Method, system, network and computer-readable media for controlling outgoing telephony calls

• US 9,565,217 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Gaofeng, Clark, David William, Arsenault, Jonathan Allan, Wolf, Eric John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDREWS, LEON T
• Application Number:
  US12/651,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20110158129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,595 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1076 Screening of IP real time communications, e.g. spam over Internet telephony [SPIT]
• 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 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure

Abstract

The present invention discloses numerous implementations for IP-based call processing systems that can selectively control an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device. The call processing system communicates with a Service Switching Point (SSP) associated with the source device and determines whether to effect control of the outgoing call. It could determine to effect control of the outgoing call for many reasons including to convey a media message to the source device, to implement a call feature or to manage call restrictions. Upon determining to effect control of the outgoing call, the call processing system causes the SSP to initiate a media connection between the source device and the call processing system. The call processing system can then utilize the media connection with the source device to perform functionality for the outgoing call prior to and/or during the outgoing call.

Claims

1. A method, implemented by a call processing system within an Internet Protocol (IP) network, for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device, the source device to effect telephonic communications using a switched telephone network comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP), the method comprising:

receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message via the IP network from a signaling converter, the SIP message comprising a call request message for the outgoing call comprising source and destination identifiers associated with the source and destination devices respectively, the signalling converter operative to receive an SS7 message from the SSP in response to initiation of the outgoing call by the source device in the switched telephone network and to convert the SS7 message to the SIP message;

selectively determining using the source identifier whether to cause a media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system; and

causing transmission of a routing message to the SSP via the IP network upon determining to cause the media connection to be established, the routing message to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) message initiated by an Off Hook Delay trigger on the SSP.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein causing transmission of the routing message to the SSP via the IP network comprises causing transmission of a second SIP message to the signaling converter for converting the second SIP message to a second SS7 message and transmitting the second SS7 message to the SSP.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) call route message directing the outgoing call to the call processing system.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing transmission of a reject message to the SSP via the IP network upon determining not to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system, the reject message to cause the SSP to cause establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein causing transmission of the reject message to the SSP via the IP network comprises causing transmission of a second SIP message to the signaling converter for converting the SIP message to a second SS7 message and transmitting the second SS7 message to the SSP.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second SIP message comprises one of a service unavailable message, an error message, an unauthorized call message and a service not implemented message.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second SS7 message comprises a TCAP continue message.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device using the source identifier and the destination identifier;

and wherein, upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device using the source identifier and the destination identifier and determining whether an authorization is required upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call;

and wherein, upon determining that an authorization is required, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call using the source identifier and the destination identifier and determining whether a call limitation is required upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call;

and wherein, upon determining that a call limitation is required, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the call limitation comprises one of a call length limitation, an account credit limitation, a temporal limitation and a destination identifier limitation.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the source identifier is associated with a call feature.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey an audio element to the source device prior to establishment of a media connection with the destination device;

and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature to convey an audio element to the source device, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey a media element to the source device prior to establishment of a media connection with the destination device;

and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature to convey a media element to the source device, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the media element comprises one of a video element, an image element and a text element.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the call feature comprises a call restriction feature;

and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call restriction feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the call feature comprises a call record call feature;

and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call record call feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system further comprises determining whether the destination identifier comprises a call feature identifier;

and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature and the destination identifier comprises a call feature identifier, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the destination identifier comprises a call record call feature identifier.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier;

and wherein, upon determining that a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein determining whether a media message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier comprises determining whether an alert message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier, the alert message comprising at least one of:

a weather alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, a terrorism alert, a natural disaster alert, an epidemic disease alert and a public safety alert.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the determining whether a message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier comprises determining whether a service provider that enables a telephony service associated with the source identifier desires to convey a media message to the user associated with the source identifier.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein determining whether the service provider desires to convey a media message to the user associated with the source identifier comprises determining whether the service provider has identified a billing matter related to the telephony service.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the source identifier is associated with a service provider matter;

wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with a service provider matter, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service provider matter comprises at least one of a past due payment, credit, debit, status and termination related to a telephony service associated with the source identifier.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service provider matter comprises at least one of a loyalty program matter, policy change matter, pricing change matter and advertisement matter related to a service provider that enables a telephony service associated with the source identifier.

29. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device; and

conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device.

30. The method according to claim 29 further comprises causing termination of the media connection with the source device after conveying the media message to the source device.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the media message comprises a call restriction message.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the media message comprises a service provider message associated with a service provider that enables a telephony service associated with the source identifier, the service provider message comprising information associated with at least one of a past due payment, credit, debit, status and termination related to the telephony service associated with the source identifier.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the media message comprises at least one of:

a weather alert, an amber alert, a traffic alert, a terrorism alert, a natural disaster alert, an epidemic disease alert and a public safety alert.

34. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

initiating authorization of a user of the source device for the outgoing call; and

causing a media connection to be established between the source and destination devices upon successful authorization of the user of the source device.

35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising causing termination of the media connection with the source device upon unsuccessful authorization of the user of the source device.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the initiating authorization of the user of the source device comprises:

conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device, the media message comprising a call authorization message prompting a user of the source device to provide authorization data, and determining whether valid authorization data is received as the authorization data from the user of the source device; and

wherein the causing the media connection to be established between the source and destination devices comprises causing the media connection to be established between the source and destination devices upon determining that valid authorization data is received.

37. The method according to claim 36 further comprising causing termination of the media connection with the source device upon determining that valid authorization data is not received.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising conveying a second media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device prior to causing termination of the media connection with the source device, the second media message comprising a call unauthorized message.

39. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining if a call parameter associated with the outgoing call is acceptable for the source identifier;

initiating authorization of a user of the source device for the outgoing call upon determining that the call parameter is not acceptable for the source identifier; and

causing a media connection to be established between the source and destination devices upon successful authorization of the user of the source device.

40. The method according to claim 39 further comprising causing the media connection to be established between the source and destination devices upon determining that the call parameter is acceptable for the source identifier.

41. The method according to claim 39 further comprising causing termination of the media connection with the source device upon unsuccessful authorization of the user of the source device.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein the initiating authorization of a user of the source device for the outgoing call comprises conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device, the media message comprising a call authorization message prompting a user of the source device to provide authorization data, and determining whether valid authorization data is received as the authorization data from the user of the source device;

and wherein the causing the media connection to be established between the source and destination devices comprises causing the media connection to be established between the source and destination devices upon determining that valid authorization data is received.

43. The method according to claim 42 further comprising causing termination of the media connection with the source device upon determining that valid authorization data is not received.

44. The method according to claim 43 further comprising conveying a second media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device prior to causing termination of the media connection with the source device, the second media message comprising a call unauthorized message.

45. The method according to claim 39, wherein the call parameter comprises at least one of a temporal parameter, a parameter associated with the destination identifier and a parameter associated with a toll associated with the outgoing call.

46. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining a call limitation for the outgoing call;

causing a media connection to be established between the source and destination devices;

determining whether the call limitation has expired; and

causing termination of the media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining that the call limitation has expired.

47. The method according to claim 46 further comprising conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device, the media message comprising a call limitation message indicating at least one aspect of the call limitation.

48. The method according to claim 47 further comprising conveying a second media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device upon determining that the call limitation has expired, the second media message comprising a call termination message.

49. The method according to claim 46, wherein the call limitation comprises one of a call length limitation, an account credit limitation, a temporal limitation and a destination identifier limitation.

50. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining an audio element to convey to the source device;

initiating conveying of the audio element to the source device via the media connection with the source device; and

causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

51. The method according to claim 50 further comprising terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device prior to or substantially simultaneously with the causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices.

52. The method according to claim 50 further comprising determining a time period to convey the audio element and terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device in response to the time period expiring.

53. The method according to claim 50, wherein the causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices comprises causing initiation of a media connection with the destination device, detecting acceptance from the destination device of the outgoing call and causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices in response to the acceptance from the destination device.

54. The method according to claim 53 further comprising terminating conveying of the audio element to the source device in response to the detecting acceptance from the destination device.

55. The method according to claim 53 further comprising determining a minimum time period to convey the audio element;

and wherein the causing initiation of the media connection with the destination device is in response to the minimum time period expiring.

56. The method according to claim 50, wherein the audio element comprises one of a plurality of audio elements, and wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon a random algorithm.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon a predetermined order.

59. The method according to claim 56, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of audio elements comprises selecting one of the plurality of audio elements based upon the destination identifier.

60. The method according to claim 50, wherein the audio element comprises an audio element from an external content source.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the audio element from the external content source comprises one of a radio broadcast;

an audio portion of a television broadcast;

a source for audio news;

a reading of a website, newspaper, magazine or book;

a podcast; and

a reading of a social media update.

62. The method according to claim 50, wherein the audio element comprises scheduling information associated with the source identifier;

and wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises conducting a look-up within a storage entity for the scheduling information using the source identifier.

63. The method according to claim 50, wherein the determining an audio element to convey to the source device comprises determining an audio element to convey to the source device using the source and destination identifiers.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein the audio element comprises an audio element associated with a user of the destination device.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the audio element associated with the user of the destination device comprises a reminder message for a user of the source device associated with the user of the destination device.

66. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining a media element to convey to the source device;

initiating conveying of the media element to the source device via the media connection with the source device; and

causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein the media element comprises at least one of a video element, an image element and a text element to be displayed on the source device.

68. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

causing establishment of the media connection between the source and destination devices; and

causing initiation of a call feature within the media connection between the source and destination devices.

69. The method according to claim 68, wherein the call feature is a call record feature and the causing initiation of the call feature comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices.

70. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining whether to initiate a call feature;

causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices; and

causing initiation of the call feature within the media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining to initiate the call feature.

71. The method according to claim 70, wherein the call feature is a call record feature and the causing initiation of the call feature comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining to initiate the call feature.

72. The method according to claim 70, wherein the determining whether to initiate a call feature comprises:

conveying a media message to the source device, the media message comprising a call feature message prompting a user of the source device to provide an indication of acceptance for a call feature, and determining whether a user of the source device has provided acceptance for the call feature.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein the call feature is a call record feature and the causing initiation of the call feature comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining that the user of the source device has provided an indication of acceptance for the call feature.

