Importance

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Abstract

A telecommunications switching system such as a private branch exchange (100) processes calls as follows. When it receives (200) a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), the switching system invokes conventional vectoring (107) and commences processing the call by executing (202) the VDN's call-processing vector. However, when it encounters (206) a 'wait' vector command in the executing vector, the switching system sends (208) a notice of the call and the call's identity to an external source of vectors, such as an expert system implemented on an adjunct processor (110). This notice functions as a request for another call-processing vector for the call. The expert system obtains (252-256) information relevant to processing of the call from the switching system and from external databases (111-112), and based on that information dynamically creates (258) a new call-processing vector for the call, in real time. When the switching system receives (220) this new vector, it replaces (222) the old vector with the new vector and continues processing of the call by restarting (224) vector processing and executing (202) the new vector. The switching system may obtain yet additional vectors for processing this call in the same manner as it obtained the second vector. The switching system may also obtain a new vector from the external source for each newly-received call.

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First Claim