Toll Center Patents (Class 379/222)
  • Patent number: 10810084
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to an apparatus, comprising logic, at least partially incorporated into hardware, to receive, by a primary communication device, an update image associated with a smart device, and initiate sending of the update image to the smart device, wherein a bootloader of the smart device is configured to update a memory of the smart device with the update image. The logic is further to determine whether the updating of the memory of the smart device with the update image has been interrupted, and responsive to determining that the updating of the memory of the smart device with the update image has been interrupted, send a first message to the smart device to instruct the bootloader of the smart device to resume updating of the memory of the smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Jepson, Charles Carter Jernigan, Nicholas Moe Khosravy, John Wei, Fai Yeung
  • Patent number: 10142493
    Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Stura, Pertti Rantala, Jani Ekman, Juha-Pekka Koskinen, Anne Narhi, Juha R. Vallinen
  • Patent number: 9503270
    Abstract: A communication device and a power saving method in a data transmission system are provided that can achieve the prevention of element deterioration occurring when a check signal is transmitted during sleep, as well as reductions of transmission noise and power consumption. The communication device, which is connected to another communication device through transmission/reception links corresponding to multiple channels, respectively, includes communication sections corresponding to the multiple channels, respectively, and a control section that interrupts transmission outputs of the communication element when there is no data for transmission, and sequentially changes, among the multiple channels, a channel that transmits a check signal for checking a link state during a period in which the transmission outputs are kept interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Tajima
  • Patent number: 8548152
    Abstract: A system and method for processing toll free telephone calls by a telecommunications service provider may include receiving, by the telecommunications service provider, a telephone call request for a telephone call being placed to a toll free telephone number from a telephone within a service area of the telecommunications service provider. The telecommunications service provider may determine that the toll free telephone number is one operated by the telecommunications service provider. The telephone call may be routed via a network of the telecommunications service provider to a telephone associated with the toll free telephone number to connect the telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Leister, John Zeigler, Jennifer Stilgenbauer
  • Patent number: 8477766
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a collect call method and system thereof, more particularly, in order to charge the called party with a uniform toll for collect call, which is determined by only the type and location of called party terminal. In one embodiment, the collect call method, system and a counsel service providing method use a free VoIP network for part of the voice call link and a charge PSTN network for the rest of the voice call link. In one embodiment, if the first link corresponding to the collect call request is established, the collect call switch calls the called party terminal to establish the second link, and billing on the second link is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Ey-Taeg Kwon
  • Patent number: 8355494
    Abstract: A system and method for processing toll free telephone calls by a telecommunications service provider may include receiving, by the telecommunications service provider, a telephone call request for a telephone call being placed to a toll free telephone number from a telephone within a service area of the telecommunications service provider. The telecommunications service provider may determine that the toll free telephone number is one operated by the telecommunications service provider. The telephone call may be routed via a network of the telecommunications service provider to a telephone associated with the toll free telephone number to connect the telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Leister, John Zeigler, Jennifer Stilgenbauer
  • Patent number: 8311193
    Abstract: A charging method for group main line, GML, service is disclosed. For an outgoing call from an extension of the GML, the initiated call is identified by adding a prefix for group service before the called number. When an intelligent network, IN, finds that there is the prefix for group service before the called number, the call is processed as collectively paid by the GML. A service control point, SCP, generates a call record for the call and places a special identification code in the call record. An incoming call redirected through the GML is also processed as collectively paid by the GML. The SCP generates a call record for the call and places a special identification code in the call record. The present invention also discloses a service control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng Wang, Zhenghui Ye
  • Patent number: 7961863
    Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
  • Patent number: 7826460
    Abstract: A network-on-chip apparatus including a plurality of network interfaces being independently connected to a plurality of processing elements; a network including a plurality of switches for controlling data transmission/reception between the network interfaces; and a plurality of bidirectional links for connecting between the network interfaces and the switches, and between the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kangmin Lee
  • Patent number: 7792095
    Abstract: Implementations are described that are capable of adding information associated with one or more items and/or products to a virtual shopping cart associated with an entity, such as a customer browsing a website. The described implementations may detect a request to establish a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications session, the request made by the entity, and retrieve product data associated with the information in the virtual shopping cart. The product data may be bundled with VoIP session parameters usable to establish a VoIP communications session with the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thiru Srinivansan
  • Patent number: 7734030
    Abstract: Telephone numbering data comprising an NPA code associated with an NXX code that is associated with a rate center identifier is received at a dial plan instruction writer. Local call data relative to a home rate center is also received. The local call data determine whether a call originating in the home rate center is charged as a local call, a toll call, or a long distance call. Routing rules to be applied to a called telephone number originating from the home rate center are determined based on the telephone numbering data and the local call data. Instructions executable by the telephone switch that implement the routing rules are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc.
