Incoming call tracking with interactive data collection

• US 5,896,445 A
• Filed: 03/27/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kay, William A., Brown, Dorsey P., Dague, David A., Pershan, Barry P., Phillips, Lisa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/622,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 379/127, 379/135, 379/142, 379/188-189, 379/196-199, 379/201, 379/34, 379/113, 379/265-266, 379/133-134, 379/111-112
• US Class Current: 379/135
• 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 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for tracking call transaction data from incoming telephone calls, including attempted calls that have not been completed, made to individual predetermined subscribers during a defined time period. Information, including demographic breakdowns of calls, such as time of day, day of week, location of origin, etc. is reported automatically by the system. Through the use of the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP) platform, call transaction data for incoming calls are captured in response to terminating triggers at Service Switching Points (SSPs). The call originating phone number for each call may be used to access an existing telephone system billing database, called Customer Record Information System (CRIS), to obtain caller information, including zip code. The zip code, in turn, can be used to access a commercially available census data base to provide further demographic information. Report statistics can match these demographics with the number of calls received as collected at the ISCP. The arrangement additionally provides for identifying first time callers and the collection of data relevant to each call obtained in an interactive manner from the called subscriber.

Claims

1. In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, each subscriber telephone line having at least one directory number, a method for processing an incoming telephone call placed to a predetermined directory number comprising the steps of:

detecting, at a switching facility associated with said predetermined directory number, a call having said predetermined directory number telephone line as its destination;

identifying the directory number of the line originating the detected call;

determining whether a call has previously been completed to the predetermined number destination from said originating line; and

subsequent to said determining step, completing the call through said switching facility to said destination.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining comprises comparing the identified directory number with a list of directory numbers of previous callers and said method further comprises the step of adding said identified directory number to said list if no match has resulted in the comparison step.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of identifying comprises correlating incoming calls with destination subscriber telephone lines at said associated telephone switching facility and temporarily suspending processing of calls placed to said predetermined directory number destination.

3. In a public switched telephone network comprising a plurality of subscriber telephone lines, each coupled to an associated telephone switching facility, each subscriber telephone line having at least one directory number, a method for processing incoming telephone calls placed to a predetermined directory number comprising the steps of:

detecting, at a switching facility associated with said predetermined directory number prior to call completion, a call having said predetermined directory number telephone line as its destination;

identifying the directory number of the line originating the detected call;

determining whether the predetermined number destination has previously been called by said originating line, said step of determining comprising comparing the identified directory number with a list of directory numbers of previous callers;

routing the call to said destination;

adding said identified directory number to said list if no match has resulted in the comparison step; and

transmitting a message to the originating line if no match has occurred in the comparison step.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said message comprises a query and said method further comprises storing a response to said query.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein, in response to a positive response to said query, said method additionally comprises supplying caller information to the subscriber of said predetermined number.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said step of supplying comprises:

recording the directory number of the originating line;

accessing a database using the recorded directory number to retrieve said caller information; and

reporting said information to the subscriber.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

accessing a previously stored response from said calling line directory number if a match resulted in said comparison step; and

supplying caller information to the subscriber of said predetermined number if said accessed response is positive.

9. In a communication network including a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each at a different location, each of said central office switching systems comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP) connected to a plurality of local communication lines each associated with at least one directory number, a voice network portion comprising voice communication paths for interconnecting any of the central office switching systems, a common channel signaling network portion comprising signaling paths interconnecting said central office switching systems through at least one Signal Transfer Point (STP) and an Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP) including a Data and Reporting System (DRS) database, a method for evaluating calls placed to the communication network, comprising the steps of:

setting a terminating attempt trigger for a predetermined directory number at an SSP associated therewith;

temporarily suspending processing of each call placed to the destination of said predetermined directory number in accordance with said terminating attempt trigger;

identifying the directory number of the line originating the suspended call;

determining whether a call has previously been completed to the predetermined number from said originating line, and

subsequent to said determining step, completing the call through said SSP to said destination.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of determining comprises:

transmitting a data message from said associated SSP to said ISCP;

accessing a call processing record (CPR) associated with said predetermined directory number at the ISCP;

comparing the identified directory number with a list of directory numbers of previous callers in said CPR.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising a step of adding said identified directory number to said list if no match has resulted in the comparison step.

12. In a communication network including a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each at a different location, each of said central office switching systems comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP) connected to a plurality of local communication lines each associated with at least one directory number, a voice network portion comprising voice communication paths for interconnecting any of the central office switching systems, a common channel signaling network portion comprising signaling paths interconnecting said central office switching systems through at least one Signal Transfer Point (STP) and an Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP) including a Data and Reporting System (DRS) database, a method for evaluating calls placed to the communication network, comprising the steps of:

setting a terminating attempt trigger for a predetermined directory number at an SSP associated therewith;

temporarily suspending processing of each call placed to the destination of said predetermined directory number in accordance with said terminating attempt trigger;

identifying the directory number of the line originating the suspended call;

determining whether the predetermined number has previously been called by said originating line, said determining step comprising;

transmitting a data message from said associated SSP to said ISCP;

accessing a call processing record (CPR) associated with said predetermined directory number at the ISCP; and

comparing the identified directory number with a list of directory numbers of previous callers in said CPR;

routing the call to said destination;

adding said identified directory number to said list if no match has resulted in the comparison step; and

transmitting a message to the originating line if no match has occurred in the comparison step.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said message comprises a query and said method further comprises storing a response to said query in the ISCP.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising a step of generating a report containing caller information in response to a positive response to said query.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said step of generating comprises:

storing the directory number of the originating line;

accessing a database using the stored directory number to retrieve said caller information; and

reporting said information to the subscriber of the predetermined directory number.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a response from said calling line directory number previously stored in said CPR, in response to a match in said comparison step; and

generating a report containing caller information if said accessed response is positive.

17. In a communication network including a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each at a different location, each of said central office switching systems comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP) connected to a plurality of local communication lines each associated with at least one directory number, a voice network portion comprising voice communication paths for interconnecting any of the central office switching systems, a common channel signaling network portion comprising signaling paths interconnecting said central office switching systems through at least one Signal Transfer Point (STP), an Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP) connected to said common channel signaling network portion and including a Data and Reporting System (DRS) database, and an intelligent peripheral (IP) connected to both said voice network portion and said common channel signaling network portion, a method for evaluating calls placed to the communication network, comprising the steps of:

setting a terminating attempt trigger for a predetermined directory number at an SSP associated therewith;

temporarily suspending processing of each call placed to the destination of said predetermined directory number in accordance with said terminating attempt trigger;

bridging the suspended call in a multiple call connection among the caller line, the called line associated with said predetermined directory number, and the IP;

detecting an on-hook condition of said caller line; and

in response to said detection of said on-hook condition, conducting an interactive session between said called line and said IP.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the conducting step comprises receiving account code information by said IP from the called line, corresponding to predefined account codes relating to the substance of the call.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said account code information is provided by DTMF input at the called line.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said IP comprises a voice recognition processor and said account code information is provided by voice input at the called line.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, and further comprising the steps of:

transmitting said information from said IP to said ISCP;

storing information transmitted to said ISCP for each call placed to said predetermined directory number; and

generating a statistical report relating call information stored for calls placed to said predetermined directory number during an established time period.

22. A method as recited in claim 17, and further comprising the steps of:

identifying the directory number of the line originating the suspended call;

transmitting a data message from said associated SSP to said ISCP;

accessing a call processing record (CPR) associated with said predetermined directory number at the ISCP; and

comparing the identified directory number with a list of directory numbers of previous callers in said CPR to determine whether the predetermined number has previously been called by said originating line.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, and further comprising the steps of:

adding said identified directory number to said list if no match has resulted in the comparison step;

transmitting a message to the originating line if no match has occurred in the comparison step, said message requesting authorization to transmit caller information to the called party;

storing a response to said message in the ISCP CPR; and

adding caller information to said report for all calls placed to said predetermined number during said established time period for which the CPR contains a positive response.