in a PSTN are commonly upgraded to switches that support the legacy format and, upon an event such as completion of upgrades to a central exchange, the enhanced functionally is then activated. 
         [0004]    In the case of enterprise systems, leading digits are dropped from the longer number and are then converted to a shorter number for routing inside the enterprise. While this may allow a call to be presented to an internal component, it does not allow for the longer number to be dialed. 
         [0005]    For alphanumeric numbers, systems utilize a mapping table. As a result, an incoming call may be routed internally, but it cannot be dialed out without knowing a corresponding destination number (e.g., an E.164 number). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is with respect to the above issues and other problems that the embodiments presented herein were contemplated. Advantages may be realized by putting the dialing intelligence, at least in part, in an edge device in accordance with embodiments described herein 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, incoming calls are received. The edge device stores the incoming enhanced address (e.g., additional digits, URI, etc.) in a contact store accessible on a network and maps a unique short number to the address (unique ID). The edge device may then send the unique ID to components within its own network (e.g., an enterprise network). To other devices within the network, a display showing the calling party will show the original calling party&#39;s name and number, due to the signaling in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Contact header. However, internally, it is the unique ID that is stored as the calling party number. The call then traverses the network and to the endpoints utilizing the unique ID as the call&#39;s “to” address. In order to place a call back to the calling number, the unique ID is also used as the “to” the address. The edge device looks up the stored URI using the unique ID and then the edge device may then use the URI to place the call. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, outgoing calls are placed to the URI of a SIP message. In one embodiment, an endpoint that received a call from the external party calls back. The contact log of the endpoint device itself may have the unique ID mapped to the external entity. Calling the unique ID of the external device will ensure that the call gets routed across the network and reaches the edge device. The edge device then replaces this unique ID with the real external number/alphanumeric URI and routes the call thereto. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, an endpoint that has not received a call from a particular external party, places a call thereto. However, the contact store has a record for the external party. The endpoint performs a lookup and the contact store returns the unique ID mapped to the external party, as the contact store has a record of the external party based upon a prior call. This unique ID is then used for routing across the enterprise in a similar manner as outlined in the above embodiments. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, an extension calls a number or an alphanumeric URI that has not been called before or otherwise has no record thereof. The endpoint performs a lookup on the unique ID and the contact store fails to find a matching enhanced address. The contact store creates an entry and returns the unique ID. The endpoint places a call destined to this newly created unique ID. The unique ID gets routed across the network and reaches the edge device. The edge device accesses the contact store based upon the unique ID entry, which causes the contact store to return the enhanced number to dial out. 
         [0011]    The contact store may solely contain records mapping the unique ID to the enhanced address, such as in a simple database or flat file, or be combined with other data repositories, such as an LDAP or other directory repository. The contact store may be utilized by other services, such as call logs, recordings, report generators, etc. to access the unique ID and/or the enhanced address. Other services may also use the enhanced address and/or the unique ID in the contact store, such as to provide call blocking, routing, and other services. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, a system is disclosed comprising: an edge device logically connecting an external network to an internal network and facilitating calls therebetween; an internal endpoint logically connected to the internal network; a contact store, logically attached to the internal network, configured to maintain a translation record associating an external address of an external endpoint logically attached to the external network to a unique identifier; and wherein the internal endpoint places an outbound call to the unique identifier and the edge device routes the call to the external network utilizing the external address. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, a method is disclosed, comprising: receiving at an internal endpoint on an internal network, an outbound call comprising an enhanced address to an external endpoint on an external network; creating an unique identifier associated with the enhanced address, wherein the at least one component required to route the outbound call to the edge of the internal network is operable to route the outbound call to the edge of the internal network utilizing the unique identifier; storing a record comprising the unique identifier and the associated enhanced address in an accessible contact store. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, another method is disclosed, comprising: receiving an inbound call from an external network at an edge device configured to logically connect the external network to an internal network and facilitate calls therebetween; routing the inbound call to an internal endpoint, of a number of internal endpoints, identified by an address of the inbound call; accessing an enhanced address associated with the originator of the inbound call; creating a unique identifier; storing, in a contact store accessible upon the internal network, a translation record associating the external address with the unique identifier; and routing the inbound call to an internal endpoint identified as the destination for the inbound call. 
         [0015]    The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
         [0016]    The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
         [0017]    The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be “material.” 
         [0018]    The term “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, refers to any tangible storage that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM, or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a solid-state medium like a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, it is to be understood that the database may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storage medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations of the present disclosure are stored. 
         [0019]    The terms “determine,” “calculate,” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique. 
