Mechanism for rejecting collect calls

• US 6,519,332 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Tovander, Lars A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/192,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142, 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/199, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/114.14, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.17, 379/142.18, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/114.21, 379/127.01, 379/127.02, 379/127.03, 379/127.04, 379/127.05, 379/127.06, 379/144.02, 379/145
• US Class Current: 379/196
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• 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 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• 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

Abstract

A mechanism for rejecting specific types of calls in a network including collect calls and telemarketing calls. Calls are tagged to indicate the type of call, this tag being recognizable at the terminating end of the network allowing automatic rejection of the call on a subscription basis. In one embodiment, an OLI parameter is utilized to tag the call. In another embodiment, another parameter such as Optional Forward Call Indicator is utilized. An end office serving the subscriber may automatically reject the call, or may pass on the call to a PBX serving multiple subscribers. The PBX may automatically reject all calls of a particular type, or may allow calls depending on the subscriber being called.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a type of call in a communications network, said call being directed from an originating station to a terminating station, comprising the steps of:

initiating a call to said communications network;

assigning a tag to said call, wherein said tag comprises an Originating Line Information (OLI) value identifying the type of said call; and

said terminating station rejecting said call according to said OLI value.

2. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein said terminating station comprises a single-line subscriber device.

3. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein said terminating station comprises a PBX.

4. The method as specified in claim 3 wherein said PBX is programmable to selectively reject said tagged calls as a function of a subscriber served by said PBX intended to receive said call.

5. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein said OLI value identifies a collect call.

6. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein said OLI value identifies a telemarketing call.

7. The method as specified in claim 5 wherein a collect call service provider establishes said tag to identify said call as a collect call.

8. A communication network, comprising:

a transit network;

an originating station having means to initiate a call and direct said call to said transit network;

a tagging means for associating a tag comprising an Originating Line Information (OLI) value with said call wherein said OLI value identifies the type of said call;

a terminating station coupled to said transit network, said terminating station operable to identify said OLI value and automatically reject said call according to said OLI value.

9. The network as specified in claim 8 wherein said call comprises a collect call.

10. The network as specified in claim 8 wherein said tagging means comprises a collect call service provider.

11. The network as specified in claim 8 wherein said OLI value identifies a telemarketing type call.

12. A terminating station adapted to receive calls from a communication network, comprising:

a receiver for receiving said calls from said communication network said receiver operable to identify a tag comprising an Originating Line Information (OLI) value and to automatically reject said call according to said OLI value.

13. The terminating station as specified in claim 12 wherein said tag comprises an Optional Forward Call Indicator (OFCI) value.

14. The terminating station as specified in claim 12 wherein said OLI value identifies said call as a collect call.

15. The terminating station as specified in claim 12 wherein said OLI value identifies said call as a telemarketing call.

16. The terminating station as specified in claim 12 wherein said terminating station comprises a PBX.