Call-processing rate quote system and method

• US 8,265,245 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Crossing Telecommunications Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hogan, Steven J., Feltz, Kristi T., Murdock, Douglas R., Goodman, Todd A., Vercande, David J., Tangeman, Michael R., Busch, Eric M., Kripakaran, Raghavan, Jayasimha, Madhigubba G., Smith, Keith E., Austin, Mark A., Berry, Dana Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Quoc D
• Application Number:
  US11/483,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/127.02, 379/188, 379/189, 379/218.01, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/221.14, 379/223, 379/265.02
• US Class Current: 379/127.02
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6027 Fraud preventions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/45 public-private interworking, e.g. centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• 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 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 : in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 : in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 : Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 : Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 : Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 : Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 : Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13139 : Fraud detection/prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 : Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A system and method for processing telephone calls and providing enhanced services is presented. The call processing system includes a network control processor for controlling the processing and routing of the calls and for providing enhanced features, and a matrix switch for routing calls from an originating location to a terminating location. Operator consoles can be included to provide operator assistance to the caller. The network control processor comprises a central message processor that receives call data, determines the type of call, determines the processing required, and determines whether operator assistance is required. A call route distributor allocates an operator console to the call if required. A billing server is used to track billing information for the call while it is in progress. A database server is provided for database look-ups and storage. The call processing system also includes a validation system, a billing system, a distribution system, and a fraud detection and prevention system. The validation system is used to validate call information to determine whether the call can be placed. The billing system determines rates for calls and calculates the cost of completed calls. The distribution system distributes changes that are made to a master database to the appropriate slave database. The fraud detection and prevention system monitors originating and in-process calls to detect and possibly prevent possible fraudulent uses of phone services and systems. A client interface is provided to facilitate communications among applications and DEF records are used to define specific call processing actions.

Claims

1. A call processing system, comprising:

a switch configured to receive only call audio;

a network control processor separate from said switch and configured to receive only call data and provide call routing instructions to said switch comprising;

a first gateway coupled to said switch,

a central message processor coupled to said first gateway,

a database server and associated database coupled to said central message processor,

a billing server coupled to said central message processor, and

a call route distributor, coupled to said central message processor,

an operator console, coupled to said network control processor;

a validation system, coupled to said network control processor;

a billing system, coupled to said network control processor; and

a fraud system, coupled to said network control processor, configured to perform real-time fraud monitoring and detection.

2. The call processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an error box, coupled to said network control processor; and

a log box, coupled to said network control processor.

3. A computer-based system for processing calling card based telephone calls comprising:

a switch configured to accept only call audio for the call and to route said call audio to a destination to complete a call;

a network control processor separate from said switch, coupled to said switch, configured to accept only call data comprising at least a dialed number and calling card data for the call, to send said call card data to a validation system comprising a validator and a database to validate said calling card data and receive back from said validator a validation response and use said validation response to determine how the call is to be processed, and to configure said switch using said network control processor to route the call to said destination.

4. The computer-based system of claim 3, further comprising at least one operator console, coupled to said switch and to said network control processor, configured to provide operator services to the call.

5. The computer-based system of claim 4, wherein said at least one operator console is an automated operator console.

6. The computer-based system of claim 3, wherein said network control processor comprises a central message processor, configured to receive call data from a subscriber, to determine call parameters for the call based on said call data, wherein said call parameters are used to determine how the call is to be processed.

7. The computer-based system of claim 4, wherein said network control processor comprises a central message processor, configured to receive call data from a subscriber, to determine call parameters for the call based on said call data, wherein said call parameters are used to determine whether operator assistance is required and how the call is to be processed.

8. The computer-based system of claim 7, further comprising a call route distributor, coupled to said central message processor for allocating an operator console to provide operator assistance to a call.

9. The computer-based system of claim 7, further comprising a database server coupled to said central message processor and configured to store said call parameters in at least one database.

10. The computer-based system of claim 3, further comprising a gateway coupled to said network control processor and configured to perform communications protocol conversions necessary for communications between said network control processor and said switch.

11. The computer-based system of claim 3, further comprising a billing system, coupled to said network control processor and configured to determine a rate for a call and to determine a cost of a call based on said rate.

