Real time administration of shared communication plan arrangements
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network, a method of establishing a communication session comprising the steps of:
- grouping a plurality of telecommunications stations into a shared plan group;
initializing a first database comprising data for determining for each member of said shared plan group which communication terminals can be called by the member and from which communication terminals the member can be called;
responsive to receipt of a request for a communication session, determining whether the requesting or the requested terminal is part of a shared plan group;
if said requesting or requested terminal is part of a shared plan group, determining whether the requesting terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requested terminal and whether the requested terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requesting terminal;
if the communication session is authorized, completing the call;
wherein only an authorized member of the shared communication plan group authorized to change data in the shared plan database can change said data in the shared plan database; and
responsive to receipt of a request from a station authorized to change the shared plan data file, editing said shared plan data file;
wherein the shared plan data file can be updated in real time based on input from said authorized member of the shared plan group;
wherein said authorized member is identified in said first database as the member authorized to change data in the shared database.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing real time updates of a database describing the features of individual terminals of a shared plan telecommunications group for communication sessions from and to that individual terminal. The characteristics (numbering plan, incoming and outgoing screening, alternate routing, types of service provided) of each of the individual stations of the shared communication plan are stored in a database accessed through a server. The database can be updated in real time by a designated one of the stations in the shared group. The designated station can also handle appeals for an exception to the restrictions stored in the database. The designated station can receive immediate or periodic information on activity of individual stations, or can receive such information on request. Advantageously, updates of the database can be implemented immediately and economically without requiring assistance of the personnel of the carrier, and the designated station can control communications for the group.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a telecommunications network, a method of establishing a communication session comprising the steps of:
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grouping a plurality of telecommunications stations into a shared plan group;
initializing a first database comprising data for determining for each member of said shared plan group which communication terminals can be called by the member and from which communication terminals the member can be called;responsive to receipt of a request for a communication session, determining whether the requesting or the requested terminal is part of a shared plan group;
if said requesting or requested terminal is part of a shared plan group, determining whether the requesting terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requested terminal and whether the requested terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requesting terminal;if the communication session is authorized, completing the call;
wherein only an authorized member of the shared communication plan group authorized to change data in the shared plan database can change said data in the shared plan database; andresponsive to receipt of a request from a station authorized to change the shared plan data file, editing said shared plan data file; wherein the shared plan data file can be updated in real time based on input from said authorized member of the shared plan group; wherein said authorized member is identified in said first database as the member authorized to change data in the shared database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a telecommunications network, apparatus for establishing a communication session, comprising:
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means for grouping a plurality of telecommunications stations into a shared plan group; means for initializing a first database comprising data for determining for each member of said shared plan group which communication terminals can be called by the member and from which communication terminals the member can be called; means, responsive to receipt of a request for a communication session, for determining whether the requesting or the requested terminal is part of a shared plan group; if said requesting or requested terminal is part of a shared plan group, means for determining whether the requesting terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requested terminal and whether the requested terminal is authorized to establish a communication session with the requesting terminal; if the communication session is authorized, means for completing the call;
wherein only an authorized member of the shared communication plan group authorized to change data in the shared plan database can change said data in the shared plan database; andmeans, responsive to receipt of a request from a station authorized to change the shared plan data file, for editing said shared plan data file; wherein the shared plan data file can be updated in real time based on input from said authorized member of the shared plan group; wherein said authorized member is identified in said first database as the member authorized to change data in the shared database. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification