System and method for automated tele-work service

• US 6,876,730 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodring, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/749,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 379/127.01, 379/127.03, 379/127.05, 379/211.02, 379/207.16, 379/211.01, 379/212.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.21, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/114.26, 379/114.38, 379/114.29, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/121.01, 379/121.04, 379/121.05, 379/126, 379/127.06, 379/114.28, 379/114.05, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/207.13, 379/207.15, 379/207.14, 379/211.03, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/204.01, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 455/405, 455/406
• US Class Current: 379/114.28
• 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 15/10 Metering calls from calling party , i.e. A-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• 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: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for implementing a tele-work service in an advanced intelligent network comprising a first service switching point connected to a first telephone station; a second service switching point connected to a second telephone station; and a service control point having a database that receives routing information for specifying routing of calls originally directed to the first telephone station and billing information for specifying billing of calls placed from the second telephone station. The method comprises the following steps: at the first service switching point, upon receipt of a call directed to the first telephone station, forwarding a request for routing information to the service control point; at the service control point, forwarding routing information to the first service switching point; at the first service switching point, routing a call originally directed to the first telephone station either to the first telephone station or the second telephone station depending upon the routing information; at the second service switching point, upon receipt of a call from the second telephone station, forwarding a request for billing information to the service control point; at the service control point, forwarding billing information to the second service switching point; and at the second service switching point, billing a call received from the second telephone station to either the first telephone station or second telephone station based upon the billing information.

Claims

1. A system for managing calls within a telephone network, comprising:

a first service switching point in communication with a first telephone station;

a second service switching point in communication with a second telephone station;

a service control point communicating with said first service switching point and said second service switching point, and containing a database that receives routing information for specifying routing of calls originally directed to the first telephone station, billing information for specifying billing of calls placed from the second telephone station, and notification information identifying a distinctive ringing pattern for calls originally directed to said first telephone station but which are re-routed to said second telephone station,

wherein said first service switching point is adapted to poll said service control point for routing information and notification information upon receipt of a call directed to the first telephone station, and wherein said second service switching point is adapted to poll said service control point for billing information upon receipt of calls placed from the second telephone station.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said routing information specifies whether an incoming call to said first telephone station should be forwarded to the first telephone station or the second telephone station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said billing information specifies whether an outgoing call from said second telephone station should be charged to said second telephone station or said first telephone station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station based upon said routing information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station based upon said billing information.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station, to the first telephone station based upon said routing information.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station, to the second telephone station based upon said routing information.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station to the second telephone station based upon said billing information.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station to the first telephone station based upon said billing information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first switching point causes calls which were originally directed to said first telephone station and which are rerouted to said second telephone station based upon said routing information, to have a distinctive ring at said second telephone station.

11. A system for managing calls in a telephone network, comprising:

a first service switching point communicating with a first telephone station;

a second service switching point communicating with a second telephone station; and

a service control point communicating with said first service control point and said second service control point, said service control point having a database including information specifying where to rout calls, information specifying to which number a calls should be billed, and information identifying a distinctive ringing pattern for calls originally directed to one of said first telephone station and second telephone station but which are re-routed to another of said first telephone station and said second telephone station,

wherein upon receipt of a call destined for said first telephone station, said first service switching point polls said service control point for information specifying where to route the call destined for said first telephone station and information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern, routes the call to either said first telephone station or said second telephone station based upon the information from said service control point, and causes a ringing pattern to be created based upon the information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern, and

wherein upon receipt of a call originating from said second telephone station, said second service switching point polls said service control point for information specifying to which service station the call is to be billed, and bills the call to either said first telephone station or said second telephone station based upon the information from said service control point.

12. In an advanced intelligent network comprising a first service switching point communicating with a first telephone station, a second service switching point communicating with a second telephone station, and a service control point communicating with said first service switching point and said second service switching point, and containing a database that receives routing information for specifying routing of calls directed to the first telephone station, billing information for specifying billing of calls placed from the second telephone station, and notification information for identifying a ringing pattern for calls originally directed to one of the first telephone station but which are re-routed to the second telephone station, a method of managing telephone calls, comprising:

at the first service switching point, forwarding a request for routing information to the service control point;

at the first service switching point, forwarding a request for notification information to the service control point;

at the service control point, forwarding routing information to the first service switching point;

at the service control point, forwarding notification information to the first service switching point;

at the first service switching point, routing a call originally directed to the first telephone station based upon the routing information;

