Dialing plan service including outgoing call screening, remote tie-line routing, call data reporting and billing

• US 6,490,345 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stroud, Kenneth Robert, Fleischer, Harold C. III, Simino, John E., Morales, Louis Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/760,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20020136374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/112.05, 379/112.06, 379/114.01, 379/114.02, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/121.01, 379/121.02, 379/121.05, 379/126, 379/133, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/210.02, 379/211.01, 379/216.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.09, 379/221.14, 379/222, 379/188, 379/196, 379/198
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• 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 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• 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 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number

Abstract

A method and system include screening and routing telephone calls, generating calling data reports and discounting billing for a customer'"'"'s wide area centrex/PBX network, which includes an abbreviated dialing plan. A service control point (SCP) determines whether to block an outgoing call based on stored blocking tables and a privilege class of the calling station. The SCP determines whether to route the call through a private trunk group from a host switch to a private facility, and through an alternative trunk group when the private trunk group is unavailable. The SCP determines whether the call is eligible for discounted billing and generates a billing record, which is modified by a service switching point to indicate the discount. The SCP also samples calling data from service switching points and transmits the sampled data to a front end processor for formatting into station message detail recording (SMDR) data.

Claims

1. A method for restricting destinations that a telephone call from a calling station can reach, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan to which the calling station subscribes, the calling station attempting to call a destination at a called number, at least one privilege class being assigned to the calling station, the method comprising:

ascertaining the assigned privilege class of the calling station;

associating at least one blocking table with each privilege class, each blocking table having a blocking table type;

determining whether a call type code, which is based on the calling station and the destination, corresponds to one of the blocking table types;

when a call type code correspondence exists, determining whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table corresponding to the telephone call;

when a privilege class correspondence does not exist, bypassing validation of the called number;

when the privilege class correspondence exists, validating the dialed telephone number, and either blocking the call when the called number is validated or continuing call processing when the called number is not validated;

wherein the blocking tables are enabled based on privilege classes;

determining whether the call type code is eligible for discounted billing;

when the call type code is eligible, generating a unique billing record;

modifying the billing record; and

discounting the billing for a completed call based upon the modified billing record; and

when the call type code is ineligible, creating a normal billing record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating calling data for the telephone call;

sampling the calling data at a service control point;

interfacing with a front end server;

receiving the sampled calling data at the front end server;

formatting the sampled calling data into station message detail recording (SMDR) data;

receiving and storing the SMDR data at a host central processing unit; and

generating an SMDR report from the SMDR data for reference by the customer.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the interfacing with the front end server comprises transmitting the calling data from the service control point to a data distributor, the data distributor storing and sorting the calling data, and transmitting the calling data to the front end server via an interface.

4. A system for restricting destinations that a telephone call from a calling station can reach, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan to which the calling station subscribes, the calling station attempting to call a destination at a called number, at least one privilege class being assigned to the calling station, the system comprising:

a service control point that stores at least one blocking table and a privilege class control table, the privilege class control table associating the at least one blocking table with each privilege class, each blocking table having a blocking table type, the service control point ascertaining the assigned privilege class of the calling station, and determining whether a call type code, which is based on the calling station and the called destination, corresponds to one of the blocking table types;

wherein when a call type code correspondence exists, the service control point determines whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table corresponding to the telephone call;

wherein when a privilege class correspondence does not exist, the service control point bypasses validation of the called number, and when the privilege class correspondence exists, the service control point validates the called number, and either blocks the call when the called number is validated or continues call processing when the called number is not validated;

wherein the blocking tables are enabled based on privilege classes;

wherein the service control point determines whether the call type code is eligible for discounted billing; and

when the call type code is eligible, generates a unique billing record that is forwarded to a service switching point; and

the service switching point, associated with the calling station, that receives the forwarded unique billing record modifies the billing record to indicate that a discount should be applied to the billing for the call when the call is completed;

wherein when the service switching point does not receive the unique billing record, the service switching point creates a normal billing record.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the service switching point collects calling data while processing the telephone call;

and

wherein the service control point samples the calling data from the service switching point;

the system further comprising a front end server that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and formats the sampled calling data into a station message detail recording (SMDR) format; and

a host central processing unit that receives the SMDR formatted data from the front end server and generates a calling report from the SMDR formatted data, the calling report being accessible by the customer.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a data distributor that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and transmits the sampled calling data to the front end server via an interface.

7. A method for efficiently routing a call from a centrex or PBX system through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a plurality of trunk groups, including at least one private trunk group, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s bill for telephone calls completed to an automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) host switch, the method comprising:

setting a called party ID to correspond to an ASF-RTL telephone number;

routing the call from a first switch to the ASF-RTL switch hosting the telephone number via a public trunk group;

routing the call from the ASF-RTL host switch to a private customer facility hosting the called party number via a private trunk group;

determining whether the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL;

determining whether the call is eligible for the billing discounting;

when the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL, and when the call is an eligible call;

modifying the billing record in accordance with a preestablished agreement, and discounting the billing based upon the modified billing record; and

when the customer does not subscribe to billing discounting for ASF-RTL or when the call is not eligible for the billing discounting, creating a normal billing record;

wherein the customer receives a reduced periodic charge for eligible calls employing the ASF-RTL host switch.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the discounting further comprises discounting a public switched telephone number (PSTN) leg of the call from the calling station to the ASF-RTL host switch.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating calling data for the telephone call;

sampling the calling data at a service control point;

interfacing with a front end server;

receiving the sampled calling data at the front end server;

formatting the sampled calling data into station message detail recording (SMDR) data;

receiving and storing the SMDR data at a host central processing unit; and

generating an SMDR report from the SMDR data for reference by the customer.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interfacing with the front end server comprises transmitting the calling data from the service control point to a data distributor, the data distributor storing and sorting the calling data, and transmitting the calling data to the front end server via an interface.

11. A system for efficiently routing a call from a centrex or PBX system through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a plurality of trunk groups, including at least one private trunk group associated with an automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) telephone number, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s bill for telephone calls completed, the system comprising:

a service control point that processes telephone calls;

a first service switching point that queries said service control point in response to the call from the centrex or PBX system;

a second service switching point comprising an ASF-RTL host switch for the at least one private trunk associated with the ASF-RTL telephone number; and

a third service switching point comprising a private facility of the customer;

wherein the service control point determines from the query whether the call is subject to routing through the second switching point, and if so, instructs the first service switching point to route the call to the second service switching point;

wherein the second service switching point routes the call to the third service switching point via the private trunk group associated with the ASF-RTL telephone number;

wherein the service control point determines whether the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL, and determines whether the call is eligible for the billing discounting; and

when the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL, and when the call is an eligible call;

the service control point generates a unique billing record, and forwards the unique billing record to a selected service switching point;

wherein the selected service switching point receives the forwarded unique billing record, and modifies the billing record to indicate that a discount should be applied to the billing for the call when the call is completed;

wherein when the selected service switching point does not receive the unique billing record, the selected service switching point creates a normal billing record; and

wherein the customer receives a reduced periodic charge for eligible calls employing the ASF-RTL host switch.

12. The system of claim 11, in which the modifying by the selected service switching point further comprises discounting a public switched telephone number (PSTN) leg of the call from the calling station to the ASF-RTL host switch.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least the first service switching point collects calling data while processing the telephone call;

and

wherein the service control point samples calling data from at least the first service switching point;

the system further comprising a front end server that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and formats the sampled calling data into a station message detail recording (SMDR) format; and

a host central processing unit that receives the SMDR formatted data from the front end server and generates a calling report from the SMDR formatted data, the calling report being accessible by the customer.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a data distributor that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and transmits the sampled calling data to the front end server via an interface.

