Abstract: A subscriber call routing system is used for routing a call initiated in a carrier public switched telephone network to any one of a plurality of different subscriber resources for a subscriber number. The routing system includes a call manager for receiving a connection request from the PSTN for any call placed to the subscriber number, the connection request including call identification information including indicia relating to the call, and developing a routing request. A routing processing system is operatively associated with the call manager and in response to a routing request uses a stored routing algorithm for selecting one of the subscriber resources to receive the call. The routing processing system transmits a request to the selected subscriber resource for acceptance of the call.

Abstract: A method is described for routing calls outside of a carriers network based on characteristics of the call, the attributes of the caller, the status of subscriber-provided resource, and the status of network telephone provided facilities. Information about the call and the caller's identification is sent from the public switched telephone network to a subscriber call routing processor. The carrier is directed by the routing processor to route the call to the subscriber's resource best able to handle the call. Information about the call and the business relationship the caller has with the subscriber is used by the routing processor to determine which type of resource is needed to handle the call. The routing processor then chooses the particular resource of that type to which the call is to be routed based on the current status of the resource, the status of the network-provided facilities, and the criteria established by the subscriber for selecting between alternative resources.