         [0020]    The term “module,” as used herein, refers to any known or later-developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and software that is capable of performing the functionality associated with that element. Also, while the disclosure is described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that other aspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts a first communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts a second communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts a third communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts a fourth communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  depicts a fifth communications system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  depicts a table of a contact store in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts a first process in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  depicts a second process in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  depicts a third process in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The ensuing description provides embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the embodiments. It will be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0032]    Any reference in the description comprising an element number, without a subelement identifier when a subelement identifier exists in the figures, when used in the plural, is intended to reference any two or more elements with a like element number. When such a reference is made in the singular form, it is intended to reference one of the elements with the like element number without limitation to a specific one of the elements. Any explicit usage herein to the contrary or providing further qualification or identification shall take precedence. 
         [0033]    The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure will also be described in relation to analysis software, modules, and associated analysis hardware. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the following description omits well-known structures, components, and devices that may be shown in block diagram form, and are well known, or are otherwise summarized. 
         [0034]    For purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific details set forth herein. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  depicts first communications system  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the first communications system  100  comprises a first network, internal network  108  and second network, external network  104  and endpoints attached thereto. In another embodiment, the first communications system  100  comprises a first network, external network  104  and second network, internal network  108  and endpoints attached thereto. Network boundary  106  delineates the internal and external networks. 
         [0036]    The points attached to external network  104  may comprise one or more types of endpoint identities and/or devices compatible with various technological advances. For example, endpoints  102  may include one or more legacy endpoints implementing technology that may have become obsolete recently or many years ago. External endpoints  102  may be designed for a specific network, such as network associated with a particular country, enterprise, and/or other target network. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, external endpoint  102  comprises an enhanced address that comprises additional digits compared to the digits utilized by at least one component of internal network  108 . External endpoint  102  may also comprise a different dialing format instead of or in addition to a difference in the number of digits utilized. For example, certain numbers (e.g., zero, nine, one) cannot be used in certain dialing formats as a first digit, however different dialing formats do allow for all or different digits to be utilized as a first digit. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment, external endpoint  102 B is embodied as a computer terminal utilizing an address comprising alphanumeric characters, such as an email address, URI, telnet, and/or other format comprising characters beyond numbers alone. External endpoints  102  logically attached to external network  104 . External network  104  may comprise private networks and/or public networks. External network  104  may include PSTN, Internet, cellular network, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or other device networks. 
         [0039]    Internal network  108  comprises systems and devices executing programs and/or other instructions to handle telephone calls, and optionally other communications (e.g., video, text, data, combinations thereof, etc.). Internal network  108  may comprise devices, such as private branch exchange (PBX), switches, routers, and/or other devices. Internal network  108  may utilize an edge device as a first point of contact to external network  108 . The edge device, described more fully with respect to  FIG. 2 , may comprise a session manager a session border controller and/or other edge device. Internal network  108  has attached thereto one or more internal endpoints, such as internal endpoint  110 . Internal network  108  and/or internal endpoint  110  may operate with certain limitations, such as a dialing format incompatible with the enhanced addresses associated with external endpoints  102 . For example, internal endpoint  110  may comprise a telephone that is only capable of natively dialing numbers, even though letters may be associated with dialed numbers. In another example, internal network  108  comprises equipment configured and/or limited to a dialing format incompatible with the dialing format of external endpoints  102 , such as the assumption that after external endpoint  102 A has dialed thirteen digits, the dialing is complete. However, the intended destination of such an outbound call (e.g., external endpoint  102 ) utilizes a sixteen-digit address and, after dialing only thirteen digits, the call fails. 
         [0040]    In another embodiment, internal network  108  incorporates systems and methods to allow enhanced address dialing and routing and the placing of calls to enhanced addresses. Internal network  108  utilizes a unique address as a substitute for the enhanced address. The unique address is at least system-unique and optionally globally unique, such as may be implemented by enterprises utilizing a number of unique identifier generation components. The unique ID may be a serial number, truncated version of an enhanced number, or implement any other means of generating a unique identifier based on or not based on the enhanced address. For example, a telephone number may comprise certain digits that are less meaningful to the user, such as a country code or city code. In another implementation, a city code or country code may be the most meaningful and other digits truncated. However, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other means of generating the unique identifier, including random number generation, may be implemented as a matter of design choice to provide internal network  108  with a unique identifier for each inbound and outbound call. In another embodiment, the unique ID may comprise a static portion, such as enhanced addresses with @abcCompany.com start with 1, +993 start with 2, etc. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  depicts second communications system  200  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, second communications systems  200  processes an inbound call received from external network  104 , more specifically interface portion  202  to a PSTN and/or other network. Calls, as used herein, include but are not limited to switch-based telephone calls, generally associated with PSTN calls, and packet-based calls, generally associated with Internet-based calls or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). Calls may include acoustic-based data (e.g., facsimile transmissions). In other embodiments, calls comprise data-based communications, such as text, files, video, and/or other signals. Calls utilizing packets IP may contain header information comprising “to” information to identify the destination of the call. Calls utilizing switching may comprise “to” information in a portion of a signal. Calls generally comprise “from” information identifying the origination of the call. An incoming call comprising a “from” address utilizing an enhanced format, such as sixteen digits compared to a legacy system utilizing thirteen digits or an alphanumeric system (e.g., email, URI, etc.). 
