System and method for star code dialing

• US 7,555,111 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Benjamin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Karen L
• Application Number:
  US09/995,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,770 Days
• Field of Search: 379/218.01, 379/207.12, 379/913, 379/93.05, 379/211.02, 379/210.01, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

A system and method that enables callers to dial a subscription code instead of a telephone number to reach a subscriber of the subscription code. The system includes a lookup table that associates the subscription code with the subscriber'"'"'s telephone number. The system also uses a routing device that is in communication with the lookup table. The routing device is adapted to receive calls that were initiated by callers using the subscription code. When a call originated by a caller using the subscription code is received by the routing device, the routing device reviews the lookup table to retrieve the telephone number that is associated with the subscription code. The telephone number is then used by the routing device to terminate the call to the telephone number.

Claims

1. A method for providing subscription code services, the method comprising:

allocating a plurality of subscription codes for the services;

storing the subscription codes in a look up table stored within a controller;

receiving a query for call routing instructions when a call using a subscription code is detected, the query including a translation type and the subscription code;

retrieving message containing a plurality of telephone numbers and subscribers from the look up table containing associations of the subscription code to multiple telephone numbers based at least in part on the subscription code, wherein the telephone numbers are substantially permanently assigned to the subscription code;

offering a selection of two or more subscribers corresponding to the same subscription code;

receiving a selection specifying one subscriber selected from the two or more subscribers;

determining a telephone number corresponding to the one subscriber; and

terminating the call using the telephone number.

2. A method for providing subscription code services, the method comprising:

allocating a plurality of subscription codes for the services;

storing the plurality of subscription codes in a look up table resident within a controller associated with one or more call routing instructions, wherein the look up table contains associations of the subscription code to multiple telephone numbers, each telephone number being associated with a different subscriber;

receiving a query for the call routing instructions when a call using a subscription code is detected;

presenting a list of subscribers associated with the subscription code, wherein the subscription code is associated with two or more different subscribers;

receiving a selection specifying one subscriber selected from the list;

determining a telephone number corresponding to the one subscriber; and

terminating the call using the telephone number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the list of subscribers associated with the subscription code involves a prerecorded announcement.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting a list of subscribers associated with the subscription code and receiving a selection specifying one subscriber from the list are performed by one or both of a service node and a switch.

5. A method for providing subscription code services, the method comprising:

allocating a plurality of subscription codes for the services;

storing the subscription codes in a look up table;

receiving a query for call routing instructions when a numerical subscription code is detected;

providing a list of subscription codes based upon the numerical subscription code, wherein the list includes two or more subscription codes that are associated with the numerical subscription code;

receiving a selection specifying one subscription code selected from the list of subscription codes;

determining a telephone number based upon the specified subscription code; and

terminating the call using the telephone number.

6. A method for providing subscription code services, the method comprising:

allocating a plurality of subscription codes for the services;

storing the subscription codes in a look up table;

receiving a query for call routing instructions when a call using a numerical subscription code is detected;

presenting a list of subscription codes based upon the numerical subscription code, wherein the list includes two or more subscription codes that are associated with the numerical subscription code;

receiving a selected subscription code;

retrieving a plurality of telephone numbers from the look up table containing associations of the selected subscription code to multiple telephone numbers based at least in part on the subscription code, wherein the multiple telephone numbers are substantially permanently assigned to the subscription code and are each associated with a subscriber associated with the subscription code;

selecting one of the multiple telephone numbers associated with one of the plurality of subscribers associated with the subscription code; and

terminating the call using the selected telephone number.