Automatic routing and information system for telephonic services

• US 5,910,982 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NeuStar Information Services, Inc. (Neustar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Murex Securities Limited (Wallsgrove Ltd.)
• Inventors: Moore, George G., Shaffer, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/100,305
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/221, 379/219, 379/127, 379/113, 379/115, 379/114, 379/212, 379/245, 379/246
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13352 Self-routing networks, real-time routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13378 : Speech recognition, speech analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 : routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 : subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A system and method for automatically and seamlessly routing telephone calls across a telephone network. The system includes a telephone network interface box having a computer, a master file and client file stored in the computer. The master file is dynamically linked to the client file at routing time to produce a selected client location telephone number which is transmitted across the telephone network. The system utilizes Automatic Number Identification to identify the calling party. The master file has a plurality of records having a telephone number and a spatial key and is updated frequently. The client file has a plurality of records having a spatial key and a client telephone number. Methods of generating client file records for both radius and polygon defined service areas through an automated computer process are included in the present invention. Another embodiment of the system merges the records of the client file with the records of the master table to generate a single table to create a one table system. The one table system increases speed of the call routing process. A second embodiment of the one table system is provided by a special case of the client file build process which yields a caller telephone number to service location telephone number file. A further embodiment provides real-time processing in situations where high call volumes and transaction processing speed are not a major issue. The real-time processing system is simple to update and requires minimal storage.

Claims

1. In a telephone network call processing system, an automated method of linking a caller telephone number to client service area information, wherein the telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers identifying geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service areas of substantially any desired shape and size, wherein each service area is geographically defined by spatial coordinates, and wherein each service area has associated client service area information, the client service area information not including a client telephone number; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client service area information based on the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations identified by said telephone numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated client service area information comprises hours of operation for a client service location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of client service areas includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area for a service location.

4. A method of generating a database of caller telephone numbers linked to client telephone numbers using an automated computer system, wherein a caller telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each client service location has a geographically defined client service area, an associated client telephone number and other client service area information;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client telephone numbers based on the computerized determination.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the other client service area information comprises one of the following items:

hours of operation for the client service location, days of operation for the client service location, name of the client service location, address of the client service location, directions to the client service location, and time zone of the client service location.

6. A method of generating a database for linking a caller telephone number to a client service location using an automated computer system, wherein the telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each client service location has a geographically defined client service area;

making a computerized determination of the graphic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client service locations based on the computerized determination.

7. A method of generating a database of caller telephone numbers linked to client telephone numbers using an automated computer system, wherein a caller telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations having spatial coordinates, wherein each service location has an associated client telephone number;

making a computerized determination of the closest client service location for a telephone number in the master list; and

linking telephone numbers from said master list to client telephone numbers based on the computerized determination.

8. A method of linking a caller telephone number to a client service location using an automated computer system, wherein the telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each service location has a client service area that is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client service locations using the results of the computerized determination.

9. A method of generating a database of caller telephone numbers linked to client telephone numbers using an automated computer system, wherein a caller telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each service location has a client service area that is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices, and wherein each service location has an associated client telephone number;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client telephone numbers using the results of the computerized determination.

10. A method of linking a caller telephone number to client service area information in an automated computer system, wherein the telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each client service location has a client service area that is geographically defined by spatial coordinates, wherein one of the service areas overlaps another service area, and wherein each service area has associated client service area information;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client service area information based on the computerized determination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the list of client service locations includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area for a service location.

12. A method of generating a database of caller telephone numbers linked to client telephone numbers using an automated computer system, wherein a caller telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each client service location has a client service area that is geographically defined by spatial coordinates, wherein one of the service areas overlaps another service area, and wherein each service area has an associated client telephone number;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client telephone numbers based on the computerized determination.

13. In a telephone network, an automated call processing system, comprising:

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a dialed telephone number and a caller optionally entered telephone number;

a call processor responsive to the dialed telephone number to select one of a plurality of telephone number to service location telephone number tables and responsive to the caller optionally entered telephone number for automatically retrieving client service location information corresponding to a selected service location in the selected telephone number to service location telephone number table, wherein the service location is selected if a location associated with the caller optionally entered telephone number spatially lies within one of a plurality of service areas having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size; and

an outbound calling module for transmitting the selected client service location information to the telephone network.

14. The system defined in claim 13, additionally comprising means for communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

15. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the caller optionally entered telephone number comprises a number associated with a location different than the location of the telephone from which the caller is calling.

16. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the selected client service location information comprises a telephone number associated with the selected service location.

17. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the selected client service area information associated with the selected service location comprises one of the following items:

hours of operation for the client service location, days of operation for the client service location, name of the client service location, address of the client service location, directions to the client service location, and time zone of the client service location.

18. The system defined in claim 13, wherein one of the service areas is geographically defined by a center and a radius.

19. The system defined in claim 13, wherein one of the service areas is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices.

20. The system defined in claim 13, wherein the service location includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area.

21. The system defined in claim 13, wherein one of the service areas overlaps another service area.

22. An automated call processing system for use in a telephone network, comprising:

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a caller optionally entered telephone number;

a call processor responsive to the caller optionally entered telephone number for retrieving client service location information corresponding to a selected service location, wherein the service location is selected if a location associated with the caller optionally entered telephone number spatially lies within one of a plurality of service area having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size, and wherein the client service area information includes a client telephone number and other client service area information; and

an outbound calling module for transmitting the selected client service location information to the telephone network.

23. The system defined in claim 22, wherein the other client service area information associated with the selected service location comprises one of the following items:

hours of operation for the client service location, days of operation for the client service location, name of the client service location, address of the client service location, directions to the client service location, and time zone of the client service location.

24. The system defined in claim 22, wherein one of the service areas is geographically defined by a center and a radius.

25. The system defined in claim 22, wherein one of the service areas is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices.

26. The system defined in claim 22, wherein the service location includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area.

27. The system defined in claim 22, wherein one of the service areas overlaps another service area.

28. An automated call processing system for use in a telephone network, comprising:

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a dialed telephone number and a caller optionally entered spatial key;

a call processor responsive to the dialed telephone number to select one of a plurality of telephone number to service location telephone number tables and responsive to the caller optionally entered spatial key for retrieving client service location information corresponding to a selected service location in the selected telephone number to service location telephone number table, wherein the service location is selected if a location associated with the caller optionally entered spatial key spatially lies within a service area specified by the client as a geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size around the service location; and

an outbound calling module for transmitting the selected client service location information to the telephone network.

29. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the spatial key comprises a caller-provided telephone number.

30. The system defined in claim 28, additionally comprising means for communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

31. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the selected client service location information comprises a telephone number associated with the selected service location.

32. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the selected client service area information associated with the selected service location comprises one of the following items:

hours of operation for the client service location, days of operation for the client service location, name of the client service location, address of the client service location, directions to the client service location, and time zone of the client service location.

33. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the service area is geographically defined by a center and a radius.

34. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the service area is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices.

35. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the service location includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area.

36. The system defined in claim 28, wherein the service area overlaps another service area.

37. An automated call processing system for use in a telephone network, comprising:

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a caller optionally entered spatial key;

a call processor responsive to the caller optionally entered spatial key for retrieving client service location information corresponding to a selected service location, wherein the service location is selected if a location associated with the caller optionally entered spatial key spatially lies within a service area specified by the client as a geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size around the service location, and wherein the client service area information includes a client telephone number and other client service area information; and

an outbound calling module for transmitting the selected client service location information to the telephone network.

38. The system defined in claim 37, wherein one of the spatial keys comprises a caller-provided telephone number.

39. The system defined in claim 37, additionally comprising means for communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

40. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the caller optionally entered spatial key comprises a third party number.

41. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the other client service area information associated with the selected service location comprises one of the following items:

hours of operation for the client service location, days of operation for the client service location, name of the client service location, address of the client service location, directions to the client service location, and time zone of the client service location.

42. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the service area is geographically defined by a center and a radius.

43. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the service area is geographically defined by a set of polygonal vertices.

44. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the service location includes both a radially-defined service area and a polygonal service area.

45. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the service area overlaps another service area.

46. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the caller optionally entered spatial key comprises a postal code.

47. An automated call processing system in a telephone network, comprising:

a switch connected to the telephone network;

a routing computer connected to the switch;

a client file comprising a plurality of records, each record having a spatial key and a client service location identification (ID), the client file accessible by the routing computer, and wherein records are assigned to the client file based upon the service location ID, with respect to a geographic area of substantially any desired shape and size;

an inbound receiving module for receiving a caller spatial key and a dialed telephone number from the telephone network;

means, associated with the telephone network, for selecting one of a plurality of client files based on the dialed telephone number; and

means, associated with the telephone network, for producing selected client information wherein the client file is indexed by the received caller spatial key to provide a selected service location ID.

48. The system defined in claim 47, wherein one of the spatial keys comprises a telephone number.

49. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the service location ID comprises a client telephone number.

50. The system defined in claim 47, additionally comprising a client service location file comprising a plurality of records, each record having a service location ID and service location-specific information.

51. The system defined in claim 50, additionally comprising means, associated with the telephone network, for selecting one of a plurality of service location files, based on the dialed telephone number.

52. The system defined in claim 51, additionally comprising means, associated with the telephone network, for linking the client file and client service location file to produce selected client information, wherein the client file provides a selected service location ID, and wherein the client service location file is indexed by the selected service location ID to provide location-specific client information.

53. The system defined in claim 47, additionally comprising an outbound calling module associated with the switch for transmitting the selected client information to the telephone network.

54. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the selected client information comprises a telephone number associated with a client service location identified by the selected service location ID.

55. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the telephone network is a North American Standard public telephone network.

56. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the switch comprises a digital switch.

57. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the inbound receiving module includes means for Automatic Number Identification (ANI).

58. The system defined in claim 47, wherein each client file record includes a distance designation, wherein said designated distance is from a centroid of a location associated with the spatial key to a client service location stored in the record.

59. An automated call processing system for use in a telephone network having a switch, the system comprising:

a routing computer connected to the switch;

a client file comprising a plurality of records, each record having a spatial key and a client service location identification (ID), the client file accessible by the routing computer, and wherein records are assigned to the client file based upon the service location ID, with respect to a geographic area of substantially any desired shape and size;

an inbound receiving module for receiving a caller spatial key and a dialed telephone number from the telephone network;

a software program performed by the routing computer capable of selecting one of a plurality of client files based on the dialed telephone number and producing selected client information wherein the client file is indexed by the received caller spatial key to provide a selected service location ID.

60. The system defined in claim 59, additionally comprising selection software, associated with the telephone network, for selecting one of a plurality of client service location files, based on the dialed telephone number.

61. The system defined in claim 60, additionally comprising linking software, associated with the telephone network, for linking the client file and client service location file to produce selected client information, wherein the client file provides a selected service location ID, and wherein the client service location file is indexed by the selected service location ID to provide location-specific client information.

62. An automated call processing system in a telephone network, comprising:

a switch connected to the telephone network;

a routing computer connected to the switch;

a client file comprising a plurality of records, each record having a caller telephone number and a client service location telephone number, the client file accessible by the routing computer, and wherein records are assigned to the client file based upon the service location telephone number, with respect to a geographic area of substantially any desired shape and size;

an inbound receiving module for receiving a caller telephone number and a dialed telephone number from the telephone network;

means, associated with the telephone network, for selecting one of a plurality of client files based on the dialed telephone number; and

means, associated with the telephone network, for producing selected client information wherein the client file is indexed by the received caller telephone number to provide a selected service location telephone number.

63. The system defined in claim 62, wherein the caller telephone number comprises a third party number.

64. The system defined in claim 62, additionally comprising means for providing selected information to be substituted for the caller telephone number.

65. An automated call processing system for use in a telephone network having a switch, the system comprising:

a routing computer connected to the switch;

a client file comprising a plurality of records, each record having a caller telephone number and a client service location telephone number, the client file accessible by the routing computer, and wherein records are assigned to the client file based upon the service location telephone number, with respect to a geographic area of substantially any desired shape and size;

an inbound receiving module for receiving a caller telephone number and a dialed telephone number from the telephone network; and

a software program performed by the routing computer capable of selecting one of a plurality of client files based on the dialed telephone number and producing selected client information wherein the client file is indexed by the received caller telephone number to provide a selected service location telephone number.

66. The system defined in claim 65, wherein the program provides for selected information to be substituted for the caller telephone number.

67. A method of automatically processing a telephone call for use in a telephone network, the method comprising:

automatically generating client tables having a plurality of records, each record comprising a telephone number and client information indicative of a geographic location;

storing the client tables in the telephone network;

receiving a calling telephone number and a dialed telephone number from the network;

selecting one of the client tables based on the dialed telephone number;

indexing the selected client table with the received calling telephone number to obtain a selected client table record; and

retrieving client location information from the selected client table record.

68. The method of claim 67, additionally comprising transmitting the client location information to the network.

69. The method of claim 67, additionally comprising providing a client location table for each client table, said client location table comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising a location identification (ID) and location-specific information.

70. The method of claim 69, additionally comprising:

retrieving a location ID from the selected client table record;

selecting one of the client location tables based on the dialed telephone number;

indexing the selected client location table with the retrieved location ID to obtain a selected client location table record; and

retrieving selected client location information from the selected client location table record.

71. The method of claim 70, additionally comprising transmitting the selected client location information to the network.

72. A method of linking a caller telephone number to a client service location using an automated computer system, wherein the telephone number is indicative of a location of a caller, the method comprising:

providing a predefined master list of telephone numbers corresponding with geographic locations defined by spatial coordinates;

supplying a list of client service locations, wherein each service location has a client service area that is geographically defined by a center and a radius;

making a computerized determination of the geographic spatial coordinate overlapping relationships between the client service areas and the geographic locations corresponding with said telephone numbers; and

linking telephone numbers from said predefined master list to client service locations based on the computerized determination.