System and method for call redirect detection and treatment

• US 7,372,949 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evercom Systems Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Kurth, John G., Hoffman, Randy, King, James E., Johnson, Lee R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/646,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/189, 379/190, 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/207.01, 379/210.02, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 379/196
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• 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 2215/0164 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 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• 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: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods in which call intelligence, such as may be disposed in communication with signaling systems utilized in controlling calls, is used to provide information for making determinations with respect to the treatment of calls. Call intelligence may be coupled to or disposed within such networks to receive signaling therefrom and/or transmit signaling thereto for determining the appropriate treatment of a call and, preferably, controlling the treatment of a call in accordance with such determination. Signaling messages received by call intelligence may be utilized to determine that a particular calling activity (e.g., enhanced calling service such as call redirecting or three-way calling) is being employed, to collect data with respect to a call, and the like. Signaling messages transmitted by call intelligence of the present invention may be utilized to prevent a call from being setup, to prevent a particular aspect of a call, to provide information to a billing entity for payment, and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an attempt by a user to place a call from an origination point directed toward a destination point;

querying information regarding a status of a calling service associated with said destination point;

processing said call attempt as a function of said information regarding said status of said calling service, wherein said processing provides blocking of said call attempt responsive to particular information regarding said status of said calling service, wherein said querying information regarding said status of said calling service is provided by call intelligence coupled to a communication network through which said call attempt is attempting to place a call; and

logging information with respect to said queried information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said calling service comprises call redirecting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said call redirecting comprises call forwarding.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said call redirecting comprises remote call forwarding.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises an indication that call redirecting is active with respect to said destination point.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises an indication that call forwarding on busy is active with respect to said destination point.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises an indication that call forwarding on no answer is active with respect to said destination point.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises an indication that selective call redirecting is active with respect to said destination point.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises information indirectly indicative of said calling service.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises line type information.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said blocking of said call attempt is provided if said information regarding said status of said calling service indicates any form of call redirecting is active with respect to said destination point.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said blocking of said call attempt is provided if said information regarding said status of said calling service indicates a particular form of call redirecting is active with respect to said destination point.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said calling service comprises three-way calling.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said information regarding said status of said calling service comprises an indication that three-way calling is enabled with respect to said destination point.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said querying information regarding said status of said calling service utilizes a SS7 message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said SS7 message comprises a TCAP message.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said SS7 message comprises an ISUP message.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said call intelligence comprises an intelligent network engine coupled to an intelligent network of a communication system.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said call intelligence comprises a validation engine operable to generate a call processing score based upon said information regarding said status of said calling service.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said call intelligence is coupled to additional call processing functionality.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said additional call processing functionality comprises call processing functionality selected from the group consisting of billing and customer care.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said logged information is utilized in subsequently processing a call attempt.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said logged information is utilized in trend analysis with respect to a plurality of call attempts.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said logged information is utilized in batch processing information with respect to a plurality of previous call attempts.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said call intelligence is disposed centrally with respect to a plurality of locations for which call processing services are provided.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said call intelligence comprises a system selected from the group comprising a SS7 gateway, a SS7 STP, a SS7 SP, a class 4 switch, and a class 5 switch operable to provide said querying information exclusive of providing any call connection operation.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said querying information is to be performed with respect to said call attempt.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining if said querying information is to be performed comprises:

analyzing logged information with respect to information queried with respect to a previous call attempt.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining if said querying information is to be performed comprises:

analyzing local service area information and determining if said call attempt is to be terminated within said local service area or external thereto.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing providing blocking of said call attempt is a function of participation information such that particular information regarding said status of said calling service results in different blocking treatment responsive to said participation matrix.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein said origination point comprises a calling party terminal.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said destination point comprises a called party terminal.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein said destination point comprises a network element serving a called number.

95. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a call from a managing party to an answering party if said call attempt by said user is blocked.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein said call from said managing party comprises offering a service to said answering party.

34. A system comprising:

a intelligent network engine in communication with network elements of a communication network and operable to query information regarding a status of a call redirecting service associated with a called number; and

a validation engine in communication with said intelligent network engine and operable to determine a treatment for a particular call attempt from said information regarding a status of said call redirecting service, wherein said validation engine is operable to determine a score for use in further processing of said call attempt.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said call redirecting service comprises call forwarding.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said call redirecting service comprises remote call forwarding.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein said information comprises an indication that call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said information comprises an indication that call forwarding on busy is active with respect to said called number.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein said information comprises an indication that call forwarding on no answer is active with respect to said called number.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein said information comprises an indication that selective call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein said information comprises a line type associated with said called number.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein said network elements comprise SS7 network elements.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said intelligent network engine utilizes a TCAP portion of a SS7 message to query said information.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said intelligent network engine utilizes a ISUP portion of a SS7 message to query said information.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein said score is utilized in said call treatment determination.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein said score comprises a negative indication for preventing further processing of said call attempt.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said negative indication results from any form of said call redirecting service being detected as active with respect to said called party terminal.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein said negative indication results from a particular form of said call redirecting service being detected as active with respect to said called party terminal.

49. The system of claim 34, wherein said score comprises an affirmative indication for allowing further processing of said call attempt.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said affirmative indication results from no form of said call redirecting service being detected as active with respect to said called party terminal.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein said affirmative indication results from a particular form of said call redirecting service not being detected as active with respect to said called party terminal.

52. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a participation matrix utilized by said validation engine in determining said call treatment as a function of a particular form of said call redirecting service detected.

53. The system of claim 34, wherein said validation engine is further operable to provide validation with respect to a payment source utilized in funding costs incurred in association with said call attempt.

54. The system of claim 34, wherein said validation engine is further operable to provide verification of a calling party identity.

55. The system of claim 34, wherein said validation engine is further operable to provide verification that said called number is an authorized number.

56. The system of claim 34, wherein said validation engine is further operable to provide verification that said called number is not an unauthorized number.

57. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a call processor in communication with said validation engine operable to prevent or allow completion of said call attempt as a function of said call treatment determination.

58. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a database storing information with respect to said status of said call redirecting service provided by said query.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein said information stored in said database is used by said validation engine in subsequent call treatment determinations with respect to said called number.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein said information stored in said database is used in batch processing a plurality of calls for call treatment.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein said information stored in said database is used in providing trend analysis with respect to a plurality of calls.

62. The system of claim 34, wherein said intelligent network engine comprises a host selected from the group consisting of a SS7 gateway, a SS7 STP, a SS7 SP, a class 4 switch, and a class 5 switch.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein said host does not provide call connection operation with respect to said call attempt.

64. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a database of information with respect to served locations.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein said information with respect to served locations is utilized to determine if said intelligent network engine is to query information with respect to said call attempt.

66. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a call billing system operable to provide billing with respect to said call attempt.

67. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a customer service system operable to provide calling assistance with respect to said call attempt.

97. The system of claim 57, wherein said call processor is further operable to place an outbound call offering a service for receiving subsequent call attempts when said call processor prevents completion of said call attempt.

68. A method comprising:

detecting an attempt to place a call from a calling party terminal directed toward a called number;

querying information regarding a status of a call redirecting service associated with said called number and an additional status of an additional calling service associated with said calling party terminal; and

processing said call attempt as a function of said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said calling party terminal is disposed in a facility for which calling services are provided.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said facility comprises a controlled environment facility.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein said facility comprises a prison facility.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein a called party terminal associated with said called number is disposed remotely from said calling party terminal.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein information regarding said status of said call redirecting service is queried from an intelligent network of a communication system.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said intelligent network comprises a SS7 network.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein information regarding said status of said call redirecting service is queried from an end office associated with said called number.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service is queried from an SSP of said end office.

77. The method of claim 68, wherein said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service comprises an indication that call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

78. The method of claim 68, wherein said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service comprises an indication that call forwarding on busy is active with respect to said called number.

79. The method of claim 68, wherein said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service comprises an indication that call forwarding on no answer is active with respect to said called number.

80. The method of claim 68, wherein said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service comprises an indication that selective call forwarding is active with respect to said called number.

81. The method of claim 68, wherein said processing said call attempt comprises blocking said call attempt if said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service indicates any form of call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

82. The method of claim 68, wherein said processing said call attempt comprises blocking said call attempt if said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service indicates a particular form of call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

83. The method of claim 68, wherein said processing said call attempt comprises allowing said call attempt if said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service indicates no form of call redirecting is active with respect to said called number.

84. The method of claim 68, wherein said processing said call attempt comprises allowing said call attempt if said information regarding said status of said call redirecting service indicates a particular form of call redirecting is inactive with respect to said called number.

85. The method of claim 68 wherein said information is not specific to call redirecting.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein said information comprises a line type.

98. The method of claim 68, wherein said processing said call attempt comprises blocking said call attempt, said method further comprising:

placing an outbound call offering a service for receiving subsequent call attempts when said call attempt is blocked.

87. A method of call processing, said method comprising:

obtaining information with respect to a called number from a network element, said information being indicative of a configuration associated with said called number but not indicative of a call completion status of said called number; and

preventing connection of a call to said called number as a function of said obtained information.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein said obtained information comprises information showing a status of an enhanced calling feature associated with said called number.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein said enhanced calling feature comprises call redirecting.

90. The method of claim 88, wherein said enhanced calling feature comprises three-way calling.

91. The method of claim 87, wherein said obtained information comprises information showing a line type associated with said called number.

92. The method of claim 87, wherein said network element is disposed in a SS7 network.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein said obtained information is obtained via a TCAP message.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein said obtained information is obtained via an ISUP message.

99. The method of claim 87, further comprising:

generating an outbound call offering a service to facilitate subsequent calls if said call to said called number is prevented.