    Inventors: John Pfaff, James Medica, Dipesh J. Modi, Stephen V. Minshew, Kevin Borror, Mark Zekra
  • Patent number: 7668302
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed where a call center operator having multiple locations, including a call center is able to utilize existing network infrastructure to route telephone communications to the call center to the location where the lowest toll rate is applicable. The telephone communications are converted into data packets and routed to the call center using VoIP technology. No toll would apply to the transmission of the data to the call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Jerry Scott Beene, Joel Fred King
  • Patent number: 7657017
    Abstract: A method includes jurisdictionalizing a long distance intra-MTA call as a local call. The method may further include receiving an intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection to a terminating network, and routing the intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call directly to the terminating network via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies the terms of use of the direct connection. A method for routing calls includes determining that a received intrastate call is an intra-MTA call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection bypassing a Local Exchange Carrier, and routing the intra-MTA call for termination via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of the direct connection. A system includes a switch configured to jurisdictionalize a long-distance intra-MTA call as a local call, and may be further configured to route the call over a local route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Bill Long, Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri, Dan Jordan
  • Patent number: 7649862
    Abstract: The flexible through-connection process, operational in a Mobile Switch Center, that provides support for allowing the call routing processor of the Mobile Switch Center to independently perform a through-connection/switch-connection based on different types of calls so that the Mobile Switch Center can make a through-connection at different stages of the outgoing call leg. In operation, the present flexible through-connection process includes in the call control processor of the switching system a new parameter in the existing inter-process message which is sent to the call routing processor at call setup time. The values supported for this new parameter will be pre-defined in the Mobile Switch Center and used by the call routing processor to determine when to perform through-connection/switch-connection for an outgoing call leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Julian Maurico Guio, Jason T. Kuo, Ismael Lopez, Huixian Song
  • Patent number: 7580516
    Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
  • Patent number: 7391855
    Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for processing data to complete a collect telephone call to a called-party that has prepaid an account to pay for the collect call. Data is received regarding a collect call from a caller to the called-party. Next it is determining whether the called party is associated with a prepaid account and the rate to be applied to the collect call. The rate to be applied to the call is increased by a tax rate and the data is sent regarding the call rate to be applied to the collect call so that the call can be completed between the called party and caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Regina L. Winstead, Daniel Tor
  • Patent number: 7082300
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for connecting an out-of-market customer to a desired telephone number. The method comprises receiving a customer validation request from a foreign market provider and, in return, providing a random or designated toll-free telephone number to the foreign market provider. Upon receiving a call request from the foreign market provider, the call request is directed to the desired telephone number. The customer validation request may include the desired telephone number and/or a mobile identification number. The call request is based on the provided toll-free telephone number, which is owned by a home market provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Charles M. Link, II, Donald M. Cardina
  • Patent number: 7068772
    Abstract: A system and associated method receive, from a local telecommunications network, a call from a first number, to a second number associated with an individual or subscriber. The system and method locally store at least the second number, and initiate a dial-up call to a central telecommunication server or a dialed-up network via the local telecommunications network. The system and method then transfer at least the second number to the central telecommunications server via the dial-up call over the dial-up network. The dial-up network can be a 1-800 network, long distance network, or other network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: AccessLine Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Widger, Jeremy M. Knight, Frederick A. Epler
  • Patent number: 6963635
