Long distance service bureau

• US 5,878,122 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Singh, Harminder, Fortman, Peter A., White, Lester Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US08/797,244
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/122, 379/123, 379/125, 379/130, 379/132, 379/140, 379/221, 379/354, 379/355, 379/356
• US Class Current: 379/115.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCR
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13201 Change-over of service during connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 : Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors

Abstract

A long distance service bureau assists subscribers in selecting a long distance carrier for a long distance, or tariff, call. The long distance service bureau includes a rate table memory and a service logic element. The rate table memory stores rate data, representing tolls charged by various long distance carriers, and subscriber preference data, representing a subscriber'"'"'s preferences for certain ones of the various long distance carriers. The service logic element controls the rate table memory. The service logic element periodically communicates with the various long distance carriers to retrieve rate data changes, stores the rate data changes in the rate table memory, and downloads only the rate data changes to local equipment of the subscriber during idle periods of the subscriber'"'"'s local equipment.

Claims

1. A method for placing a tariff call, comprising the steps, executed by a processor, of:

receiving carrier preference data indicating preferred long distance carriers for chosen telephone numbers,

receiving a dialed telephone number;

determining whether the dialed telephone number is one of the chosen telephone numbers;

routing the call on one of the preferred long distance carriers when the dialed telephone number is one of the chosen telephone numbers; and

routing the call on a selected long distance carrier when the dialed telephone number is not one of the chosen telephone numbers, the step of routing the call on the selected long distance carrier including the substeps of

presenting rate information offered by long distance carriers, and

receiving a long distance carrier selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether the dialed telephone number represents a tariff call;

and

routing the call on a local carrier when the dial telephone number is not a tariff call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining that the dialed telephone number represents a tariff call;

and

determining a zone for which the tariff call is directed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the presenting substep comprises the substep of

presenting rate information for only long distance carriers servicing the determined zone.

5. (Amended) The method of claim 1, wherein the routing the call on one of the preferred long distance carriers step comprises the substep of

prefixing the dialed telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the preferred long distance carrier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing the call on the selected long distance carrier step comprises the substep of

prefixing the dialed telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the selected long distance carrier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting substep includes the substep of

displaying rate information offered by the long distance carriers.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

updating the rate information presented in the presenting substep to current rate information offered by the long distance carriers during idle periods of the processor.

9. An apparatus for placing a tariff telephone call, comprising:

memory means for storing long distance carrier data and corresponding rate data;

updating means for receiving updated rate data during idle periods of the apparatus and for storing the updated rate data in the memory means;

means for detecting when a user dials a tariff telephone number corresponding to a tariff telephone call;

means for presenting a subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data to the user based on preferred long distance carriers previously selected by the user when the dialed tariff telephone number is detected;

means for receiving a selection of a long distance carrier from the presented carrier data subset; and

means for routing the tariff telephone call on the selected long distance carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising

means for determining whether the dialed tariff telephone number is a predetermined telephone number;

and

means for routing the tariff telephone call on a predetermined long distance carrier when the dialed tariff telephone number is the predetermined telephone number.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for routing the tariff telephone call on the predetermined long distance carrier comprises

means for prefixing the dialed tariff telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the predetermined long distance carrier.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising

means for determining whether the dialed tariff telephone number is one of a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers;

and

means for routing the tariff telephone call on a predetermined long distance carrier when the dialed tariff telephone number is one of the plurality of predetermined telephone numbers.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising

means for determining that a call is a local telephone call when the detecting means detects that the user has not dialed a tariff telephone number;

and

means for routing the local telephone call on a local carrier.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the detecting means includes means for determining a zone for which the tariff telephone call is directed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the output means includes

means for presenting carrier data and corresponding rate data for only long distance carriers servicing the determined zone.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the routing means includes

means for prefixing the dialed tariff telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the selected long distance carrier.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the presenting means comprises

a display for displaying the subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data.

18. A telephone device for placing a tariff telephone call, comprising:

a handset;

a dial pad having a plurality of numbered keys;

a memory for storing long distance carrier data and corresponding rate data;

an output element for presenting a subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data; and

a processor for controlling the memory and the output element, the processor comprising;

a receiving element configured to receive a telephone number entered via the dial pad,

a determination element configured to determine whether the dialed telephone number is a predetermined telephone number,

a subset generation element configured to generate the subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data based on previously chosen long distance carriers,

a presentation element configured to cause the output element to present the subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data,

a receiving element configured to receive a long distance carrier selection, and

a routing element configured to route the tariff telephone call on a predetermined long distance carrier when the dialed telephone number is the predetermined telephone number, and to route the tariff telephone call on a selected long distance carrier when the dialed telephone number is not the predetermined telephone number.

