Abstract: Methods and apparatus to respond to monitor subscriber activity are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a first set of client telephone number (TN) data associated with a client and a current time period, and receiving a second set of client TN data associated with a prior time period. The example method also includes receiving a first set of subscriber activity data associated with the current time period, identifying a TN that is in the first set of subscriber activity data and is absent from at least one of the first or second sets of client TN data, and identifying the TN with at least one of a new inroad for a competitor or a new inroad for the client based on at least one activity code from the first set of subscriber activity data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for performing communication using a collect call in a GSM/UMTS-based mobile communication system. The method includes the steps of setting by a call originating mobile station a specific field of a call connection request message in such a manner that communication based on the collect call is performed, transmitting the set call connection request message to a call terminating mobile station, and if the call terminating mobile station accepts the collect call, completing call connection establishment with the call terminating mobile station and performing communication based on the collect call.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for providing call connections between a calling party and a verified called party. A person-to-person account is identified for the called party. An answering party is prompted to provide identification information. The identification information is compared to data in the person-to-person account. The call connection is not completed unless the called party's identity is verified.

Abstract: A system is provided for connecting collect calls. A collect call number for the collect call is received. A blocking status of the collect call number is determined. The collect call number is dialed. A call recipient is prompted to accept the collect call and to select a billing option according to the blocking status. The collect call is connected based on the selected billing option.

Abstract: First information and second information is stored in the communication system for a callback after a first communication terminal attempts a call to a second communication terminal in which the connection is not established. The first information allows the second communication terminal to display the attempted call so that a callback to the first communication terminal can be executed on the part of the second communication terminal. The second information includes a charge type for the callback correlating at least to the attempted call.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for processing alternatively billed telephone calls, such as, for example, collect calls and third party calls. In some representative embodiments, a method for completing an alternatively billed call between a calling party and a called party comprises establishing a calling party quality score and completing the alternatively billed call if the calling party quality score meets a threshold. In other representative embodiments, the method further comprises establishing a called party quality score and/or a third party quality score, combining the aforementioned quality scores, and completing the alternatively billed call if the combination of quality scores meets a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods which collect information regarding users of controlled environment visitation terminals for identification of one or more parties to a visitation conversation are shown. Identifying information may be provided by various means, such as entry of a PIN, RFID, biometrics, etcetera. Embodiments provide a closed circuit visitation communication system in which a single port of a communication control system is used with respect to a pair of visitation terminals. Embodiments operate to prevent communication between a resident of a controlled environment facility and a visitor while identifying information is collected and verified.

Abstract: A call processor records a message from a facility phone for a destination phone upon a first collect call from the facility phone to the destination phone being terminated when the first collect call is rejected at the destination phone. In response to the message having been recorded, the call processor completes a second collect call to the destination phone upon the second collect call being accepted at the destination phone. The call processor delivers the message to the destination phone during the second collect call, records a response to the message from the destination phone during the second collect call after the message has been delivered, and stores the response for subsequent retrieval by a facility phone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage collect phone calling limits are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises: determining if collect calls from one or more predetermined locations to a terminating phone number have exceeded a collect calls limit; and determining a future date when collect calls will be permitted from the one or more predetermined locations to the terminating phone number if the collect calls limit has been exceeded.

Abstract: A system for controlling restricted telephone calls that originate from a facility includes a facility resident telephone for calling a destination telephone number as a collect call, where the collect call is completed when accepted, a call processing platform electrically coupled to the facility resident telephone for prompting for a message to be recorded and storing the message, when the collect call is not completed, and a message delivery module for attempting to deliver the message to the destination telephone, and for prompting for a response to be recorded from the destination telephone and storing the response when the message is delivered.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and/or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage collect phone calling limits are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises: determining if collect calls from one or more predetermined locations to a terminating phone number have exceeded a collect calls limit; and determining a future date when collect calls will be permitted from the one or more predetermined locations to the terminating phone number if the collect calls limit has been exceeded.

