Method and system for using TCAP signaling for improved call setup from a virtual switching point
First Claim
1. A method of completing a voice connection between a first and second voice terminal on a Switched Telephone Network (STN), comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in the STN having a connection to a data network a call request from a calling party;
sending a query message to an SP in the STN that serves the calling party to determine the availability of a calling line identified in the call request;
if a response to the query message indicates that the calling line is available, sending a first Common Channel Signaling (CCS) message from the VSP over a signaling network of the STN to an SP in the STN to initiate a first leg of the voice connection, and sending a second CCS message from the VSP to an SP in the STN to initiate a second leg of the voice connection, the first and second CCS messages being interrelated to an extent that a circuit identification code in each message is associated with opposite ends of the same facility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for using TCAP signaling for improved call setup from a virtual switching point are disclosed. In accordance with the method, TCAP signaling is used to enhance call setup from virtual switching points which receive call request messages from calling parties using a facility on a data network such as the Internet. TCAP signaling is used when necessary to determine the availability of the called party telephone. The system includes a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in a switched telephone network having a connection to a data network such as the Internet. Call requests are received by the VSP from the data network and processed by the VSP to establish a voice connection between the calling party which initiates the call request and a called party number indicated in the call request message. The use of TCAP signaling from the VSP to Switching Points (SPs) which serve the calling party and/or the called party improves efficiency and minimizes common channel signaling. The VSP enabled with TCAP signaling can also be used as an efficient out-dialer for a call center. The advantage is the ability to offer more calling options while improving network use efficiency.
96 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of completing a voice connection between a first and second voice terminal on a Switched Telephone Network (STN), comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in the STN having a connection to a data network a call request from a calling party;
sending a query message to an SP in the STN that serves the calling party to determine the availability of a calling line identified in the call request;
if a response to the query message indicates that the calling line is available, sending a first Common Channel Signaling (CCS) message from the VSP over a signaling network of the STN to an SP in the STN to initiate a first leg of the voice connection, and sending a second CCS message from the VSP to an SP in the STN to initiate a second leg of the voice connection, the first and second CCS messages being interrelated to an extent that a circuit identification code in each message is associated with opposite ends of the same facility.
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2. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a virtual switching point (VSP) in a switched telephone network (STN), comprising:
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receiving through a data network a call request message at the VSP, the call request message indicating a calling party number and at least one called party number;
sending a TCAP query message through a common channel signaling system of the STN to a switching point (SP) which serves the calling party number to determine when the calling party number is available to receive a call in response to the message; and
on receipt of a TCAP reply message indicating that the calling party number is available to receive the call, initiating from the VSP a call connection between the calling and called party numbers. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17)
sending a first Initial Address Message (IAM) from the VSP to initiate a first leg of the call connection, the called number in the first IAM being the calling party number;
receiving from the SP that serves the calling party number Address Complete (ACM) and Answer (AMN) messages indicating that the called party has answered and the first leg of the call connection is complete;
sending a second IAM from the VSP to initiate a second leg of the call connection, the called number in the second IAM being the called party number; and
receiving from an SP that serves the calling party number an ACM and an ANM message to indicate that the calling party has answered the second leg of the call connection and the call connection is complete.
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8. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 2 wherein if the call connection initiated between the calling and the called party numbers is not completed because a called party line associated with the called party number is busy, the VSP initiates a request for instructions from the calling party to determine further treatment of the call.
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9. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 8 wherein the VSP initiates a request for instructions by sending an IAM from the VSP to connect the calling party with an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) unit in the STN and the IVR prompts the calling party to select one of a number of predefined options respecting further treatment of the call.
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10. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 9 wherein the predefined options include:
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a) abandon the call and attempt a next call in the call request message;
b) hold the calling party line open and monitor the called party line until the called party line becomes available;
c) disconnect the calling party line, monitor the called party line and re-attempt the call connection when the called party line becomes available;
d) abandon the call and attempt a next call in the call request message, but monitor the called party line and call the calling party line as soon as the called party line becomes available because the calling party has a call waiting feature;
e) abandon the call and attempt the call connection again if the called party line is available at any time during a specified time period.
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11. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 10 wherein if option b) is selected, the VSP sends a QUERY+P message to an SP which serves the called party, the connection with the IVR is maintained until the called party line becomes available or the calling party terminates the connection, and the IVR plays audible content to the calling party on hold.
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12. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 10 wherein if option c) is selected the VSP sends a QUERY+P message to an SP which serves the called party after the calling party line is disconnected, and on receipt of a RESPONSE message indicating that the called party line is available, the VSP sends a first IAM in which the called number is the calling party number to initiate a first leg of the call connection and on receipt of an ACM and ANM message in response to the IAM, the VSP sends a second IAM in which the called number is the called party number in order to complete a second leg of the call connection.
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13. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 10 wherein if the option d) is selected the VSP sends a QUERY+P message to an SP which serves the called party after the IVR is disconnected, and on receipt of a RESPONSE message indicating that the called party line is available, the VSP sends a first IAM in which the called number is the calling party number to initiate a first leg of the call connection and a second IAM in which the called number is the called party number in order to complete a second leg of the call connection without waiting for an ACM or an ANM message from either end of the call connection.
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14. A method for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up from a VSP as claimed in claim 10 wherein if the option e) is selected the VSP sends a QUERY+P message to an SP which serves the called party at a start of the specified time period, and if a RESPONSE message indicating that the called party line is available before an end of the specified time period, the VSP sends a first IAM in which the called number is the calling party number to initiate a first leg of the call connection and on receipt of an ACM and an ANM to indicate that the called party has answered, the VSP sends a second IAM in which the called number is the called party number in order to complete a second leg of the call connection;
but, if the calling party does not answer in response to the first IAM or the specified time expires before the calling party line becomes available, the VSP deletes the request and frees associated resources.
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16. A system for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up in an STN as claimed in claim 11 wherein the VSP has a connection to the data network and receives the call requests from the server, the VSP setting up call connections between the calling party and a called party specified in the call request by a called party number.
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17. A system for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up in an STN as claimed in claim 16 wherein the system further includes a gateway switch located between the VSP and the data network to isolate the VSP from the data network to prevent direct access to the VSP form the data network.
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15. A system for using TCAP signaling for improved call set up in a switched telephone network (STN), comprising;
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a virtual switching point (VSP) which is a physical node in a common channel signaling network of the STN and a logical node in a transport network of the STN, the VSP having TCAP signaling capability;
a plurality of switching points (SPs) in the STN, at least a portion of the SPs in the STN having TCAP signaling capability;
a trunk facility in the STN, the VSP being a logical switching node logically located between physical ends of the trunk facility; and
a server connected to a data network and accessible through the data network, the server accepting call requests from calling parties having access to the data network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of completing calls for a call center having a predetermined list of numbers to be called, comprising:
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placing the list of numbers to be called in a memory queue which may be accessed by a virtual switching point (VSP) in the network;
formulating a first IAM at the VSP, the IAM containing a called number from the queue, and forwarding the IAM to initiate a call connection with the called number; and
on receipt of an Address Complete (ACM) and an Answer (ANM) message in response to the first IAM, formulating a second IAM at the VSP, the second IAM including a number of the call center as the called number and forwarding the second IAM to connect the called number with the call center. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An out-dialer for a call center, comprising:
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a virtual switching point (VSP) which is a physical node in a signaling network of a switched telephone network (STN) which serves the call center, the VSP being a physical node in a signaling network which controls the STN and a virtual node in at least one transport facility of the STN; and
a memory queue accessible by the VSP, the memory queue containing at least one list of called numbers to which calls are to be set up by the VSP. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification