WO2000010346A1

WO2000010346A1 - Graphical interactive user interface, notably for controlling time dependent telephone call forwarding

Info

Publication number: WO2000010346A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Damir Lenc
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority date: 1998-08-14
Filing date: 1999-08-10
Publication date: 2000-02-24
Also published as: AUPP525898A0

Abstract

A method of switching a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, the method including the steps of: a) establishing on a visual display unit (18) at least one visually distinct area (54-60) representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary (61) corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary (62) corresponding to a second time; b) creating within one or more of the visually distinct areas (54-60) at least one visually distinct zone (63-67) representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, c) selectively controlling the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within the one or more visually distinct areas, and d) switching the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time.

Description

GRAPHICAL INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE, NOTABLY FOR CONTROLLING TIME DEPENDENT TELEPHONE CALL FORWARDING

This invention relates to the switching of a communication signal originating from a calling terminal to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, and in particular, where the communications signal is originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, but is forwarded to a second of the receiving terminals. The invention will be described with particular reference to its application in the controlling of time dependent telephone call forwarding applications, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that application.

Despite the general availability of numerous telephone central exchange provided functions, such as "call-forwarding", the establishment and use of such functions can often be complicated, time consuming and tedious. For example, the function of "call- forwarding" involves the completion of telephone calls from a calling party to a called party at a location different from the "normal" location at which calls to that party terminate. Provision is made for a user of such a function to enter and store the telephone number or numbers to which calls are to be forwarded, and the times between which the call-forwarding function is to be operative, in an intelligent portion of the telecommunications network to which various telecommunications terminals of the user are connected.

Currently, a user wishing to use a call-forwarding function must enter and maintain this information by placing a telephone call to a network operator and requesting that the operator enter the various start and stop times, as well as the various telephone numbers to which calls are to be diverted, into the intelligent portion of the network. Alternatively, the network operator may be replaced by a voice simulation device to which a user must respond by entering the required information via the key pad of the telephone device which the user is calling. Such methods of entering and maintaining customer profile information either require the entry of complex, difficult to remember telephone key sequences from the telephone instrument, or require the telephone service provider to provide a number of network operators which is not only costly, but results in the entry and maintenance of such information being very time consuming.

There therefore exists a need for a convenient and simple way in which a user of a telephone service such as "call-forwarding" to enter and maintain the information required for the service to operate in accordance with their needs.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a simple and convenient manner for entering and maintaining customer profile information in intelligent network services previously described.

With this in mind, one aspect of the present invention provides a method of switching a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, the method including the steps of:

(a) establishing a visual display at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary corresponding to a second time,

(b) creating within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, (c) selectively controlling the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within the one or more visually distinct areas, and

(d) switching the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time.

Such a method provides a graphical user interface which enables a user of "call-forwarding" and like telephone services to easily and conveniently manage their own customer profile without requiring the intervention of a network operator or the use of complex telephone key sequences.

Conveniently, step (c) may include the step of displacing at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and the stop time.

The portion may be displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

Alternatively, step (c) may include the step of setting one or both of the start time and the stop time in a data field, and automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and stop time. One or both of the start time and stop time may be at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

The method of switching a communications signal may include the step of selecting the identity of the second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals. The identity of that second receiving terminal may conveniently be selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

Two or more visually distinct zones may be created within the one or more visually distinct areas, each zone being representative of a distinct, continuous time duration. Furthermore, each zone may be associated with a separate receiving terminal.

Each visually distinct area may be representative of a time period, for example, of twenty- four hours. There may be two or more visually distinct areas which are established on the visual display. Each visually distinct area may be displayed in the form of a bar chart.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program for controlling the operation of a control station, the control station including a visual display unit and being for use in a communications system, the communications system being operable to switch a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, the computer program comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing on the visual display unit at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second are boundary corresponding to a second time,

(b) enabling the creation, by a user, within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, (c) enabling the selective control, by the user, of the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within the one or more visually distinct areas, and

(d) enabling the user to send signals representative of the start time, stop time and the identity of one or more of the plurality of receiving terminals to the communications system, so that the communications system can act to switch the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time.