15. A method for screening and routing a telephone call from a calling station, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan to which the calling station subscribes, the calling station attempting to call a destination at a called number, at least one privilege class being assigned to the calling station, the method comprising:

ascertaining the assigned privilege class of the calling station;

associating at least one blocking table with each privilege class, each blocking table having a blocking table type;

determining whether a call type code, which is based on the calling station and the destination, corresponds to one of the blocking table types;

when a call type code correspondence exists, determining whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table corresponding to the telephone call;

when a privilege class correspondence does not exist, bypassing validation of the called number;

when the privilege class correspondence exists, validating the dialed telephone number, and either blocking the call when the called number is validated or continuing call processing when the called number is not validated;

wherein the blocking tables are enabled based on privilege classes;

setting a called party ID to correspond to an ASF-RTL telephone number;

routing the call from a first switch to an ASF-RTL switch hosting the telephone number via a public trunk group;

routing the call from the ASF-RTL host switch to a private customer facility hosting the called party number via a private trunk group;

determining whether the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL;

determining whether the call is eligible for the billing discounting;

when the customer subscribes to billing discounting for ASF-RTL, and when the call is an eligible call;

modifying the billing record in accordance with a preestablished agreement, and discounting the billing based upon the modified billing record;

when the customer does not subscribe to billing discounting for ASF-RTL or when the call is not eligible for the billing discounting, creating a normal billing record;

wherein the customer receives a reduced periodic charge for eligible calls employing the ASF-RTL host switch;

generating calling data for the telephone call;

sampling the calling data at a service control point;

interfacing with a front end server;

receiving the sampled calling data at the front end server;

formatting the sampled calling data into station message detail recording (SMDR) data;

receiving and storing the SMDR data at a host central processing unit; and

generating an SMDR report from the SMDR data for reference by the customer.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the discounting further comprises discounting a public switched telephone number (PSTN) leg of the call from the calling station to the ASF-RTL host switch.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the interfacing with the front end server comprises transmitting the calling data from the service control point to a data distributor, the data distributor storing and sorting the calling data, and transmitting the calling data to the front end server via an interface.

18. A system for screening and routing a telephone call from a calling station, and for discounting a customer'"'"'s billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan to which the calling station subscribes, the calling station attempting to call a destination at a called number, at least one privilege class being assigned to the calling station, the system comprising:

a service control point that stores at least one blocking table and a privilege class control table, the privilege class control table associating the at least one blocking table with each privilege class, each blocking table having a blocking table type, the service control point ascertaining the assigned privilege class of the calling station, and determining whether a call type code, which is based on the calling station and the called destination, corresponds to one of the blocking table types;

wherein when a call type code correspondence exists, the service control point determines whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table corresponding to the telephone call; and

wherein when a privilege class correspondence does not exist, the service control point bypasses validation of the called number, and when the privilege class correspondence exists, the service control point validates the called number, and either blocks the call when the called number is validated or continues call processing when the called number is not validated;

a first service switching point, associated with the calling station, that queries the service control point in response to the call from the calling station, the service control point sampling calling data from at least the first service switching point;

a second service switching point comprising an ASF-RTL host switch for at least one private trunk group associated with an automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) telephone number; and

a third service switching point comprising a private facility of the customer;

wherein the service control point determines whether the call type code is eligible for at least one of a discounted billing and an ASF-RTL discounted billing; and

when the call type code is eligible, generates a unique billing record that is forwarded to the first service switching point;

wherein the first service switching point that receives the forwarded unique billing record modifies the billing record to indicate that a discount should be applied to the billing for the call when the call is completed, the first service switching point collects calling data while processing the telephone call, and the first service switching point creates a normal billing record when it does not receive the unique billing record;

wherein the service control point determines from the query from the first service switching point whether the call is subject to routing through the second switching point, and if so, instructs the first service switching point to route the call to the second service switching point; and

wherein the second service switching point routes the call to the third service switching point via the private trunk group associated with the ASF-RTL telephone number;

a front end server that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and formats the sampled calling data into a station message detail recording (SMDR) format; and

a host central processing unit that receives the SMDR formatted data from the front end server and generates a calling report from the SMDR formatted data, the calling report being accessible by the customer.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a data distributor that receives the sampled calling data from the service control point and transmits the sampled calling data to the front end server via an interface.

20. The system of claim 18, in which the modifying by the first service switching point further comprises discounting a PSTN leg of the call from the calling station to the ASF-RTL host switch.