METHOD, SYSTEM NETWORK AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR CONTROLLING OUTGOING TELEPHONY CALLS TO CAUSE INITIATION OF CALL FEATURES

• US 20110158223A1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: ARSENAULT, Jonathan Allan, LIU, Gao Feng, WOLF, Eric John, CLARK, David William
• Granted Patent: US 10,602,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/127 where the session control protocols comprise SIP and SS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The present invention discloses numerous implementations for IP-based call processing systems that can selectively control an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device. The call processing system causes a Service Switching Point (SSP) associated with the source device to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device. The call processing system further causes initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call using the media connection with the source device. The call feature may include a call restriction feature, a call feature for conveying an audio element to the source device, a call record feature and a call feature for conveying information to the source device. The call processing system further causes establishment of a media connection between the source and the destination devices.

Claims

1. A method implemented by an Internet Protocol (IP)-based call processing system for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device, the source device coupled to a Service Switching Point (SSP), the method comprising:

causing the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device in response to an indication of the outgoing call;

causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call using at least the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device; and

causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device comprises causing transmission of a routing message to the SSP.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein causing transmission of the routing message to the SSP comprises causing transmission of a SIP message to a signaling converter that is operative to convert the SIP message to an SS7 message and transmit the SS7 message to the SSP;

wherein the SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) call route message directing the outgoing call to the call processing system.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining whether a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call;

and wherein the causing the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device is further in response to a determination that a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the call feature comprises a call restriction feature;

and wherein the determining whether a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device based upon at least the destination identifier; and

wherein, upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call, a determination that the call restriction feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call is made.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the media message comprising a call restriction message.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises initiating authorization of a user of the source device for the outgoing call;

and wherein the causing a media connection to be established between the source and destination devices is upon successful authorization of the user of the source device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the initiating authorization of the user of the source device comprises:

conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the media message comprising a call authorization message prompting a user of the source device to provide authorization data, and determining whether valid authorization data is received as the authorization data from the user of the source device; and

wherein successful authorization of the user of the source device occurs if valid authorization data is received.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises determining if a call parameter associated with the outgoing call is acceptable for the source identifier and initiating authorization of a user of the source device for the outgoing call upon determining that the call parameter is not acceptable for the source identifier;

and wherein the causing a media connection to be established between the source and destination devices is upon successful authorization of the user of the source device if the call parameter is not acceptable for the source identifier.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the initiating authorization of the user of the source device comprises:

conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the media message comprising a call authorization message prompting a user of the source device to provide authorization data, and determining whether valid authorization data is received as the authorization data from the user of the source device; and

wherein successful authorization of the user of the source device occurs if valid authorization data is received.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the call parameter comprises at least one of a temporal parameter, a parameter associated with the destination identifier and a parameter associated with a toll associated with the outgoing call.

12. A method according to claim 5, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises:

determining a call limitation for the outgoing call; and

, subsequent to the causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices, determining whether the call limitation has expired; and

wherein the method further comprises causing termination of the media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining that the call limitation has expired.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call further comprises conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the media message comprising a call limitation message indicating at least one aspect of the call limitation.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising conveying a second media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device upon determining that the call limitation has expired, the second media message comprising a call termination message.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the call limitation comprises one of a call length limitation, an account credit limitation, a temporal limitation and a destination identifier limitation.

16. A method according to claim 5, wherein the call restriction feature comprises at least one of a toll call restriction feature, a parental call control feature and a corporate policy call control feature.

17. A method according to claim 4, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey an audio element to the source device prior to establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises determining an audio element to convey to the source device and initiating conveying of the audio element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call further comprises terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device prior to or substantially simultaneously with the causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call further comprises determining a time period to convey the audio element and terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device in response to the time period expiring.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices comprises causing initiation of a media connection with the destination device, detecting acceptance from the destination device of the outgoing call and causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices in response to the acceptance from the destination device.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call further comprises terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device in response to the detecting acceptance from the destination device.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call further comprises determining a minimum time period to convey the audio element;

and wherein the causing initiation of a media connection with the destination device is in response to the minimum time period expiring.

24. A method according to claim 18, wherein the audio element comprises one of a plurality of audio elements, and wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon a random algorithm.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon a predetermined order.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon the destination identifier.

28. A method according to claim 18, wherein the audio element comprises an audio element from an external content source.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the audio element from the external content source comprises one of a radio broadcast;

an audio portion of a television broadcast;

a source for audio news;

a reading of a website, newspaper, magazine or book;

a podcast; and

a reading of a social media update.