19. The telephone device of claim 18, further comprising

a set of soft keys;

and

wherein the receiving element configured to receive the long distance carrier selection comprises

means for receiving the long distance carrier selection via the set of soft keys.

20. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the output element is a visual display configured to display the subset of the carrier data and corresponding rate data.

21. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the processor further comprises

a detection element configured to detect whether the dialed telephone number represents a tariff telephone call or a local telephone call;

and

wherein the routing element includes

means for routing the detected local telephone call on a local carrier.

22. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the processor further comprises

a detection element configured to detect that the dialed telephone number represents a tariff telephone call, and

a zone determination element configured to determine a zone for which the tariff telephone call is directed.

23. The telephone device of claim 22, wherein the presentation element includes

means for causing the output element to present the carrier data and corresponding rate data for only long distance carriers servicing the determined zone.

24. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the routing element includes

means for prefixing the dialed telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the predetermined long distance carrier when the dialed telephone number is the predetermined telephone number.

25. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the routing element includes

means for prefixing the dialed telephone number with a Carrier Code corresponding to the selected long distance carrier when the dialed telephone number is not the predetermined telephone number.

26. The telephone device of claim 18, wherein the processor further comprises

an updating element configured to update the rate data presented by the output element to current rate data for the long distance carrier data during periods when the handset is on-hook.

27. A long distance service bureau comprising:

a rate table memory for storing rate data representing tolls charged by various long distance carriers and subscriber preference data representing a user'"'"'s preferences for certain ones of the various long distance carriers; and

a service logic element for controlling the rate table memory, the service logic element including

means for periodically communicating with the various long distance carriers to retrieve rate data changes,

means for storing the rate data changes in the rate table memory, and

means for downloading only the rate data changes, applicable to the user based on the subscriber preference data, to local equipment of the user.

28. The long distance service bureau of claim 27, wherein the rate table memory further stores special plan data representing special rates offered by the various long distance carriers;

wherein the periodically communicating means includes

means for periodically communicating with the various long distance carriers to retrieve new special rates; and

wherein the storing means includes

means for storing the new special rates in the rate table memory.

29. The long distance service bureau of claim 28, wherein the downloading means includes

means for downloading the new special rates to the user'"'"'s local equipment.

30. The long distance service bureau of claim 27, wherein the service logic element further comprises

means for generating a mini-rate table, the mini-rate table including rate data for a user'"'"'s routinely called zones and subscriber preference data corresponding to the user.

31. The long distance service bureau of claim 30, wherein the service logic element further comprises

means for initially downloading the mini-rate table to the user'"'"'s local equipment.

32. The long distance service bureau of claim 27, wherein the downloading means includes

means for downloading the rate data changes during idle periods of the user'"'"'s local equipment.

33. A method for assisting a user in selecting a long distance carrier for a tariff call, comprising the steps of:

receiving subscriber preference data representing the user'"'"'s preferences for certain ones of various long distance carriers;

periodically communicating with the various long distance carriers to retrieve rate data representing tolls charged by the various long distance carriers;

generating carrier information including the subscriber preference data and the rate data;

downloading the carrier information to local equipment of the user; and

periodically updating the carrier information with current rate data.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the periodically communicating step includes the substep of

periodically communicating with the various long distance carriers to retrieve special rate data representing special rates offered by the various long distance carriers;

and

wherein the generating step includes the substep of

generating carrier information including the subscriber preference data, the rate data, and the special rate data.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the downloading step includes the substep of

downloading the carrier information during idle periods of the user'"'"'s local equipment.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the periodically updating step includes the substep of

downloading the current rate data to the user'"'"'s local equipment.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the downloading the current rate data substep includes the substep of

downloading the current rate data during idle periods of the user'"'"'s local equipment.

38. A network for routing a tariff telephone call, comprising:

a user telephone;

a switch, connected to the user telephone, for routing telephone calls;

a plurality of long distance carrier systems; and

a long distance service bureau, connected to the user telephone via the switch and to the plurality of long distance carrier systems, comprising

means for storing subscriber preference data corresponding to the user telephone and representing preferred long distance carriers for certain situations and dialed telephone numbers,

means for periodically communicating with the long distance carrier systems to retrieve changes to their offered rates, and

means for downloading only the rate changes applicable to the user telephone based on the subscriber preference data during idle periods of the user telephone.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein the periodically communicating means comprises

means for periodically communicating with the long distance carrier systems to retrieve new special rates offered by the long distance carrier systems;

and

wherein the downloading means comprises

means for downloading the new special rates to the user telephone during idle periods of the user telephone.

