Automatic routing and information system for telephonic services

• US 5,956,397 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• 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): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/100,052
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/219, 379/221, 379/127, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/212, 379/88.19, 379/88.2
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• 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, an automated call processing system, comprising:

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a caller-provided telephone number;

means responsive to the 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-provided telephone number spatially lies within a service area having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size;

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

means for communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a third party number.

3. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a telephone number corresponding to the caller'"'"'s telephone.

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the client service location information comprises a telephone number associated with the selected service location.

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

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a spatial key;

means responsive to the 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 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;

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

means for communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

6. The system defined in claim 5, wherein one of the spatial keys comprises a caller-provided telephone number.

7. The system defined in claim 5, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a third party number.

8. The system defined in claim 5, wherein the client service location information comprises a telephone number associated with the selected service location.

9. 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 from the plurality of 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;

providing a client location table for each client table, said client location table comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising a location ID and location-specific information;

retrieving a location ID from the selected client table record;

selecting one of the client location tables from the plurality of 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.

10. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising transmitting the selected client location information to the network.

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

an automated communications subsystem capable of receiving a caller-provided telephone number having a location associated therewith and a dialed number identification service (DNIS);

means responsive to the caller-provided telephone number for providing client service locations, wherein each client service location includes a corresponding identification (ID), and wherein a service location is provided if the location associated with the caller-provided telephone number spatially lies within a service area having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size;

means responsive to the client service location IDs for selecting client service location information from a client service locations database indexed by a client service location ID;

means for communicating the service location and a portion of the selected client service location information to the caller;

means responsive to a caller'"'"'s service location information request wherein the caller requests an additional portion of the selected client service location information; and

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

12. The system defined in claim 11, wherein the means for providing the client service locations comprises a plurality of telephone number to service location ID tables.

13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein the DNIS is utilized to select one of said telephone number to service location ID tables.

14. The system defined in claim 12, wherein one of the telephone number to service location ID tables is created by an automated processor.

15. The system defined in claim 11, wherein the means for providing the client service locations is a DNIS dependent real-time processor.

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

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a caller-provided telephone number;

a call processor responsive to the 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-provided telephone number spatially lies within a service area having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size;

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

an interface box capable of communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a third party number.

18. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a telephone number corresponding to the caller'"'"'s telephone.

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

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

an inbound receiving module capable of receiving a spatial key;

a call processor responsive to the 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 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;

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

a voice response unit capable of communicating the selected service location and the corresponding client service location information to the caller.

21. The system defined in claim 20, wherein one of the spatial keys comprises a caller-provided telephone number.

22. The system defined in claim 20, wherein the caller-provided telephone number comprises a third party number.

23. The system defined in claim 20, wherein the client service location information comprises a telephone number associated with the selected service location.

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

an automated communications subsystem capable of receiving a caller-provided telephone number having a location associated therewith and a dialed number identification service (DNIS);

a call processor responsive to the caller-provided telephone number for providing client service locations, wherein each client service location includes a corresponding identification (ID), and wherein a service location is provided if the location associated with the caller-provided telephone number spatially lies within a service area having a client defined geographic configuration of substantially any desired shape and size;

a database server responsive to the client service location IDs for selecting client service location information from a client service locations database indexed by a client service location ID and responsive to a caller'"'"'s service location information request when the caller requests an additional portion of the selected client service location information;

an interface box capable of communicating the service location and a portion of the selected client service location information to the caller; and

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

25. The system defined in claim 24, wherein the call processor utilizes a plurality of telephone number to service location ID tables.

26. The system defined in claim 25, wherein the DNIS is utilized to select one of said telephone number to service location ID tables.

27. The system defined in claim 25, wherein one of the telephone number to service location ID tables is created by an automated process.

28. The system defined in claim 24, wherein the call processor comprises a DNIS dependent, real-time call processing processor.