System and method for restricting and monitoring telephone calls

• US 20030076941A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tiliks, Dianna Inara, Book, Nancy Ann, Gruchala, Carol Shifrin, Crockett, Susanne Marie, Moss, John Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/196
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A telecommunications service controls and monitors telephone calls by storing at a service control point (SCP) restricted telephone numbers and priority telephone numbers. Upon receiving call data relating to a call between a subscriber telephone number and an outside telephone number, the SCP determines whether the outside telephone number matches the restricted or priority telephone numbers. When the outside telephone number matches a restricted telephone number, the call is terminated and the SCP stores the call data. When the outside telephone number does not match a restricted telephone number, or matches a priority telephone number, the call is connected. The SCP transmits stored call data to a service management system, which is accessible by the subscriber via the Internet or an interactive voice response, for generating reports. The service further includes time schedules for implementing call restrictions and personal identification number for bypassing call restrictions.

Claims

1. A method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network with respect to a telephone number associated with a subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

storing at least one restricted telephone number and a personal identification number associated with the subscriber;

receiving at a service control point call data relating to a call involving the subscriber telephone number and an outside telephone number, the call data comprising the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number;

determining at the service control point whether the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number;

when the outside telephone number does not comprise the at least one restricted telephone number, connecting the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number;

when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, storing the call data and requesting entry of the personal identification number;

receiving at the service control point an identification number in response to the request for the personal identification number;

determining at the service control point whether the identification number comprises the personal identification number;

when the identification number does not comprise the personal identification number, terminating the call;

when the identification number does comprise the personal identification number, connecting the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number; and

transmitting the stored call data to a service management system that is accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network.

2. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least one time period, comprising a start time and an associated stop time;

determining at the service control point whether a time of the call is within the at least one time period;

when time of the call is not within the at least one time period, connecting the call regardless of whether the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number; and

when time of the call is within the at least one time period, determining whether the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number.

3. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, the service management system being further accessible by the subscriber via an interactive voice response system through the telecommunications network.

4. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least one priority telephone number;

when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, determining at the service control point whether the outside telephone number further comprises the at least one priority telephone number;

when the outside telephone number does not comprise the at least one priority telephone number, terminating the call; and

when the outside telephone number does comprise the at least one priority telephone number, connecting the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number.

5. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying in near real-time the call data on the graphical user interface.

6. A method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network with respect to a telephone number associated with a subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

storing at a service control point a plurality of call control schedules, each of the plurality of call control schedules comprising at least one activation period and at least one restricted telephone number corresponding to the at least one activation period;

receiving at the service control point from a service management system an instruction to implement at least one of the plurality of call control schedules, the service management system being accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network and an interactive voice response system through the telecommunications network;

receiving at the service control point call data relating to a call involving the subscriber telephone number and an outside telephone number, the call data comprising the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number;

determining at the service control point whether the call occurs within the at least one activation period of the at least one call control schedule;

when the call does occur within the at least one activation period of the at least one call control schedule, determining at the service control point whether the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number of the at least one call control schedule; and

when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, terminating the call and storing the call data at the service control point.

7. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting to the service management system the stored call data. substantially simultaneously with storing the call data.

8. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the call data at the graphical user interface substantially simultaneously with transmitting the call data to the service management system.

9. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing at the service control point a personal identification number associated with the subscriber;

when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, requesting entry of the personal identification number;

receiving at the service control point an identification number in response to the request for the personal identification number;

determining at the service control point whether the identification number comprises the personal identification number;

when the identification number does not comprise the personal identification number, terminating the call; and

when the identification number does comprise the personal identification number, connecting the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number.

10. The method for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls in a telecommunications network according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing at least one priority telephone number;

when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, determining at the service control point whether the outside telephone number further comprises the at least one priority telephone number;

when the outside telephone number does not comprise the at least one priority telephone number, terminating the call; and

when the outside telephone number does comprise the at least one priority telephone number, connecting the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number.

11. A system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls with respect to a telephone number associated with a subscriber terminal, the system comprising:

a service control point in a public switched telephone network, the service control point receiving call data relating to a call involving the subscriber telephone number and an outside telephone number, the call data comprising the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number; and

a service management system, connectable to the service control point and accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network, the service control point receiving a personal identification number associated with the subscriber from the service management system;

wherein the service control point determines whether the outside telephone number is restricted, based on previously stored restricted telephone number data identified by the subscriber; and

wherein, when the outside telephone number is not restricted, the service control point completes the call, and when the outside telephone number is restricted, the service control point controls playing an announcement requesting entry of the personal identification number;

wherein, the service control point further determines whether an identification number entered in response to the announcement comprises the personal identification number; and

wherein, when the entered identification number comprises the personal identification number, the service control point completes the call regardless of whether the outside telephone number is restricted, and when the entered identification number does not comprise the personal identification number, the service control point terminates the call.

12. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 11, wherein when the service control point determines that the outside telephone number is restricted, the service control point stores the call data and transmits the call data to the service management system.

13. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 12, wherein the service control point transmits the call data to the service management system substantially simultaneously with determining that the outside telephone number is restricted.

14. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 13, wherein the service management system transmits the call data to the graphical user interface for display substantially simultaneously with a request for the call data via the graphical user interface.

15. A system for selectively controlling and monitoring incoming telephone calls and outgoing telephone calls with respect to a telephone number associated with a subscriber terminal, the system comprising:

a plurality of switches in a public switched telephone network;

a service control point in the public switched telephone network that stores at least one restricted telephone number and at least one personal identification number and that receives one of incoming call data and outgoing call data from one of the plurality of switches relating to a call including the subscriber telephone number, the one of incoming call data and outgoing call data comprising the subscriber telephone number and an outside party telephone number; and

a service management system, connectable to the service control point and accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network and an interactive voice response system through the public switched telephone network;

wherein the service control point determines whether the outside party telephone number matches the at least one restricted telephone number;

wherein, when the outside party telephone number does not match the at least one restricted telephone number, the service control point instructs one of the plurality of switches to connect the call between the subscriber terminal and an outside party terminal associated with the outside party telephone number;

wherein, when the calling party telephone number matches the at least one restricted telephone number, the service control point instructs the one of the plurality of switches to play an announcement requesting entry of an identification number;

wherein, the service control point receives from the one of the plurality of switches the identification number and compares the identification number to the personal identification number; and

wherein, when the caller identification number matches the personal identification number, the service control point instructs the one of the plurality of switches to complete the call between the subscriber terminal and the outside party terminal, and when the identification number does not match the personal identification number, the service control point instructs the one of the plurality of switches to terminate the call.

16. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 15, wherein the service control point transmits in near real-time the one of the incoming call data and the outgoing call data to the service management system;

and

wherein the service management system displays the one of the incoming call data and the outgoing call data on the graphical user interface upon receiving the one of the incoming call data and the outgoing call data.

17. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 15, wherein the service control point stores at least one time schedule associated with the subscriber, the at least one time schedule comprising activation and deactivation times for controlling and monitoring telephone calls;

and

wherein the service control point determines a match between the at least one restricted number and the outside party telephone number only during the activation times for controlling and monitoring telephone calls.

18. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 15, wherein the service control point stores at least one priority telephone number associated with the subscriber;

wherein the service control point determines whether the outside party telephone number matches the at least one priority telephone number;

wherein, when the outside party telephone number matches the at least one priority telephone number, the service control point instructs the one of the plurality of switches to connect the call between the subscriber terminal and the outside party terminal regardless of whether the outside party telephone number also matches the at least one restricted telephone number; and

wherein, when the outside party telephone number does not match the at least one priority telephone number, the service control point instructs the one of the plurality of switches whether to connect the call in accordance with the at least one restricted telephone number.

19. A system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls with respect to a telephone number associated with a subscriber terminal, the system comprising:

a service control point that stores a plurality of call control schedules, each of the plurality of call control schedules comprising at least one activation period in a week and at least one restricted telephone number corresponding to the at least one activation period; and

a service management system connectable to the service control point and accessible by the subscriber via a graphical user interface through a packet switched data network and an interactive voice response system through a telecommunications network, the service control point receiving an instruction to implement at least one of the plurality of call control schedules via the service management system;

wherein the service control point receives call data relating to a call involving the subscriber telephone number, the call data comprising the subscriber telephone number and an outside telephone number, and determines whether the call occurs within the at least one activation period of the at least one call control schedule;

wherein, when the call does occur within the at least one activation period of the at least one call control schedule, the service control point determines whether the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number of the at least one call control schedule; and

wherein, when the outside telephone number comprises the at least one restricted telephone number, the service control point terminates the call, stores the call data and transmits the call data to the service management system according to one of a predetermined transmission period and a request from the service management system to receive the call data.

20. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 19, wherein the service management system formats a report based on at least the call data and transmits the report to the subscriber via one of the graphical user interface and the interactive voice response system, according to instructions provided by the subscriber via the graphical user interface.

21. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 19, wherein the service control point transmits the call data to the service management system substantially simultaneously with the call involving the subscriber telephone number.

22. The system for selectively controlling and monitoring telephone calls according to claim 19, wherein the service control point stores a personal identification number associated with the subscriber, the personal identification number being provided by the subscriber through the service management system;

wherein, when the outside telephone number matches the at least one restricted telephone number, the service control point requests entry of the personal identification number; and

wherein, when the service control point receives the personal identification number in response to the request, the service control point connects the call between the subscriber telephone number and the outside telephone number.