METHODS, SYSTEMS AND STORAGE MEDIUMS FOR PROVIDING A SELF-PROVISIONING TELEPHONY SERVICE

• US 20100067675A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Loveless, Ken A., Starling, Gerald A., Henson, Dirk S., Broadus, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.240
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7036 Administer via user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber

Abstract

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing self-provisioning telephony services are provided. A method includes storing an access number at a service control server that services a local exchange carrier switch. The method also includes assigning a toll-free number to a customer account and distributing the toll-free number and access number to the corresponding customer. The method further includes receiving, at the local exchange carrier switch, a call from a customer, the call identified as the access number. The method also includes routing the call to a server and, absent human intervention, the server accessing the toll-free number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free number. The method also includes transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server, the service control server activating the toll-free number for the customer account.

Claims

1. A method for providing self-provisioning telephony services, comprising:

storing an access number at a service control server that services a local exchange carrier switch for a telecommunications provider, the access number allocated for implementing the self-provisioning telephony services;

assigning a unique toll-free telephone number to a customer account for each customer of the telecommunications provider;

distributing the unique toll-free telephone numbers and the access number to corresponding customers along with an invitation to provision a toll-free telephone number service;

receiving, at the local exchange carrier switch, a call from a customer of the telecommunications provider, the call identified by the local exchange carrier switch as the access number in response to a call number translation;

routing the call over a primary rate interface trunk to a server and, absent human intervention, the server accessing the unique toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order comprising a customer telephone number from the customer account and the unique toll-free telephone number; and

transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server, the service control server activating the unique toll-free telephone number for the customer account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the unique toll-free telephone number to a customer account includes linking the unique toll-free telephone number to the customer telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing provisioned orders at the service control server, the service control server performing toll-free number translations;

wherein incoming calls to self-provisioned toll-free telephone numbers are translated by the service control server via the provisioned orders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to each of multiple customers associated with the customer account, each of the multiple customers sharing the unique toll-free telephone number and distinguishable from one another by the corresponding personal identification number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the provisioning order further includes prompting the customer, via the server, to select from available functions, the functions including:

validating the customer'"'"'s identity;

assigning the personal identification number to the customer;

accepting the unique toll-free telephone number; and

accepting terms and conditions of the self-provisioning telephony services.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting to customers of the self-provisioning telephony services, via the server, functions selectable for performing;

modifying an existing personal identification number;

canceling an existing toll-free telephone number; and

retrieving a forgotten personal identification number.

8. A system for providing self-provisioning telephony services, comprising:

a service control server storing an access number, the service control server servicing a local exchange carrier switch for a telecommunications provider, the access number allocated for implementing the self-provisioning telephony services;

the local exchange carrier switch receiving a call from a customer of the telecommunications provider, the call identified by the local exchange carrier switch as the access number in response to a call number translation, wherein the call from the customer is received in response to an invitation distributed to the customer to provision a toll-free telephone number, the invitation including the toll-free telephone number and the access number, and wherein the toll-free telephone number is pre-assigned to a customer account of the customer; and

a server in communication with the service control server, the server receiving the call over a primary rate interface trunk and, absent human intervention, the server accessing the toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account, generating a provisioning order comprising a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free telephone number, and transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server;

wherein the service control server activates the toll-free telephone number for the customer account.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the toll-free telephone number is assigned to a customer account includes by linking the toll-free telephone number to the customer telephone number.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the service control server stores provisioned orders and performs toll-free number translations;

wherein incoming calls to self-provisioned toll-free telephone numbers are translated by the service control server via the provisioned orders.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to the customer.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to each of multiple customers associated with the customer account, each of the multiple customers sharing the unique toll-free telephone number and distinguishable from one another by the corresponding personal identification number.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning order is further generated via the server by prompting the customer to select from available functions, the functions including:

validating the customer'"'"'s identity;

assigning the personal identification number to the customer;

accepting the toll-free telephone number; and

accepting terms and conditions of the self-provisioning telephony services.

14. A computer program product for providing self-provisioning telephony services, the computer program product comprising a storage medium encoded with machine readable program code for causing one or more computers to implement a method, the method comprising:

storing an access number at a service control server that services a local exchange carrier switch for a telecommunications provider, the access number allocated for implementing the self-provisioning telephony services;

assigning a unique toll-free telephone number to a customer account for each customer of the telecommunications provider; and

distributing the unique toll-free telephone numbers and the access number to corresponding customers along with an invitation to provision a toll-free telephone number service;

in response to receiving, at the local exchange carrier switch, a call from a customer of the telecommunications provider, the call identified by the local exchange carrier switch as the access number in response to a call number translation;

routing the call over a primary rate interface trunk to a server, accessing the unique toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account via the server and generating a provisioning order comprising a customer telephone number from the customer account and the unique toll-free telephone number; and

transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server, the service control server activating the unique toll-free telephone number for the customer account.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein assigning the unique toll-free telephone number to a customer account includes linking the unique toll-free telephone number to the customer telephone number.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program code further implements:

storing provisioned orders at the service control server, the service control server performing toll-free number translations;

wherein incoming calls to self-provisioned toll-free telephone numbers are translated by the service control server via the provisioned orders.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to the customer.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the provisioning order further includes a personal identification number assigned to each of multiple customers associated with the customer account, each of the multiple customers sharing the unique toll-free telephone number and distinguishable from one another by the corresponding personal identification number.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein generating the provisioning order further includes prompting the customer, via the server, to select from available functions, the functions including:

validating the customer'"'"'s identity;

assigning the personal identification number to the customer;

accepting the unique toll-free telephone number; and

accepting terms and conditions of the self-provisioning telephony services.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program code further implements:

presenting to customers of the self-provisioning telephony services, via the server, functions selectable for performing;

modifying an existing personal identification number;

canceling an existing toll-free telephone number; and

retrieving a forgotten personal identification number.