Abstract: A method of processing a collect call. The method includes receiving a request for a collect call from a calling party and transmitting information required pursuant to a detariffing order to a called party.

Abstract: A method of providing collect call service includes receiving a request for a collect call from a calling party (18). A selected number to call is received. A call is placed to a receiving party (20). Agreeability of the receiving party (20) to accept the credit card billing for the collect call is determined. The calling party (18) is connected to the receiving party (20) in response to the acceptance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of offering a service to a user. The method comprises receiving a dialed number from a request to initiate a collect telephone call from an origination source; processing the dialed number to determine whether payment may be received for the collect telephone call, wherein the processing blocks the collect call and stores the dialed number when the processing determines that payment may not be received for the collect telephone call; and establishing a telephone connection with the dialed number to communicate an offer for the service to a user associated with the dialed number.

Abstract: To prevent fraud perpetrators from using a public pay telephone to illicitly collect account numbers, authorization codes or personal identification numbers from an unsuspecting user of the telephone, the instant invention disables the keypad of the telephone if an incoming call is being received at the time that the handset is lifted from the phone by the user. In one method, the ringing signal and the off-hook condition are detected and a control output is provided which disengages the dialing tone generating circuits of the telephone until the handset is placed back on-hook. According to an alternative method, after the handset is lifted, a dial tone is sensed and evaluated by a dial tone discriminator to determine whether the dial tone is likely to be a valid dial tone from a legitimate service provider. If the dial tone is determined to be invalid, then the keypad of the telephone is disabled until the handset is placed back on-hook.

Abstract: A mechanism for rejecting specific types of calls in a network including collect calls and telemarketing calls. Calls are tagged to indicate the type of call, this tag being recognizable at the terminating end of the network allowing automatic rejection of the call on a subscription basis. In one embodiment, an OLI parameter is utilized to tag the call. In another embodiment, another parameter such as Optional Forward Call Indicator is utilized. An end office serving the subscriber may automatically reject the call, or may pass on the call to a PBX serving multiple subscribers. The PBX may automatically reject all calls of a particular type, or may allow calls depending on the subscriber being called.

Abstract: A telephone system and method is provided for delaying authorization validation queries until after a called party accepts a telephone call. Queries are avoided not only in cases where the called phone line is busy or not answering, but also in cases where the called party declines to accept the charges. Because authorization validation queries typically take less than half a second, parties are not significantly affected by the delay.

Abstract: In various forms of telephone network signaling, automatic number identification information (ANI) includes a field of two or more ‘information’ (II) digits, typically used to indicate a calling line attribute, such as hospital line, residential line, payphone, etc. A number of situations have arisen where it is desirable to use these digits to control network functions and it is necessary to accurately pass the digits through with all call related signaling. For example, accurate II digits can enable appropriate processing, billing and payments for toll-free calls from payphones. Existing switch software, however, does not always provide the correct II digits or pass the digits through unchanged. In accord with the invention, a call requiring flexible ANI functionality triggers access to a central database, preferably in a service control point (SCP) or a signaling transfer point (STP).

Abstract: An automatic coin collection device for a payphone provided with no coin collection signal is disclosed, which has a solenoid to be activated to collect coins so as to start to count time and begin telephone communication. A call tone detector is connected to a telephone line for detecting a call tone on the line. A voice detecting circuit is connected to the telephone line for detecting a voice signal on the line. A micro-controller is provided for analyzing the detecting results of the call tone detector and the voice detecting circuit after dialing to activate the solenoid when a ring back tone disappears and a voice signal appears, or when no ring back tone is detected but a voice signal appears. With this, the user can use a payphone to make a phone call without the need of pressing a pushbutton to collect coins.

Abstract: In a communication control unit, CPU judges whether a telephone number of a caller is included in caller ID signals and communicating section starts communicating with the caller when the CPU judges that the telephone number of the caller is not included in the caller ID signals; or calls back the telephone number of the caller when the CPU judges that the telephone number of the caller is included in the caller ID signals.