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating collection of past due balances. A control entity such as a call server or collections server receives a signaling message such as a SIP INVITE that seeks to set up a call between a calling party and called party. The control entity determines that the calling party has a past due balance, i.e., that the calling party owes the carrier money. In response, the control entity changes the signaling message to designate a collections system as the called party, and the signaling message is then used to set up a call between the calling party and the collections system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Bryce A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6885858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a billing system for billing for services provided by a service provider and/or for transmissions of service data via a terminal used by a subscriber using a communication network, where the service provider is arranged outside the communication network, and the billing system accesses subscriber profile data stored in a home location register in the communication network. Access to the subscriber profile data is followed by use thereof to ascertain the TCP/IP address of an account server which manages an electronic credit belonging to the subscriber. The invention also shows a billing system for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Eder, Ronald Heine, Friedrich Koch
  • Publication number: 20040202302
    Abstract: The present invention is a telephone number with extension distribution system and method, preferably for toll-free vanity telephone numbers. The preferred embodiment of the system for distributing telephone numbers comprises a client computer connected to a server through the Internet. The server interfaces with a database, preferably using a TCP/IP network. The database contains (i) telephone numbers, preferably toll-free, (ii) extensions affiliated with the telephone numbers (iii) terminating telephone number(s) assigned to a telephone number and affiliated extension. The client computer can search the database and select a telephone number and select an available extension. The client computer then inputs a terminating telephone number(s) to be associated with the telephone number and affiliated extension. The database server containing telephone numbers and affiliated extensions interfaces with the server and the Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”) system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Richards
  • Patent number: 6718025
    Abstract: A system and method for alerting wireless telephone users whether a call is a toll call. This invention provides communication subscribers with a notification when placing a toll call to either other wireless or landline subscribers. The notification may be a toll notification informing the subscriber that a long distance call is about to be placed. The notification means may be a pre-recorded message, tone alert, e-mail message or any other means of alerting the user. Advantageously, the caller may terminate the call upon notification that he has engaged in a toll call, prior to the call being connected to the called party. The result is that the user is fully aware and in control when placing calls that he may not recognize are toll calls, due to impacts from local number portability or roaming of the wireless user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Ralph Boughman, Wendy Kay Kropenick
  • Patent number: 6694007
    Abstract: A method and system adapted to receive electronic text messages and generate connection request messages used to establish toll call connections. The system includes a call control database, customer profile database, billing database, call control node, and point of presence switch that interfaces with the PSTN. The electronic text messages are received through the Internet and may be electronic mail, short message service, or instant text messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Softalk Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Lang, Piotr Balcerzak
  • Patent number: 6681008
    Abstract: An automated toll-free telecommunications information service may be provided responsive to a user sending an E-Mail request via the Internet or by a caller dialing a toll-free telephone number and announcing a voice request. A service node interprets the request and collects matches to the request from a database. A match to a request may comprise the identity of an entity corresponding to the match, a toll-free number for the match and a brief information sketch describing the entity. The matches are announced and played for the caller. The caller may barge in with a predetermined voice announcement such as “please dial” when they wish to select an item of the list. In response, the service node initiates the launch of a call to the selected entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Bolduc, Steven Charles Salimando
  • Publication number: 20030231751
    Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a front end automation system, an operator services switch, an automated operator, and an automation data server. The front end automation system interacts with a caller in order to recognize a request of the caller and determine a response to the request. The operator services switch, which is inter-operably coupled to the front end automation system, receives a call from the front end automation system, after the front end automation system has recognized the request and has determined the response to the request, and creates billing information relative to the call. The automation data server, which is inter-operably coupled to the front end automation system, passes information about the request and the response from the front end automation system to the automated operator. The automated operator, which is inter-operably coupled to the operator services switch, provides the response to the request to the caller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Dwight E. Scott
