Automatic access to information service providers
First Claim
1. A communication network, comprising:
- local communication lines;
a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines;
a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems;
a first signalling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point;
a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one information service via the call connection channel; and
a second signalling communication system, separate from the first signalling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one information service by the peripheral platform.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A short dedicated code, such as an N11 telephone number, is used to access an information source selected from a large number of voice, data, facsimile and/or video services offered by information service providers. The system can use a single N11 number for all calls, or a first code number for preprogrammed call processing and a second number for casual access. The system can route an information service call based at least in part on preprogrammed selection data for the caller stored in a central data base, or can prompt a casual caller for various inputs to determine which service the caller currently wants to access. The disclosed system of call routing eliminates the need for information service users to know a large number of different telephone numbers to access a variety of information services. In the preferred embodiments, the user only needs to know one or two three-digit N11 type access numbers, such as 211 or 511. Because of the use of a programmable central data base, the system can provide customized routing and call processing procedures for different customers and for accessing different providers'"'"' services. Also, the system allows easy modification and updating of the stored data to suit a customer'"'"'s current needs for accessing different information sources. The system can also provide access authorization procedures as defined by the customer or as defined by the information service provider.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A communication network, comprising:
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local communication lines; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; a first signalling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said first signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the services control point; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheral platform comprising means for providing at least one information service via the call connection channel; and a second signalling communication system, separate from the first signalling communication system and the central office switching systems, for providing two-way communications of data messages between the peripheral platform and the services control point to control provision of the at least one information service by the peripheral platform.
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2. A communication network, comprising:
- local communication lines;
a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the local communication lines; a services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of the local communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of the central office switching systems; at least two peripheral platforms, each of which connects to at least one of the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, each of said at least two peripheral platforms comprising means for providing an information service in response to instructions from said services control point; and a signalling communication system separate from said trunk circuits for two-way communications of data messages between the central office switching systems, between the central office switching systems and the services control point, between the at least two peripheral platforms and between the at least two peripheral platforms and the services control point.
- local communication lines;
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3. A call processing method for a communication system having at least two switching offices, a plurality of communication lines connected thereto and a central control separate from the switching offices, said call processing method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for service via one of the communication lines; providing a call connection from said one of the communication lines to a peripheral platform, without obtaining instructions from said central control; communicating between said central control and said peripheral platform to identify an information service to be described by said peripheral platform in response to said request for service; and executing the identified information service via said call connection.
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4. A call processing method for a communication system having at least two switching offices, a plurality of communication lines connected thereto and a central control separate from the switching offices, said call processing method comprising the steps of:
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during processing of a call from one of the communication lines, detecting a triggering event; if the triggering event is of a first predefined type, sending a query from one of the switching offices to the central control, transmitting call processing data from the database in the central control to the one switching office, and establishing a call connection from said one of the communication lines through at least the one switching office in response to the transmitted call processing data; and if the triggering event is of a second predefined type, providing a call connection from said one of the communication lines to a peripheral platform without obtaining instructions from said central control, communicating between said central control and said peripheral platform to identify an information service to be described by said peripheral platform, and executing the identified information service via the call connection to the peripheral platform.
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Specification