System and method for performing a task with telephone line settings on a switch through a telephone call

• US 6,925,163 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mailk, Dale W., Koch, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Benny
• Application Number:
  US10/702,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/142.03, 379/201.05, 379/127.03, 379/29.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/229, 379/230, 370/428
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2263 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0075 Fault management techniques

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automated system for retrieving, delivering and modifying subscriber line settings through requests from a maintenance technician to a telephone service provider'"'"'s (“telco'"'"'s”) systems. The system and method disclosed utilizes standard AIN queries, call setup messages and information delivery services thereby avoiding the need to use a terminal interface into the telco'"'"'s systems. The technician enters data in response to prompts from a service node communicating with the technician via a telephone call. The service node sends the technician'"'"'s request to a service control point which forwards the call to the switch serving the subscriber'"'"'s line to be analyzed or modified. The switch responds to instructions provided by the service control point to effectuate the technician'"'"'s request and sends the results to a telephone line designated by the technician.

Claims

1. A method for delivering subscriber line data from a first switch through a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first telephone number, a second telephone number and a test code on a service control point;

(b) retrieving the subscriber line data for the first telephone number from the first switch according to the test code;

(c) delivering the subscriber line data to the second telephone number;

(d) receiving the telephone call to a first telephone access number on a second switch;

(e) receiving an authorization code on a service control point;

(f) verifying the authorization code on the service control point; and

(g) directing the telephone call to a second access number, said second telephone access number assigned to a service node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first switch and the second switch are the same switch.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of collecting on the service node a plurality of requirements and constructing the test code.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating the trigger on the first telephone number on the switch.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the trigger is activated by sending an update request message from the service control point to the switch.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the results code on a display device connected to a telephone line assigned to the second telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

(d) populating a calling name database with a plurality of results codes and corresponding message texts;

(e) looking up the results code in the calling name database; and

(f) displaying a message text on a display device connected to a telephone line assigned to the second telephone number.

8. A method for delivering subscriber line data from a first switch through a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first telephone number, a second telephone number and a test code on a service control point;

(b) retrieving the subscriber line data for the first telephone number from the first switch according to the test code;

(c) delivering the subscriber line data to the second telephone number;

(d) marking the telephone call as a request for subscriber line data;

(e) forwarding the telephone call to the first telephone number, thereby encountering a trigger on the first telephone number at the first switch;

(f) sending a database query from the first switch to the service control point in response to the trigger; and

(g) responding to the database query on the service control point by;

(i) instructing the first switch to send the subscriber line data according to the test code,

(ii) writing a results code in a first portion of a telephone call setup message, and

(iii) instructing the first switch to forward the telephone call to the second telephone number.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the telephone call setup message is a calling party number field.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein step 42(d) comprises the step of writing a marker in a second portion, the second telephone number in a third portion and the test code in a fourth portion of a telephone call setup message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the telephone call setup message is a first portion of the calling party number field, the third portion of the telephone call setup message is a second portion of a calling party number field and the fourth portion of the telephone call setup message is a redirecting party number field.

12. A system for retrieving a plurality of subscriber line data through a telephone call comprising:

(a) a service node in communication with a first switch and a second switch, said second switch having a telephone access number provisioned with a first trigger, wherein a telephone call to the telephone access number is connected to the service node and the service node collects a test code, a first telephone number, and a second telephone number; and

(b) a service control point in communication with the service node, wherein the service control point writes a marker in a first portion, the second telephone number in a second portion and the test code in a third portion of a telephone call setup message, and forwards the telephone call to the first telephone number, thereby activating a second trigger on the first switch, wherein the first switch sends a database query to the service control point, wherein the service control points responds by instructing the first switch to retrieve the plurality of subscriber line data according to the test code, wherein the first switch then sends the plurality of subscriber line data to the service control point, and wherein the service control point then writes the plurality of subscriber line data in a fourth portion of the telephone call setup message and forwards the call to the second telephone number.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first trigger causes the second switch to send a query to the service control point, wherein the service control point collects an authorization code, and wherein if the authorization code is valid, the service control point directs the second switch to connect the call to the service node.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the telephone call setup message is first portion of a calling party number field.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second portion of the telephone call setup message is a second portion of the calling party number field.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the third portion of the telephone call setup message is a redirecting party number field.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the fourth portion of the telephone call setup message is the calling party number field.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a means for verifying a caller'"'"'s authorization code.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the service node comprises a menu of options for selecting the test code.