SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED TELEPHONE SERVICES

• US 20080192657A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier Communications Parent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vagelos, Ted
• Application Number:
  US11/692,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/561 by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A switching platform comprises a first, second, and third circuit. The first circuit is adapted for recognizing a first set of tones generated by art originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The second circuit is adapted for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The third circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;

determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and

establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes searching a database management system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers does not include the call origin telephone number:

sending a challenge to the originating telephone line;

recognizing, at the switch, a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response; and

determining, at the switch, whether the entered response satisfies the challenge.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the challenge includes a prompt to enter a pass code.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the telephone connection.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising, upon determining that the entered response satisfies the challenge, determining whether the conference is in progress.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, upon determining that the conference is in progress, establishing the telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, upon determining that the conference is not in progress:

initializing the conference; and

establishing the telephone connection between the originating line and the conference line.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein initializing the conference includes allocating and/or initializing, at the switch, one or more data structures representing the conference.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying, at the switch, a participant number to be associated with the conference, the participant number being associated with a participant telephone line and with a participant, the participant number excluding the call origin telephone number; and

initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;

determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number; and

establishing the participant connection upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;

sending a challenge to the participant telephone line; and

awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the participant connection.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising establishing the participant connection upon the participant'"'"'s satisfying the challenge.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing, at the switch, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;

determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress;

determining, at the switch, whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number; and

establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing, at the switch, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;

determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress;

sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress; and

awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing the additional participant connection upon the additional participant'"'"'s satisfying the challenge.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the additional participant connection.

19. A switching platform comprising:

a first circuit for recognizing a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;

a second circuit for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and

a third circuit for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

20. The switching platform of claim 19, wherein the determining includes searching a database management system.

21. The switching platform of claim 19, further comprising:

a fourth circuit for sending a challenge to the originating telephone line;

a fifth circuit for recognizing a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response; and

a sixth circuit for determining whether the entered response satisfies the challenge.

22. The switching platform of claim 21, wherein the challenge includes a prompt to enter a pass code.

23. The switching platform of claim 21, further comprising a seventh circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is not satisfied.

24. The switching platform of claim 21, further comprising a seventh circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress.

25. The switching platform of claim 21, further comprising a seventh circuit for initializing the conference.

26. The switching platform of claim 25, further comprising an eighth circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the seventh circuit'"'"'s having initialized the conference.

27. The switching platform of claim 25, wherein the seventh circuit is adapted for initializing the conference by allocating and/or initializing one or more data structures representing the conference.

28. The switching platform of claim 25, further comprising:

an eighth circuit for identifying a participant number to be associated with the conference, the participant number being associated with a participant telephone line and with a participant, the participant number excluding the call origin telephone number; and

a ninth circuit for initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line.

29. The switching platform of claim 28, further comprising:

a tenth circuit for recognizing that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;

an eleventh circuit for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number; and

a twelfth circuit for establishing the participant connection upon the eleventh circuit'"'"'s determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number.

30. The switching platform of claim 28, further comprising:

a tenth circuit for recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line;

an eleventh circuit for sending a challenge to the participant telephone line; and

a twelfth circuit for awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge.

31. The switching platform of claim 30, further comprising a thirteenth circuit for determining whether the challenge is satisfied.

32. The switching platform of claim 30, further comprising a fourteenth circuit for establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is not satisfied.

33. The switching platform of claim 19, further comprising:

a fourth circuit for recognizing, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;

a fifth circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress;

a sixth circuit for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number; and

a seventh circuit for establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number.

34. The switching platform of claim 19, further comprising:

a fourth circuit for recognizing upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line, the third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;

a fifth circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress;

a sixth circuit for sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress; and

a seventh circuit for awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge.

35. The switching platform of claim 34, further comprising an eighth circuit for determining whether the challenge is satisfied.

36. The switching platform of claim 34, further comprising a ninth circuit for establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit'"'"'s determining that the challenge is not satisfied.

37. A system comprising:

means for recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a call origin telephone number, the first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;

means for determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and

means for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

38. A method comprising:

sending, from an originating telephone line associated with a call origin telephone number, a first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line;

recognizing, at a switch, the first set of tones;

determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication; and

establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.