Methods and apparatus to control distribution of call information

• US 20060067505A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Heinmiller, Wayne
• Application Number:
  US10/950,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20060067505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling the distribution of call information via telephone networks are disclosed. A disclosed method receives call information from a first switching point at an intermediate control point, retrieves from a database at the intermediate control point profile information associated with a second switching point, and modifies the call information based on the profile information.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the distribution of call information via a telephone network, comprising:

receiving call information from a first switching point at an intermediate control point;

retrieving from a database at the intermediate control point profile information associated with a second switching point; and

modifying the call information based on the profile information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein retrieving the profile information comprises retrieving information associated with a relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point is a business relationship, a contractual relationship, a legal relationship, or a regulatory relationship.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein retrieving the profile information comprises retrieving information defining information to be conveyed to the second switching point in accordance with a business relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein modifying the call information comprises modifying non-private information based on the profile information.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising conveying the modified call information to the second switching point via the first switching point or an adjunct processing system.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein modifying the call information comprises changing data, adding data or deleting data.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein changing the data, adding the data or deleting the data comprises modifying information associated with a common channel signaling protocol.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving the call information at the intermediate control point comprises receiving the call information at a signal control point or an adjunct processing system.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first switching point is associated with a public network and the second switching point is associated with a private network.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first switching point is associated with a carrier operated network and the second switching point is associated with a non-carrier operated network.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first switching point is associated with an outgoing call or an incoming call.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first switching point is associated with a call originating switching point, and wherein the second switching point is associated with a call destination switching point.

14. A control point for use in a telephone network, the control point comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive call information from a first switching point at an intermediate control point;

retrieve from a database at the intermediate control point information profile information associated with a second switching point; and

modify the call information based on the profile information.

15. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the profile information by retrieving information associated with a relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

16. A control point as defined in claim 15, wherein the relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point is a business relationship, a contractual relationship, a legal relationship, or a regulatory relationship.

17. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the profile information by retrieving information defining information to be conveyed to the second switching point in accordance with a business relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

18. A control point defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to modify the call information by modifying non-private information based on the profile information.

19. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to convey the modified call information to the second switching point via the first switching point or an adjunct processing system.

20. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to modify the call information by changing data, adding data or deleting data.

21. A control point as defined in claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to change the data, add the data or delete the data by modifying information associated with a common channel signaling protocol.

22. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive the call information at the intermediate control point by receiving the call information at a signal control point or an adjunct processing system.

23. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the first switching point is associated with a public network and the second switching point is associated with a private network.

24. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the first switching point is associated with a carrier operated network and the second switching point is associated with a non-carrier operated network.

25. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the first switching point is associated with an outgoing call or an incoming call.

26. A control point as defined in claim 14, wherein the first switching point is associated with a call originating switching point, and wherein the second switching point is associated with a call destination switching point.

27. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive call information from a first switching point at-an intermediate control point;

retrieve from a database at the intermediate control point profile information associated with a second switching point; and

modify the call information based on the profile information.

28. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to retrieve the profile information by retrieving information associated with a relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

29. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point is a business relationship, a contractual relationship, a legal relationship, or a regulatory relationship.

30. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to retrieve the profile information by retrieving information defining information to be conveyed to the second switching point in accordance with a business relationship of the second switching point to the telephone network or the first switching point.

31. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to modify the call information by modifying non-private information based on the profile information.

32. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to convey the modified call information to the second switching point via the first switching point or an adjunct processing system.

33. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to modify the call information by changing data, adding data or deleting data.

34. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 33 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to change the data, add the data or delete the data by modifying information associated with a common channel signaling protocol.

35. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to receive the call information at the intermediate control point by receiving the call information at a signal control point or an adjunct processing system.

36. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27, wherein the first switching point is associated with a public network and the second switching point is associated with a private network.

37. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27, wherein the first switching point is associated with a carrier operated network and the second switching point is associated with a non-carrier operated network.

38. A machine accessible medium defined in claim 27, wherein the first switching point is associated with an outgoing call or an incoming call.

39. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 27, wherein the first switching point is associated with a call originating switching point, and wherein the second switching point is associated with a call destination switching point.

40. A telephone network control point, comprising:

a database containing switching point profile information; and

a processor coupled to the database and configured to receive call information from a first switching point, to select switching point profile information representative of a second switching point from the database, and to modify the call information based on the selected switching point profile information.

41. A telephone network control point as defined in claim 40, wherein the second switching point is a privately operated switching point.

42. A telephone network control point as defined in claim 40, wherein the processor is configured to modify the call information by adding data to the call information.

43. A telephone network control point as defined in claim 40, wherein the processor is configured to modify the call information without reference to privacy indicators in the call information.

44. A method of controlling the distribution of call information via a network, comprising:

receiving call information from a service switching point at an intermediate control point; and

altering the call information at the intermediate control point without reference to a privacy restriction indicator.

45. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein altering the call information comprises adding data, changing data or deleting data.

46. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein receiving the call information at the intermediate control point comprises receiving the call information at a signal control point or an adjunct processing system.

47. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein altering the call information comprises altering non-private data associated with the call information.

48. An apparatus for controlling distribution of call information associated with a telephone call, comprising:

a query generator configured to generate a query in response to call information relating to a destination signal switching point;

a switching point identifier configured to identify the destination signal switching point; and

a call information modifier configured to access signal switching point profile information to retrieve profile information associated with the destination signal switching point and to modify the call information based on the profile information associated with the destination signal switching point.