Step (c) of the computer program may include the step of enabling the user to displace at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and the stop time. The portion may be displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

Alternatively, step (c) of the computer program may include the step of enabling the user to set one or both of the start time and stop time in a data field, the computer program automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and the stop time. One or both of the start time and stop time may be at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

The computer program may include the step of enabling the user to select the identity of the second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals. The identity of the second receiving terminal may be selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display. The computer program may provide for the creation of two or more visually distinct zones within one or more visually distinct areas, each zone being representative of a distinct, continuous time duration. Each zone may be associated with separate receiving terminals.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a communications network including a communications system operable to switch a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, and a control station for controlling the operation of the communications system, the control station including a visual display unit, the communications system including display means for establishing on the visual display unit at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary corresponding to a second time, creating means for creating within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, setting means for selectively controlling the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within one or more of the visually distinct areas, sending means for sending signals representative of the start time, stop time and the identity of one or more of the plurality of receiving terminals to the communications system, and switching means to switch the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time. The setting means may act to enable the user-operable displacement of at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and stop time. The portion of the at least one zone may be displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

The setting means may act to enable the user operable setting of one or both of the start time and stop time in a data field, the control station automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and stop time. One or both of the start time and stop time may be at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

The communications network may further include means for selecting the identity of the second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals. The identity of the second receiving terminal may be selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the method of switching a communications signal, computer program for controlling the operation of a control station, and communications network of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the various aspects of the present invention are illustrated in a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood however that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a communications network in accordance with the present invention; and

Figures 2 to 9 are diagrams showing the visual information displayed on the visual display unit of the control station of the communications network of Figure 1 during performance of the method of switching a communications signal, and the operation of the computer program for controlling the operation of the control station, in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a communications network 1 including a control station 2 and a communications system 3 operable to switch a communications signal originating from a calling terminal 4 at a particular time, hereinafter called "calling time", to one of a plurality of receiving terminals 5 and 6. In this example, the receiving terminals 5 and 6 are respectively a PSTN telephone and a mobile telephone, but in other embodiments of the invention one or more of the receiving terminals may be a facsimile device, paging device, or other terminal adapted to receive video, audio or data signals from a remote terminal. In other embodiments, the communications system may include more than two such receiving terminals.

The communications system 3, in this example, is constituted by an intelligent network containing a number of service switching points (SSP) 7, 8 and 9 each connected to a public telecommunications network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 10. Other suitable telecommunications networks include integrated service digital networks (ISDN), packet-switched public data networks (PSPDN) and mobile telecommunications networks. Each of the SSPs 7, 8 and 9 are connected to a service control point (SCP) 11 which contains service specific applications software and customer or subscriber records. Each SSP reacts to specific service triggers and initiates queries to the SCP over a common channel signalling network, such as the signalling system number 7 (SS7) network. The SCP acts upon the query from the SSP and returns a message containing the data and instructions required to complete the service. A service management system (SMS) 12 is linked to the SCP and supports the administration of the user records within the SCP.

A service such as "call-forwarding" is implemented in an intelligent network by having the user load the SMS 12 with parameters defining the operation of the call-forwarding service, such as the start time at which the call- forwarding is to commence, the stop time at which the call-forwarding is to terminate, the destination number or numbers to which the telephone calls are to be diverted during operation of the call forwarding service, etc. These parameters are downloaded from the SMS 12 into the SCP 11, and are in turn delivered to each SSP 7, 8 and 9 connected to the SCP, so that each SSP is programmed with these parameters. During an activated call-forwarding service, that is to say, after the start time and before the stop time of the call-forwarding service, incoming calls originally intended for a particular telephone number are received by the SSPs and handled so that these calls are diverted to a different telephone number specified by the user.

The communications system 3 may include a server 13 maintained by a provider of "call-forwarding" and like functions, to enable the user to enter and maintain his user profile information defining the operation of the call-forwarding function for that user. The server 13 maintains a separate file (referenced 22 in Figure 1) for each such user, and provides access to these files via an internet or other suitable connection. As shown in Figure 1, the control station 2 may include a modem connecting the control station 2 to a telephone line 14 and, through the PSTN 10 to an internet service provider (not shown), which provides access to the server 13 via a telephone connection 16.

