Automatic access to communication service providers
First Claim
1. In a communication network having a plurality of switching offices managed by a system controller arranged for selectively providing communication links between subscriber stations, and having a plurality of communication service provider stations arranged to provide preselected communications services to designated subscriber stations, a method of routing calls to selectively provide communication links between calling subscriber stations and selected communication service provider stations to effect provision of selected communications services to said subscriber stations, said method comprising the steps of:
- recognizing a combination code consisting of a calling subscriber station identity number and a specific code number dialed from a calling communication station prior to dialing of any other digits by said calling communication station wherein said specific code number consists of a predetermined number of digits fewer than a minimum number of digits necessary to completely identify a destination subscriber station;
in response to recognition of the combination code, accessing data stored in said controller and preprogrammed by a subscriber associated with the calling subscriber station;
determining that additional selection information is required from the calling subscriber station in order to uniquely identify a communications service provider station;
providing a prompt for a calling subscriber station to input additional selection information to uniquely identify said communications service provider station;
receiving said additional selection information from said calling subscriber station;
determining at said controller, from the accessed preprogrammed data, calling processing procedures selected by the subscriber associated with said calling subscriber station for routing calls directed to pre-selected communications service provider stations for any calling subscriber station associated with said subscriber;
routing a call initiated from the calling subscriber station to a communications service provider'"'"'s station based on the call processing procedures determined from the accessed information; and
initiating a communication service said communication service provider station responsive to said call.
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.
307 Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a communication network having a plurality of switching offices managed by a system controller arranged for selectively providing communication links between subscriber stations, and having a plurality of communication service provider stations arranged to provide preselected communications services to designated subscriber stations, a method of routing calls to selectively provide communication links between calling subscriber stations and selected communication service provider stations to effect provision of selected communications services to said subscriber stations, said method comprising the steps of:
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recognizing a combination code consisting of a calling subscriber station identity number and a specific code number dialed from a calling communication station prior to dialing of any other digits by said calling communication station wherein said specific code number consists of a predetermined number of digits fewer than a minimum number of digits necessary to completely identify a destination subscriber station; in response to recognition of the combination code, accessing data stored in said controller and preprogrammed by a subscriber associated with the calling subscriber station; determining that additional selection information is required from the calling subscriber station in order to uniquely identify a communications service provider station; providing a prompt for a calling subscriber station to input additional selection information to uniquely identify said communications service provider station; receiving said additional selection information from said calling subscriber station; determining at said controller, from the accessed preprogrammed data, calling processing procedures selected by the subscriber associated with said calling subscriber station for routing calls directed to pre-selected communications service provider stations for any calling subscriber station associated with said subscriber; routing a call initiated from the calling subscriber station to a communications service provider'"'"'s station based on the call processing procedures determined from the accessed information; and initiating a communication service said communication service provider station responsive to said call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21)
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12. In a communication network having a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each having a system controller at a different location forming at least one advanced intelligent network, wherein each of said central office switching systems connects to a plurality of local communication lines, each of aid central office switching systems responding to a request on a local communication line connected thereto to selectively connect the requesting line to another selected local communication line through the connected central office switching system and through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system, a method of routing a call to a communications service provider'"'"'s station comprising the steps of:
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designating a subset of the plurality of local communication lines as associated with at least one customer for a plurality of communications service; storing in a system controller associated with said at least one customer data preprogrammed by said at least one customer identifying said plurality of communication service providers selected by said at least one customer; recognizing at said system controller a combination code consisting of an identity number for a local communication line and a specific code number dialed on said communication line prior to dialing of any other digits by a caller on said local communication line, whereas said specific code number consists of a predetermined number of digits fewer than a minimum number of digits necessary to identify a destination local communication line, therein indicating a request for a specific communications service associated with said specific code number; determining that additional selection information is required from the calling subscriber station in order to uniquely identify a communications service provider station; providing a prompt for a calling subscriber station to input additional selecting information to uniquely identify said communication service provider station; receiving said additional selection information from said calling subscriber station; accessing the preprogrammed data in said central controller to identify the communication service provider selected by said customer based on said combination code; routing the call from the calling local communication line to a communication line associated with said communications service provider selected by said customer based upon said predetermined data; and initiating a communication service at said communication service provider station responsive to said call. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of local communication lines; a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each having a central controller to form at least one advanced intelligent network, wherein each of said central office switching systems connects to a plurality of said local communication lines, each of said central office switching systems responding to a service request on a local communication line connected thereto to selectively provide a communication connection between the requesting line and another selected local communication line through the connected central office switching system or through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system; a said central controller arranged to store data preprogrammed by a customer associated with said designated ones of the local communication lines connected to each of at least two of the central office switching systems, said stored data identifying a communication service provider selected by said customer assigned to at least one of the designated local communication lines; a signalling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the central controller; means in a central controller associated with said customer for recognizing a request for information service access in response to dialing of a combination code consisting of a number of a designated local communication line associated with said customer and a specific code number consisting of fewer digits than a minimum number of digits necessary to completely identify a destination local communication line prior to dialing of any other digits; means for accessing stored data preselected by the identified customer and associated with said designated local communication line in the central controller associated with said customer to select a communications service provider preselected by said customer, said selection being responsive to the identity of the designated local communication line and the dialing of the specific code; means for determining that additional selection information is required from the calling subscriber station in order to uniquely identify a communications service provider station; means for providing a prompt for a calling subscriber station to input additional selection information to uniquely identify said communications service provider station; means for receiving said additional selection information from said calling subscriber station; means for routing the call from the identified customer'"'"'s local communication line to a communication line associated with the communication service provider selected by said customer; and means for initiating a communication service at said communication service provider station responsive to said call. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A call processing method for a communication system having:
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at least two switching offices to form at least one advanced intelligent network having a central controller, a plurality of communication lines being connected to said at least two switching offices and a plurality of peripheral platforms; said call processing method comprising the steps of; receiving a request at said central controller for service via a first one of the communication lines, said request for service comprising a three digit code; determining that additional selection information is required from the calling subscriber station in order to uniquely identify a communications service provider station; providing a prompt for a calling subscriber station to input additional selection information to uniquely identify said communications service provider station; receiving said additional selection information from said calling subscriber station; providing a call connection from said one of the communication lines directly to a peripheral platform associated with said communications service provider specified by said three digit code; communicating between said central controller and said peripheral platform via a second signalling communication system, separate from said plurality of communication lines, to identify communication service to be provided by said peripheral platform based upon said additional selection information; and executing the identified communication service via said call connection.
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Specification