         [0042]    The inbound call crosses network boundary  106  and initially reaches edge device  204 . Edge device  204  may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more of a session manager, session boarder controller, security controller, firewall, gateway, and/or other edge devices. Edge device  204  creates, or causes the creation of, a unique identifier for the calling party. The unique identifier is created to be compatible with other systems within internal network  108  and/or endpoints attached thereto. In one embodiment, PBX  206  is one internal component presently inoperable to accommodate the enhanced address. 
         [0043]    Edge device  204  logically connects to one or more internal components, such as PBX  206 , which then continues to route the call to the endpoint address thereto, such as endpoint  208 . The unique ID is utilized as the calling party. As will be described more completely with respect to the remaining figures, the unique ID may then be utilized for local address books or other directory usage in order to identify the source of the inbound call, such as to facilitate initiation of a return outbound call. 
         [0044]    In order to maintain the association between the unique ID and the enhanced address, a record is created and stored in contact store  210 . The record is created to utilize the unique ID as the key to access the record comprising the enhanced address, and optionally other information associated with the calling party (e.g., user name, company name, etc.). Endpoint  208  may then wish to retrieve the enhanced address and access contact store  210  to access the translation record and the enhanced address associated with the unique ID. 
         [0045]    As a benefit of second communications system  200 , calling systems may present caller identification (caller ID) utilizing the unique ID for the inbound call. In other embodiments, internal network  108  may comprise the ability to present the enhanced address as the caller identification but not process the caller identification as a “to” address for an associated outbound call. In such embodiments, second communications system  200  may utilize the enhanced address as the caller identifier was still utilizing the unique ID as the “from” address. As can be appreciated, endpoint  208  initiating a call back then causes the unique ID to be associated with the outbound call and then translated to the enhanced address by its device  204 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  depicts third communications system  300  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the communications system  300  comprises components for inbound and outbound call processing. In one embodiment, external network  104  originates an inbound call. In one embodiment, internal network  108  comprises components  302 ,  304 ,  210 ,  308 ,  310  for the routing and management of calls. Internal endpoint  306  and internal endpoint  312  provide terminal points for the destination and origination of calls, respectively. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, external network  104  provides an incoming call utilizing an enhanced address. Edge device  302  initially receives the incoming call. Edge device  302  determines and/or has knowledge that the incoming call comprises a “from” address in an enhanced format incompatible with components of system  300 , such as PBX  304  and or other internal components. Edge device  302  then causes the generation of the unique ID and the creation of the transaction record in contact store  210  to associate the enhanced address with the unique ID. Device  302  then routes the call to systems such as PBX  304 . Internal endpoint  306  then receives the call for answering, answering by an answering device, or other operations as may be determined by a user operating internal endpoint  306  and/or the system configurations available thereto. 
         [0048]    Internal endpoint  306  may then access contact store  210  to retrieve the enhanced address from an associated transaction record indexed by the unique ID for the incoming call. In another embodiment, innternal endpoint  306  may access the contact store  210  to retrieve the enhanced address at other times, such as before or after receiving the call. Internal endpoint  306 , if compatible to display the enhanced address, may then present to the user the caller identification utilizing the enhanced address as the “from” address of the inbound call. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment internal endpoint  312  wishes to place a call to the enhanced address received in the inbound call and answered by internal endpoint  306 . Internal endpoint  312  receives user input indicating the unique ID for the outbound call. In one embodiment internal endpoint  312  looks up the enhanced address utilizing the unique ID to index a transaction record stored in contact store  210 . Endpoint  312  then places the call, utilizing the unique ID, to conventional components, such as PBX  310 . The conventional components, such as PBX  310 , route the call to edge device  308  still utilizing the unique ID as the “to” for the outbound call. Edge device  308  then accesses a transaction record within contact store  210  to retrieve the enhanced address utilizing the unique ID as an index. Edge device  308  then routes the call to the external network  104  utilizing the enhanced address in the “to” address field for the outbound call. 
