Telephony system for calling card calls

• US 6,370,241 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International, Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, Theresa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/997,363
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 379/120, 379/127, 379/133-134, 379/111-113, 379/144, 379/154, 379/201, 379/142, 379/56, 379/127.01, 379/201.01, 379/142.01, 379/112.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.2, 379/142.07, 379/142.04, 379/144.01, 455/31-- 3, 455/38.1, 455/38.4, 348/825.44
• US Class Current: 379/144.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards

Abstract

An improved telephony system for calling card calls is provided. The system comprises a method and system for allowing preregistered names to be displayed on pager devices when a calling card call is placed to a pager. In the invention, a calling card account number is utilized to retrieve the pre-registered name to be displayed at the pager device. A speed paging option may also be provided. The invention is particularly apt for use in telephony systems having AIN-capable switching devices.

Claims

1. A method for handling calling card calls in a telephony system comprising:

receiving a calling card call from an originating telephone at a predetermined central office switch in a telephony network, wherein a message is provided to said predetermined central office switch in connection with said calling card call, and said message including an originating telephone number corresponding with the originating telephone;

transmitting a message to the originating telephone which includes a query as to whether the calling card call is for transmitting a page or placing a conventional voice call;

if a first indication is received, performing normal telephone call dialing;

if a second indication is received, performing a search of a an information database using a calling card account identifier associated with the calling card call which is input at the originating telephone and providing a call processing record associated with the calling card account identifier that includes said originating telephone number, a preregistered name corresponding with said calling card call and an identified paging number which is associated with the calling card account identifier in the database, wherein the account identifier has at least one paging number associated therewith and the identified paging number is based upon a predetermined, corresponding designation input at said originating telephone; and

routing said calling card call with said call processing record to a pager device associated with any pager number entered from the originating telephone as part of the originating telephone call at the predetermined central office switch, for communication of said originating telephone number and said preregistered name.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a caller at said originating telephone to select one of a plurality of calling functions, one of said calling functions providing for the placement of a call to a pager device; and

completing said providing step responsive to a calling function selection input at the originating telephone for placement of a paging call.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined central office switch is AIN capable, and further comprising:

forwarding said call processing record received at said predetermined central office switch to a service control point within said telephony network; and

suspending processing of said calling card call pending receipt of said call processing record at said predetermined central office switch from said service control point.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying said originating telephone number and said preregistered name at said pager device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, said prompting step including:

transmitting at least one message from an intelligent peripheral in the telephony network to said originating telephone, wherein an audible prompt is provided at said originating telephone.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said calling card account identifier and a calling card service number corresponding with said switch is read from a magnetic strip on a calling card at said originating telephone.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

comparing a personal identification number input at said originating telephone with a preregistered personal identification number prior to said routing step.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

checking a service status of a calling card account corresponding with said preregistered name prior to said routing step.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring said calling card call to determine one of a debit amount and credit charge amount to be applied against a calling card account corresponding with said preregistered name.

10. A telephony system for handing calling card calls comprising:

a predetermined central office switch for receiving a calling card call from an originating telephone; and

a calling card service control module for receiving at least one service input message from said predetermined central office switch in response to receipt of said calling card call at said predetermined central office switch, said at least one service input message including a calling card account number corresponding with said calling card call, said calling card service control module being further configured to transmit to the originating telephone through the predetermined central office switch a query as to whether the calling card call is for transmitting a page or placing a conventional voice call and then if a first indication is received processing a normal dialed call and if a second indication is received utilizing said calling card account number to retrieve a corresponding preregistered name from a database which includes for each of a plurality of different calling card account numbers, a set of predetermined designations corresponding with predetermined paging numbers, and a given paging number is retrievable from said database based upon a corresponding predetermined designation input at the originating telephone, wherein said preregistered name is automatically transmittable with said calling card call to a pager device associated with any pager number entered at the originating telephone as part of the originating telephone call at the predetermined central office switch.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a paging function identifier for identifying information input at said originating telephone, said identifying information comprising said paging number.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, said paging function identifier comprising:

an interface at said originating telephone for presenting a plurality of function selections to a caller, said function selections including placement of a paging call, and for receiving a function selection input from a caller.

13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said predetermined central office switch is operable to suspend call processing upon receipt of said calling card call and to complete said calling card call upon receipt of a service output message from said service control module, said service output message including a telephone number corresponding with said originating telephone and said preregistered name.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said predetermined central office switch comprises an AIN-capable switching device.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said service output message further comprises:

said paging number.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said telephone number and said preregistered name are displayable on said pager device.