Reverse call origination via a non-signaling network

• US 8,817,773 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Merchant, Amyn
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US10/953,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,618 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 379/88.17, 379/210.01
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• 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 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

An approach is provided for originating a telephone call from a country with low telephone rates to a country with high telephone rates using a non-signaling network, such as a global computer network. This can be accomplished without additional specialized telephone equipment or any modifications to switches and databases in either country. Also, the telephone call can be established without any manipulations of signaling information transmitted by a carrier in the high traffic country. Such an approach provides flexible allocation of charges for originating a telephone call from a country with low telephone rates to a country with high telephone rates.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a reverse call origination service, the method comprising:

establishing a first call leg with a called party based on a telephone number of the called party;

establishing a second call leg with a calling party based on a telephone number of the calling party, wherein the called party telephone number and the calling party telephone number are determined from an encrypted message forwarded by the calling party over a data network; and

bridging the call legs to establish a call between the calling party and the called party,

wherein the encrypted message is an electronically pre-formatted message that is an electronically generated form prepared by a service provider.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message specifies billing information for the call, the billing information including calling card information or credit card information.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the message from a host associated with the calling party and connected to the data network; and

validating the message.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

validating the billing information prior to establishing any one of the call legs.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data network is a non-signaling network.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second call leg is established only if the first call leg is successfully established with the called party.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message specifies parameters associated with the call, the parameters include a password that is to be verified before establishment of the call or a time period for retrying establishment of the call.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bridging step is manually initiated.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

billing the calling party for the call legs.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call is confirmed with the calling party prior to establishment of the call.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the calling party is located within an international region and the called party is outside of the international region.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

notifying the calling party if the call is more expensive than a call originated within the international region of the calling party.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-formatted message comprises fields assigned to provide information related to reverse call origination.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the information comprises the calling party'"'"'s telephone number and the called party'"'"'s telephone number.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the information is entered by the calling party.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises the calling party number, the called party number, and at least one optional parameter.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one optional parameter includes transferring confidential customer information in an encrypted format.

18. A system for supporting a reverse call origination service, the system comprising:

a gateway configured to receive an encrypted message forwarded by a calling party over a data network; and

a telephony network configured to establish a first call leg with a called party based on a telephone number of the called party, and to establish a second call leg with a calling party based on a telephone number of the calling party in response to the received encrypted message, wherein the called party telephone number and the calling party telephone number are determined from the encrypted message, and the call legs are bridged to establish a call between the calling party and the called party, and wherein the encrypted message is an electronically pre-formatted message that is an electronically generated form prepared by a service provider.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the message specifies billing information for the call, the billing information including calling card information or credit card information.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the gateway receives the message from a host associated with the calling party and connected to the data network, and is further configured to validate the message.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein the billing information is validated prior to establishing any one of the call legs.

22. A system according to claim 18, wherein the data network is a non-signaling network.

23. A system according to claim 18, wherein the second call leg is established only if the first call leg is successfully established with the called party.

24. A system according to claim 18, wherein the message specifies parameters associated with the call, the parameters include a password that is to be verified before establishment of the call or a time period for retrying establishment of the call.

25. A system according to claim 18, wherein the bridging of the call legs is manually initiated by an operator.

26. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a billing system configured to bill the calling party for the call legs.

27. A system according to claim 18, wherein the call is confirmed with the calling party prior to establishment of the call.

28. A system according to claim 18, wherein the calling party is located within an international region and the called party is outside of the international region.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the calling party is notified if the call is more expensive than a call originated within the international region of the calling party.

30. A method for processing a call between a first region and a second region, the method comprising:

receiving an encrypted message over a data network from a calling party associated with a first region for establishing a call with a called party associated with a second region; and

establishing, in response to the received encrypted message, the call between the calling party and the called party over a telephony network that is separate from the data network,

wherein the call is originated from a region other than the first region,

wherein the encrypted message is an electronically pre-formatted message that is an electronically generated form prepared by a service provider.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising:

obtaining a telephone number of the called and a telephone number of the calling party from the message, wherein the call is established using the called party telephone number and the calling party telephone number.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein the message specifies billing information for the call, the billing information including calling card information or credit card information.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:

receiving the message from a host associated with the calling party and connected to the data network; and

validating the message.

34. A method according to claim 32, further comprising:

validating the billing information prior to establishing the call.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein the data network is a non-signaling network.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein the call is established after confirming the call with the called party.

37. A method according to claim 30, wherein the message specifies parameters associated with the call, the parameters include a password that is to be verified before establishment of the call or a time period for retrying establishment of the call.

38. A method according to claim 30, further comprising:

billing the calling party for the call.

39. A method according to claim 30, wherein the call is confirmed with the calling party prior to establishment of the call.

40. A method according to claim 30, wherein the first region is an international region and the second region is a domestic region.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising:

notifying the calling party if the call is more expensive than a call originated within the international region of the calling party.

42. A method according to claim 30, wherein the data network is a public packet-switched network.

43. A system for processing a call between a first region and a second region, the system comprising:

means for receiving an encrypted message over a data network from a calling party associated with a first region for establishing a call with a called party associated with a second region; and

means for establishing, in response to the received encrypted message, the call between the calling party and the called party over a telephony network that is separate from the data network,

wherein the call is originated from a region other than the first region, and the encrypted message is an electronically pre-formatted message that is an electronically generated form prepared by a service provider.

44. A system according to claim 43, further comprising:

means for obtaining a telephone number of the called and a telephone number of the calling party from the message, wherein the call is established using the called party telephone number and the calling party telephone number.

45. A system according to claim 43, wherein the message specifies billing information for the call, the billing information including calling card information or credit card information.

46. A system according to claim 45, wherein the message is received from a host associated with the calling party and connected to the data network, the system further comprising:

means for validating the message.

47. A system according to claim 45, further comprising:

means for validating the billing information prior to establishing the call.

48. A system according to claim 43, wherein the data network is a non-signaling network.

49. A system according to claim 43, wherein the call is established after confirming the call with the called party.

50. A system according to claim 43, wherein the message specifies parameters associated with the call, the parameters include a password that is to be verified before establishment of the call or a time period for retrying establishment of the call.

51. A system according to claim 43, further comprising:

means for billing the calling party for the call.

52. A system according to claim 43, wherein the call is confirmed with the calling party prior to establishment of the call.

53. A system according to claim 43, wherein the first region is an international region and the second region is a domestic region.

54. A system according to claim 53, further comprising:

means for notifying the calling party if the call is more expensive than a call originated within the international region of the calling party.

55. A system according to claim 43, wherein the data network is a public packet-switched network.