System and method for long distance automatic call-back

• US 6,574,324 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, KAREN L
• Application Number:
  US09/444,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210.01, 379/209.01
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• 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 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

A system and method for providing automatic call-back services between subscribers and designated callers. The system and method use the features of an advanced intelligent network to intercept calls to a subscriber from designated callers. The callers are instructed to hang up and wait for the return call. The system then initiates a return call originating from the subscriber'"'"'s line and using the subscriber'"'"'s long distance carrier. The system and method allows subscribers to identify certain callers for whom the subscriber is willing to incur long distance charges when the caller attempts to call the subscriber. Unlike traditional systems allowing a called party to reverse charges for incoming calls, the system and method of the present invention advantageously uses the subscriber'"'"'s preferred long distance service provider. In this manner, the subscriber need not pay the additional surcharges normally associated with traditional “collect” calling services.

Claims

1. A method for automatically placing a return call to a calling party, after an inbound call is initiated by the calling party to a called party, comprising the steps of:

establishing a database, wherein the database comprises a directory number for the called party and a plurality of authorized users associated with the called party;

intercepting the inbound call before a connection is established between the calling party and the called party; and

determining whether the calling party is the one of the plurality of authorized users,

instructing the calling party to hang up if the calling party is the one of the plurality of authorized users;

placing the return call to the calling party; and

establishing the connection between the calling party and the called party.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking whether the called party is available before placing the return call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step is repeated a number of times.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking if the calling party is available before placing the return call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing a calling number associated with the calling party with a plurality of telephone numbers associated with the plurality of authorized users in the database.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

collecting a personal identification number from the calling party; and

comparing the personal identification number with the plurality of authorized users associated with the called party in the database, wherein the plurality of authorized users in the database include at least one personal identification number associated with the plurality of authorized users,

wherein the calling party is the one of the plurality of authorized users if the personal identification number collected from the calling party is one of the at least one personal identification number associated with the plurality of authorized users.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a telephone number associated with the at least one of the plurality of authorized users as an authorized caller number in the database.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

looking up the directory number for the called party and the authorized caller number in the database;

writing the directory number in a calling party number field of a Create_Call message; and

and writing the authorized caller number in a called party field of the Create_Call message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the return call is placed by sending a Create_Call message from a service control point to a service switching point in a communications network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the inbound call is intercepted by a Termination_Attempt_Trigger on a service switching point associated with the called party.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein if the calling party is not one of the plurality of authorized users, the method further includes the step of terminating the inbound call to the called party.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the called party incurs a charge for the connection between the calling party and the called party.

13. A system for automatically placing a return call to a calling party when an inbound call is initiated by the calling party to a called party in an intelligent network comprising:

a database at a service control point (SCP) that includes a directory number for the called party and a list of users associated with the called party, wherein the users are authorized to receive the return call;

a trigger on a service switching point (SSP) serving the called party; and

means for determining whether the calling party is on the list of users before the connection between the calling party and the called party is established,

wherein the service control point instructs the service switching point to place the return call to the calling party and establish the connection between the calling party and the called party if the calling party is on the list of users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the SSP checks whether the calling party and the called party are available and waits until the calling party and the called party are available before placing the return call.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the SCP sends a Create_Call message to the SSP to place the return call.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the SCP sends a plurality of the Create_Call messages until the return call is successfully established.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the SCP sends a plurality of Create_Call messages for a pre-determined number of attempts.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the list of users includes a plurality of telephone numbers.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the list of users includes at least one personal identification number.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the SSP intercepts the inbound call using a Termination_Attempt_Trigger.

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for allowing the calling party, if listed on the list of users, to override a placing of the return call so that the inbound call is terminated to the called party.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein if the calling party is not on the list of users, the system terminates the inbound call to the called party.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the called party incurs a charge for the connection between the calling party and the called party.

24. The system for claim 13, wherein the system prevents a charge for the connection between the calling party and the called party from being incurred on the calling party.

25. A method for reversing telephone call charges in an intelligent network comprising the steps of:

receiving a first telephone call at a switch associated with a called party;

suspending the first telephone call on the switch to determine whether a calling party is an authorized designated user by the called party before a connection between the calling party and the called party is established;

sending a query by the switch to a service control point (SCP), wherein the query includes a calling number associated with the calling party and a called number associated with the called party;

receiving a response from the SCP at the switch;

disconnecting the first telephone call if the response indicates that the calling party is an authorized user; and

initiating a second telephone call by the switch to establish a connection between the called party and the calling party,

wherein the called party incurs a charge for the connection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further includes the step of provisioning a trigger on the switch to send query to the SCP.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of prompting an option to the called party for overriding an initiation of the second telephone call so that the first telephone call is terminated to the called party.