Method of establishing a toll-free communication connection, as well as a service unit, an exchange and a communications network

• US 6,343,123 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rupp, Stephan, Lehmacher, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/099,896
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/222, 379/224, 379/225, 379/226, 379/229
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13512 800 - freefone
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

To establish a toll-free communication connection between a calling terminal (TE21) which is connected to a first communications network (KN1), and a called terminal, a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) is transmitted as a called number to the first communications network (KN1). In this case the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is provided by a service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2). The first communications network (KN1) recognizes the connection request as one with a toll-free universal call number and an inquiry is then sent by the first communications network (KN1) to this service unit (SERV) of the second communications network (KN2). From the toll-free universal call number this service unit (SERV) then determines a toll-free local call number (LFN) of the first communications network (KN1), and returns same to the first communications network (KN1). The first communications network (KN1) subsequently establishes the requested connection in accordance with this determined toll-free local call number (LFN).

Claims

1. A method of establishing a toll-free communication connection between a calling terminal (TE21), which is connected to a first communications network (KN1), and a called terminal, where with this method of establishing a connection the calling terminal (TE21) sends a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) as the called number to the first communications network (KN1), wherein the toll-free universal call number is not recognized by the first communications network as a local toll-free number, characterized in that the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is provided by a service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2), that the connection request is recognized as a connection request with a toll-free universal call number by the first communication network so that an inquiry is sent by the first communications network (KN1) to this service unit (SERV) of the second communications network (KN2), that the service unit (SERV) determines a toll-free local call number (LFN) of the first communications network (KN1) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN) and informs the first communications network (KN1) of this toll-free local call number (LFN), and that the first communications network (KN1) establishes the requested connection in accordance with this determined toll-free local call number (LFN).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the determined toll-free local call number (LFN) is input into the connection request as the called number, and the connection request is routed in accordance with this call number to a control unit (FREE_SERV) of the first communications network (KN1), which is responsible for controlling toll-free connections.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that an identification (NID) of the inquiring communications network is sent to the service unit (SERV), and that the service unit (SERV) determines the toll-free local call number (LFN) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN) as a function of the identification (NID) of the inquiring communications network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that an identification (SID) of the calling terminal, or of the subscriber (A) assigned to the calling terminal, is sent by the first communications network (KN1) with the inquiry to the service unit (SERV), and that the service unit (SERV) determines the toll-free local call number (LFN) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN) as a function of the identification (SID) of the calling terminal, or the subscriber (A) assigned to the calling terminal.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is recognized in the first communications network (KN1) by means of a profile (SUB_DAT) assigned to the calling terminal or its subscriber (A).

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the profile (SUB_DAT) is loaded from the second communications network (KN2) to the first communications network (KN1).

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the profile (SUB_DAT) is loaded when the calling terminal (TE21) contacts the first communications network (KN1) for the announcement.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a linkage of the toll-free universal call number (IFN) with a service provided by the service unit (FREE_SERV) is input into the profile (SUB_DAT).

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the calling terminal (TE21) represents a mobile radio terminal, that the second communications network (KN2) covers the mobile radio home network of subscriber (A) of the calling terminal (TE21), and that the first communications network (KN1) covers the mobile radio visitor network of said subscriber (A).

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an identification (NID) of the inquiring communications network is sent to the service unit (SERV), and that the service unit (SERV) determines the toll-free local call number (LFN) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN) as a function of the identification (NID) of the inquiring communications network.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an identification (SID) of the calling terminal, or of the subscriber (A) assigned to the calling terminal, is sent by the first communications network (KN1) with the inquiry to the service unit (SERV), and that the service unit (SERV) determines the toll-free local call number (LFN) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN) as a function of the identification (SID) of the calling terminal, or the subscriber (A) assigned to the calling terminal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is recognized in the first communications network (KN1) by means of a profile (SUB_DAT) assigned to the calling terminal or its subscriber (A).

17. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a linkage of the toll-free universal call number (IFN) with a service provided by the service unit (FREE_SERV) is input into the profile (SUB_DAT).

18. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the calling terminal (TE21) represents a mobile radio terminal, that the second communications network (KN2) covers the mobile radio home network of subscriber (A) of the calling terminal (TE21), and that the first communications network (KN1) covers the mobile radio visitor network of said subscriber (A).

10. A service unit (SERV) for establishing a toll-free communication connection between a calling terminal (TE21) which is connected to a first communications network (KN1), and a called terminal, characterized in that the service unit (SERV) is located in a second communications network (KN2), that the service unit (SERV) is equipped with a reception unit (KOM) for receiving an inquiry from the first communications network (KN1) which includes a toll-free universal call number (IFN), wherein the toll-free universal call number is not recognized by the first communications network as a local toll-free number, that the service unit (SERV) is equipped with a control unit (CONTR) for determining a toll-free local call number (LFN) of the first communications network (KN1) from the toll-free universal call number (IFN), and that the service unit (SERV) is equipped with a transmission unit (KOM) for returning the determined toll-free local call number (LFN) to the first communications network (KN1).

11. A service unit as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the service unit (SERV) is an IN service unit.

12. An exchange (EX2) of a first communications network (KN1) with means to receive a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) as the called number, wherein the toll-free universal call number is not recognized by the first communications network as a local toll-free number, characterized in that the exchange (EX2) is equipped with means that recognize the connection request as one with a toll-free universal call number (IFN), and in response to said toll-free universal call number (IFN) the exchange (EX2) sends an inquiry to the service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2) which provides this toll-free universal call number (IFN), and that the exchange (EX2) is equipped with means for receiving a toll-free local call number (LFN) returned by the service unit (SERV), and that the exchange (EX2) is equipped with means for controlling the establishment of the requested connection via the first communications network (KN1) in accordance with this received toll-free local call number (LFN).

13. A first communications network (KN1) with means for receiving a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) as the called number, wherein the toll-free universal call number is not recognized by the first communications network as a local toll-free number, characterized in that the communications network (KN1) is equipped with means that recognize the connection request as one with a toll-free universal call number (IFN), and in response to said toll-free universal call number (IVN) the means sends an inquiry to a service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2) which provides this toll-free universal call number, that the communications network (KN1) is equipped with means for receiving a toll-free local call number (LFN) returned by the service unit (SERV), and that the communications network (KN1) is equipped with means for controlling the establishment of the requested connection via the first communications network (KN1) in accordance with this received toll-free local call number (LFN).