Apparatus and method for recording call related data

• US 5,799,073 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Brenda, Austin, Donald, Merin, S. James, Fleischer, Harold C. III, Boeckman, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Application Number:
  US08/473,919
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/116, 379/119, 379/120, 379/121, 379/133, 379/134, 379/135, 379/140, 379/230, 379/207, 395/2.79, 395/600
• US Class Current: 379/112.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/04 Recording calls , or communications in printed, perforated or other permanent form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

An advanced intelligent network application is provided for collecting and recording cumulative call data to a subscriber'"'"'s telephone number. The subscriber may receive monthly reports regarding incoming telephone traffic with the data formatted according to one or more of the following categories: total calls for the reporting period; quantity of calls by day of month; quantity of calls by hour of day; quantity of calls by local area and exchange (i.e., NPA-NXX); quantity of calls by Zip Code+4; and quantity of calls by demographic code. The report may also provide the subscriber with, e.g., a record of incoming local exchange telephone traffic.

Claims

1. A method for producing a record of calls to a subscriber in an advanced intelligent network, said advanced intelligent network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points in a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a call request from a calling party, and a service control point comprising a called party call processing record including service logic to initiate recording of incoming call data in response to the call request from the calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said method comprising:

collecting and recording call data at said service control point in response to said call request from said calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said call data comprising a calling party number of said calling party and a terminating number of said subscriber;

accumulating and storing said call data according to a plurality of selectable report formats, said plurality of selectable report formats being enabled by service enabling data and including a total number of calls based on a demographic code representing demographic data associated with said calling party; and

thereafter, periodically producing a caller data service report based on said call data accumulated and stored according to said demographic code and said plurality of selectable report formats.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of selectable report formats further comprises one or more of a total number of calls, a total number of calls by day of month, a total number of calls by hour of day, a total number of calls by local exchange, and a total number of calls by Zip Code+4.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls for a predetermined period;

calculating the total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber during said period; and

recording said total number of calls.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by day of a month;

creating a table with an entry corresponding to each day of said month;

calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber for each day; and

recording said total number for each day.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by hour of a day;

creating a table with an entry corresponding to each hour of said day;

calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber for each hour; and

recording said total number for each hour to a recording means.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by NPA-NXX;

reading a NPA associated with said calling party number of said calling party;

identifying a State of origin of said calling party number based on said NPA;

reading a NPA-NXX associated with said calling party number of said calling party;

identifying a town of origin of said calling party number based on said NPA-NXX; and

recording a total number of calls according to said town and state of origin.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by Zip Code+4;

accessing a network user database based on said calling party number of said calling party, said network user database comprising a Zip Code+4 associated with said calling party;

reading said Zip Code+4 associated with said calling party;

calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber by Zip Code+4; and

recording said total number of calls.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by demographic code;

accessing a network user database based on said calling party number of said calling party, said network user database comprising a demographic code associated with said calling party;

reading said demographic code associated with said calling party;

calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber by demographic code;

recording said total number of calls.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said caller data service report is produced in a format based on said service enabling data.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transferring said call data that is collected and recorded at said service control point to a remote processing unit, said call data being accumulated and stored according to said plurality of selectable report formats at said remote processing unit.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of accumulating and storing said call data comprises:

recording daily call data associated with service requests to establish communication with said subscriber;

combining said recorded daily call data with previously recorded daily call data on a weekly basis; and

storing said combined daily call data as a composite weekly call data file.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a current month;

collecting all of said daily call data for a month immediately preceding said current month;

identifying said terminating number of said subscriber within said call data; and

recording said monthly call data associated with said terminating number identified.

13. The method according to claim 12, said step of collecting said call data comprising:

combining the six most recent weekly call data files;

removing, from said combined call data files, any call data related to said current month;

removing, from said combined call data files, any call data related to a month which precedes said current month by two months, leaving only call data related to the previous month in said combined call data files; and

recombining and recording said remaining call data.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of producing said caller data service report includes producing said report on one of paper or diskette.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said collecting and recording of said call data includes collecting and recording local exchange traffic.

31. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls indicated as private calls by a privacy indicator;

creating a table with an entry corresponding to each of said private calls;

calculating a total number of said private calls routed to said terminating number of said subscriber; and

recording said total number.

32. The method according to claim 11, said call data further comprising a privacy indicator, said privacy indicator being selectively forwarded by said calling party to preclude said accumulating of said calling party number, and wherein said step of recording daily call data further comprises collecting said privacy indicator.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of assigning a predetermined character to replace said calling party number when said privacy indicator is entered by said calling party.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising:

identifying a current month;

collecting all of said daily call data for a month immediately preceding said current month;

identifying said terminating number of said subscriber within said call data; and

recording said monthly call data associated with said terminating number identified.

35. The method according to claim 34, said step of collecting said call data comprising:

combining the six most recent weekly call data files;

removing, from said combined call data files, any call data related to said current month;

removing, from said combined call data files, any call data related to a month which precedes said current month by two months, leaving only call data related to the previous month remaining in said combined call data files; and

recombining and recording said remaining call data.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said privacy indicator comprises additional digits entered by said calling party during said call request.

