System for providing proactive call services utilizing remote monitors

• US 5,414,754 A
• Filed: 07/09/1992
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Messager Partners
• Original Assignee: Messager Partners
• Inventors: Nimon, Robert E., Pugh, Joel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US07/911,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 379/212, 379/213, 379/214, 379/218
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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

Abstract

A proactive call services system serving as a new node or switching network within a closed subsystem is disclosed. Remote monitors provide information necessary to allow the provision of enhanced services to the closed subsystem, which may be a telephone operator position system (TOPS) switch of a public switched network (PSN). The proactive call services system includes a network interface, voice interface, call processing platform (CPP), link platform and monitors integrated with the PSN. The system gathers information as the TOPS switch processes a call, and with this information offers additional proactive call services to the caller.

Claims

1. In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a first link for call completion, with at least said second switch means also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, the improvement comprising:

means connectable in said first link for storing call setup signals passing between said first switch means and said second switch means;

means connectable in said data link for storing call data;

means connectable in said first link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to said monitor and responsive to entry of the predetermined access code for controlling offer and acceptance of one or more predetermined services, said stored data from said data link being used to determine information necessary for call completion, wherein call completion is then controlled and paid for by the user requesting the service.

2. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein said second switch is a telephone operator position system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for modifying a call-type field of a call set-up and for generating a signal to a switch which causes said switch to transfer said call directly to an operator station with associated call data.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

means for monitoring said monitor means for instructions from a caller indicating the caller'"'"'s request for live operator assistance from an operator station;

signalling means for signalling a switch to transfer call and call history data to a live operator; and

means for transferring said call history data from a data base to a screen of said operator station.

5. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call conferencing.

6. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call recording.

7. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is silent call recording.

8. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is automatic call back.

9. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is automatic message delivery.

10. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein said information necessary for call completion is validated billing information.

11. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a first link for call completion, with at least said second switch means also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, comprising:

means connectable in said data link for storing call data;

means connectable in said first link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

speech means responsive to entry of the predetermined service access code for issuing a predetermined prompt to at least one of the user of the calling station and the user of the called station; and

control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service, said stored data from said data link being used to determine information necessary for call completion, wherein call completion is then controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

12. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a first link for call completion, with at least said second switch means also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, comprising:

means connectable in said first link for storing call setup signals passing between said first switch means and said second switch means;

means connectable in said data link for storing call data;

means connectable in said first link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to the monitoring means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service, said stored data from said data link being used to determine information necessary for call completion, wherein call completion is then controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

13. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a first link for call completion, with at least said second switch means also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, comprising:

means in the first switch means for storing call setup signals passing between said first switch means and said second switch means;

means in said data link for storing call data;

means in the first switch means to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service, said stored data from said data link being used to determine information necessary for call completion, wherein call completion is then controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

14. Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a first link for call completion between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, with at least said destination switch also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, the apparatus comprising:

means connectable in said first link for storing at least one call setup signal passing from said origination switch to said destination switch;

means connectable in said data link for storing at least one call data signal;

means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service; and

means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and said at least one call setup signal for providing said at least one ancillary call service, after said stored data from said data link is used to determine information necessary for call completion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one call data signal comprises billing information.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to initiate said at least one ancillary call service.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said monitoring means monitors for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said monitoring means monitors for said code entry during call setup.

19. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by at least one link for call completion, with at least said second switch means also connectable by a data link to means for furnishing information necessary for call completion, comprising:

storage means connectable in said at least one link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means;

means connectable in said data link for storing call data signals;

monitor means connectable in said at least one link for monitoring for entry of a predetermined service access code;

means connectable in said at least one link responsive to said call setup signals and said predetermined service access code for forwarding said call setup signals on an alternative one of said at least one link to said second switch, said stored data from said data link being used to determine information necessary to route the call to said alternative one of said at least one link.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to enter a predetermined service access code.