74. The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination identifier comprises a call feature identifier associated with a call feature and the destination device comprises a device associated with the call feature;

and the method further comprises;

establishing the media connection with the source device;

receiving a second destination identifier from the source device, the second destination identifier being associated with a destination device to which the source device is to be connected within the outgoing call;

causing establishment of a media connection between the source device and the destination device to which the source device is to be connected within the outgoing call; and

causing initiation of the call feature within the media connection between the source device and the destination device to which the source device is to be connected within the outgoing call.

75. The method according to claim 74 further comprising conveying a media message to the source device prior to the receiving of the second destination identifier, the media message comprising a call destination message prompting a user of the source device to provide a destination identifier associated with a destination device to which the source device is to be connected within the outgoing call.

76. The method according to claim 74, wherein the call feature is a call record feature and the causing initiation of the call feature comprises causing recording of media on the media connection between the source device and the destination device to which the source device is to be connected within the outgoing call.

77. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

establishing the media connection with the source device;

determining whether a matter associated with the source identifier requires to be addressed prior to establishment of the outgoing call; and

causing establishment of a media connection between the source device and an entity for addressing the matter upon determining that the matter associated with the source identifier requires to be addressed prior to establishment of the outgoing call.

78. The method according to claim 77 further comprising conveying a media message to the source device, the media message comprising information related to the matter associated with the source identifier.

79. The method according to claim 77 further comprising causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices upon determining that the matter associated with the source identifier does not require to be addressed prior to establishment of the outgoing call.

80. The method according to claim 77, wherein the matter associated with the source identifier comprises a service provider matter associated with a service provider that enables a telephony service associated with the source identifier, and the entity for addressing the matter comprises a customer service system.

81. The method according to claim 80 further comprising conveying a media message to the source device, the media message comprising a service provider matter message providing information related to the service provider matter.

82. The method according to claim 81, wherein the service provider matter comprises at least one of a past due payment, credit, debit, status and termination related to a telephony service associated with the source identifier.

83. A call processing system for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device for connection to a destination device, the source device to effect telephonic communications using a switched telephone network comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP), the call processing system comprising:

a network interface for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message via an IP network from a signaling converter, the SIP message comprising a call request message for the outgoing call comprising source and destination identifiers associated with the source and destination devices respectively, the signalling converter operative to receive an SS7 message from the SSP in response to initiation of the outgoing call by the source device in the switched telephone network and to convert the SS7 message to the SIP message;

a processing entity for selectively determining using the source identifier whether to cause a media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system;

wherein the network interface is further for transmitting a routing message to the SSP via the IP network upon the processing entity selectively determining to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system, the routing message to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system.

84. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) message initiated by an Off Hook Delay trigger on the SSP.

85. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the routing message comprises a second SIP message and the network interface is for transmitting the second SIP message to the signaling converter for converting the second SIP message to a second SS7 message and transmitting the second SS7 message to the SSP.

86. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the network interface is further for transmitting a reject message to the SSP via the IP network upon the processing entity determining not to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system, the reject message to cause the SSP to cause establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

87. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the processing entity determines to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system if the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device using the source identifier and the destination identifier.

88. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the processing entity determines to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system if the source identifier is associated with a call feature.

89. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the processing entity determines to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system if a message is desired to be conveyed to a user associated with the source identifier.

90. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the network interface is further for establishing the media connection with the source device;

and wherein the processing entity is further for conveying a media message to the source device via the media connection with the source device.

91. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the network interface is further for establishing the media connection with the source device;

and wherein the processing entity is further for determining a media element to convey to the source device, for initiating conveying of the media element to the source device via the media connection with the source device, and for causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

92. The call processing system according to claim 83, wherein the processing entity is further for causing establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices and for causing initiation of a call feature within the media connection between the source and destination devices.

93. A network for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device for connection to a destination device, the source device to effect telephonic communications using a switched telephone network comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP), the network comprising:

a signaling converter for receiving an SS7 message from the SSP in response to initiation of the outgoing call by the source device in the switched telephone network and to convert the SS7 message to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, the SIP message comprising a call request message for the outgoing call comprising source and destination identifiers associated with the source and destination devices respectively;

a call processing system for receiving the SIP message from the signaling converter, for selectively determining using the source identifier whether to cause a media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system and for causing transmission of a routing message to the SSP via signaling converter upon determining to cause the media connection to be established;

the routing message to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system.

94. A non-transitory computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a call processing system to perform a method for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device, the source device to effect telephonic communications using a switched telephone network comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP), the program element comprising:

first program code for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message via an IP network from a signaling converter, the SIP message comprising a call request message for the outgoing call comprising source and destination identifiers associated with the source and destination devices respectively, the signalling converter operative to receive an SS7 message from the SSP in response to initiation of the outgoing call by the source device in the switched telephone network and to convert the SS7 message to the SIP message;

second program code for selectively determining whether to cause a media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system using the source identifier; and

third program code for causing transmission of a routing message to the SSP via the IP network upon determining to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system, the routing message to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system.