Reverse call origination via a packet switched network

• US 6,853,636 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Merchant, Amyn
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US08/560,051
• Time in Patent Office: 3,371 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/206, 379/207, 379112-115, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/229, 379/230, 379/231, 379/232, 379/233, 379/220, 370/389, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/392, 370/352, 370/485, 370/435, 370/404, 370/458, 370/401, 370/522, 370/524
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• 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 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• 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 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A telephone call is originated in a reverse direction, i.e., from a called party to a calling party, using a packet switched network. According to one embodiment of the invention, a calling party located in a first country may wish to place a call to a party in a second country having cheaper telephone rates. To benefit from the cheaper telephone rates of the second country, the calling party sends a data message—via a packet switched network—to a service provider in the second country requesting reverse call origination. The request message may be sent to an electronic mailbox maintained by the service provider and located on a global computer network, such as the Internet. The service provider of the second country, upon receiving the message, dials the destination number of the called party supplied in the request message. After reaching the called party, the service provider of the second country dials the calling party and bridges the call between the two parties. The calls thus originate from and are billed at the lower telephone rates of the second country. In another embodiment of the present invention, a telephone call may originate from a service provider of a country having lower telephone rates even though the called and calling parties are located at other respective countries.

Claims

1. A method of requesting a reverse origination telephone call by a calling party to a called party via an internet protocol network, comprising the steps of:

sending from said calling party to a carrier via said internet protocol network an email message for a reverse origination telephone call which includes telephone numbers of said called and calling parties;

said carrier

receiving via said internet protocol network said email message;

extracting said telephone numbers from said email message;

requesting a telephone call via a signaling network to said called party based on said called party telephone number, wherein said signaling network is connected to a circuit switched telephone network;

if a voice response is received from said called party, requesting via said signaling network another telephone call to said calling party based on said calling party telephone number; and

if a voice response is received from said calling party, connecting said called and calling parties to effect voice communication therebetween via said circuit switched telephone network.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending via said non-signaling network billing information to said carrier to bill charges incurred for said telephone calls.

3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database for storing at least the billing information of the party to whom said charges are to be billed; and

accessing said database and comparing the billing information received via said non-signaling network with said stored billing information of said to be billed party.

4. A method of requesting a reverse origination telephone call from a called party to a calling party via a non-signaling, packet switched network, comprising the steps of:

sending from said calling party to a carrier via said non-signaling, packet switched network an email message for a reverse origination telephone call which includes telephone numbers of said called and calling parties;

said carrier

receiving via said non-signaling, packet switched network said email message;

extracting said telephone numbers from said email message;

requesting a telephone call via a signaling network in a public switched telephone network to said called parry based on said called party telephone number;

if a voice response is received from said called party, putting said called party on hold;

requesting another telephone call via said signaling network to said calling party based on said calling party telephone number; and

if a voice response is received from said calling party, connecting said called and calling parties to effect voice telecommunication therebetween via said public switched telephone network.

5. Method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

sending via said non-signaling network billing information to said carrier to bill charges incurred for said telephone calls.

6. Method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database for storing at least the billing information of the party to whom said charges are to be billed; and

accessing said database and comparing the billing information received via said non-signaling network with said stored billing information of said to be billed party.

7. A system for originating a circuit switched network telephone call from a called party to a calling party via a non-proprietary internet protocol, comprising:

a service provider having a computer means connected to a non-signaling, internet protocol network for receiving from said calling party an email message for a reverse origination telephone call from said called party via said non-signaling, internet protocol network and extracting therefrom telephone numbers of a calling party and a called party,

said service provider placing a request for a telephone call via a dedicated signaling network to said called party, and another request for a telephone call via said dedicated signaling network to said calling party if a response is received from said called party,

said requests for telephone calls being respectively based on said called and calling telephone numbers,

said service provider further connecting said called and calling parties to effect voice communication therebetween via a circuit switched network if a response is received from said calling party.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said email message further comprises billing information for allocating charges for said first and second telephone calls.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a database maintained by said service provider for storing at least the billing information of the party to whom said charges are to be allocated to enable said computer means to-compare billing information received via said computer network with said stored billing information of said to be billed party.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said database has stored therein the difference of telephone rates between countries, said database being accessed by said computer means to determine whether the combined costs of said telephone calls are less expensive than the cost of a direct telephone call originated from said calling party.

11. A method of originating a circuit switched network call from a called to a calling party comprising the steps of:

receiving from said calling party an email message for a reverse origination telephone call which includes telephone numbers of both the called and calling parties, via a non-signaling, packet switched network, from the calling party to a service provider;

requesting a call with said called party, from the site of said service provider, over a dedicated signaling network;

requesting said call with said calling party, from the site of said service provider, over a dedicated signaling network; and

interconnecting said called and calling parties to effect communication therebetween via a circuit switched network connected to said dedicated signaling network.

12. A method for supporting a reverse call origination service, the method comprising:

extracting a telephone number of a called party and a telephone number of a calling party from an email message sent by the calling party;

initiating a first call leg with the called party based on the called party telephone number;

initiating a second call leg with the calling party based on the calling party telephone number; and

selectively bridging the call legs to establish a call between the calling party and the called party.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

periodically polling an electronic mail box to access the email message.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the bridging step is performed by an operator.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the email message in the extracting step includes billing information associated with the calling party, the method further comprising:

billing the calling party for the call legs.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the email message in the extracting step includes a password, the method further comprising:

verifying the password prior to initiating the first call leg with the called party.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

requesting confirmation of the reverse call origination service from the calling party over the first call leg.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the calling party is located within a foreign region and the called party is in a domestic region, the call legs in the initiating steps originating from the domestic region.

19. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether charges for the two call legs are more expensive than charges associated with a call originated by the calling party to called party; and

notifying the calling party based on the determination that the charges for the two call legs are more expensive.