Telephone call management system and method

• US 6,871,082 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Huey, Christopher A., Cox, Patrick M., Powell, A. Peter, Kepler, Michael A., Filliger, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US09/878,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/410, 455/411, 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/445, 455/550.1, 455/560, 455/565, 455/406, 455/403, 379/121.1, 379/112.01, 379/114.01, 379/115.01
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A call management system is provided to manage the use of specified wireless telephones in order to limit or manage their use for unofficial calls and to report on official as well as unofficial uses. Calls originated from or directed to a controlled wireless telephone are routed to a call management center from a wireless central office. The call management center determines whether the call is approved by consulting a database of approved telephone numbers. If the call is approved it is completed normally. If the call is not approved, the caller is prompted to provide an access code. The call is completed if the access code matches a predetermined security code. Customizable exception reports are generated to reflect unofficial usage, incorrect access attempts, and other detailed information concerning the use of the specified wireless telephones.

Claims

1. A method for controlling usage of voice communications devices comprising:

receiving call information regarding a call from a caller using a caller voice communications device;

obtaining connection information associated with a called party voice communications device used by a called party;

determining if the called party voice communications device is pre-approved to be connected to the caller voice communications device; and

if the called party voice communications device is not pre-approved to be connected to the caller voice communications device, requesting an access code from the called party during the call, comparing the access code to a list of valid access codes, and if the access code corresponds to a valid access code, facilitating a connection of the caller voice communications device to the called party voice communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating a communication of a message to the called party voice communications device indicative of an identity of the caller if the called party voice communications device is not pre-approved to be connected to the caller voice communications device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the message comprises a telephone number associated with the caller voice communications device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the message comprises a recorded message from the caller.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the called party voice communications device comprises a telephone.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone comprises a wireless telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the caller voice communications device comprises a telephone.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the telephone comprises a wireless telephone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection information comprises a telephone number associated with the called party voice communications device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the telephone number is obtained by accessing a database.

11. A method for providing directory assistance services comprising:

receiving a call from a caller on a first communications device;

obtaining information from the caller regarding a desired party to be communicated with on a second communications device;

obtaining connection information associated with the second communications device from a database;

during the call, requesting information from the desired party indicating whether a voice connection between the first communications device and the second communications device should be established; and

determining if the voice connection should be established as a function of the information from the desired party.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second communications device comprises a wireless telephone.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second communications device comprises a PCS device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless telephone comprises a cellular telephone.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the connection information comprises a telephone number.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the information from the desired party is received before receiving the call from the caller.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the information from the desired party comprises information indicating that no requested voice connections to the second communications device should be established unless the calling party agrees to pay charges which would otherwise be paid by the desired party.