Telephone call management system and method
First Claim
1. A method of controlling calls from a wireless telephone having a control number, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call at a switching center from the wireless telephone in a first telephone network directed to a destination telephone having a destination telephone number in a second telephone network;
searching a first database of control numbers in the switching center for the control number associated with the wireless telephone;
connecting the call across a first communication link to a call management center if the control number is found in said first database;
searching a second database of control numbers in the call management center for the control number, each control number in said second database being associated with one or more telephone numbers;
determining whether the destination telephone number is associated with the control number in said second database;
if the destination telephone number is not associated with the control number in said second database, receiving an access code from the wireless telephone;
connecting the call across a second communication link to a central office in the second telephone network; and
connecting the call through the second telephone network to the destination telephone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A call management system is provided to manage the use of specified wireless telephones in order to limit or manage their use for unofficial calls and to report on official as well as unofficial uses. Calls originated from or directed to a controlled wireless telephone are routed to a call management center from a wireless central office. The call management center determines whether the call is approved by consulting a database of approved telephone numbers. If the call is approved it is completed normally. If the call is not approved, the caller is prompted to provide an access code. The call is completed if the access code matches a predetermined security code. Customizable exception reports are generated to reflect unofficial usage, incorrect access attempts, and other detailed information concerning the use of the specified wireless telephones.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling calls from a wireless telephone having a control number, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a call at a switching center from the wireless telephone in a first telephone network directed to a destination telephone having a destination telephone number in a second telephone network;
searching a first database of control numbers in the switching center for the control number associated with the wireless telephone;
connecting the call across a first communication link to a call management center if the control number is found in said first database;
searching a second database of control numbers in the call management center for the control number, each control number in said second database being associated with one or more telephone numbers;
determining whether the destination telephone number is associated with the control number in said second database;
if the destination telephone number is not associated with the control number in said second database, receiving an access code from the wireless telephone;
connecting the call across a second communication link to a central office in the second telephone network; and
connecting the call through the second telephone network to the destination telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of controlling calls from wireless telephones at a call management center comprising the steps of:
-
maintaining a first database of controlled telephone numbers, each controlled telephone number being associated with one or more pre-approved telephone numbers;
receiving a call from a caller using a wireless telephone having a controlled telephone number, the call being directed to a destination telephone having a destination telephone number;
identifying said controlled telephone number of the wireless telephone;
determining whether the call is pre-approved; and
connecting the call to the destination telephone if the call is pre-approved. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of controlling calls placed to a wireless telephone, the wireless telephone having a corresponding control number, said method comprising the steps of:
-
maintaining a database of control numbers, each control number being associated with one or more pre-approved telephone numbers corresponding to originating telephones that are approved for making calls to the corresponding wireless telephone;
receiving a call at a call management center, the call being addressed to a destination party at the wireless telephone by a caller at an originating telephone;
identifying a telephone number of the originating telephone;
determining whether the call is approved; and
connecting the call to the wireless telephone if the call is approved. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method of managing the use of controlled telephones at a call management center, said method comprising the steps of:
-
maintaining a database of controlled telephone numbers, each controlled telephone number being associated with an access code and one or more pre-approved telephone numbers;
receiving a call between a controlled telephone having a controlled telephone number and a telephone having a telephone number; and
determining whether said call is pre-approved. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
Specification