16. An apparatus for producing a record of calls to a subscriber in an advanced intelligent network, the advanced intelligent network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a call request from a calling party, and a service control point comprising a called party call processing record including service logic to initiate recording of incoming called data in response to the call request from the calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

means for collecting and recording call data at said service control point in response to said call request from said calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said call data comprising a calling party number of said calling party and a terminating number of said subscriber;

means for accumulating and storing said call data according to a plurality of selectable report formats, said plurality of selectable report formats being enabled by service enabling data and including a total number of calls based on a demographic code representing demographic data associated with said calling party; and

means for producing a caller data service report based on said call data accumulated and stored according to said demographic code and said plurality of selectable report formats.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of selectable report formats further comprises one or more of a total number of calls, a total number of calls by day of month, a total number of calls by hour of day, a total number of calls by local exchange, and a total number of calls by Zip Code+4.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls for a predetermined period;

means for calculating the total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber during said period; and

recording said total number of calls.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by day of a month;

means for creating a table with an entry corresponding to each day of said month;

means for calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber for each day; and

means for recording said total number for each day.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by hour of a day;

means for creating a table with an entry corresponding to each hour of said day;

means for calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber for each hour; and

means for recording said total number for each hour to a recording means.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by NPA-NXX;

means for reading a NPA associated with said originating number of said calling party;

means for identifying a State of origin of said calling party number based on said NPA;

means for reading a NPA-NXX associated with said calling party number of said calling party;

means for identifying a telephone exchange of origin of said calling party number based on said NPA-NXX; and

means for recording a total number of calls according to said telephone exchange and state of origin.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by Zip Code+4;

means for accessing a network user database based on said calling party number of said calling party, said network user database comprising a Zip Code+4 associated with said calling party;

means for reading said Zip Code+4 associated with said calling party;

means for calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber by Zip Code+4; and

means for recording said total number of calls.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls by demographic code;

means for accessing a network user database based on said calling party number of said calling party, said network user database comprising a demographic code associated with said calling party;

means for reading said demographic code associated with said calling party;

means for calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber by demographic code;

means for recording said total number of calls.

24. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said caller data service report is produced in a format based on said service enabling data.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for transferring said call data that is collected and recorded at said service control point to a remote processing unit, said call data being accumulated and stored according to said plurality of selectable report formats at said remote processing unit.

26. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for accumulating and storing said call data comprises:

means for recording daily call data associated with service requests to establish communication with said subscriber;

means for combining said recorded daily call data with previously recorded daily call on a weekly basis; and

means for storing said combined daily call data as a composite weekly call data file.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for identifying a current month;

means for collecting all of said daily call data for a month immediately preceding said current month;

means for identifying said terminating number of said subscriber within said call data; and

means for recording said monthly call data associated with said terminating number identified.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, said step of collecting said call data comprising:

means for combining the six most recent weekly call data files;

means for removing from said combined call data files any call data related to said current month;

means for removing from said combined call data files any call data related to a month which precedes said current month by two months, leaving only call data related to the previous month remaining in said combined call data files; and

means for recombining and recording said remaining call data.

29. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for producing said caller data service report includes means for producing said report on one of paper or diskette.

30. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for collecting and recording of said call data includes collecting and recording local exchange traffic.

37. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether said service enabling data enables reporting a total number of calls indicated as private calls by a privacy indicator;

means for creating a table with an entry corresponding to each of said private calls;

means for calculating a total number of said private calls to said terminating number of said subscriber; and

means for recording said total number.

38. The apparatus according to claim 26, said call data further comprising a privacy indicator, said privacy indicator being selectively entered by said calling party to preclude said accumulating and storing means from accumulating said calling party number, and wherein said means for recording daily call data further comprises means for collecting said privacy indicator.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising means for assigning a predetermined character to replace said calling party number when said privacy indicator is entered by said calling party.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

means for identifying a current month;

means for collecting all of said daily call data for a month immediately preceding said current month;

means for identifying said terminating number of said subscriber within said call data; and

means for recording said monthly call data associated with said terminating number identified.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, said step of collecting said call data comprising:

means for combining the six most recent weekly call data files;

means for removing from said combined call data files any call data related to said current month;

means for removing from said combined call data files any call data related to a month which precedes said current month by two months, leaving only call data related to the previous month remaining in said combined call data files; and

means for recombining and recording said remaining call data.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said privacy indicator comprises additional digits entered by said calling party during said call request.

43. An apparatus for producing a record of calls to a subscriber in an advanced intelligent network, the advanced intelligent network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a call request from a calling party, and a service control point comprising a called party call processing record including service logic to initiate recording of incoming called data in response to the call request from the calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said apparatus comprising:

a collecting and recording system that captures call data at said service control point in response to said call request from said calling party to establish communication with said subscriber, said call data comprising a calling party number of said calling party and a terminating number of said subscriber;

an accumulating system that produces said call data according to a plurality of selectable report formats, said plurality of selectable report formats being enabled by service enabling logic and including a total number of calls based on a demographic code representing demographic data associated with said calling party; and

a compiling system for producing a caller data service report based on said call data accumulated and stored according to said demographic data and said plurality of selectable report formats.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said plurality of selectable report formats further comprises one or more of a total number of calls, a total number of calls by day of month, a total number of calls by hour of day, a total number of calls by local exchange, and a total number of calls by Zip Code+4.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising a service determining system for enabling a reporting of a total number of calls in accordance with one of said plurality of selectable report formats;

and

a call data compiling device for calculating a total number of calls to said terminating number of said subscriber for said one of said plurality of selectable report formats; and

a recording system for storing said total number of calls.