12. The computer-based system of claim 4, further comprising a validation system, coupled to said network control processor and configured validate call information received from said operator console.

13. The computer-based system of claim 12, wherein said validation system comprises:

a p-code database, configured to store at least one validation instruction indicating a method for performing a particular validation, wherein said method can be uniquely defined for each customer and each originating user; and

a validator configured to receive the call information to be validated from an operator console, to retrieve said at least one validation instruction from said p-code database, and to validate the call information using said method indicated by said validation instruction.

14. The computer-based system of claim 3, further comprising a fraud system for detecting possible occurrences of fraudulent use of a calling network, coupled to said network control processor and configured to monitor calls, store data concerning said calls, compare said stored data to preset bounds, and trigger an alarm if said stored data is outside of said preset bounds.

15. A call processing system for processing and routing a telephone call after dialing call data comprising of a called number and a calling card number received from a caller without further input from said caller, comprising:

a network control processor configured to;

accept only said call data for the call;

generate and send a validation request;

use said call data and a validation response to determine how the call is to be processed; and

generate call routing instructions regarding routing of the call;

an automated validation system, configured to receive a validation request from said network control processor validate said call data, and send said validation response to said network control processor; and

a switch, coupled to said network control processor, configured to accept only call audio and to route said call audio to a destination to complete the call based on said call routing instructions from the network control processor.

16. The call processing system of claim 15, wherein said network control processor further comprises:

first means for receiving call data from a subscriber;

second means, coupled to said first means, for determining a call type for the call and further determining whether the call requires operator assistance based on said call data; and

third means, coupled to said second means, for allocating an operator console to handle the call where operators assistance is required as determined by said second means.

17. The call processing system of claim 16, wherein said network control processor further comprises fourth means, coupled to said second means, for determining a type of operator assistance required where the call requires operator assistance, wherein said fourth means makes said determination based on said call data.

18. The call processing system of claim 16, wherein said network control processor further comprises fourth means, coupled to said second means, for assigning an identifier to the call used to identify the call within the call processing system.

19. The call processing system of claim 16, wherein said second means comprises means for determining call parameters based on said call data, wherein said call parameters indicate the type of processing required for the call and whether and what type of operator assistance is required.

20. A method of routing telephone calls received from a subscriber, the calls having call data and call audio associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the call data at a network control processor;

(b) receiving the call audio at a matrix switch, the matrix switch separate from the network control processor;

(c) determining call parameters based on the call data, wherein the call parameters uniquely define the type of processing required for each received call and processing the call parameters with a fraud system to monitor for and detect fraud based on the call parameters;

(d) determining routing required to route the call audio to a desired destination, the routing determination based on the call data;

(e) transmitting the routing to the matrix switch;

(f) configuring the matrix switch to route the call audio to the desired destination determined in said step (d).

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

(g) determining whether operator assistance is required to process the call, said determination based on the call data;

(h) allocating an operator console to handle the call if operator assistance is required;

(i) configuring said matrix switch to route the call audio to said allocated operator console so that said operator assistance can be provided.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step (f) comprises the steps of:

(g) generating a switch command message in said network control processor, said switch command message based on said routing determined in said step (d);

(h) sending said switch command message to said matrix switch, wherein said switch command message configures said matrix switch to route the call audio to said desired destination.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said step (i) comprises the steps of:

i. generating a switch command message based on said routing determined in said step (d);

ii. sending said switch command message to said matrix switch to configure said matrix switch to route the call audio to said allocated operator console.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(j) requesting information required to complete the call from the subscriber;

(k) receiving said required information at said allocated operator console and determining whether the call can be completed; and

(l) informing said network control processor whether the call can be completed.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step (g) for determining whether the call can be completed comprises the step of validating said received information to determine whether said received information is valid.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of validating said information comprises the steps of:

(a) sending a validation request to a validation system, wherein said validation request includes information to be validated;

(b) retrieving validation instructions from a database, wherein said validation instructions provide instructions as to how the validation is performed;

(c) executing said validation instructions to validate said information to be validated; and

(d) sending a validation response to said operator console indicated whether said information is validated.