Method and apparatus for processing a sequence of calls

• US 5,898,768 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Beyda, William Joseph, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/770,310
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/127, 379/139, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/201, 379/229, 379/230, 379/211
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• 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 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing a sequence of calls directed to different destination sites from a single calling site via a provider having a connection-based tariff structure that employs first and second levels of connections in order to increase cost efficiency. The first level connection is from the provider to an intermediate site, such as a server, with the first level connection being maintained throughout the sequence of calls. The second level connection is formed from the intermediate site to the destination sites in the sequential order determined by the calling party. Each call to a destination site includes a different second level connection that is terminated from a completion of the call, without affecting the first level connection. The call information relating to the different calls in the sequence is transmitted from the calling site to the intermediate site by techniques such as the transmission of DTMF signals or conventional digital call setup signals. In one embodiment, the provider is an exchange carrier of air-to-ground telecommunications capability.

Claims

1. A method of processing a sequence of calls directed to destination sites from a single calling site, wherein routing said calls includes utilizing a provider at a tariff determined on a per connection basis, said method comprising steps of:

(a) identifying a called site that is specified by a caller in a first user generated call request;

(b) as a response to determining that an intermediate site is said called site specified in said first user generated call request, establishing a first level connection such that said provider is connected to said intermediate site;

(c) receiving call information at said intermediate site from said calling site via said first level connection, said call information being a second user generated call request relating to one of said calls in said sequence;

(d) based upon said call information, establishing a second level connection such that said intermediate site is connected to one of said destination sites, thereby providing connectivity between said calling site and said destination site; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for each of said calls in said sequence while maintaining said first level connection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (e) includes repeating said steps (c) and (d) in a manner transparent to said provider.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said steps of establishing said first and second level connections includes utilizing a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step c of receiving said call information includes receiving one of dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals or digital call setup signals from said calling site.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step (d) of establishing said second level connection includes passing through said one of DTMF signals or digital call setup signals to a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said step (d) of establishing said second level connection includes regenerating said one of DTMF signals or digital call setup signals at said intermediate site.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b) of establishing said first level connection is a step of providing connectivity between an airphone and a server, said provider being an exchange carrier of air-to-ground telecommunications.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b) of establishing said first level connection is a step of providing connectivity between said calling site and an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of transmitting multi-media signals from said calling site to said destination site via said first and second level connections.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step (f) of calculating billing information for said second level connection under a billing scheme that is independent from a billing scheme that is utilized in calculating billing information for said first level connection, said step (e) including repeating step (f) for each of said calls in said sequence.

11. A method of completing a sequence of calls to more than one destination site via a provider which has an established tariff for each call connection initiated by said provider, said method comprising steps of:

directing a preliminary call to an intermediate server via said provider, thereby establishing a first level connection between said provider and said intermediate server such that said established tariff is incurred;

transmitting first call information to said intermediate server via said first level connection such that said intermediate server is enabled to establish a second level connection between said intermediate server and a first destination site, said first call information relating to a first call of said sequence;

terminating said first call in a manner transparent to said provider, while maintaining said first level connection;

transmitting second call information to said intermediate server via said first level connection in a manner transparent to said provider such that said intermediate server is enabled to establish a second level connection between said intermediate server and a second destination site, said second call information relating to a second call of said sequence; and

conducting said second level connections under a billing scheme that is independent of said established tariff incurred for said first level connection.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of directing said preliminary call includes initiating said preliminary call from a telephony device on an aircraft and includes utilizing an exchange carrier, said exchange carrier being said provider.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said steps of transmitting said first call information and said second call information includes utilizing call setup signals to identify the appropriate destination site.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising a step of transmitting multimedia data to said destination sites via said first and second level connections.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of directing said preliminary call includes utilizing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) as said provider.

16. A call server comprising:

an interface connected to a public switched telephone network;

first switching means for establishing an off-hook state upon receiving an incoming call from an exchange carrier;

processor means for receiving call information relating to more than one outgoing call to be initiated while said off-hook state is maintained for said incoming call;

means, connected to said processor means and responsive to said processor means, for sequentially initiating said outgoing calls while said off-hook state is maintained;

second switching means, connected to first switching means, for sequentially connecting said incoming call to said outgoing calls; and

means for generating billing information for said outgoing calls independently of generation of billing information for said incoming call by a device associated with said exchange carrier.

17. The call server of claim 16 wherein said means for sequentially initiating said outgoing calls includes a tone generator of dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals.

18. The call server of claim 16 wherein said means for sequentially initiating said outgoing calls includes a generator of digital telecommunications setup signals.

19. The call server of claim 16 wherein said means for sequentially initiating said outgoing calls is connected to said interface for directing said outgoing calls via said public switched telephone network.