Customized, billing-controlled call bridging system

• US 5,355,403 A
• Filed: 04/01/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: United States Advance Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Billingsley, Samuel F. III, Richardson, Charles T. Jr., Austin, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US07/861,630
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/34, 379/35, 379/85, 379/86, 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/208, 379/218, 379/112
• US Class Current: 379/88.26
• 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 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 : in networks
• 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 3/4878 : Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/50 : Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers H04M3/487 takes precedence; centralised dictation systems H04M11/10; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 : Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 : Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 : Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 : CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 : Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing customized, billing-controlled call bridging services through a bridging node which includes a node interface for connection through incoming and outgoing telephone trunks to a carrier switch of a public switched network, an audio peripheral for recording, playing, and analyzing audio signals, and a node controller for controlling operation of the node interface and the audio peripheral.

Claims

1. A method of providing an automated operator service to bridge a call, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a billing-controlled bridging node located outside of a public switched network and connected to a carrier switch within the public switched network, wherein the billing-controlled bridging node includes a storage device with a plurality of stored voice prompts;

receiving on a first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node from the carrier switch a call bridging request, including, at least an origination number and a destination number assigned to a destination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing the destination number to initiate a first telephone call from an origination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node to which is assigned an origination number;

comparing the origination number to a predefined origination number table to control access to the billing-controlled bridging node;

answering the first telephone call on the first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node;

initiating a second telephone call from the billing-controlled bridging node through a second communication path to the destination telephone, including transmitting the destination number from the billing-controlled bridging node through the second communication path to the carrier switch;

automatically transmitting a voice prompt of the plurality of stored voice prompts from the billing-controlled bridging node to the destination telephone requesting an indication of an acceptance of billing charges in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered; and

connecting the first communication path to the second communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node to bridge the origination telephone to the destination telephone in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered and in response to the billing-controlled bridging node receiving an indication of acceptance of billing charges from the destination telephone.

2. A method of providing an automated operator service to bridge a call, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a billing-controlled bridging node located outside of a public switched network and connected to a carrier switch within the public switched network, wherein the billing-controlled bridging node includes a storage device with a plurality of stored voice prompts;

receiving on a first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node from the carrier switch a call bridging request, including, at least, a destination number assigned to a destination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing the destination number to initiate a first telephone call from an origination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node to which is assigned an origination number;

answering the first telephone call on the first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node;

prompting the caller for a personal identification number and comparing a response from the caller to a list of personal identification numbers at the billing-controlled bridging node to control access to the billing-controlled bridging node;

initiating a second telephone call from the billing-controlled bridging node through a second communication path to the destination telephone, including transmitting the destination number from the billing-controlled bridging node through the second communication path to the carrier switch;

automatically transmitting a voice prompt of the plurality of stored voice prompts from the billing-controlled bridging node to the destination telephone requesting an indication of an acceptance of billing charges in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered; and

connecting the first communication path to the second communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node to bridge the origination telephone to the destination telephone in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered and in response to the billing-controlled bridging node receiving an indication of acceptance of billing charges from the destination telephone.

3. A method of providing an automated operator service to bridge a call, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a billing-controlled bridging node located outside of a public switched network and connected to a carrier switch within the public switched network, wherein the billing-controlled bridging node includes a storage device with a plurality of stored voice prompts;

receiving on a first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node from the carrier switch a call bridging request, including, at least, a destination number assigned to a destination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing the destination number to initiate a first telephone call from an origination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node to which is assigned an origination number;

answering the first telephone call on the first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node;

initiating a second telephone call from the billing-controlled bridging node through a second communication path to the destination telephone, including transmitting the destination number from the billing-controlled bridging node through the second communication path to the carrier switch;

automatically transmitting a voice prompt of the plurality of stored voice prompts from the billing-controlled bridging node to the destination telephone requesting an indication of an acceptance of billing charges in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered;

connecting the first communication path to the second communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node to bridge the origination telephone to the destination telephone in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered and in response to the billing-controlled bridging node receiving an indication of acceptance of billing charges from the destination telephone; and

recording conversation between the origination telephone and the destination telephone at the billing-controlled bridging node.

4. A method of providing an automated operator service to bridge a call, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a billing-controlled bridging node located outside of a public switched network and connected to a carrier switch within the public switched network, wherein the billing-controlled bridging node includes a storage device with a plurality of stored voice prompts;

receiving on a first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node from the carrier switch a call bridging request, including, at least, a destination number assigned to a destination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing the destination number to initiate a first telephone call from an origination telephone located remotely from the billing-controlled bridging node to which is assigned an origination number;

answering the first telephone call on the first communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node;

initiating a second telephone call from the billing-controlled bridging node through a second communication path to the destination telephone, including transmitting the destination number from the billing-controlled bridging node through the second communication path to the carrier switch;

automatically transmitting a voice prompt of the plurality of stored voice prompts from the billing-controlled bridging node to the destination telephone requesting an indication of an acceptance of billing charges in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered;

connecting the first communication path to the second communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node to bridge the origination telephone to the destination telephone in response to the billing-controlled bridging node detecting the second telephone call being answered and in response to the billing-controlled bridging node receiving an indication of acceptance of billing charges from the destination telephone;

accepting a monitoring call from a monitor telephone on a third communication path at the billing-controlled bridging node; and

connecting the monitor telephone to the origination telephone.

5. A call bridging apparatus comprising:

an interface connected outside of a public switched network and through a carrier of the public switched network to an origination telephone having an origination number and a destination telephone having a destination number, said interface including, at least, a plurality of communication ports connected to the carrier switch;

an audio response means connected to said interface for storing and playing audio signals; and

a control means for controlling said call bridging apparatus, said control means including, at least,

a receiving means for directing said interface to accept a call through a first communication port from a caller dialing the destination number from the origination telephone,

a calling means for directing said interface and said audio response means to call the destination telephone through a second communication port,

an automatic billing availability verification means for automatically directing said audio response means to prompt an answering party at the destination telephone to accept billing charges,

a connecting means for directing said interface to connect the origination telephone to the destination telephone by connecting the first communication port to the second communication port if the destination telephone is answered and billing availability is verified, and

a monitoring means for directing said audio response means to record all conversation detected between the origination telephone and the destination telephone.

6. A call bridging apparatus comprising:

an interface connected outside of a public switched network and through a carrier of the public switched network to an origination telephone having an origination number and a destination telephone having a destination number, said interface including, at least, a plurality of communication ports connected to the carrier switch;

an audio response means connected to said interface for storing and playing audio signals; and

a control means for controlling said call bridging apparatus, said control means including, at least,

a receiving means for directing said interface to accept a call through a first communication port from a caller dialing the destination number from the origination telephone,

a calling means for directing said interface and said audio response means to call the destination telephone through a second communication port,

an automatic billing availability verification means for automatically directing said audio response means to prompt an answering party at the destination telephone to accept billing charges,

a connecting means for directing said interface to connect the origination telephone to the destination telephone by connecting the first communication port to the second communication port if the destination telephone is answered and billing availability is verified, and

a monitoring means for directing said interface to accept a call from a monitoring telephone and connecting the monitoring telephone to the origination telephone and destination telephone.