Methods and systems for call processing

• US 8,000,455 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Eric, Giannini, David, Van Haaften, Adrian, Day, John R., Duva, Robert, Smith, Robert, Trandal, David S., Hofstatter, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/520,439
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/90.01, 379/114.1, 379/142.02, 379/207.02, 379/207.13, 379/218.01, 379/221.15, 379/265.09, 379/88.19, 379/142.1, 379/215.01, 455/415, 705/14.64, 341/50
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/835 Time or frequency of notifications, e.g. Advice of Charge [AoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8355 after the end of the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/857 Cumulative charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/12 Counting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 : Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for processing calls. A call is received at a softswitch or other call processing system from a caller intended for a first subscriber. The first call is associated with signaling information, the signaling information including a phone number associated with the caller. A determination is made as to whether the first subscriber has previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch. If the first subscriber has not previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch, a first message is played to the caller. An indication that the first message was played to the caller is stored in association with an account record associated with the first subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a call from a calling party directed to a phone address associated with a called party, wherein signaling information associated with the call includes the calling party'"'"'s phone address;

determining if the called party has previously received a call from the calling party at the call processing system;

if the called party has not previously received a call from the calling party at the call processing system,

playing an offer message to the calling party,

storing an indication that the offer message was played to the calling party in association with an account record associated with the called party,

providing a first amount of call time at no charge to the called party;

subscribing the calling party;

storing an indication that the calling party has become a subscriber in association with the account record associated with the called party; and

providing a second amount of call time at no charge to the called party at least partly in response to said indication that the calling party has become a subscriber.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the calling party is subscribed to a call screening service, wherein messages being left on the call processing system are streamed in substantially real time to a telephone associated with the calling party.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the calling party is subscribed to a service wherein a determination is made as to whether a mobile device associated with the calling party is available, and if so, connecting at least one call to the mobile device, and if the mobile device is not available, connecting the at least one call to another telephone associated with the calling party.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting a notification in substantially real time to the called party at least partly related to playing the service offer message to the calling party.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a right to use the first, second, or first and second, amount of call time at no charge does not vest until a first event occurs.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a right to use the first, second, or first and second, amount of call time at no charge does not vest until a next billing cycle occurs.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing an audible message at least to the calling party, the audible message indicating that the called party has received a benefit related to the first, second, or first and second, amount of call time,

wherein the audible message is provided during the call.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

recording a message from the calling party; and

streaming the message to a telephonic device associated with the called party in substantially real time.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

placing an outcall from the call processing system to a destination associated with the called party; and

bridging the received call and the outcall.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call is placed by the calling party using an Internet protocol phone.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the received call is placed by the calling party using a phone configured to be used with a circuit switched network.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising canceling the first or second amount of call time if a first date is reached.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising canceling the first or second amount of call time if the called party'"'"'s account is not active.

14. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a first user, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with the caller and/or associated with a communication device from which the first call is placed;

accessing call history information associated with the first user;

based at least on the call history information, determining if a first offer message is to be played to the caller; and

if a determination is made that the first offer message is to be played,

playing at least a portion of a offer message to the caller,

storing in association with an identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive a benefit;

subscribing the caller;

storing an indication that the caller has become a subscriber; and

storing in association with the identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive a second benefit relating to calling services at least partly in response to said indication that the caller has become a subscriber.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the identification information associated with the caller is a phone address associated with a telephonic device from which the first call is placed.

16. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller via the call processing.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller within a designated period of time.

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein determining if the first offer message is to be played to the caller is based in part on an indication that at least one offer message had previously been played to the caller.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the caller is subscribed to a call screening service, wherein messages being left on the call processing system are streamed in substantially real time to a telephone associated with the caller.

20. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the caller is subscribed to a service wherein a determination is made as to whether a mobile device associated with the caller is available, and if so, connecting at least one call to the mobile device, and if the mobile device is not available, connecting the at least one call to another telephone associated with the caller.

21. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising transmitting a notification in substantially real time to the first user at least partly related to playing the service offer message to the caller.

22. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the benefit is related to telecommunication services.

23. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein a right to use the benefit does not vest until a first event occurs.

24. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein a right to use the benefit does not vest until a next billing cycle occurs.

25. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the benefit is call time at no charge or at a reduced charge.

26. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the benefit is an account credit.

27. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the benefit is a discount on call time.

28. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising providing an audible message at least to the caller, the audible message indicating that the first user has received the benefit,

wherein the audible message is provided during the first call.

29. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising recording a message from the caller for the first user during the first call prior to playing the first offer message to the caller.

30. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising recording a message from the caller during the first call for the first user after playing the first offer message to the caller.

31. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising:

recording a message from the caller; and

streaming the message to a telephonic device associated with the first user in substantially real time.

32. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising:

placing an outcall from the call processing system to a destination associated with the first user; and

bridging the first call and the outcall.

33. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the first call is placed by the caller using an Internet protocol phone.

34. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the first call is placed by the caller using a phone configured to be used with a switched circuit network.

35. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising associating the benefit with an expiration date.

36. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising canceling the benefit if the first user'"'"'s account is not active.

37. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the identification information is a phone address.

38. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising providing a user interface to the first user, the user interface providing a report on benefits granted to the first user as a result of calls directed to the first user and on the expiration dates of said benefits.

39. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising extending an expiration date associated with the benefit at least partly in response to the first user paying an account balance.

40. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a first user, the first call associated with signaling information, the signaling information including identification information associated with the caller;

accessing call history information;

based at least on the call history information, determining if a first offer message is to be provided to the caller;

if a determination is made that the first offer message is to be provided,

providing at least a portion of a offer message to the caller,

storing in association with an identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive a benefit;

subscribing the caller;

storing an indication that the caller has become a subscriber; and

storing in association with at least one identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive a second benefit relating to calling services at least partly in response to said indication that the caller has become a subscriber.

41. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller via the call processing system.

42. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller within a designated period of time.

43. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein determining if the first offer message is to be played to the caller is based in part on an indication that at least one offer message had previously been played to the caller.

44. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the caller is subscribed to a call screening service, wherein messages being left on the call processing system are streamed in substantially real time to a telephone associated with the caller.

45. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the caller is subscribed to a service wherein a determination is made as to whether a mobile device associated with the caller is available, and if so, connecting at least one call to the mobile device, and if the mobile device is not available, connecting the at least one call to another telephone associated with the caller.

46. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising transmitting a notification in substantially real time to the first user at least partly related to playing the service offer message to the caller.

47. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising transmitting a notification in substantially real time to the first user at least partly related to the benefit award.

48. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising connecting the first call to a mobile phone associated with the first user.

49. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein a right to use the benefit does not vest until a first event occurs.

50. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein a right to use the benefit does not vest until a next billing cycle occurs.

51. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit is related to telecommunications services.

52. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit is call time at no charge or at a reduced charge.

53. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit is call time at no charge or at a reduced charge, wherein a limit is placed on the amount of no-charge call time that can be earned in a specified period.

54. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit is call time at no charge or at a reduced charge, wherein a limit is placed on the amount of no-charge call time that can be used in a specified period.

55. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit is an account credit.

56. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing an audible message at least to the caller, the audible message indicating that the first user has received the benefit,

wherein the audible message is provided during the first call.

57. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising recording a message from the caller during the first call prior to playing the first offer message to the caller.

58. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising recording a message from the caller during the first call after playing the first offer message to the caller.

59. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising:

recording a message from the caller; and

streaming the message to a telephonic device associated with the first user in substantially real time.

60. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising:

placing an outcall from the call processing system to a destination associated with the first user; and

bridging the first call and the outcall.

61. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the first call is placed by the caller using an Internet protocol phone.

62. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the first call is placed by the caller using a phone configured to be used with a circuit switched network.

63. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising associating the benefit with an expiration date.

64. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising canceling the benefit if the first user'"'"'s account is not active.

65. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising transmitting an offer to purchase prepaid minutes to a telephone associated with the first user using a text and/or multimedia messaging service.

66. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the benefit has an associated expiration date.

67. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a user interface to the first user, the user interface providing a report on benefits granted to the first user as a result of calls directed to the first user and on an expiration dates of said benefits.

68. The method as defined in claim 40, the method further comprising providing a user interface to the first user via which the first user can instruct the system to connect the first user to the caller during the playing of the offer message.