Call tracker

• US 6,920,208 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosen, Kenneth H., Stern, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/138,917
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.05, 379/114.28, 379/115.01, 379/116, 379/119, 379/121.04, 379/126, 379/127.01, 379/142.06, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 379/126
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network

Abstract

A method is provided for subscriber-related call log information for a plurality of distributed services from a remotely accessible consolidating server. The distributed services include at least a plain old telephone service, a wireless service, and a long distance telephone service. The call log information for the plurality of services is received in the consolidating server from a network. The call log information may be stored in the server as a consolidated list sorted by at least one of name of a remote party, remote party telephone number, time of call, remote party mailing address, remote party e-mail address, and/or a remote number identifier. The consolidated list is communicated to a remote location responsive to a subscriber request. Such a remote location can be a general purpose computing device equipped with a web browser, an Internet-enabled phone, or a similar device. A transfer-hub may store the call log information. The transfer-hub may be Blued-enabled to communication with other devices for a Personal Local Area Network of a subscriber.

Claims

1. In an intelligent network, a method of providing subscriber-related call log information for a plurality of services from a remotely accessible server, the services including at least a plain old telephone service, and a wireless service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the call log information for the plurality of services;

storing the call log information;

consolidating the call log information as a consolidated list sorted by at least one of name of a remote party, a telephone number of the remote party and an electronic mail address of the remote party wherein said remote party is a calling party or a called party, or combinations thereof; and

communicating the consolidated list to a computing device responsive to a subscriber request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plain old telephone service includes a long distance service and a local telephone service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving an electronic numbering request for the telephone number of the remote party.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a step of receiving a command to perform a reverse directory look-up of the remote party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the call log information includes a step of receiving the call log information from a remote hub device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of the remote hub device receiving the call log information from a wireless telephony device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless telephony device is Bluetooth-enabled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the call log information is received from a service control point.

9. A method of providing subscriber-related call log information from a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the call log information;

storing the call log information in a computer-readable storage device;

consolidating the call log information as a consolidated list sorted by at least one of name of a remote party, a telephone number of the remote party and an electronic mail address of the remote party wherein said remote party is a calling party, or a called party, or combinations thereof; and

transferring the consolidated list to a call log platform configured to be remotely accessible.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of communicating the consolidated list to a computing device responsive to a subscriber request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transferring the consolidated list includes a step of transferring the consolidated list from a transfer hub.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transferring the consolidated list further includes a step of accessing a Public Switched Telephone Network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transferring the consolidated list further includes a step of accessing an Internet Protocol Network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said transfer hub is Bluetooth-enabled.

15. A method of providing subscriber-related call log information for a plurality of network services to a plurality of subscribers, the method comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting a remote device to a call log platform, the call log platform including a call log server and a call log database, the call log database configured for retaining call log information related to said plurality of subscribers wherein said call log information includes data on a remote party, said remote party is a calling party, or a called party, or combinations thereof;

determining authentication for the remote device; and

receiving a telephony address for tracking related to the plurality of network services.

16. The method of claim 15, further including a step of tracking the telephony address and storing the call log information for the telephony addresses in the call log database.

17. The method of claim 16, further including consolidating the call log information as a consolidated list sorted by at least one of a name of said remote party associated with the telephony address, and an electronic mail address associated with the telephony address.

18. The method of claim 15 further including communicating the consolidated list to the subscriber upon request.

19. A system for providing subscriber-related call log information for a plurality of network services to a plurality of subscribers, the services including at least a plain old telephone service and a wireless telephony service, the system comprising:

a remotely accessible platform operable to receive a plurality of call log information for the network services wherein said call log information includes data on a calling party, or a called party, or a combination thereof;

a communications network for providing data communications between a plurality of subscribers; and

a call log database operatively coupled to the platform, the call log database for storing the call log information on a subscriber-by-subscriber basis, the platform being connected to the communications network, the platform configured to consolidate the call log information and configured to communicate the consolidated call log information responsive to a subscriber request sent via the communications network.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a telecommunications network coupled to the platform, the telecommunications network for processing voice communication between a plurality of telephony devices.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the telecommunications network further includes a Service Control Point for providing the call log information to the platform.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the platform further comprises an authentication element for validating the authorization of the subscribers to access the consolidated call log information residing on the call log database.