Systems and methods for detecting false signals on an outbound call

• US 7,587,040 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvaria Cayman
• Original Assignee: Noble Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Noble, James K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/289,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 379/251, 379/257, 379/210.02, 379/377, 379/378, 379/381, 379/384, 379/386, 379/266.07, 379/266.08
• US Class Current: 379/257
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2027 Live party detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting false signals on a telephone line. The devices provide an additional verification for outbound calls which result in a disconnected or not in service signal that such signals are valid and not false tones being emitted by a device or service employed by the call recipient, The type of additional verification of the outbound call is dependent on the telephone network on which the outbound call is placed. For example, on an analog telephone network a drop in loop current may be detected indicting a connected call which is contrary to the disconnected or not in service signals being received. Such connected signals can be detected on digital networks by monitoring dedicated control data channels or through the use of data received through the use of in-band signaling. Once the additional verification had detected false tones the call can be process as if a connection occurred including routing such calls to an available agent or other handling process customized to handle such calls.

Claims

1. A method of detecting false signals on a telephone line, comprising:

placing an outbound call on a telephone line;

monitoring the telephone line for a detection of a service tone, wherein the service tone is a disconnected tone or a not-in-service tone;

detecting the service tone;

after detecting the service tone, determining, by a processor, that the outbound call is connected; and

upon the detection of a service tone and subsequent determination that the outbound call is connected, processing the outbound call as a false service tone call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the outbound call is connected includes monitoring for a drop in loop current on the telephone line.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the outbound call is connected includes acquiring a signal from the control channel indicative of a call connected signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the outbound call is connected includes monitoring in-band signals for a signal indicative of a call connected signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the outbound call is connected includes monitoring channel associated signals for a signal indicative of a call connected signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the call includes routing the call to an agent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the call includes processing the call in substantially the same manner as a connected call.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the call includes playing a message on the telephone line.

9. A call center for placing outbound calls, comprising:

a predictive dialer that places outbound calls on a telephone network;

at least one interface that connects the predictive dialer to a telephone network and routes connected outbound calls to a plurality of agents connected to the call center; and

at least one processor configured to;

detect a service tone on an outbound call, wherein the service tone is a disconnected tone or a not-in-service tone,

subsequent to detecting the service tone,

determine that the outbound call is connected, and

upon the detection of a service tone and subsequent determination that the outbound call is connected, process the outbound call as a false service tone call.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a router that routes a call to an agent based at least in part on when both a service tone has been detected on an outbound call and the outbound call has been determined to be connected.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one interface includes a station interface that routes connected outbound calls to a plurality of agents connected to the call center and a line interface that connects the predictive dialer to a telephone network.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor includes two or more digital signal processors.

13. A system of detecting false signals on a telephone line, comprising:

at least one interface connecting to a telephone network;

a processor in communication with the at least one interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer executable instructions to;

place an outbound call on a telephone line;

monitor the telephone line for a detection of a service tone, wherein the service tone is a disconnected tone or a not-in-service tone;

detect the service tone;

after detecting the service tone, determine that the outbound call is connected; and

upon the detection of a service tone and subsequent determination that the outbound call is connected, process the outbound call as a false service tone call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to determine that the outbound call is connected include computer executable instructions to monitor for a drop in loop current on the telephone line.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to determine that the outbound call is connected include computer executable instructions to acquire a signal from the control channel indicative of a call connected signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to determine that the outbound call is connected include computer executable instructions to monitor in-band signals for a signal indicative of a call connected signal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to determine that the outbound call is connected include computer executable instructions to monitor channel associated signals for a signal indicative of a call connected signal.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to process the call include computer executable instructions to route the call to an agent.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to process the call include computer executable instructions to process the call in substantially the same manner as a connected call.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions to process the call include computer executable instructions to play a message on the telephone line.