System and method for mediating service invocation from a communication device

• US 20080108333A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VHT Starstar LLC
• Original Assignee: Zoove Corporation (Medallia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Christensen, Gerald, Jemison, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a number of service providers to respond to communication device user service invocations through a service invocation distribution center. A telecommunications switch is provisioned with a trigger that operates based on a service prefix code in a service invocation message. Calling events that include various service prefix codes that match trigger firing criteria cause the trigger to execute call control logic within the telecommunications switch to forward information concerning the service invocation to the distribution center. The distribution center matches a service provider with a prefix code in conjunction with the forwarded information and forwards the service invocation to the appropriate service provider. The service invocation message may include a service code that indicates the specific service requested. The triggers are provisioned in the telecommunications switch once, thereby reducing complexity and administrative burdens in relation to providing services through a telecommunications system.

Claims

1. A method for invoking services with a call using a communication device in a communication system, comprising:

provisioning a telecommunications switch with a trigger configured to actuate upon receipt of the call having a predetermined digit string satisfying a trigger criteria;

upon trigger actuation, forwarding information related to the call to a service processing center;

matching the call related information received by the service processing center with a service fulfillment configuration;

prompting service fulfillment based on the service fulfillment configuration associated with the call related information received by the service processing center; and

providing an acknowledgment from the service processing center to the telecommunications switch indicating a service processing status.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein prompting service fulfillment further comprises sending a message from the service processing center to a service provider to indicate a service requested of the service provider.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service fulfillment configuration further comprises a service code recognizable by the service provider.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digit string further comprises one or more of a prefix code and a service code, the prefix code being operable to satisfy the trigger criteria.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call related information further comprises the digit string.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call related information further comprises user, communication device, subscription or location information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein forwarding information related to the call further comprises sending a message through the communication system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the message comprises one or more of an Origination Request (ORREQ) message, a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) message, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) message, an Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP) message, a Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) message or Session Initiated Protocol (SIP).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call related information is a short code comprising one or more of a service prefix code or a service code.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising arming the trigger at one or more detection points in the basic call state model.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined digit string satisfying the trigger criteria comprises one or more of the digit strings #, *, **, ##, *# or #*.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein forwarding information related to the call further comprises relaying the information through a Service Control Point (SCP).

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein prompting service fulfillment further comprises sending a message to one or more service providers with a message content sufficient to permit the one or more service providers to provide a specified service fulfillment.

14. The method according to claim 2, further comprising implementing the service processing center as a proxy service to prevent private data associated with the call from being directed to the service provider.

15. The method according to claim 2, further comprising selectively providing private data associated with the call to the service provider in accordance with one or more of end-user preferences, carrier preferences or private data forwarding rules.

16. The method according to claim 2, further comprising selecting a service provider in accordance with criteria related to any home network or serving network.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising sending a message to one or more service providers over an Internet Protocol (IP) connection.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the IP connection is a secure connection.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the IP connection comprises a firewall.

20. A system configured to permit invocation of services with a call using a communication device in a communication system, comprising:

a telecommunications switch coupled to the communication device for handling the call from the communication device;

a trigger in the telecommunications switch being configured to actuate upon receipt of the call having a predetermined digit string satisfying a trigger criteria, and being configured to, upon trigger actuation, forward information related to the call to a destination address;

a service processing center coupled to the telecommunications switch for receiving the call related information;

a database coupled to the service processing center containing at least one service fulfillment configuration;

a service provider coupled to the service processing center for providing service fulfillment in accordance with the at least one service fulfillment configuration; and

wherein the service processing center is operable to receive the call related information and access the at least one service fulfillment configuration in accordance with the call related information and send a message to the service provider to prompt service fulfillment in accordance with the at least one service fulfillment configuration.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the message further comprises one or more of a service prefix code or a service code recognizable by the service provider.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the digit string further comprises a prefix code and a service code, the prefix code being operable to satisfy the trigger criteria.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the call related information further comprises the digit string.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein the call related information further comprises user, communication device, subscription or location information.

25. The system according to claim 20, wherein the telecommunications switch is further operable to send a call information message through the communication system upon trigger actuation.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the call information message comprises one or more of an Origination Request (ORREQ) message, a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) message, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) message, an Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP) message, a Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) message or Session Initiated Protocol (SIP).

27. The system according to claim 20, wherein the call related information is one or more of a service prefix code or service code.

28. The system according to claim 20, wherein the trigger is provisioned in the telecommunications switch to be armed at one or more detection points in the basic call state model.

29. The system according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined digit string satisfying the trigger criteria comprises one or more of the digit strings #, *, **, ##, *# or #*.

30. The system according to claim 25, further comprising a Service Control Point (SCP) coupled to and interposed between the telecommunications switch and the service processing center, the SCP being identified by the destination address and being operable to forward the call information message from the telecommunications switch to the service processing center.

31. The system according to claim 20, wherein the message to the service provider has a content sufficient to indicate to the service provider a specified service fulfillment.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the service processing center and the service provider.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the IP connection is a secure connection.

34. The system according to claim 32, wherein the IP connection comprises a firewall.

35. The system according to claim 20, further comprising a subscriber-based trigger in the telecommunications switch.

36. The system according to claim 20, further comprising an office-based trigger in the telecommunications switch.

37. The system according to claim 20, wherein the trigger is implemented in a single provisioning operation.

38. The system according to claim 35, further comprising a Home Location Registry (HLR) coupled to the telecommunications switch and operable to provide subscriber oriented information to the telecommunications switch in response to a registration event involving the telecommunications switch where the communication device travels to a location related to the telecommunications switch outside of the home location.

39. A service processing system for providing a service fulfillment based on a service invocation through a telecommunications system, the service processing system comprising:

a service processing center for receiving a service invocation from an SCP and determining a service fulfillment configuration;

a database coupled to the service processing center and containing at least one service fulfillment configuration;

a service provider coupled to the service processing center for providing service fulfillment in accordance with the at least one service fulfillment configuration;

wherein the service processing center is operable to access the at least one service fulfillment configuration in accordance with a content of the service invocation and send a message to the service provider to prompt service fulfillment in accordance with the at least one service fulfillment configuration.

40. A computer-program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer program code embodied thereon for invoking services with a call using a communication device in a communication system, the computer program code adapted to;

provision a telecommunications switch with a trigger configured to actuate upon receipt of the call having a predetermined digit string satisfying a trigger criteria;

upon trigger actuation, forward information related to the call to a service processing center;

match the call related information received by the service processing center with a service fulfillment configuration;

prompt service fulfillment based on the service fulfillment configuration associated with the call related information received by the service processing center; and

provide an acknowledgment from the service processing center to the telecommunications switch indicating a service processing status.