System and method for reporting calls

• US 6,980,631 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globys Inc
• Original Assignee: CallVision Inc. (Globys Inc)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Andrew, Borowicz, John, Danzl, Kirk C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/441,822
• Time in Patent Office: 2,232 Days
• Field of Search: 379/22.01, 379/22.02, 379/32.01, 379/41, 379/112.01, 379/112.05, 379/112.1, 379/114.01, 379/114.08, 379/114.14, 379/120, 379/121.01, 379/121.05, 379/126, 379/127.01, 379133-134, 379/116
• US Class Current: 379/112.01
• 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 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• 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 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system and method is provided for reporting calls. The system first receives call transaction data from a telephone company. The system verifies the validity of the data before proceeding with processing the data. Next the data is geocoded so that the calls can be traced to a given location. The resultant call detail data is then transmitted to parties who have subscribed to the service. A report generator uses the call detail data to generate tables, graphs, and maps which are useful to the subscriber. When generating maps, the report generator uses the geocoded information to geographically locate given calls on a map.

Claims

1. A method for reporting calls having associated call transaction data, the calls being from a call originator to a call recipient, the method comprising:

accessing the call transaction data, including at least one of a plurality of possible call originator location parameters;

correlating one or more of a plurality of possible call originator location parameters provided with the call transaction data with one or more of a plurality of stored location parameters;

determining an approximate longitude and latitude of the call originator for each call based on a closest correlation of the stored location parameters and the call originator location parameters associated with the call transaction;

assigning a value to the determined longitude and latitude, the value indicating a degree of accuracy of the determined longitude and latitude; and

storing the approximate longitude and latitude.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

generating a statistical report related to the call transaction data and including the approximate longitude and latitude of the call originator for each call.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the call originator location parameters for a given call include a postal code of the call originator for the given call, and wherein:

correlating comprises comparing at least the postal code of the call originator for the given call to the stored location parameters; and

determining an approximate longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude associated with the stored location parameter matching the postal code of the call originator.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein identifying the longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the postal code.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originator location parameters include an area code of a telephone line number of the call originator, and wherein:

correlating comprises comparing at least the area code of the call originator for the given call to the stored location parameters; and

determining an approximate longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude associated with the stored location parameter matching the area code of the call originator.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein identifying the longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the area code.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originator location parameters comprise an area code and exchange code of a telephone line number of the call originator, and wherein:

correlating comprises comparing at least the area code and exchange code of the call originator for the given call to the stored location parameters; and

determining an approximate longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude associated with the stored location parameter matching the area code and exchange code of the telephone line number of the call originator.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein identifying the longitude and latitude comprises identifying the longitude and latitude of a geographic centroid of an area defined by the area code and exchange code.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a geographic map identifying the approximate longitude and latitude of the call originator for a given call.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originator location parameters of the call transaction data include a postal code of the call originator, the method further comprising obtaining a nine-digit database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular nine-digit postal code, and obtaining a five-digit database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular five-digit postal code, and the determining step further comprising:

if the postal code is contained in the nine-digit database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the nine-digit database to the call; and

if the postal code is not contained in the nine-digit database, but a first five digits of the postal code are contained in the five-digit database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the five-digit database to the call.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining a three-digit database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular three-digit postal code, the determining step further comprising:

if the postal code is not contained in the nine-digit database or the five-digit database, but the first three digits of the postal code are contained in the three-digit database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the three-digit database to the call.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the call originator location parameters of the call transaction data include a telephone line number of the call originator and further comprising obtaining an exchange code database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular area code and exchange code, and the determining step further comprising:

if the postal code is not contained in the nine-digit database, the first five digits of the postal code are not contained in the five-digit database, and the first three digits of the postal code are not contained in the three-digit database, but the first six digits of the telephone line number are contained in the exchange code database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the exchange code database to the call.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising obtaining an area code database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular area code, and the determining step further comprising:

if the postal code is not contained in the nine-digit database, the first five digits of the postal code are not contained in the five-digit database, the first three digits of the postal code are not contained in the three-digit database, and the first six digits of the telephone line number are not contained in the exchange code database, but the first three digits of the telephone line number are contained in the area code database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the area code database to the call.

14. The method of claim 13, the determining step further comprising:

if the postal code is not contained in the nine-digit database, the first five digits of the postal code are not contained in the five-digit database, the first three digits of the postal code are not contained in the three-digit database, the first six digits of the telephone line number are not contained in the exchange code database, and the first three digits of the line number are not contained in the area code database, assigning a special longitude and latitude, indicating unknown origin, to the call.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originator location parameters of the call transaction data include a postal code of the call originator and a telephone line number of the call originator, the postal code containing one of fewer than five digits, between five and nine digits, or more than nine digits, the method further comprising obtaining an exchange code database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular area code and exchange code, and obtaining an area code database including a plurality of approximate longitudes and latitudes, each corresponding to a particular area code, and the determining step further comprising:

If the first six digits of the telephone line number are contained in the exchange code database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the exchange code database to the call; and

if the first six digits of the line number are not contained in the exchange code database, but the first three digits of the line number are contained in the area code database, assigning the corresponding longitude and latitude from the area code database to the call.

16. The method of claim 15, the determining step further comprising:

if the first six digits of the telephone line number are not contained in the exchange code database, and the first three digits of the line number are not contained in the area code database, assigning a special longitude and latitude, indicating unknown origin, to the call.