Method and apparatus for the billing of value-added communication calls
First Claim
1. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
- dialing a specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider from a telephone having a caller telephone number;
capturing the caller telephone number;
sending a query to a service management system data base residing in the public switched telephone network;
identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider;
transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number;
sending a query from the routing network to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number;
identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider;
routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider;
connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network;
sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number;
determining if the call is billable and validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base residing in the public switched telephone network;
presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller;
selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and
sending a billing record to a billing and collection system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
New use of the existing PSTN for capturing data to charge enhanced service provider (ESP) fees on phone bills of numbers terminating calls originated by dialing seven digit 555 numbers. The local exchange performs the digit analysis and translation before routing the call to an ESP. The Local Exchange Carrier translates a caller-dialed 7-digit 555 number into a ten-digit phantom number and then passes the call to the appropriate carrier assigned the ten-digit routing plan. The translation function is performed as a look-up in an appropriate database such as the Service Management System (SMS). Heretofore, the SMS was used for ten-digit 800-number translation and was not available to ESP. This novel use of PSTN facilities enables the system to provide caller dialed number and billing information on a real-time basis (during call processing). It is based on signaling the billing and caller dialed number information in the voice channel (In-Band Signaling) during the setup of calls to connecting carriers. The ESPs receive the circuit "off-hook" signal (seizure), receive two fields of Multi-Frequency Tones, then process the information to collect and validate the billing information needed to deny the call or to accept it. If the ESP accepts the call, the caller dialed information is processed to bill the subscriber for access to the particular service the caller selected. Using the available network signaling circuits that exist between the Local Exchange Carriers and the toll carriers in a manner similar to 800 call processing allows the billing information to remain intact through-out the hand-off from the carriers to the ESP.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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dialing a specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider from a telephone having a caller telephone number; capturing the caller telephone number; sending a query to a service management system data base residing in the public switched telephone network; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; determining if the call is billable and validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base residing in the public switched telephone network; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and sending a billing record to a billing and collection system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus, for sending billing information to the public switched telephone network to be billed to a caller for charges incurred by the caller during a call made over said network, said apparatus comprising:
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telephone means for dialing a specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider, said telephone means having a caller telephone number, said telephone means being connected to the public switched telephone network; recording means resident in said network for capturing the caller telephone number; first querying means resident in said network for sending a query to a service management system data base; said service management system data base including means for identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; first switching means resident in said network for transferring the call to a routing circuit using the phantom routing number; second querying means resident in said network for sending a query from the routing circuit to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identification means resident in said service management system data base for identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider; second switching means in said network for routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting means in said network for connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing circuit; transmitting means for sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; decision means resident in said enhanced service provider for determining if the call is billable and validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; menu means at said enhanced service provider for presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; selection means for selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and billing means at said service provider for sending a billing record to a billing and collection system.
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22. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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dialing a specific 555-XXXX number from a caller telephone, where each of the X digits is a number between 0 and 9, said specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider; capturing the caller telephone number; sending a query to a service management system data base; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; determining if the call is billable and validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and sending a billing record to a billing and collection system.
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23. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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dialing at a caller telephone a specific 555-XXXX number, where each of the X digits is a number between 0 and 9, said specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider; determining at a tandem switch whether the caller telephone number is received; sending a query from the tandem switch via a common channel signalling network to a service management system data base; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; returning the phantom routing number to the tandem switch; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network via the common channel signalling system to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; sending a response back to the terminating toll switch from said specific enhanced service provider indicating that the call identification information has been received; determining if the call is billable and validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and sending a billing record to a billing and collection system.
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24. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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dialing at a caller telephone a specific 555-XXXX number, where each of the X digits is a number between 0 and 9, said specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider; determining at a tandem switch whether the caller telephone number is received; sending a query from the tandem switch via a common channel signalling network to a service management system data base; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; returning the phantom routing number to the tandem switch; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network via the common channel signalling system to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identifying a terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced services provider; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; sending a response back to the terminating toll switch from said specific enhanced service provider indicating that the call identification information has been received; validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; determining if the call is billable; recording the phantom routing number, the caller telephone number and billing information; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; sending an answer supervision signal to the tandem switch; timing the call at the tandem switch upon receipt of the answer supervision signal; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; and sending a billing record to a billing and collection system.
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25. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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dialing at a caller telephone a specific 555-XXXX number, where each of the X digits is a number between 0 and 9, said specific 555-XXXX number corresponding to a specific enhanced service provider; determining at a tandem switch whether the caller telephone number is received, if so, the call processing continues, if not, the call is blocked or terminated; sending a query from the tandem switch via a common channel signalling network to a service management system data base; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to said specific enhanced service provider; returning the phantom routing number to the tandem switch; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network via the common channel signalling system to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the caller telephone number; identifying a terminating toll switch to which the call is to be routed; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing said specific enhanced service provider; connecting said specific enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to said specific enhanced service provider, including the caller telephone number and the phantom routing number; sending a response back to the terminating toll switch from said specific enhanced service provider indicating that the call identification information has been received; validating the caller telephone number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; determining if the call is billable, if not, blocking or terminating the call, if so, continuing call processing; collecting and recording the phantom routing number, the caller telephone number and billing information; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; sending an answer supervision signal to the tandem switch; timing the call at the tandem switch upon receipt of the answer supervision signal; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; terminating the call; creating a billing record; and sending the billing record to a billing and collection system.
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26. In a telephone sub-circuit for transmitting calls, caller information and billing information to enhanced service providers delivering value-added services to callers originating service requests by dialing seven-digit numbers from the local-dialed end of the public switched telephone network, that must be completed at the disparate long distance-dialed end of said network, said local-dialed end of said public switched telephone network being bridged to said long distance-dialed end of said network by a phantom-number bridging circuit, the method comprising the following steps:
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prompting a caller, by means of advertising in advertising media, to dial a specific 555 number to obtain services from an enhanced service provider, said caller having a specific telephone number; dialing a specific 555-XXXX number, where each of the X digits is a number between 0 and 9; routing the call via a local exchange carrier to an originating toll switch; capturing the caller'"'"'s number by means of automatic number identification equipment; routing the call from the originating toll switch to a tandem switch; determining whether an automatic number identification number is received from the originating toll switch, if so, the call processing continues, if not, the call is blocked or terminated; sending a query from the tandem switch via a common channel signalling network to a service management system data base; identifying a phantom routing number assigned to the dialed number; returning the phantom routing number to the tandem switch; transferring the call to a routing network using the phantom routing number; sending a query from the routing network via the common channel signalling system to the service management system data base, the query including the phantom routing number and the automatic number identification number; identifying a terminating toll switch to which the call is to be routed; routing the call to the identified terminating toll switch servicing the enhanced service provider location; connecting the enhanced service provider to the routing network; sending call identification information to the enhanced service provider, including the automatic number identification number and the phantom routing number; sending a response back to the terminating toll switch from the enhanced service provider indicating that the call identification information has been received; validating the caller'"'"'s automatic number identification number via an alternate billing service/line information data base; determining if the call is billable, if not, blocking or terminating the call, if so, continuing call processing; collecting and recording the phantom routing number, the caller'"'"'s automatic number identification number and billing information; presenting a menu of items and billing rates to the caller; sending an answer supervision signal to the tandem switch; timing the call at the tandem switch upon receipt of the answer supervision signal; selecting one of the items and the corresponding billing rate; terminating the call; creating a billing record; and sending the billing record to a billing and collection system.
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Specification