Geographical call routing for a non-emergency calling service

• US 6,724,882 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sabinson, Richard E., Fosburgh, Gregory Steven, Thompson, Brenda S., Tamasi, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/388,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.12, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/216.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/266.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.04
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/047 Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position H04N1/0402 and H04N1/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A communications system is provided for routing calls based on a location of a calling party. The communications system includes a processor that determines routing of a call placed by a calling party using one of a plurality of call origination devices. The call origination devices are operatively connected to a switching device that is operatively connected to the processor. The call is placed to a destination corresponding to a service having a service area. The switching device services calls placed from call origination devices located within the service area and calls placed from call origination devices located outside the service area. The processor determines whether the calling party is within the service area, and the processor instructs the switching device to route the call to the destination based upon the processor determining that the calling party is within the service area. The switching device routes the call to the destination only when the processor determines that the calling party is within the service area.

Claims

1. A communications system for routing calls based on a location of a calling party, said system comprising:

a processor that determines routing of a call placed by a calling party using one of a plurality of call origination devices that are operatively connected to a switching device that is operatively connected to the processor, the call being placed to a destination corresponding to a service having a service area, the switching device servicing calls placed from call origination devices located within the service area and calls placed from call origination devices located outside the service area, the processor determining whether the calling party is within the service area, and the processor instructing the switching device to route the call to the destination based upon the processor determining that the calling party is within the service area;

wherein the switching device routes the call to the destination only when the processor determines that the calling party is within the service area.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the call is received by the switching device from another switching device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the processor determines whether the other switching device is within the service area based upon a signaling point code associated with the other switching device.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a report generator that generates reports based the processing of the call.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service area is defined by a geographic boundary.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the service comprises a non-emergency calling service.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory apparatus that stores information used by the processor to determine whether the calling party is within the service area.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the information used by the processor comprises location information of the calling party.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the location information comprises zip code information.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the information used by the processor comprises location information of an intermediate switching device that services calls placed from call origination devices within the service area, the location information indicating that the intermediate switching device services only call origination devices within the service area.

11. A method for routing calls based on a location of a calling party, said method comprising:

receiving, at a switching device, a call placed by a calling party using one of a plurality of call origination devices that are operatively connected to the switching device, the call being placed to a destination corresponding to a service having a service area, the switching device servicing calls placed from call origination devices located within the service area and calls placed from call origination devices located outside the service area;

ascertaining, at a processor operatively connected to the switching device, whether the calling party is within the service area;

determining, in response to receiving the call, the routing of the call at the processor, and

routing the call to the destination only when the processor ascertains that the calling party is within the service area.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the call is received by the switching device from another switching device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether the other switching device is within the service area based upon a signaling point code associated with the other switching device.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising generating a report based on the processing of the call.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising defining the service area by a geographic boundary.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the service comprises a non-emergency calling service.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising storing, at a memory apparatus, information used by the processor to determine whether the calling party is within the service area.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information used by the processor comprises location information of the calling party.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the location information comprises zip code information.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information used by the processor comprises location information of an intermediate switching device that services calls placed from call origination devices within the service area, the location information indicating that the intermediate switching device services only call origination devices within the service area.