Method for improved automatic message accounting in telephony

• US 6,205,210 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1996
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Melnyk, Allan, Rainey, Gordon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US08/743,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/118, 379/121, 379/126, 379/133, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/222, 379/224, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/114.28
• 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

Abstract

A method for improved automatic message accounting in telephony systems and the like, wherein actual call routing set-up is stored at the time of a call being answered by a called subscriber station; and the data conveying the actual call routing set-up is packaged in a data field of a message for upstream transmission through the actual call routes.

Claims

1. A method for automatic message accounting in a telephony system, comprising:

(a) receiving, by a switch, an initial address message (IAM) requesting connection by an incoming trunk to a ported subscriber that is currently residing on the switch;

(b) decomposing the IAM to obtain call data in order to recover a called number and at least one of a generic address parameter (GAP) and a location routing number (LRN);

(c) establishing a connection to a called party and monitoring for an answer by the called party;

(d) when the monitoring step determines that the called party has answered, formulating an answer message that is sent in a direction towards a preceding switch that incorporates the GAP or the LRN in call data, and storing actual call routing set-up at time of a call being answered by a called subscriber station;

(e) sending the answer message out on a link associated with an incoming trunk connected to the called party, and packaging data conveying said actual call routing set-up in a data field of a message for upstream transmission through actual call routes; and

(f) when the connection is finished, taking down the connection between the incoming trunk and the called party.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(g) if the called party disconnects before a calling party disconnects, sending a release message.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(g) when the switch has a billing responsibility, updating a running record with the GAP or the LRN.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the running record is written into a memory when the connection is finished.