Telecommunications network circuit usage measurement
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising a switched telephone network connected by program controlled switches (PCSs) controlled by a data switched common channel signaling (CCS) network having a central controller and storage, said communication system including at least one end office switch having access to communication with said CCS network and central controller, and lines for connecting said end office switch to customer premises, at least certain of said lines connected to customer premises being disconnected from said end office switch;
- monitors connected to said disconnected lines connected to customer premises;
at least one service provider connected to said disconnected lines having associated monitors and connected to customer premises for providing signals over said lines to terminals at said customer premises;
said monitors including detectors for detecting the commencement and discontinuance of signals from said service provider on said lines;
said monitors being connected to said end office switch and having access to communication with said central controller via said data switched common channel signaling network;
said central controller and storage storing information regarding the times of commencement and discontinuance of service provider signals on said lines connected to said service provider.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for using underused or unused local telephone company local loops to subscriber premises for providing to such premises a connection to an alternate service provider. The use of the local loop is leased to the ultimate service provider at a rate dependent upon the usage and nature of usage of the circuit. Information and data to permit efficient and convenient billing for leased usage of the loops is implemented by providing on the local loop a passive monitor. The monitors are connected with a signal switching point (SSP) and deliver a dialed number. The dialed number contains information regarding the commencement or termination of the usage of an identified local loop and an identification of the nature of such usage. This dialed number triggers the SSP to formulate a message containing the information and forward the same to a service control point (SCP). The SCP contains a database for storing and processing the information. The usage information is periodically downloaded to a billing office for billing to the alternate service provider and/or customer.
102 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising a switched telephone network connected by program controlled switches (PCSs) controlled by a data switched common channel signaling (CCS) network having a central controller and storage, said communication system including at least one end office switch having access to communication with said CCS network and central controller, and lines for connecting said end office switch to customer premises, at least certain of said lines connected to customer premises being disconnected from said end office switch;
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monitors connected to said disconnected lines connected to customer premises; at least one service provider connected to said disconnected lines having associated monitors and connected to customer premises for providing signals over said lines to terminals at said customer premises; said monitors including detectors for detecting the commencement and discontinuance of signals from said service provider on said lines; said monitors being connected to said end office switch and having access to communication with said central controller via said data switched common channel signaling network; said central controller and storage storing information regarding the times of commencement and discontinuance of service provider signals on said lines connected to said service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication system comprising a switched telephone network connected by trunked together switches controlled by a separate data switched network having a central controller and storage, said communication system including at least one end office switch having access to communication with said data switched network and central controller, and lines for connecting said end office switch to customer premises, at least certain of said lines connected to customer premises being disconnected from said end office switch;
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monitors connected to said disconnected lines connected to customer premises; at least one service provider connected to said disconnected lines having associated monitors and connected to customer premises for providing signals over said lines to terminals at said customer premises; said monitors including detectors for detecting the commencement and discontinuance of signals from said service provider on said lines; said monitors being connected to said end office switch and having access to communication with said central controller via said data switched network; said central controller and storage storing information regarding the times of commencement and discontinuance of service provider signals on said lines connected to said service provider. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a communication system comprising a switched telephone network connected by program controlled switches (PCSs) controlled by a data switched common channel signaling (CCS) network having a central controller and storage, said communication system including at least one end office switch having access to communication with said CCS network and central controller, and lines for connecting said end office switch to customer premises, the method comprising:
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a) disconnecting at least one of said lines from said end office switch and connecting said line to a service provider for said service provider to provide service signals on said line; b) monitoring said line between said service provider and said customer premises; c) detecting the commencement of service signals on said line between said service provider and said customer premises; d) connecting a means used to conduct said monitoring to said telephone network at the commencement of said service signals; e) storing in said central control and storage data indicative of the commencement of said signals and the identity of the line; f) detecting the termination of said service signals on said line; g) storing in said central control and storage data indicative of the termination of said signals and the identify of the line; and h) using said stored data to compile a bill for the usage of the line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a communication system comprising a switched telephone network connected by trunked together switches controlled by a separate data switched network having a central controller and storage, said communication system including at least one end office switch having access to communication with said data switched network and central controller, and lines for connecting said end office switch to customer premises, at least certain of said lines connected to customer premises being disconnected from said end office switch, the method comprising;
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a) connecting at least one of said disconnected lines to a service provider for said service provider to provide service signals on said line; b) monitoring said line between said service provider and said customer premises; c) detecting the commencement of service signals on said line between said service provider and said customer premises; d) connecting a means used to conduct said monitoring to said telephone network at the commencement of said service signals; e) storing in said central control and storage data indicative of the commencement of said signals and the identity of the line; f) detecting the termination of said service signals on said line; g) storing in said central control and storage data indicative of the termination of said signals and the identity of the line; and h) using said stored data to compile a bill for the usage of the line. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification