Customized, billing-controlled call bridging system
First Claim
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1. A method of bridging a call between an origination telephone and a destination, said method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a self-controlled bridging node external to a public switched network to a telecommunications switch on the public switched network, wherein the self-controlled bridging node includes, at least, a node interface having a plurality of communication ports connected to a plurality of trunks from the telecommunications switch, and wherein the self-controlled bridging node further includes an audio response unit storing a plurality of messages therein;
receiving on a first communication path at the node interface from the telecommunications switch a call bridging request from the origination telephone located remotely from the bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing a number to initiate a telephone call from the origination telephone;
comparing the call bridging request with prerecorded data identifying callers authorized to make calls using the bridging node;
processing signals from the caller at the origination telephone, which signals include, at least, a destination indicator associated with a destination, upon a favorable comparison indicating the call bridging request is from an authorized caller;
selectively establishing a second communication path to the destination from the telecommunications switch; and
limiting the duration of the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination, whereupon reaching a predetermined limit of the duration of the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination, the method further includes, at least, the steps of;
identifying a message from the plurality of messages at the audio response unit, wherein the message identifies that the limit of the duration of the call between the origination telephone and destination has been reached;
bridging a third communication path to the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination;
playing the identified message from the audio response unit on the third communication path; and
terminating the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing customized, billing-controlled call bridging services through a bridging node which includes a node interface for connection through incoming and outgoing telephone trunks to a carrier switch of a public switched network, an audio peripheral for recording, playing, and analyzing audio signals, and a node controller for controlling operation of the node interface and the audio peripheral.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of bridging a call between an origination telephone and a destination, said method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a self-controlled bridging node external to a public switched network to a telecommunications switch on the public switched network, wherein the self-controlled bridging node includes, at least, a node interface having a plurality of communication ports connected to a plurality of trunks from the telecommunications switch, and wherein the self-controlled bridging node further includes an audio response unit storing a plurality of messages therein; receiving on a first communication path at the node interface from the telecommunications switch a call bridging request from the origination telephone located remotely from the bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing a number to initiate a telephone call from the origination telephone; comparing the call bridging request with prerecorded data identifying callers authorized to make calls using the bridging node; processing signals from the caller at the origination telephone, which signals include, at least, a destination indicator associated with a destination, upon a favorable comparison indicating the call bridging request is from an authorized caller; selectively establishing a second communication path to the destination from the telecommunications switch; and limiting the duration of the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination, whereupon reaching a predetermined limit of the duration of the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination, the method further includes, at least, the steps of; identifying a message from the plurality of messages at the audio response unit, wherein the message identifies that the limit of the duration of the call between the origination telephone and destination has been reached; bridging a third communication path to the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination; playing the identified message from the audio response unit on the third communication path; and terminating the communicative connection between the origination telephone and destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of bridging a call between an origination telephone and a destination, said method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a self-controlled bridging node external to a public switched network to a telecommunications switch on the public switched network, wherein the self-controlled bridging node is one of a plurality of self-controlled bridging nodes, each self-controlled bridging node of the plurality of self-controlled bridging nodes being located at a different location outside the public switched network and being connected to a telecommunications switch within the public switched network, the self-controlled bridging node including, at least, a node interface having a plurality of communication ports connected to a plurality of trunks from the telecommunications switch, and wherein the self-controlled bridging node further includes an audio response unit storing a plurality of messages therein; designating a self-controlled bridging node as a primary bridging node; designating another self-controlled bridging node of the plurality of self-controlled bridging nodes as a secondary bridging node; receiving on a first communication path at the primary node interface from the telecommunications switch a call bridging request from the origination telephone located remotely from the bridging node, as a result of a caller dialing a number to initiate a telephone call from the origination telephone; upon unavailability of the primary bridging node, directing the call to the secondary bridging node; receiving the call at the secondary bridging node; comparing the call bridging request with prerecorded data identifying callers authorized to make calls using the bridging node; processing signals from the caller at the origination telephone, which signals include, at least, a destination indicator associated with a destination, upon a favorable comparison indicating the call bridging request is from an authorized caller; and selectively establishing a second communication path to the destination from the telecommunications switch.
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Specification