Methods for processing operator service system calls

• US 6,256,380 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giordano Joseph Bell Communications Research Incorporated, Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telcordia Technologies Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Berkowitz, Renee, Downum, Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/233,659
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 379/243, 379/244, 379/245, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/201, 379/207, 379/229
• US Class Current: 379/243
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5237 Interconnection arrangements between ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

To distinguish multiple operator services systems (OSS) and provide services within a single local area telephone network, originating end telephone offices include database tables that correlate end user telephone numbers to selected OSS providers. When an OSS-type call is placed to an originating end office (OEO), the OEO uses the database to correlate the calling party'"'"'s number to a code corresponding to the OSS provider. In one embodiment, this code is used to populate at least part of the ISUP called party number digit field of the SS7 signaling protocol. This number, as well as the original called party number are transmitted to the switching network which relies on the called party number digits field to route the call to the appropriate OSS.

Claims

1. A method of processing operator services system calls in a signaling system 7 (SS7) based telephone network including a switching network, a plurality of end user telephones, a plurality of end office switches and a plurality of operator services systems, comprising the steps of:

invoking operator services processing in one of the end office switches connected to one of the end user telephones;

in response to invocation of operator services processing by the one end user telephone, translating, at the end office switch, a telephone number associated with the one end user telephone to a six-digit operator services system code;

populating, at the end office switch, an integrated services digital network user part (ISUP) called party number field of an SS7 protocol message with the six-digit code and four additional digits;

populating, at the end office switch, an ISUP generic address parameter field of the SS7 protocol message with the digits dialed during invocation of operator services by the one end user telephone; and

transmitting the called party number field and the generic address parameter field in the SS7 protocol message to the switching network.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of translating the telephone number associated with the one end user telephone to the six-digit operator services system code further comprises the steps of:

translating, at the end office switch, the telephone number associated with the one end user telephone to a local service provider identifier associated with the one end user telephone; and

translating, at the end office switch, the local service provider identifier associated with the one end user telephone to the six-digit operator services system code.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the four additional digits identify a type of operator service requested.