Method and system for providing a work-at-home telecommunication service

• US 6,252,953 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gruchala, Carol S., Morrison, John P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US08/723,853
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/220, 379/207, 379/142, 379/127, 379/373, 379/134, 379/229, 379/265, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/207.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A work-at-home telecommunication service is provided in response to receiving, from a calling party, a service-specific vertical feature code and a dialed number to initiate a call. The call is suspended and a query is sent to a service control point after receiving the vertical feature code and the dialed number. The query includes the dialed number and a calling party identification number. A response to the query is formed using the service control point by translating the dialed number to a called party identification number, and by modifying the calling party identification number to an identification number of a group associated with the calling party. The response includes the called party identification number, the calling party identification number, and a carrier identification code which identifies a telecommunication carrier for the group associated with the calling party. The call is routed to the called party using the telecommunication carrier identified by the carrier identification code. A distinctive ring can be provided at the called party to indicate that the call is associated with the work-at-home telecommunication service.

Claims

1. A system for providing a work-at-home telecommunication service, the system comprising:

a service control point;

a service switching point which receives a service-specific, vertical feature code and a dialed number from a calling party initiating a call, the service switching point operative to suspend the call and to send a query to the service control point after receiving the vertical feature code and the dialed number, the query including the dialed number and a calling party identification number;

wherein the service control point forms a response to the query by translating the dialed number to form a called party identification number and by modifying the calling party identification number to an identification number of a group associated with the calling party;

wherein the response includes the called party identification number, the calling party identification number, and a carrier identification code which identifies a telecommunication carrier for the group associated with the calling party; and

wherein the service switching point routes the call to the called party using the telecommunication carrier for the group.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dialed number includes a seven-digit number conforming to a standard dialing plan format.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the service control point translates the seven-digit number by prefixing the seven-digit number with a predetermined string of digits.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the dialed number includes a ten-digit number conforming to a standard dialing plan format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein after receiving the dialed number, the service switching point receives an end-of-dialing indication from the calling party.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the end-of-dialing indication includes a “

#”

dialed by the calling party.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the service switching point receives a privacy access code prior to receiving the dialed number, and wherein the service control point restricts a passing of the calling party identification number to the called party in response thereto.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the privacy access code includes “

*67”

.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the service switching point creates a record of the call based upon the identification number of the group associated with the calling party included in the response.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the calling party identification number includes an ANI number.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein a distinctive ring is provided at the called party to indicate that the call is associated with the work-at-home telecommunication service.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the dialed number includes a private virtual network number.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the call is routed upon receiving a predetermined personal identification number.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the service control point forms a response to the query by modifying a charge number parameter to an identification number of a group associated with the calling party.

14. A method of providing a work-at-home telecommunication service, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, from a calling party, a service-specific, vertical feature code and a dialed number to initiate a call;

(b) suspending the call and sending a query to a service control point after receiving the vertical feature code and the dialed number, the query including the dialed number and a calling party identification number;

(c) forming a response to the query using the service control point by translating the dialed number to a called party identification number and by modifying the calling party identification number to an identification number of a group associated with the calling party, the response including the called party identification number, the calling party identification number, and a carrier identification code which identifies a telecommunication carrier for the group associated with the calling party; and

(d) routing the call to the called party using the telecommunication carrier identified by the carrier identification code.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the dialed number includes a seven-digit number conforming to a standard dialing plan format.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the service control point translates the seven-digit number by prefixing the seven-digit number with a predetermined string of digits.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the dialed number includes a ten-digit number conforming to a standard dialing plan format.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising a step of receiving an end-of-dialing indication from the calling party after receiving the dialed number.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the end-of-dialing indication includes a “

#”

dialed by the calling party.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of receiving a privacy access code prior to receiving the dialed number, and wherein the service control point restricts a passing of the calling party identification number to the called party in response thereto.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the privacy access code includes “

*67”

.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of creating a record of the call based upon the identification number of the group associated with the calling party included in the response.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the calling party identification number includes an ANI number.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

(e) providing a distinctive ring at the called party to indicate that the call is associated with the work-at-home telecommunication service.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the dialed number includes a private virtual network number.

26. The method of claim 14 wherein the call is routed upon receiving a predetermined personal identification number.

28. The method of claim 14 wherein (c) comprises forming a response to the query by modifying a charge number parameter to an identification number of a group associated with the calling party.