The control station 2 may be principally constituted by a personal computer or PC loaded with one or more computer programs to enable the user to interact with the control station and thus control the operation of the communications system in the provision of the call-forwarding service. The PC includes a visual display unit 17 having a visual display 18, computing means 19 including a processing unit and associated volatile and non-volatile memories, a data entry device 20 such as a keyboard, and a mouse 21 or like means 4 controlling the position of a visual indicator on the visual display 18. In addition, the PC may be loaded with a first computer program 23, such a web browser, enabling the PC to access and interact with a second computer program 24 resident on the server 13. The second computer program 24 enables the user to access and modify information contained in his user profile 22, as will be described below.

Turning now to Figures 2 to 9, the operation of the control station 2 by the user to control of the communications system 3 will now be explained.

In order to access his user profile information 22 stored in the server 13, a user firstly establishes a connection between the control station 2 and an internet service provider (not shown). From there, the user launches the web browser program 23 stored in the control station 2 and accesses the computer program 24 in the server 13.

Upon the establishment of a connection with the server 13, the computer program 24 sends packets of data for visual reproduction to the control station 2, which data is interpreted by the web browser 23 and reconstructed for display on the visual display 18.

Initially, at step 30, the computer program 24, interacting with the web browser 23 displays information on the visual display 18 inviting the user to enter in the data fields 50 and 51 the telephone number of the terminal for which the call-forwarding function is to be used, and a security code. The computer program 24 establishes on the visual display 18 a visual indicator 52. The position of this visual indicator on the visual display 18 may be altered by movement of the mouse 21 across a support surface. Once the user's telephone number and security code have been entered, the user displaces the visual indicator to within the boundaries of an area 53 on the visual display 18. Actioning of a control button 25 on the mouse 21 causes the web browser 23 to submit the information entered in the data fields 51 and 51 to the server 13.

Once the computer program 24 has verified that the telephone number and security code correspond to information previously stored in the user information 22, a confirmation message is displayed on the visual display 18, and the user invited to continue with the entry or modification of his user profile information. At step 32, the user displaces the visual indicator 52 and actions the control button 25 on the mouse 21 to select the "time call-forwarding" service provided by the server 13.

At step 33, the computer program 24 establishes on the visual display 18 at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary corresponding to a second time. In this example, five visually distinct areas 54 to 60 are established, each being representative of a period of twenty- four hours. Each area has a first area boundary 61 corresponding to the start of the twenty-four hour period and a second area boundary 62 corresponding to the end of the twenty-four hour period.

At least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration is created within one or more of the visually distinct areas. In this example, as seen in step 34, five visually distinct zones 63 to 67 have been created, each representing a continuous time duration during which the call- forwarding function is to be enabled. Each zone 63 to 67 is associated with a telephone or other terminal to which calls initially intended for the user's "normal" telephone or terminal are to be diverted. Moreover, each zone has a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time. For example, the visually distinct zone 64 has a first zone boundary

68 corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary 69 corresponding to a stop time.

Whilst each visually distinct area 54 to 60 shown in Figures 2 to 9 is displayed in the form of a rectangular bar chart, it is to be appreciated that these visually distinct areas may be represented in other ways. For example, each of the areas 54 to 60 may be represented as segments of a pie chart, each segment representing a twenty-four hour period within the week. Other arrangements will of course be possible.

The program 24 enables the user to easily adjust the start and stop times at which the call-forwarding function is activated, by enabling the user to selectively control the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary of each of the visually distinct zones created within one or more or the visually distinct areas 55 to 60. For example, if the user wishes to alter the start and stop times of the call-forwarding function associated with the visually distinct zone 24, the user firstly displaces the mouse 21 to bring the visual indicator 52 within the boundaries of the zone 64. Actioning the control button 25 causes that zone 64 to become activated.

The position of the first zone boundary 68 and the second zone boundary

69 within the one or more visually distinct areas 54 to 60 may be selectively controlled in a variety of ways. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the program 24 enables a user to set one or both of the start and stop times in a data field, the computer program automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary 68 and second zone boundary 69 to correspond to the start and stop time. As seen in step 35, one or both of the start time and stop time may be at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display 18. Accordingly, having firstly activated the zone 64 in step 34, the user brings the visual indicator 52 over a data field 70, which when activated, transforms into a drop-down menu 71. From this drop-down menu, the user is able to select the day of the week at which the call-forwarding function associated with the zone 64 is to terminate. At step 36, the user brings the visual indicator 52 over the data field corresponding to the desired day of the week in the drop-down menu 71 and activates that field.

At step 37, the position of the second zone boundary 69 is automatically adjusted to correspond to the selection made in step 36.

The user then brings the visual indicator 52 over a second data field 72, which, when activated by the user, is transformed into the drop-down menu 73. Once again, the user is able to select the day of the week on which the call- forwarding service associated with the zone 64 is to commence operation, as seen in step 39. At step 40, the computer program automatically adjusts the position of the first zone boundary 68 to correspond to the selected day of the week at which the call-forwarding service is to commence.

Similarly, the time of day at which the call- forwarding function associated with the zone 64 is to commence may be selected by the entry of data into the data field 74 and the time of day at which that call-forwarding service is to terminate may be selected from the entry of data into the data filed 75. These data fields may be of the sort which enable the direct entry of data via use of numerical keys on the keyboard 20 and/or may allow the selection of a time of day through the use of scrolling arrows 76 to 79. Various other techniques and arrangements will be envisaged by a skilled person in this field. As with the selection of a desired day of the week, the computer program 24 automatically adjusts the position of the first zone boundary 68 and the second zone boundary 69 to correspond to the selected start time and stop time of the call-forwarding service associated with the zone 64. Alternatively, the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary of each visually distinct zone may be selectively controlled by displacing at least a portion of each zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas. At step 41, the position of the first zone boundary 80 of the visually distinct zone 66 may be selectively controlled by use of the mouse 21 to bring the visual indicator over that zone boundary 80. The form of the zone boundary 80 may change to indicate that the zone boundary may then be displaced by actuation of the control button 25 when the visual indicator 52 is over that zone boundary 80. Accordingly, in step 42, the control button 25 is actuated and the mouse 21 displaced to the left, causing the selected portion of the zone 66 (i.e. the first zone boundary 80) to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement to a new position.

Similarly, the second zone boundary 82 of the visually distinct zone 66 may be selectively controlled by a similar operation to a new position within any of the visually distinct areas 64 to 60.

The computer program 24 may also enable the selection of the identity of the terminal to which telephone calls are to be forwarded when the call forwarding service associated with each of the zones 63 to 67 is operable. For example, referring to step 43, the terminal to which telephone calls will be directed when the call- forwarding service associated with the zone 66 is operable may be selected by firstly activating that zone (in the manner previously described) and then selecting the identity of the telephone to which calls are to be directed from amongst a pre- defined group of terminals. The identity of that terminal may conveniently be selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display 18. Conveniently, a user may activate a data field 83, which then transforms into a drop-down menu 84. At step 44, the user is able to select one of the menu items and thus, at step 45, determine the identity of the telephone or other terminal to which telephone calls will be deviated during the operation of the call-forwarding service associated with the zone 66. At step 46, the user sends signals representative of the start time, stop time and the identity of the receiving terminals selected to the server 13 within the communications system 3, so that the communications system can act to switch communications signals made from a third party to the terminal defined by the user if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time of a particular call-forwarding service just defined by the user. Accordingly, the computer program 24 is operable to cause the server 13 to forward this information to the SMS 12 for use in the completion of the call forwarding services as programmed by the user.

In step 47, the user may be provided with a facility to enter and store the telephone number or other terminal identifier associated with each terminal to which the user may desire telephone calls to be diverted.