         [0050]    In another embodiment, components of third communications system  300  may be the same components utilized for both inbound and outbound call processing. For example, edge device  302  and edge device  308  may comprise the same device, similarly PBX  304  and PBX  310  and/or internal endpoint  306  and internal endpoint  312  may comprise a single PBX and/or endpoint, respectively. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  depicts fourth communications system  400  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, communications system  400  illustrates a system deploying an application to provide lookup features and/or other functionality for internal endpoint  306  and the reception and processing for an inbound call. Endpoint  306  may comprise a telephone, preferably a digital telephone, configured to launch applications, such as an endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402 . In another embodiment, endpoint  306  comprises a computational device configured to execute endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402 . 
         [0052]    In one embodiment, external network  104  originates an inbound call. Edge device  302  receives the inbound call and determines, or has knowledge that, components within fourth communications systems  400  are incompatible with the enhanced address of the received call. Edge device  302  generates or causes the generation of the unique ID and further causes the storage of a transaction record in contact store  210 . The transaction record associating the unique ID with the enhanced address received from the inbound call. Edge device  302  then routes the inbound call utilizing the unique ID as the “to” address field. Endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  may then access contact store  210  to retrieve the enhanced address from the transaction record utilizing the unique ID as an index. With the enhanced address, endpoint  306  directly or with benefit of endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  may then present the enhanced address as the “from” address associated with the inbound call. 
         [0053]    As a benefit, components that are operable to process the inbound call with the enhanced address are avoided but substantially concurrent with delivery of the call to endpoint  306 . Endpoint  306  is enabled to present the enhanced address as the “from” caller identification. Optionally, endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  may also present or cause the presentation of the unique ID on endpoint  306 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  depicts fifth communications system  500  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, communications system  500  illustrates a system deploying an application to provide lookup features and/or other functionality for internal endpoint  306  and the reception and processing for an outbound call. In one embodiment, endpoint  306  is operable to receive the unique ID and not operable to receive the enhanced ID as an input associated with an outbound call. Endpoint application  402  and/or sequenced application  402  receives the input unique ID and accesses the enhanced address from a transaction record within contact store  210 . 
         [0055]    In another embodiment, contact store  210  presently has no translation record associated with a particular outbound call. Endpoint  306 , alone or with benefit of endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402 , receives the enhanced address for an outbound call. Endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  causes the generation of the unique ID and the storage of a transaction record having the unique ID and the associated enhanced address in contact store  210 . 
         [0056]    Endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  then routes the call to PBX  304  and/or other internal communications equipment. Upon reaching edge device  302 , edge device  302  accesses contact store  210  and retrieves the translation record utilizing the unique ID routed through PBX  304 . Edge device  302  then extracts the enhanced address from the translation record for utilization in the “from” field and routes the call on to external network  104 . 
         [0057]    As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  may generate the unique ID or cause the generation of the unique ID. For example, endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  may execute a call to another application for the purpose of generating the unique ID. Endpoint applications and/or sequenced application  402  may be co-processed on the same device as endpoint  306  or distinct therefrom. For example, an agent terminal may be configured to execute endpoint application and/or sequenced application  402  as well as to provide dialing services and other connectivity services of endpoint  306 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  depicts table  600  of contact store  210  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, table  600  comprises at least a portion of data stored within contact store  210 . Table  600  comprises a number of records  602  for inbound and/or outbound calls to associate unique IDs  604  with their respective enhanced addresses  606 . 
         [0059]    It should be appreciated that table  600  may comprise additional information, such as caller name, callee name, company name, and/or one or more additional fields determined as a matter of implementation (e.g., account number, matter number, time to call, position, role, etc.). The location of table  600  and contact store  210  is an accessible location to components of internal network  108  and may be specifically located as a matter of design choice. In one embodiment, one or more edge devices  204 ,  302 ,  308  hosts contact store  210 . In another embodiment, a dedicated data server, shared data server, accessible data storage (e.g., cloud, service provider, etc.) hosts contact store  210 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 7  depicts first process  700  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, process  700  begins at step  702  receiving an inbound call, such as device  204  receiving an inbound call from PSTN  202 . Next step  704  determines whether the “from” is compatible with the components of internal network  108  and/or internal endpoints, such as internal endpoint  110 . If step  704  is determined in the affirmative processing may continue normally, such as to step  710 . If step  704  is determined in the negative, processing continues at step  706  whereby the unique ID is created. 
