Method and apparatus for facilitating communication across multiple locations
First Claim
1. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
- means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit;
means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit;
means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit;
means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and
means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit;
wherein when the originating station is a non-network location, the call request includes a designated number to append the non-network location to the private network, the designated number being entered prior to entry of the at least one dialed digit;
wherein the service control point comprises means for verifying that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the private network such that when the verifying means determines that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the network, the one non-network location becomes an appended location of the private network.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The multiple location, communications network is provided as an overlay application to, for example, one or more private networks. The network adds increased flexibility to an existing private network system by adding additional features, e.g., abbreviated dialing plans, function number dialing, automatic selection of routing, centralized access to private and public network facilities, outgoing call screening, and work-at-home functionality, that may not be currently available to the private network subscriber. Further, the network overlay application of the present invention is adapted to maintain and not disturb the subscriber'"'"'s current service or the existing private network.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; wherein when the originating station is a non-network location, the call request includes a designated number to append the non-network location to the private network, the designated number being entered prior to entry of the at least one dialed digit; wherein the service control point comprises means for verifying that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the private network such that when the verifying means determines that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the network, the one non-network location becomes an appended location of the private network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising;
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; wherein when the originating station is an originating network location, the originating station is adapted to directly access specific dialing plans associated with a central access service switching point; the call request including an access number associated with the central access service switching point to connect the originating network location to the central access service switching point. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; wherein when the originating station is an originating network location, the originating station is adapted to directly access private facilities directly coupled to a central access point including one of a local network service switching point and a non-local network service switching point; the call request including an access number associated with the central access point to connect the originating network location to the central access point. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; the originating station entering an access number to indicate that the terminating station location comprises a terminating non-network location; the means for selectively establishing a routing path comprising means for determining the originating station location, means for determining the termination station location, and means for ascertaining a desired routing scheme for establishing the service connection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit, the at least one dialed digit comprises an access number to enable function dialing, the function dialing comprising a function dialing number in which alphabetic representations of dialed numbers are dialed at the originating station to form a word associated with a functional aspect of a terminating station party. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the multiple location communications network comprising:
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means for receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising means for identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; means for accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified by the identifying means, the accessing means comprising means for forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; means for identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; means for forwarding, from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; means for establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; and an outgoing call screening feature, the outgoing call screening feature actuated after the service control point identifies the terminating station and before forwarding the query response, the outgoing call screening feature comprising means for determining a call type and means for ascertaining whether the determined call type is within a privilege class associated with the originating station, the call type comprising a member of the group consisting of on-network intra-LATA private facilities;
on-network intra-LATA private/public facilities;
on-network inter-LATA private facilities;
on-network inter-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network intra-LATA private facilities;
off-network intra-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network inter-LATA private facilities;
off-network inter-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network international private facilities;
off-network international private/public facilities;
off-network (NANP) intra-LATA private facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking;
off-network (NANP) inter-LATA private facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking;
off-network (NANP) intra-LATA private/public facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking; and
off-network (NANP) inter-LATA private/public facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking; andthe privilege class, assigned to a network station, comprising a listing of each call type that a station may offer for termination. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; and verifying within the private network that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the private network such that when the verifying determines that the one non-network location is authorized to be appended to the network, the one non-network location becomes an appended location of the private network; wherein, when the originating station is a non-network location, the call request includes a designated number to append the non-network location to the private network, the designated number being entered prior to entry of the at least one dialed digit. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit and an access number associated with the central access service switching point to connect the originating network location to the central access service switching point, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; wherein when the originating station is an originating network location, adapting the originating station to directly access specific network dialing plans associated with a central access service switching point. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; wherein when the originating station is an originating network location, adapting the originating station to directly access private facilities directly coupled to a central access point including one of a local network service switching point and a non-local network service switching point; the call request including an access number associated with the central access point to connect the originating network location to the central access point. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; selectively establishing a routing path comprising determining the originating station location, determining the termination station location, and ascertaining a desired routing scheme for establishing the service connection; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising the routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; the originating station entering an access number to indicate that the terminating station location comprises a terminating non-network location. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; wherein the at least one dialed digit comprises an access number to enable function dialing, the function dialing comprising entering a function dialing number in which alphabetic representations of dialed numbers at the originating station form a word associated with a functional aspect of a terminating station party. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. A method for call processing in a multiple location communications network associated with a private network in an advanced intelligent communications system, the advanced intelligent communications system comprising a service control point, a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of network service switching points and a plurality of non-network service switching points, and selectively establishing communication between at least two of a plurality of geographically dispersed locations coupled to the network and non-network service switching points, the at least two locations including an originating station and a terminating station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of network service switching points, a call request from the originating station to establish a communication connection with the terminating station, the call request including at least one dialed digit, the one network service switching point comprising identifying a service control point request based upon the at least one dialed digit; accessing the service control point in response to the service control point request identified the accessing step comprising forwarding a query message from the one network service switching point to the service control point, the query message including the at least one dialed digit; identifying, at the service control point, the terminating station based on the query message and the at least one dialed digit; screening an outgoing call to determine a call type and to ascertain whether the determined call type is within a privilege class associated with the originating station; assigning the privilege class to a network station, the privilege class listing each call type that a station may offer for termination; forwarding from the service control point to the one network service switching point, a query response comprising routing information including a routing path between the originating station and the terminating station; and establishing the communication connection between the originating station and the terminating station based on the query response and the at least one dialed digit; the call type comprising a member of the group consisting of on-network intra-LATA private facilities;
on-network intro-LATA private/public facilities;
on-network inter-LATA private facilities;
on-network inter-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network intra-LATA private facilities;
off-network intra-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network inter-LATA private facilities;
off-network inter-LATA private/public facilities;
off-network international private facilities;
off-network international private/public facilities;
off-network (NANP) intra-LATA private facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking;
off-network (NANP) inter-LATA private facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking;
off-network (NANP) intra-LATA private/public facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking; and
off-network (NANP) inter-LATA private/public facilities with 900-, 976-, and 555 service blocking. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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Specification