  • Patent number: 6570973
    Abstract: A system and method for alerting wireless telephone users whether a call is a toll call. This invention provides communication subscribers with a notification when placing a toll call to either other wireless or landline subscribers. The notification may be a toll notification informing the subscriber that a long distance call is about to be placed. The notification means may be a pre-recorded message, tone alert, e-mail message or any other means of alerting the user. Advantageously, the caller may terminate the call upon notification that he has engaged in a toll call, prior to the call being connected to the called party. The result is that the user is fully aware and in control when placing calls that he may not recognize are toll calls, due to impacts from local number portability or roaming of the wireless user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Ralph Boughman, Wendy Kay Kropenick
  • Patent number: 6535585
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus for delivering a message from a calling party at a calling station to a called party at a called station, the method including: in response to an unsuccessful attempt to communicate from the calling station to the called station, storing a message from the calling station, using a messaging system, for later delivery to the called station; obtaining address information, using the messaging system, for the calling party and for the called station, from the calling station; attempting to deliver the message, using the messaging system, to the called station by initiating a communication from the messaging system to the called station using the address information for the called station that was obtained from the calling station; determining, using the messaging system, whether the message delivery attempt was successful; and, in response to successful delivery of the message, attempting to notify the calling party that the message to the called station was successfully delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: WorldCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Hanson, Douglas J. Murray
  • Publication number: 20020136390
    Abstract: A method and system adapted to receive electronic text messages and generate connection request messages used to establish toll call connections. The system includes a call control database, customer profile database, billing database, call control node, and point of presence switch that interfaces with the PSTN. The electronic text messages are received through the Internet and may be electronic mail, short message service, or instant text messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Softalk Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Lang, Piotr Balcerzak
  • Publication number: 20020061100
    Abstract: A method of and system for telecommunication are disclosed, in which a service provider establishes a point of presence with a plurality of telephone numbers in at least one first vicinity. The service provider receives telephone calls to those numbers and relays each such call over a wide-area network (WAN) to a recipient in a second vicinity to which the telephone number in question is not local. Each said telephone number is assigned to a specific recipient, and each call is directed to its recipient on the basis of the telephone number to which it was made, so that each number can be presented to potential callers as if it were a local number in the first vicinity for the recipient, even though the recipient may have no physical presence in the first vicinity. The recipient thus has a “Virtual Telephone Number” (VTN) in the first vicinity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Carmen A. DiCamillo, Kenneth M. Giannantonio, Brian S. Adelson
  • Patent number: 6311291
    Abstract: A remote modem control and testing system includes a remote diagnostic unit (RDU) and a control computer linked by telephone lines and control modems. The RDU also includes a test software modem and a reference modem. An operator of the control computer uses remote control software installed on both the control computer and the RDU to operate the RDU, modify or install software on the RDU, test the test modem, and compare performances of the test modem and the reference modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: PC-Tel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Laurence Barrett, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20010024496
    Abstract: An automated toll-free telecommunications information service may be provided responsive to a user sending an E-Mail request via the Internet or by a caller dialing a toll-free telephone number and announcing a voice request. A service node interprets the request and collects matches to the request from a database. A match to a request may comprise the identity of an entity corresponding to the match, a toll-free number for the match and a brief information sketch describing the entity. The matches are announced and played for the caller. The caller may barge in with a predetermined voice announcement such as “please dial” when they wish to select an item of the list. In response, the service node initiates the launch of a call to the selected entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Raymond L. Bolduc, Steven Charles Salimando
  • Patent number: 6282271
