System and method for invocation of a check of a telecommunications application through use of a call probe

• US 6,295,351 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/065,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/229, 379/230, 379/207.02, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/1.01, 379/9, 379/15.02, 379/15.04
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system. To invoke the check, probe information received from a user is arranged and provided to a call probe assembler. This call probe assembler assembles the arranged probe information into a call probe including a called number that corresponds to an SPA. The call probe is associated with a communication which is routed through the telecommunications system based on the called number. In the course of this routing, a recognition is made that the called number corresponds to the SPA and a check is made of the SPA with respect to the communication. The check may result in the SPA performing certain operations based on the type of call probe. An external call probe may result in the SPA applying an advanced service with respect to the communication based on the information in the call probe. An internal call probe may result in the SPA obtaining, extracting, delivering and/or changing data that is associated with the SPA. After the check of the SPA, the communication may be further processed pursuant to instructions or information obtained during the check. Alternatively, the communication may be delivered to the called number.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system, a method to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system, comprising:

A. assembling a call probe to invoke the check of the SPA with the call probe including a called number that corresponds to a service package application (SPA);

B. associating the call probe with a communication;

C. routing the communication with the call probe through the telecommunications system to the called number;

D. in the course of routing the communication, making a recognition that the called number corresponds to the SPA; and

E. in response to the recognition, making a check of the SPA with respect to the communication; and

F. after making the check, processing the communication pursuant to the check.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein Action F of processing the communication pursuant to the check comprises terminating the communication to the called number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein Action F of processing the communication pursuant to the check comprises terminating the communication pursuant to the check comprises terminating the communication to a directory number other than the called number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the check comprises a determination that an advanced service be applied to the communication;

and

wherein Action F comprises, after making the check, based on the determination, applying the advanced service to the communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the call probe includes an indicator corresponding to information;

and

wherein the check comprises a determination based on the indicator that the information be delivered in association with the processing of the communication; and

wherein Action F comprises, after making the check, but prior to processing the communication,

a. obtaining the information corresponding to the indicator,

b. associating the information with the communication, and

c. then processing the communication with the information pursuant to the check.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call probe includes an indicator corresponding to instructions;

and

wherein Action E comprises making the check of the SPA with respect to the communication by causing the SPA to carry out the instructions.

7. In a telecommunications system, a method to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system, comprising:

A. receiving probe information at an intelligent peripheral device, the intelligent peripheral device being connected to the telecommunication system;

B. arranging the probe information into arranged probe information at an intelligent peripheral device;

C. causing the arranged probe information to be transmitted to a call probe assembler;

D. causing the call probe assembler to assemble a call probe to invoke the check of the SPA with the call probe based on the assembled probe information, and the call probe including a called number that corresponds the call probe including a called number that corresponds to a service package application (SPA);

E. associating the call probe with a communication;

F. routing the communication with the call probe through the telecommunications system to the called number;

G. in the course of routing the communication, making a recognition that the called number corresponds to the SPA; and

H. in response to the recognition, making a check of the SPA with respect to the communication; and

I. after making the check, processing the communication pursuant to the check.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the check comprises a determination that an advanced service be applied to the communication;

and

wherein Action I comprises, after making the check, based on the determination, applying the advanced service to the communication.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the call probe comprises an indicator corresponding to information;

and

wherein the check comprises a determination based on the indicator that the information be delivered in association with the processing of the communication; and

wherein Action I comprises, after making the check, but prior to processing the communication,

a. obtaining the information corresponding to the indicator,

b. associating the information with the communication, and

c. then processing the communication with the information pursuant to the check.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the call probe comprises an indicator corresponding to instructions;

wherein Action H comprises making the check of the SPA with respect to the communication by causing the SPA to carry out the instructions.

11. In a telecommunications system, a system to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system, the system comprising:

A. a call probe assembler for assembling a call probe to invoke the check of the SPA, the call probe including a called number that corresponds to a service package application (SPA) and for providing the call probe to a first network element of the telecommunications system;

B. the first network element being operative to receive the call probe from the call probe assembler, to associate the call probe with a communication, and to route the communication with the call probe through the telecommunications system to the called number to a second network element of the telecommunications system; and

C. the second network element being operative to make a recognition that the called number corresponds to the SPA, and in response to the recognition, to make a check of the SPA with respect to the communication, and after making the check, to process the communication pursuant to the check.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second network element is further operative to process the communication pursuant to the check by terminating the communication to the called number.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second network element is further operative to process the communication pursuant to the check by terminating the communication to a directory number other than the called number.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the call probe includes an indicator corresponding to information;

and

wherein the check comprises a determination based on the indicator that the information be delivered in association with the processing of the communication;

wherein the SPA is operative during the check to obtain the information corresponding to the indicator; and

wherein the second network element is operative to associate the information with the communication, and then to process the communication with the information pursuant to the check.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the call probe comprises an indicator corresponding to instructions;

and wherein the SPA is operative, during the course of the check with respect to the communication, to carry out the instructions.

16. In a telecommunications system, a system to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system to a destination, the system comprising:

A. an intelligent peripheral operative to receive probe information, to arrange the probe information into arranged probe information, and to cause the arranged probe information to be transmitted to a call probe assembler;

B. the call probe assembler being operative to receive the arranged probe information from the intelligent peripheral, and to assemble the call probe based on the arranged probe information, the call probe being operative to invoke a check of the SPA, and the call probe including a called number that corresponds to a service package (SPA), and the call probe assembler being further operative to provide the call probe to a first network element of the telecommunications system;

C. the first network element being operative to receive the call probe from the call probe assembler, to associate the call prove with a communication, and to route the communication with the call probe through the telecommunications system to the called number to a second network element of the telecommunications system;

D. the second network element being operative to make a recognition that the called number corresponds to the SPA, and in response to the recognition, to make a check of the SPA with respect to the communication, and after making the check, to process the communication pursuant to the check.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second network element is further operative to process the communication pursuant to the check by terminating the communication to the called number.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second network element is further operative to process the communication pursuant to the check by terminating the communication to a directory number other than the called number.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the call probe includes an indicator corresponding to information;

and

wherein the check comprises a determination based on the indicator that the information be delivered in association with the processing of the communication;

wherein the SPA is operative during the check to obtain the information corresponding to the indicator; and

wherein the second network element is operative to associate the information with the communication, and then to process the communication with the information pursuant to the check.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the call probe comprises an indicator corresponding to instructions;

and wherein the SPA is operative, during the course of the check with respect to the communication, to carry out the instructions.

21. An apparatus for use in the invocation of a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system, comprising:

a call probe assembler operative to receive the probe information from the intelligent peripheral device and to assemble a call probe to invoke the check of the SPA, the call probe including a called number that corresponds to the SPA, and

the call probe assembler also operative to provide the call probe to a network element for association of the call probe with a communications,

whereby the communication with the call probe may be routed through the telecommunications system to the called number so as to invoke the check of the SPA based on the called number.