Enhanced network subscriber service (ENSS)

• US 6,327,344 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Paxson, Dana W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/185,492
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 379/213, 379/211, 379/188, 379/189, 379/199, 379/88.01, 379/207.11
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/52 Arrangements for routing dead number calls to operators

Abstract

The Enhanced Network Subscriber Service (ENSS) operates with a public switched telephone network 200. A caller 112 enters a number which is in service, but belonging to subscriber 114 who is a registered member of the ENSS. The call triggers an intercept at the SW 110. The SW 110 signals the CCP. The CCP 116 searches the NSHDB 108 for the called number and its subscribers, past and present, and their associated access codes. If the called number is found, the CCP 116 signals the AS 120 to request an access code from the caller. An Audio System 120 conducts a dialog with the caller to obtain the required access code, using either DTMF or voice recognition, and forwards the access code to the CCP 116. The CCP 116 compares the submitted code to the access code(s) for the current subscriber. If it matches one of these codes, the CCP 116 conferences in the number corresponding to the code, and drops off the call.

Claims

1. A method for improving subscriber telephone service comprising the steps of:

protecting a telephone number of a subscriber with an authorized access code;

intercepting a call made to the protected telephone number;

completing the call when the caller provides the authorized access code;

preventing completion of the call when the caller does not provide the authorized access code; and

providing the caller with a history of subscribers for the protected telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the subscriber has one or more access codes for connecting different callers to different subscriber services.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the subscriber has a different access code for connecting a caller to different subscriber services.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the services include one or more of the group consisting of a voice connection to the subscriber, a voice mailbox of the subscriber and a facsimile machine of the subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of connecting the caller to a directory assistance service when the access code given by the caller does not match the access code of the subscriber with the number called by the caller.

6. In a telephone network an enhanced network subscriber system (ENSS) comprising:

a computer with a database for storing a plurality of access codes, each access code associated with particular subscribers;

means for preventing connection of a call to a particular subscriber unless a calling party provides one or more access codes authorized by the particular subscriber;

means for intercepting the call to the particular subscriber when the calling party does not provide an access code authorized by the particular subscriber; and

means for providing the calling party with a history of subscribers for a telephone number where the call to the particular subscriber has been intercepted.

7. The enhanced ENSS of claim 6 further comprising means for connecting the caller to directory assistance after providing the caller with a history of the called number.

8. The enhanced ENSS of claim 6 wherein the history of a number includes for one or more prior subscribers their name and location.

9. The enhanced ENSS of claim 8 further comprising means for connecting the caller to directory assistance to provide the current number and location for the prior subscriber.

10. The ENSS of claim 6 further comprising a number history database for comparing the unauthorized access code to one or more historical access codes previously associated with the called number.

11. The ENSS of claim 6 further comprising a directory assistance database for generating a current telephone number operatively associated with the unauthorized access code.

12. The ENSS of claim 6 wherein the telephone network is a public switched telephone network.

13. The ENSS of claim 6 wherein the telephone network comprises a voice over Internet connection.