SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLACING A TELEPHONE CALL

• US 20080159517A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanacard LLC
• Original Assignee: Stanacard LLC
• Inventors: Romanov, Eduard, Choupak, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/16 according to connection obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/18 according to duration of the call , or the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an identity of a caller; receive an assigned incoming telephone number; identify a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and connect the caller and the recipient.

Claims

1. A call routing method comprising

associating respective pluralities of personal calling numbers, corresponding to respective users, to a plurality of assigned telephone numbers, each said assigned telephone number being associated with multiple personal calling numbers of multiple users;

and

connecting a respective user to a respective recipient, corresponding to one of said personal calling numbers for said respective user, the connection determined by the identity of said respective user and said one personal calling number;

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identity of said respective user is determined by a caller identification service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said respective recipient is located outside of a local area of the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

checking for availability of funds prior to connecting the caller and the recipient.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the availability of funds is based on an amount of money pre-purchased by the caller.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the availability of funds is based on an amount of credit extended to the caller.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

charging for a call connecting the caller and recipient based on a length of the call.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

charging for a call connecting the caller and recipient based on a location of the recipient.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user is served by a local PSTN and a recipient is served by a remote PSTN.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an alternative call pathway connecting the local PSTN and the remote PSTN is at least partially within the Internet.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein an alternative call pathway connecting the local PSTN and the remote PSTN is at least partially within a private network.

12. A call routing system comprising:

means for associating respective pluralities of personal calling numbers, corresponding to respective users, to a plurality of assigned telephone numbers, each said assigned telephone number being associated with multiple personal calling numbers of multiple users; and

means for connecting a respective user to a respective recipient, corresponding to one of said personal calling numbers for said respective user, the connection determined by the identity of said respective user and said one personal calling number.

13. A call routing system, comprising:

a storage module to store a plurality of records containing profile on a plurality of users, each user record associating respective pluralities of personal calling numbers to a plurality of assigned telephone numbers, each said assigned telephone number being associated with multiple personal calling numbers from multiple records;

an originating telephone number module to identify an originating telephone number of a user;

a telephone number detection module for detecting an assigned telephone number dialed by the user; and

a call connection module for connecting a respective user to a respective recipient based on the assigned telephone number and the originating telephone number.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an accounting module for charging for a connection between a caller and a recipient.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the assigned telephone number is an access number.

16. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

network coupling means.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the network includes a component selected from the group consisting of:

a local area network, a home network, the Internet, a private network, and a telephone network.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein a user is served by a local PSTN and a recipient is served by a remote PSTN.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the alternative call pathway connecting the local PSTN and the remote PSTN is at least partially within the Internet.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the alternative call pathway connecting the local PSTN and the remote PSTN is at least partially within of a private network.