Method and apparatus for analyzing international long distance dialing errors and automatically completing a call

• US 6,310,948 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nemeth, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US08/971,433
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/209, 379/213, 379/216, 379/219, 379/220, 379/88.23, 379/265, 379/355, 379/214
• US Class Current: 379/213.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/52 Arrangements for routing dead number calls to operators

Abstract

A method for analyzing international long distance dialing errors and automatically completing a call it the error can be determined comprises the steps of receiving a dialed country code, city code and directory number. A potential error is determined by comparing one or pairs of the dialed country code and city code or the city code and dialed directory number or the combination of all three elements with predetermined valid dialing sequences for the dialed digits. For example, an error can be located between the country code and city code when a foreign telephone network has added a digit, for example, to expand the number of directory numbers available within a geographic area. A list of obsolete country codes, city codes or combinations thereof is stored in memory along with updated country codes and city codes. In one embodiment, a corrected dialed number is automatically redialed without further action by the caller. In another embodiment, the existence of a potential error in a dialed number is announced to the caller. The caller can further be prompted to agree with a reasonable correction of the dialed number and permit the automatic redialing of the telephone number intended. Apparatus for performing the analysis may comprise a known long distance network adjunct processor including a voice interactive system and access to a database of obsolete and valid international calling formats. In an alternative embodiment, even the dialed directory number may be corrected via access to a remote directory number database or international operator assistance may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for completing an international call when the call cannot be completed as initially dialed comprising the steps of

receiving a dialed country code, city code and called party number,

comparing combinations of said country code, city code and called party number to detect if there exists a potential error in the country code, between the country code and city code and between the city code and the called party number and

announcing the detected potential error in the country code, between the country code and city code and/or between the city code and the called party number to the calling party.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of

determining a reasonable correction of the detected potential error and

announcing the reasonable correction to the calling party.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said announcement step further comprises a prompt for the calling party to accept the reasonable correction.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising the step of

receiving a predetermined prompt from the calling party and

completing the call to a dialed number incorporating said reasonable correction.

5. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of learning the validity of a reasonable correction if the calling party verifies the reasonable correction.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of

referring to a database of obsolete country codes and city codes and corresponding updated country codes and city codes and

retrieving an updated country code and city code for an obsolete country code and city code from a database that matches said received country code and city code.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said comparison step comprises the step of regarding the first three to eight digits of the dialed number.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of

announcing to the called party the opportunity to connect to international operator assistance.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said announcement step further comprises announcing the country code and city code dialed by the calling party.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said announcement step further comprises announcing a dialed number following an international access code.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of

determining a reasonable correction of the detected potential error and

completing the call to a dialed number incorporating said reasonable correction.

12. A method for completing an international call when the call cannot be completed as initially dialed comprising the step of

receiving a number of digits between three and eight digits of the dialed number,

storing the dialed number,

comparing the three to eight digits of the dialed number with a list of obsolete country code and city code combinations,

retrieving an updated country code and city code combination if there is a match between the three to eight digits and the list of obsolete country codes and city codes and

automatically redialing the dialed number including the updated country code and city code retrieved.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of

announcing to the calling party the updated country code and city code.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of

requesting the caller to signify acceptance before the automatic redialing step.

15. A method for completing an international call when the call cannot be completed as initially dialed comprising the steps of

receiving a number of digits between one and four digits of the dialed number,

storing the dialed number,

comparing the one to four digits of the dialed number with a list of obsolete country codes,

retrieving an updated country code if there is a match between the one to four digits and the list of obsolete country codes and

automatically redialing the dialed number including the updated country code retrieved.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of

announcing to the calling party the updated country code.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of

requesting the caller to signify acceptance before the automatic redialing step.

18. A method for completing an international call when the call cannot be completed as initially dialed comprising the steps of

receiving a number of digits between three and eight digits of the dialed number,

storing the dialed number,

comparing the three to eight digits of the dialed number with a list of obsolete city codes,

retrieving an updated city code if there is a match between the three to eight digits and the list of obsolete city codes and

automatically redialing the dialed number including the updated city code retrieved.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of

announcing to the calling party the updated city code.

20. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of

requesting the caller to signify acceptance before the automatic redialing step.

21. A method of completing an international call to a called party'"'"'s number when the call cannot be completed as initially dialed, comprising the steps of:

receiving an international call that includes a first digit string indicative of the geographic destination of a called party and a second digit string comprising the called party'"'"'s address within that geographic destination;

comparing the received first digit string with obsolete first digit strings to determine the existence of an error and retrieving an associated, updated first digit string different from the received first digit string and

completing the international call including the retrieved first digit string and the second digit string.

22. A method of completing an international call as recited in claim 21 further comprising the step of

announcing the retrieved first digit string.