Finally, it is to be understood that various modifications and or additions may be made to the method, computer program or computer network without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of switching a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, the method including the steps of:

(a) establishing a visual display at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary corresponding to a second time, (b) creating within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, (c) selectively controlling the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within the one or more visually distinct areas, and

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of displacing at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and the stop time.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the portion is displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of setting one or both of the start time and the stop time in a data field, and automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and stop time.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein one or both of the start time and stop time are at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, and further including the step of selecting the identity of the second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the identity of said second receiving terminal is selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two or more visually distinct zones are created within the one or more visually distinct areas, each zone being representative of a distinct, continuous time duration.

9. A method according to claims 8, wherein each zone is associated with a separate receiving terminal.

10. A method according either one of claims 8 or 9, wherein each visually distinct area is representative a a time period.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein two or more visually distinct areas are established on the visual display.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein each visually distinct area is displayed in the form of a bar chart.

13. A computer program for controlling the operation of a control station, the control station including a visual display unit and being for use in a communications system, the communications system being operable to switch a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals in a communications system, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, the computer program acting to:

(a) establish on the visual display unit at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second are boundary corresponding to a second time, (b) enable the creation, by a user, within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, (c) enable the selective control, by the user, of the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within the one or more visually distinct areas, and

(d) enable the user to send signals representative of the start time, stop time and the identity of one or more of the plurality of receiving terminals to the communications system, so that the communications system can act to switch the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time.

14. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein the computer program further acts to enable the user to displace at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and the stop time.

15. A computer program according to claim 14, wherein the portion is displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

16. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein the computer program acts to enable the user to set one or both of the start time and stop time in a data field, the computer program automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and the stop time.

17. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein one or both of the start time and stop time may be at least partially selected from one or more menus of pre- defined choices displayed on the visual display.

18. A computer program according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the computer program acts to enable the user to select the identity of second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals.

19. A computer program according to claim 18, wherein the identity of the second receiving terminal may be selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.

20. A computer program according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the computer program provides for the creation of two or more visually distinct zones within one or more visually distinct areas, each zone being representative of a distinct, continuous time duration.

21. A computer program according to claim 20, wherein each zone is associated with separate receiving terminals.

22. A communications network including a communications system operabel to switch a communications signal originating from a calling terminal at a calling time to one of a plurality of receiving terminals, the communications signal being originally intended for a first of the receiving terminals, and a control station for controlling the operation of the communications system, the control station including a visual display unit, the communications system including display means for establishing on the visual display unit at least one visually distinct area representative of a distinct time period, the area having a first area boundary corresponding to a first time and a second area boundary corresponding to a second time, creating means for creating within one or more of the visually distinct areas at least one visually distinct zone representative of a continuous time duration, the at least one zone being associated with a second of the receiving terminals and having a first zone boundary corresponding to a start time and a second zone boundary corresponding to a stop time, setting means for selectively controlling the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary within one or more of the visually distinct areas, sending means for sending signals representative of the start time, stop time and the identity of one or more of the plurality of receiving terminals to the communications system, and switching means to switch the communications signal from the calling terminal to the second receiving terminal if the calling time is after the start time and before the stop time.

23. A communications network according to claim 27, wherein the setting means acts to enable the user-operable displacement of at least a portion of the at least one zone to a new position within the one or more visually distinct areas to thereby automatically set one or both of the start time and stop time.

24. A communications network according to claim 23, wherein the portion of the at least one zone is displaced by displacing a visual indicator on the visual display to a desired position, and causing the portion to be displaced as a function of the visual indicator displacement.

25. A communications network according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the setting means acts to enable the user operable setting of one or both of the start time and stop time in a data field, the control station automatically adjusting the position of the first zone boundary and the second zone boundary to correspond to the start time and stop time.

26. A communications network according to claim 25, wherein one or both of the srart time and stop time are at least partially selected from one or more menus of predefined choices displayed on the visual display.

27. A communications network according to any one of claims 22 to 26, and further including means for selecting the identity of the second receiving terminal associated with the at least one zone from amongst a pre-defined group of receiving terminals.

28. A communications network according to claim 27, wherein the identity of the second receiving terminal is selected from a menu of pre-defined choices displayed on the visual display.