    Abstract: A device for protecting a modem against harmful telephone line signals or reversed polarity telephone line signals includes a telephone line interface couplable to a telephone line, a modem interface couplable to a modem communication port, a measurement circuit that measures the value of an electrical parameter of a signal on the telephone line, an indicator circuit that provides an indication if the value of the parameter is not within predetermined limits, an isolation circuit that electrically isolates the modem communication port from the telephone line if the value of the parameter is not within predetermined limits, and a polarity detection circuit that determines the polarity of the telephone line with respect to the polarity of the modem communication port and reverses the polarities with respect to one another if they are opposite. Such operation of the apparatus may be initiated automatically in response to detection of an off-hook condition of the modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Gutzmer Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan A. Gutzmer, George J. Wasemiller
  • Publication number: 20010001012
    Abstract: A local routing system is provided for selectively routing traffic in a telecommunications network according to a local service provider's preferences. The local service provider provides service for telephone lines acquired from a local exchange carrier. The telecommunications network supports an originator subscribing to the local service provider. The originator initiates a trigger when originating a call to a destination by dialing a number. The local routing system includes a classifier, a determiner, and a router. The classifier analyzes the dialed number and categorizes the call into one of several predetermined classes of traffic. The determiner determines whether the local service provider has a routing preference for the class of traffic into which the classifier has placed the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: May 10, 2001
    Applicant: SBC TECHNOLOGIES RESOURCES, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Culli, Bruce A. Nance, John E. Simino, Harold C. Fleischer, Michael Hanrahan, M. Lourdes Coronado
  • Patent number: 6157709
    Abstract: A call delivered to a called party (12, 120) is branded to identify to the called party the identity of the telecommunications carrier whose network (20) carried the call at least in part. Such branding is accomplished by triggering an announcement mechanism (34, 340) upon receipt in the network (20) of an indication that the called party has answered the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: John Jutten Lawser, Steven M. Michelson
  • Patent number: 6137874
    Abstract: Disclosed is a capability for differentiated in-network or off-network call treatment (e.g., different call features or services) on a per-call basis using the value of the carrier identification code (CIC) passed from an access provider to a second carrier in a call set-up message associated with an incoming call. In addition, the caller selection information (CSI) parameter may be used in conjunction with the CIC to provide differentiated call treatment. The CIC and CSI parameters together provide information about the call and the caller which can be used for, e.g., directed marketing activities aimed at non-presubscribed callers using the second carrier's network on a per-call basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Norris Brown, Gerhard Buhler, Yen-Ching Wendy Chen, Charles Grayson, Belkacem Manseur
  • Patent number: 6111946
    Abstract: A method and system for providing answer supervision in a switched telephone network are described. The method involves monitoring signaling links in a common channel signaling system to track call progress. If a called number is determined to be suspect with respect to providing call answer indications, the system may route calls to monitored facilities which measure the commencement of payload traffic. When payload traffic is detected, a call answer message can be sent through the signaling network to initiate billing, or call release messages may be sent in each direction to cancel the call. Both inter-network and intra-network calls can be monitored to provide answer supervision and ensure that toll calls are properly billed in accordance with actual toll facility usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Bell Canada
    Inventor: William G. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6078659
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient recovery mechanism when a toll switch within a telephone network is inoperative. A telephone network management operating system and a network manager determines that a toll switch is sufficiently inoperative and invokes a trunk group reconfiguration mechanism. A cross connect system, such as a DCS (Digital Cross-connect System), links the toll-completing trunk groups coming into such an inoperative toll switch to intertoll trunk groups coming into such a toll switch. In this manner, an alternative toll switch within the telephone network replaces the inoperative toll switch for such toll-completing trunk groups thereby restoring operation to customers previously tied to the inoperative toll switch in an efficient and low-cost manner by using already existing components within the telephone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. De Trana, Craig L. DeCaluwe, William Charles Leach
  • Patent number: 5982869