         [0061]    Next, step  708  stores a translation record whereby the unique ID is associated with the enhanced address of the inbound call received at step  702 . Next step  710  routes the call to the indicated “to” address identified by the inbound call. As a benefit, components of internal network  108  that are not operable to process the inbound call utilizing the enhanced address associated with the inbound call may be avoided and the call routed as if it were a legacy call. 
         [0062]    After step  710 , the call is answerable by an endpoint, such as internal endpoint  110 , in the normal fashion including routing, forking, answering by an answering system, answering by an automated agent, answering by a human operator, and/or other telephony operation. Optionally, step  712  may be executed to provide color identification associated with the inbound call. If the enhanced address has been provided to the endpoint and is operable to be displayed by the endpoint, the endpoint may display the color identification as the enhanced address. In another embodiment, if the enhanced address has not been provided, the unique ID may be displayed as the color identification. In yet another embodiment, if the enhanced address has not been provided the endpoint may access the data store with the unique ID and retrieve the enhanced address for display. In still another embodiment, at least one of the enhanced address and the unique ID is utilized to access a translation record comprising a secondary identifier for presentation as a caller ID, such as the caller&#39;s name, company, etc. 
         [0063]      FIG. 8  depicts second process  800  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, process  800  is executed upon receiving the indication of the creation of an outbound call to an enhanced address. Process  800  begins with step  802  receiving an outbound unique ID. For example, an agent, user, or other human operator may input the unique ID onto a keypad of a telephone, select a name from a list on a computer terminal, input indicia of a unique ID (e.g., speed dial number), or otherwise indicate the recipient of a call and further associate it with a unique ID. 
         [0064]    Next, step  804  routes the outbound call to an edge device. The routing of the call may pass various components, such as PBX  206 , before reaching edge device, such as edge device  204 . The routing of the call utilizes the unique ID as a format for a telephone number compatible with the internal components of internal network  108 . Step  806  looks up the enhanced address from a data store utilizing the unique ID as an index to retrieve the correct record having the targeted enhanced address. Step  808  then routes the call to the external network utilizing the enhanced address as the “to” address identifier. Step  808  may be executed by an edge device, such as edge device  204 , an endpoint, such as internal endpoint  306 ,  312 ,  110 , and/or other component operable to retrieve the enhanced address without causing any intermediate component, which is unable to process the enhanced address, to attempt to utilize the enhanced address. 
         [0065]      FIG. 9  depicts third process  900  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, process  900  begins at step  902  receiving an outbound call having an enhanced address. Step  902  may be performed by an operator inputting, selecting, or otherwise indicating a destination (“to”) utilizing an enhanced address. Next, step  904  creates a unique ID associated with the outbound call and more particularly the enhanced address thereof. 
         [0066]    Step  906  stores the unique ID and the enhanced address in a translation record in an accessible data storage, such as contact store  210 . Step  908  routes the outbound call to an edge device through various internal components of internal network  108  and utilizing the unique ID as the “to” address. Internal components may include, for example PBX  206 , which is presently unable to process calls utilizing the enhanced address. 
         [0067]    The outbound call proceeds through components of the internal network and is eventually routed to an edge device, such as edge device  302 ,  308 . The edge device then accesses the data store and retrieves the enhanced address from a record indexed by the unique ID. The edge device then routes the call to the external network in step  912 . The routed call comprising the enhanced address in the “to” field of the outbound call. 
         [0068]    In another embodiment, the record associated with a unique ID may be modified, such as by deleting and/or modifying the record. For example, an enhanced address associated with a unique ID may be altered to reflect a change in the enhanced address associated with the same party without requiring the creation of a new record. As a further embodiment, a record may be deleted, such as when an updated record is created with a new record and the old record is no longer used. Such modifications or deletions may be automated to purge records that have been unaccessed for a predetermined period of time or to merge a plurality of records having the same enhanced address. Manual modification and deletions may also be provided to correct errors or otherwise update records or removed unneeded records. 
         [0069]    In the foregoing description, for the purposes of illustration, methods were described in a particular order. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the methods may be performed in a different order than that described. It should also be appreciated that the methods described above may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in sequences of machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a machine, such as a general-purpose or special-purpose processor (GPU or CPU), or logic circuits programmed with the instructions to perform the methods (FPGA). These machine-executable instructions may be stored on one or more machine-readable mediums, such as CD-ROMs or other type of optical disks, floppy diskettes, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other types of machine-readable mediums suitable for storing electronic instructions. Alternatively, the methods may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0070]    Specific details were given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments. 
         [0071]    Also, it is noted that the embodiments were described as a process, which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function. 
         [0072]    Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, routed, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc. 
         [0073]    While illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.