40. A method for facilitating selection of a long distance carrier for a tariff call, comprising the steps, executed by a network server, of:

receiving a telephone call from a user requesting long distance carrier rates for a tariff call;

retrieving user profile data corresponding to the user, the user profile data indicating long distance carrier preferences of the user;

generating carrier information based on current carrier rates offered by various long distance carriers and the user profile data;

downloading the carrier information to local equipment of the user to facilitate selection of a long distance carrier.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of querying the user for a user identification number;

and

wherein the retrieving step comprises the substep of

retrieving the user profile data using the user'"'"'s identification number.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of detecting a user identification number from signals in the user'"'"'s telephone call;

and

wherein the retrieving step comprises the substep of

retrieving the user profile data using the user'"'"'s identification number.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of querying the user for a telephone number corresponding to the tariff call;

and

wherein the generating step comprises the substeps of

determining a zone for which the tariff call is directed, and

generating carrier information based on current carrier rates offered by long distance carriers servicing the determined zone, and the user profile data.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the generating step comprises the substeps of

periodically and routinely communicating with the various long distance carriers to obtain the current carrier rates, and

using the current carrier rates in generating the carrier information.

45. A long distance service bureau, comprising:

a rate table memory for storing rate data representing tolls charged by various long distance carriers;

a subscriber profile memory for storing subscriber preference data representing preferred long distance carriers for certain situations and dialed telephone numbers, the subscriber preference data being designated by a subscriber of the long distance service bureau; and

a service logic element for controlling the rate table memory and the subscriber profile memory, the service logic element comprising

means for periodically communicating with the various long distance carriers to retrieve current rate data,

means for storing the current rate data in the rate table memory,

means for receiving a telephone call from the subscriber requesting long distance carrier rates for a tariff call,

means for generating a list of long distance carriers from the rate data and the subscriber preference data, and

means for communicating the generated list to local equipment of the subscriber.

46. The long distance service bureau of claim 45, wherein the rate table memory further stores special plan data representing special rates and savings plans offered by the various long distance carriers;

wherein the periodically communicating means includes

means for periodically communicating with the various long distance carrier to retrieve new special rates and savings plans;

wherein the storing means includes

means for storing the new special rates and savings plans in the rate table memory; and

wherein the generating means includes

means for generating the list of long distance carriers from the rate data, the special plan data, and the subscriber preference data.

47. The long distance service bureau of claim 45, wherein the service logic element further comprises

means for querying the subscriber for a subscriber identification number;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for retrieving subscriber preference data from the subscriber profile memory using the subscriber identification number.

48. The long distance service bureau of claim 45, wherein the service logic element further comprises

means for detecting a subscriber identification number from signals in the subscriber'"'"'s telephone call;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for retrieving subscriber preference data from the subscriber profile memory using the subscriber identification number.

49. The long distance service bureau of claim 45, wherein the service logic element further comprises

means for querying the subscriber for a telephone number corresponding to the tariff call;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for determining a zone for which the tariff call is directed, and

means for including only long distance carriers servicing the determined zone in the list of long distance carriers.

50. A network for routing a tariff call, comprising:

a user telephone;

a telecommunications system, connected to the user telephone, for routing telephone calls from a user of the user telephone;

a plurality of long distance carrier systems; and

a long distance service bureau, connected to the user telephone and the plurality of long distance carrier systems via the telecommunications system, comprising

means for periodically communicating with the long distance carrier systems to retrieve current offered rates,

means for storing subscriber preference data representing preferred long distance carriers for certain situations and dialed telephone numbers,

means for receiving a telephone call from the user requesting long distance carrier rates for a tariff call,

means for generating a list of long distance carriers from the current offered rates and the subscriber preference data, and

means for communicating the generated list to the user telephone.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the periodically communicating means includes

means for periodically communicating with the long distance carrier systems to retrieve new special rates and savings plans;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for generating the list of long distance carriers from the current offered rates, the new special rates and savings plans, and the subscriber preference data.

52. The network of claim 50, wherein the long distance service bureau further comprises

means for querying the user for a user identification number;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for retrieving subscriber preference data from the storing means using the user identification number.

53. The network of claim 50, wherein the long distance service bureau further comprises

means for detecting a user identification number from signals in the user'"'"'s telephone call;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for retrieving subscriber preference data from the storing means using the user identification number.

54. The network of claim 50, wherein the long distance service bureau further comprises

means for querying the user for a telephone number corresponding to the tariff call;

and

wherein the generating means includes

means for determining a zone for which the tariff call is directed, and

means for including only long distance carriers servicing the determined zone in the list of long distance carriers.