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring routing for international telephone calls in a hierarchy of switches. The present invention provides a set of routing rules to route international telephone calls through a hierarchy of switches. The rules act upon data stored in a computer. The data is stored in a configuration table. The configuration table contains information describing network topology. Using the network topology data, the rules generate routing tables. The routing tables provide routing for international telephone calls through a switch hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Elena Lozano, Edmund W. Peaslee, Brett Carson
  • Patent number: 5956396
    Abstract: Local/toll dynamic routing integration is achieved within a telecommunications network (14) that includes at least one dynamic routing local switching system (24-1) for receiving incoming call and a plurality of toll switching systems (27-1 through 27-7) at least one of which is associated with each local switching system. For each incoming call, the local switching system (24-1) derives a set of Class-Of-Service (COS) parameters indicative of the class-of service associated with the call. In accordance with the COS parameters, the local switching system (24-1) determines whether each incoming call is a featured call, requiring routing to the toll switching system associated therewith, or a non-featured call. Featured calls are routed to the toll switching system associated with the local switching system for feature processing, whereas non-featured calls are routed by the local switching system itself in accordance with the COS parameters, thus relieving the load on the associated toll switching system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: AT&T Corp
    Inventors: Gerald Richard Ash, Sanjeev K. Deora
  • Patent number: 5946379
    Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the various functions of the telecommunications network, such as call processing and routing, automatic fault detection and correction, providing services to customers in an interactive manner, fraud detection and control, identification of patterns of abuse of the network, collecting data regarding call activity at each network element, and producing a record of each call placed within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Gurcharan S. Bhusri
  • Patent number: 5940491
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling establishment of telecommunications call connections in a telecommunications network. The network comprises a plurality of switches each with its own switching processor means, and a plurality of switching processing platforms each comprising at least one call processor. The switches and switching processing platforms are interconnected by a data network. SS7 signaling messages are received in one of the platforms and a call is assigned to a call processor. The call processor communicates with one or more switching processor means for controlling establishment of the call. Call features are processed under the control of the call processor. Advantageously, any call processor can be used for serving any call in the network and can control all legs of a multi-leg connection. Advantageously, in a large network, the number of platforms may be significantly less than the number of switches which reduces the cost and complexity of administration of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wayne Anderson, Alan Eugene Frey, Michael Neal Meyers
  • Patent number: 5903638
    Abstract: A telecommunications system for international routing processes international calls directed to a multi-carrier country. A network control system provides the intelligence needed to weigh all of the applicable information and, based on International Traffic Bid Allocation, returns the routing information to the long distance carrier domestic switch in accordance with an agreement on call allocation between the long distance carrier and the international carrier in the multi-carrier country. Based on the routing information provided by the network control system, the domestic switch subsequently routes the international call to the proper terminating gateway switch and the destination multi-carrier country.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Welter, Jr., Louis G. Gottlieb, Emery J. Reistetter, Eva Marcus-Kantor, Ronald J. Settele
  • Patent number: 5844981
    Abstract: A method and system of improved routing to WATS completes calls through a wide area telephone service using indirect routing. When a call is placed from a calling telephone station to a called telephone station, a telephone network attempts to route the call from the originating switch, on which the call entered the network, to a local exchange carrier serving the called station. If other routing paths in the network are unavailable or unsuccessful, a network processor recommends a routing from the originating switch to the local exchange carrier through a tandem switch and the WATS line of another telephone network. This capability provides a reduced incidence of blocked calls, such as may result from telecommunications system outages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Pitchford, Howard McNeil
  • Patent number: 5828734
    Abstract: For use with a public telephone network CO incorporating a vast number of terminals T1-Tn, a system CS limits and controls interface access to implement voice-digital communication for statistical processing. The system CS accommodates calls in different modes, e. g. "800", "900" or area code and incorporates qualifying apparatus to restrict against caller misuse. Alternative calling modes are used to reach an interface facility that also affords some control based on calling terminal identification, e. g. as by ANI equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing, LP
    Inventor: Ronald A. Katz
  • Patent number: 5815559
