Active call filtering, screening and dispatching

A call messaging system comprising:

• one or more communication interfaces configured to access via a network one or more databases for maintaining:
• data representing filtering rules, screening rules and dispatching rules, and
• data representing attributes of callers, including data representing caller IDs;
• a call router configured to filter active calls responsive to the filtering rules;
• and
• one or more servers including processors configured to execute instructions configured to:
• configure the filtering rules to implement predetermined routing of active calls from a first communication endpoint to a second communication endpoint, the screening rules to implement routing of the active calls and the dispatching rules,
• determine that the second communication endpoint transmitted a first call to the first communication endpoint;
• prioritize a second call as a priority based on the first call generated by the second communication endpoint;
• screen the active calls from the callers prior to connecting to the second call as a function of screening rules,
• bypass the use of the screening rules based on the priority of the second call;
• and
• connect the first communication endpoint and the second communication endpoint to complete the call.

A method comprising:

• receiving data representing a call from a first communication endpoint at a call messaging system including a processor configured to execute instructions;
• selecting a routing rule associated with the call from a subset of routing rules stored in a memory, the subset of routing rules including a plurality of customized rules for routing calls to a second communication endpoint, whereby selecting the routing rule is based on at least one customized rule that uses a phone number associated with the first communication endpoint;
• determining, prior to connecting to the call, a third communication endpoint to route the call based on at least the one customized rule that uses the phone number;
• detecting whether a bypass condition exists, the bypass condition specifying that the plurality of customized rules are to be bypassed;
• determining the bypass condition exists to preclude the use of the plurality of customized rules by the call messaging system;
• overriding the plurality of customized rules to bypass the use of at least the one customized rule that routes the call to the third communication endpoint and to bypass other customized rules;
• determining a route from the first communication endpoint to the second communication endpoint that excludes at least one of the routes specified by the plurality of customized rules;
• and
• transmitting the call via the route to the second communication endpoint.