Method and system for handling calls in a communication network

• US 7,062,030 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Fenton, Keith Eric, Sbisa, Daniel Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/835,040
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 345/708, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/265.12, 379/265.13, 715/708
• US Class Current: 379/221.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/60 Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A service control system processes call information to transfer first context information to a context server and to transfer the first call information to a destination server. The destination server processes the call information to transfer second context information for the call to the context server and to transfer destination information indicating a call destination to the service control system. The service control system processes the destination information to transfer routing information for the call to a communication network. The communication network processes the routing information to route the call to the call destination indicated by the destination information. The call destination processes the call to transfer third context information for the call to the context server. Billing information is generated the call based on the first context information, the second context information, and the third context information in the context server.

Claims

1. A method of handling a call comprising:

in a communication network, receiving the call and responsively transferring call information to a service control system;

in the service control system, processing the call information to transfer first context information for the call to a context server and to transfer the first call information to a destination server, wherein the destination server processes the call information to transfer second context information for the call to the context server and to transfer destination information indicating a call destination for the call to the service control system;

in the service control system, processing the destination information to transfer routing information for the call to the communication network;

in the communication network, processing the routing information to route the call to the call destination indicated by the destination information, wherein the call destination processes the call to transfer third context information for the call to the context server;

in the context server, storing the first context information, the second context information, and the third context information; and

generating billing information for the call based on the first context information, the second context information, and the third context information in the context server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating billing information for the call comprises, transferring the first context information, the second context information, and the third context information from the context server to the service control system and generating the billing information in the service control system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating billing information for the call comprises generating the billing information in the context server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the first context information from the context server to the destination server, wherein the destination server selects the destination information based on the first context information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the first context information and the second context information from the context server to the call destination, wherein the call destination processes the call based on the first context information and the second context information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the destination server comprises an operator server and the call destination comprises an operator center.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the destination server comprises a voice response system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the service control system comprises a Service Control Point (SCP).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first context information identifies an originating switch for the call in the communication network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the service control system comprises a Service Control Point (SCP) and the first context information identifies the SCP.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first context information identifies a calling number.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first context information identifies a nature of a called number.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first context information identifies a nature of a calling number.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first context information identifies a query sequence number.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second context information identifies DNIS digits.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the third context information comprises an outdial number.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the third context information comprises a social security number.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the third context information comprises an account code.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the third context information comprises a card number.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the third context information comprises an caller-entered digits.