at the first service switching point, assigning a distinctive ringing pattern to a call originally directed to the first telephone station and which is rerouted to the second telephone station;

at the second service switching point, forwarding a request for billing information to the service control point;

at the service control point, forwarding billing information to the second service switching point;

at the second service switching point, billing a call received from the second telephone station based upon the billing information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said routing information indicates whether an incoming call originally directed to the first telephone station is to be forwarded to the first telephone station or to the second telephone station.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of routing a call originally directed to the first telephone station based upon the routing information, comprises routing a call to the first telephone station.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of routing a call originally directed to the first telephone station based upon the routing information, comprises routing a call to the second telephone station.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the billing information identifies whether a call placed from the second telephone station is to be charged to the second telephone station or the first telephone station.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of charging a call received from the second telephone station based upon the billing information comprises billing a call to the second telephone station.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of charging a call received from the second telephone station based upon the billing information comprises billing a call to the first telephone station.

19. A method of managing calls in a telephone network, comprising:

upon receiving a call directed to a first telephone station, polling a service control point for information specifying whether to forward the call to the first telephone station or to a second telephone station, and polling a service control point for information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern for calls originally directed to the first telephone station but which are re-routed to the second telephone station;

forwarding the call to either the first telephone station or the second telephone station as specified by the information from the service control point, and assigning a ringing pattern to the call based upon the information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern; and

upon receiving a call originating at a second telephone station, polling a service control point for information specifying whether to charge the call to the first telephone station or the second telephone station.

20. A device, comprising:

information for specifying routing of calls originally directed to a first terminal;

billing information for specifying billing of calls placed from a second terminal; and

notification information identifying a distinctive signal for calls originally directed to the first terminal but which are re-routed to the second terminal,

said service control point adapted to field requests for routing information and notification information upon receipt of a call directed to the first terminal, and adapted to field requests for billing information upon receipt of calls placed from the second terminal.

21. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said routing information specifies whether an incoming call to said first terminal should be forwarded to the first terminal or the second terminal.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said billing information specifies whether an outgoing call from the second terminal should be charged to the second terminal or the first terminal.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein said notification information identifying a distinctive signal for calls originally directed to the first terminal but which are re-routed to the second terminal comprises information identifying a distinctive ringing pattern.

24. A system for managing calls within a telephone network, comprising:

a first service switching point in communication with a first telephone station;

a second service switching point in communication with a second telephone station;

a service control point communicating with said first service switching point and said second service switching point, and containing a database that receives routing information for specifying routing of calls originally directed to the first telephone station, billing information for specifying billing of calls placed from the second telephone station, and notification information identifying a distinctive signal for calls originally directed to said first telephone station but which are re-routed to said second telephone station,

wherein said first service switching point is adapted to poll said service control point for routing information and notification information upon receipt of a call directed to the first telephone station, and wherein said second service switching point is adapted to poll said service control point for billing information upon receipt of calls placed from the second telephone station.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein said routing information specifies whether an incoming call to said first telephone station should be forwarded to the first telephone station or the second telephone station.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said billing information specifies whether an outgoing call from said second telephone station should be charged to said second telephone station or said first telephone station.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station based upon said routing information.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station based upon said billing information.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station, to the first telephone station based upon said routing information.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said first switching point routes calls originally directed to said first telephone station, to the second telephone station based upon said routing information.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station to the second telephone station based upon said billing information.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein said second switching point charges calls originating from said second telephone station to the first telephone station based upon said billing information.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein said first switching point causes calls which were originally directed to said first telephone station and which are rerouted to said second telephone station based upon said routing information, to have a distinctive signal at said second telephone station.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the signal notification information identifying a distinctive signal for calls originally directed to said first telephone station but which are re-routed to said second telephone station comprises information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern.

35. A method of managing calls in a telephone network, comprising:

upon receiving a call directed to a first telephone station, polling a service control point for information specifying whether to forward the call to the first telephone station or to a second telephone station, and polling a service control point for information specifying a distinctive signal for calls originally directed to the first telephone station but which are re-routed to the second telephone station;

forwarding the call to either the first telephone station or the second telephone station as specified by the information from the service control point, and assigning a distinctive signal to the call based upon the information specifying a distinctive identifier; and

upon receiving a call originating at a second telephone station, poling a service control point for information specifying whether to charge the call to the first telephone station or the second telephone station.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said information specifying a distinctive signal comprises information specifying a distinctive ringing pattern.