System and method for establishing long distance call connections using electronic text messages

• US 20020136390A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC, Innosys Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Softalk, Inc. (Dynatec International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lang, Alexander C., Balcerzak, Piotr
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/222
• 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 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• 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 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/48 Sending information over a non-traffic network channel or another connection than the one actually used, e.g. signalling, D-channel, data and voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A method and system adapted to receive electronic text messages and generate connection request messages used to establish toll call connections. The system includes a call control database, customer profile database, billing database, call control node, and point of presence switch that interfaces with the PSTN. The electronic text messages are received through the Internet and may be electronic mail, short message service, or instant text messages.

Claims

1. A method of providing toll telephone service, comprising steps of:

a) receiving an electronic text message sent to a predetermined address by a customer who wishes to initiate a toll call between an originating number and at least one destination number;

b) parsing the electronic text message to extract information to permit the toll call to be initiated; and

c) initiating the toll call using the information extracted from the electronic text message.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of parsing further comprises steps of:

a) examining the electronic text message to determine if the electronic text message conforms to at least one predefined format; and

b) if the electronic text message does not conform to the at least one predefined format, formulating a reply message containing an error statement to report to the customer that the call request cannot be initiated.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of parsing further comprises a step of examining delimited portions of the electronic text message to determine whether respective delimited portions of the electronic text message conform to a specification for contents of the respective delimited portions.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising steps of:

a) inserting the extracted information into a connection request message; and

b) forwarding the connection request message to a call control database, which performs logical operations to determine whether the customer is entitled to initiate the toll call.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a step of determining whether an abort time has been specified in the electronic text message, and aborting the toll call if the abort time has been specified and the abort time has elapsed.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a step of sending an abort message to the customer to inform the customer that the toll call request was aborted.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a step of computing a default abort time if an abort time has not been specified, and aborting the toll call if the computed abort time has elapsed.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a step of computing the abort time by adding a predetermined time interval to a sent time extracted from a header of the electronic text message.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising steps of:

a) extracting a customer account identifier from the electronic text message; and

b) using the customer account identifier to search customer profile records for a valid customer account record, to determine whether the electronic text message originated from a customer authorized to initiate the call request.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a step of determining whether the customer has prearranged credit to cover a cost of the toll call, and formulating an electronic text response denying the toll call request if the customer does not have the prearranged credit.

11. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising steps of:

a) examining the information to determine whether an originating number has been explicitly specified;

b) if an originating number has not been explicitly specified, using a customer account identifier included in the electronic text message to retrieve a customer profile record; and

c) using a default originating number specified in the customer profile record to initiate the call.

12. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising steps of:

a) examining the information to determine whether an originating number has been implicitly specified;

b) if an originating number has been implicitly specified, using a customer account identifier included in the electronic text message to retrieve a customer profile record; and

c) using the customer profile record and an implicit specification in the electronic text message to retrieve an originating number from the customer profile record to initiate the call.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of using further comprises a step of using the customer profile and the implicit specification in the text message to retrieve an originating number/destination number pair to initiate the call.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of using further comprises a step of using the customer profile and the implicit specification in the text message to retrieve an originating number/destination number group to initiate a conference call.

15. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein initiating the call using the information extracted from the electronic text message comprises steps of:

a) passing instructions to a telephone switch instructing the telephone switch to initiate a first call to an originating number implicitly or explicitly specified in the electronic text message;

b) if the call to the originating number is answered, instructing the telephone switch to complete a second call to a destination number implicitly or explicitly specified in the electronic text message; and

c) instructing the telephone switch to bridge together the first and second telephone calls.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein if the electronic text message specifies more than destination number, the method further comprises steps of:

a) instructing the telephone switch to complete a telephone call to respective ones of the more than one destination numbers; and

b) as respective ones of the telephone numbers are called, instructing the telephone switch to bridge the respective telephone calls to the first and second telephone calls.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein if the originating number is explicitly specified, the method further comprises steps of:

a) extracting a customer account identifier from the electronic text message;

b) using the customer account identifier to retrieve a customer profile record; and

c) verifying that the explicitly specified originating number is one in a list of originating numbers specified in the customer profile record.

18. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein if the electronic text message includes a personal identification number (PIN) and an originating number, the method further comprises steps of:

d) extracting a customer account identifier from the electronic text message;

e) using the customer account identifier to retrieve a customer profile record;

f) verifying that the PIN is stored in the customer profile record, and completing the call to the originating number.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a step of prior to completing the call to the originating number, determining whether the number of uses of the PIN has exceeded a predefined limit before completing the call, and only completing the call if the number of uses has not been exceeded.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein if the originating number is not one in the list of originating numbers specified in the customer profile record, the method further comprises steps of:

a) placing a first call to the originating number;

b) when the first call is answered, placing a second call to a device adapted to collect information from a party who answers the call to the originating number;

c) bridging the first and second calls, and operating the device to request that an authorization code be input by the party; and

d) comparing the authorization code input to an authorization code stored in the customer profile record.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein if the step of comparing determines that the authorization codes match, the method further comprises a step of:

e) releasing the call to the device;

f) placing a third call to the destination number specified in the electronic text message; and

g) bridging the first and third calls together.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein if the step of comparing determines that the authorization codes do not match, the method further comprises a step of:

g) operating the device to play a message to announce that the authorization codes did not match and inviting a re-input of the authorization code; and

h) comparing the re-input authorization code to the authorization code stored in the customer profile record.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein if the step of comparing again determines that the authorization codes do not match, the method further comprises a step of:

i) operating the device to play a message to announce that the authorization codes did not match and informing the party that the call will be terminated; and

j) releasing the first and second calls.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a step of sending a message to the customer and the long distance service provider to inform each that an attempt to place a call from a new originating number failed because the authorization code was not input correctly.

26. A system as claimed in claim 23 wherein the electronic text message parser is adapted to parse electronic text message to determine whether the electronic text message conforms to at least one predetermined format, and to formulate a response to the electronic text message if the electronic text message does not conform to the at least one predetermined format.

27. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the electronic text parser is adapted to parse delimited portions of the electronic text message to determine whether the respective delimited portions conform to respective predetermined specifications, and to formulate a response to the electronic text message if the respective delimited portions not conform to the predetermined specifications.

28. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the electronic text parser is adapted to pass the extracted information to the toll call origination equipment in a connection request message.

29. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the toll call origination equipment comprises;

a call control database for receiving the connection request message and examining the extracted information to determine whether the information is complete, and to verify the entitlement of the customer to place the call;

a call controller for receiving call connection instructions related to the toll call from the call control database; and

a telephone switch connected to a switched telephone network, the telephone switch being adapted to receive instructions from the call controller, to establish first and second calls in response to the instructions, and to bridge together the first and second calls.

30. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the electronic text messages are any one of electronic mail messages;

short message service messages; and

, instant text messages.

25. A system for providing long distance telephone service, comprising:

a) an electronic text message parser that receives an electronic text message from a customer that wishes to place a toll call, and parses the electronic text message to extract information required to set up the toll call; and

b) toll call origination equipment that receives the information and places the toll call for the customer.