30. A method according to claim 18, wherein the audio element comprises scheduling information associated with the source identifier;

and wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises conducting a look-up within a storage entity for the scheduling information using the source identifier.

31. A method according to claim 18, wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises determining an audio element to convey to the source device using the source and destination identifiers.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the audio element comprises an audio element associated with a user of the destination device.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the audio element associated with the user of the destination device comprises a reminder message for a user of the source device associated with the user of the destination device.

34. A method according to claim 4, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey a media element to the source device prior to establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises determining a media element to convey to the source device and initiating conveying of the media element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the media element comprises at least one of a video element, an image element and a text element to be displayed on the source device.

37. A method according to claim 4, wherein the call feature comprises a call record call feature;

and wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices.

38. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining whether a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier;

and wherein the causing the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device is further in response to a determination that a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

40. A method according to claim 38, wherein the media message comprises at least one of:

a weather alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, a terrorism alert, a natural disaster alert, an epidemic disease alert and a public safety alert.

41. A method according to claim 38, wherein the determining whether a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier comprises determining whether a service provider that enables a telephony service associated with the source identifier desires to convey a media message to the user associated with the source identifier.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein determining whether the service provider desires to convey a media message to the user associated with the source identifier comprises determining whether the service provider has identified a billing matter related to the telephony service;

and wherein, upon determining that the service provider has identified a billing matter related to the telephony service, a determination that a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier is made.

43. A method according to claim 1, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

44. A method according to claim 1, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises determining an audio element to convey to the source device and initiating conveying of the audio element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

45. A method according to claim 1, wherein the causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices.

46. An IP-based call processing system for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device for connection to a destination device, the source device coupled to a Service Switching Point (SSP), the system comprising:

a processing entity operative to cause the SSP to initiate a media connection between the call processing system and the source device in response to an indication of the outgoing call;

a network interface operative to establish a media connection with the source device in response to initiation by the SSP;

wherein the processing entity is further operative to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call using at least the media connection with the source device; and

to cause establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

47. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein to cause the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the processing entity is operative to cause transmission of a routing message to the SSP.

48. A call processing system according to claim 47, wherein to cause transmission of the routing message to the SSP, the processing entity is operative to cause transmission of a SIP message to a signaling converter that is operative to convert the SIP message to an SS7 message and transmit the SS7 message to the SSP;

wherein the SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) call route message directing the outgoing call to the call processing system.

49. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein the processing entity is further operative to determine whether a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call;

and wherein the processing entity is operative to cause the SSP to initiate the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device further in response to a determination that a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call.

50. A call processing system according to claim 49, wherein the call feature comprises a call restriction feature;

and wherein to determine whether a call feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to determine whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device based upon at least the destination identifier; and

wherein, upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call, the processing entity is operative to make a determination that the call restriction feature is to be initiated for the outgoing call.

51. A call processing system according to claim 50, wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to convey a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device, the media message comprising a call restriction message.

52. A call processing system according to claim 49, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey an audio element to the source device prior to establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices;

and wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to determine an audio element to convey to the source device and to initiate conveying of the audio element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

53. A call processing system according to claim 49, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey a media element to the source device prior to establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices;

and wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to determine a media element to convey to the source device and to initiate conveying of the media element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

54. A call processing system according to claim 53, wherein the media element comprises at least one of a video element, an image element and a text element to be displayed on the source device.

55. A call processing system according to claim 49, wherein the call feature comprises a call record call feature;

and wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to cause recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices.

56. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein the processing entity is further operative to determine whether a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier;

and wherein the processing entity is operative to cause the SSP to initiate the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device further in response to a determination that a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier.

57. A call processing system according to claim 56, wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to convey a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

58. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to convey a media message to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

59. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to determine an audio element to convey to the source device and to initiate conveying of the audio element to the source device via the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.

60. A call processing system according to claim 46, wherein to cause initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call, the processing entity is operative to cause recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices.

61. Computer-readable media containing a program element executable by an IP-based call processing system to perform a method for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device, the source device coupled to a Service Switching Point (SSP), the computer-readable media comprising:

first program code for causing the SSP to initiate a media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device in response to an indication of the outgoing call;

second program code for causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call using at least the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device; and

third program code for causing initiation of a call feature for the outgoing call using at least the media connection between the IP-based call processing system and the source device.