    Abstract: In an automatic message accounting (AMA) record distribution network, a method and system for sorting AMA records by using an area code or numbering plan area (NPA) data array and directory number bit maps to identify AMA records which are of interest to an operation center. Operation centers have access to every AMA record generated by a toll switching network and are initialized with a table of AMA structure and call-type codes, an NPA data array and directory number bit maps. NPA entries in the data array which are of interest to a particular operation center contain pointers (i.e., memory address locations) of the directory number bit maps. As AMA records are received by the operation center, directory numbers which have NPAs of interest to the operation center are compared to directory number bit maps. A directory number of an AMA record which corresponds to a numbered bit position of the directory number bit map is processed by the operation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Thomas Schnable
  • Patent number: 5787150
    Abstract: Method and apparatus allow a caller to contact a called party with a collect call whether or not the called station is answered or is busy. When the caller dials a collect call access code, the call is routed to a messaging platform which collects the call information and attempts to complete the call. If there is no answer or if the called station is busy, the messaging platform retains control of the call and automatically prompts the caller to enter a name and a message to be delivered to the called party. After the name and message have been entered, the caller is given a confirmation number, if desired, which allows the caller to determine whether the called party has received the message. The messaging platform repeatedly attempts to deliver the message by calling the called party. Upon the call being answered, the messaging platform identifies the caller and prompts the called party to accept or refuse the collect message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Doug Reiman, Rick L. Groene, Duraisamy Gunasekar, Samuel Mullins, Jesse E. Peterson, Arunachalam Venkatraman
  • Patent number: 5754633
    Abstract: A party (12, 14, 16 and 18) to a telephone call carried by a telecommunications network (10) may effect transfer of the call charges that would otherwise be billed to that party by entering a billing transfer request after the call has been set up. Upon receipt of the billing transfer request, the network verifies whether the subscriber is authorized. If so, then a billing record created upon call set up is transferred to an alternative number designated by the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: AT&T
    Inventor: Robert Bergman Levy
  • Patent number: 5751796
    Abstract: A system having an improved startup sequence for connecting two communicating modems, wherein the system includes a calling modem and an answer modem for communicating across an established communication link. Preferably, the system uses V.34 modulation protocol for information transfer after startup. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an improved startup method includes the step of transmitting a unique calling signal from the calling modem, wherein the calling signal identifies the configuration of the calling modem. The modem "configuration" includes information relating to the communication capabilities of the modem, as well as information relating to the physical interconnection (or communication link) of the modem. The method further includes the step of transmitting a unique answer signal from the answer modem to the calling modem, wherein the answer signal identifies the configuration of the answer modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Paradyne Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Earl Scott, Edward S. Zuranski
  • Patent number: 5729597
    Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the various functions of the telecommunications network, such as call processing and routing, automatic fault detection and correction, providing services to customers in an interactive manner, fraud detection and control, identification of patterns of abuse of the network, collecting data regarding call activity at each network element, and producing a record of each call placed within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: AT&T Corp
    Inventor: Gurcharan S. Bhusri
  • Patent number: 5539817
    Abstract: A method of providing multi-switch business group (MBG) services at each of a plurality of locations is described. The MBG services can be provided for calls made from a calling party served by an originating switch at one location to a called party served by a terminating switch at a location serviced by an inter-exchange carrier (IEC). When the calling party goes off-hook, a determination is made of whether the call is made from a centrex line. Digits dialed by the calling party are then collected at the originating switch. A determination is then made of whether the dialed digits contain an access code indicative that the call is to be routed to one of the plurality of locations which is served by an IEC. If the call is to be routed via an IEC, the initial address message (IAM) required for IEC calls, is modified to include MBG service information. This will permit MBG services to be offered between the calling party and the called party over public CCS7 trunks routed via an IEC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Stentor Resource Centre, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas B. Wilkes