System and method for control of communications connections and notifications

• US 8,050,394 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gryphon Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gryphon Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Fotta, Keith A., Boudrieau, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/242,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/351, 370/352, 370/389, 370/400, 370/431, 370/188, 370196-200, 370/210.02, 370/210.03, 379/188, 379196-200, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 37911414-1142
• US Class Current: 379/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26

Abstract

A method of implementing call compliance at a central facility through account specific access, the method involving: receiving a call from a caller on an incoming connection; obtaining and verifying account information; enabling the caller on the incoming connection to initiate an outgoing call on an outgoing connection depending on account information; receiving over the incoming connection an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated over the outgoing connection; checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination; if it is determined that the destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place over the outgoing connection; and if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.

Claims

1. A method of providing call compliance, the method comprising:

receiving at a connection unit a call from a caller on an incoming connection of the connection unit;

receiving an authentication number from the caller on the incoming connection;

verifying at a computer server the authentication number against an account database to evaluate corresponding account information;

enabling at the computer server the caller on the incoming connection to initiate an outgoing call on an outgoing connection based on the account information;

receiving over the incoming connection an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated over the outgoing connection;

providing at the computer server call compliance treatment to the outgoing call to the destination; and

updating at the computer server the account information based on the outgoing call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication number is a pre-registered ANI.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication number is an account number and a corresponding PIN.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the call compliance treatment comprises:

checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination;

if it is determined that the destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place over the outgoing connection; and

if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the call compliance treatment occurs at a central switching facility or a distributed access facility.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving said call includes receiving a telephone call from the caller.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier is a telephone number of the destination.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein checking the do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination includes determining whether the called telephone number is present in the do-not-call database and if present, treating the destination as a do-not-call destination.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising, if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, monitoring the call for an occurrence of an update signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, monitoring the call for an occurrence of an update signal from the caller, said update signal being an indication to identify said destination as a do-not-call destination in said database.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, detecting an update signal from the caller and in response to detecting said update signal, identifying said destination as a do-not-call destination in said database.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the incoming connection is a 1-800 line, a local access number or any other means of access.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

enabling the caller on the incoming connection to initiate a next outgoing call;

receiving over the incoming connection a next identifier of a next destination to which the next outgoing call is to be initiated;

checking the do-not-call database for an indication of whether the next destination is a do-not-call destination;

if it is determined that the next destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place; and

if it is determined that the next destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging fees to the account based on the length of the incoming or outgoing call or both.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an identification number from the caller further comprises receiving an indication to exempt an outgoing call from call compliance treatment.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising charging fees to the account based on a combination of any of a periodic maintenance fee, the call treatment, length of the incoming call and length of the outgoing call.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing any of a web based interface, live operator, and mail to activate an account and its corresponding account number.

18. A method of implementing call compliance at a central facility, said method comprising:

receiving at a connection unit a call from a caller on an incoming connection of the connection unit;

receiving an authentication number from the caller on the incoming connection;

verifying at a computer server the authentication number against an account database to determine whether a corresponding account is active;

enabling at the computer server the caller on the incoming connection to initiate a plurality of outgoing calls from the central facility if the account is active;

receiving over the incoming connection a plurality of identifiers of destinations to which calls are to be initiated from the central facility;

at the computer server, for each of the plurality of identifiers;

(1) checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination for that received identifier is a do-not-call destination;

(2) if it is determined that the destination for that received identifier is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place; and

(3) if it is determined that the destination for that received identifier is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.

19. A system for providing call compliance, said system comprising:

a connection unit having an incoming connection and an outgoing connection, the incoming connection capable of receiving a call into the system, receiving an authentication number from a caller, and receiving an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated, the outgoing connection capable of initiating the call to the destination;

an account database containing account information;

a computer server for verifying the authentication number against the account database to evaluate corresponding account information, for determining whether the caller on the incoming connection can initiate an outgoing call, updating account information based on the outgoing call and for providing call compliance treatment to the outgoing call to the destination.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the authentication number is a pre-registered ANI.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the authentication number is an account number and a corresponding PIN.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the computer server provides call compliance treatment by:

checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination;

if it is determined that the destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place over the outgoing connection; and

if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the call compliance treatment occurs at a central switching facility or a distributed access facility.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein receiving said call involves receiving a telephone call from the caller.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the identifier is a telephone number of the destination.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein checking the do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination includes determining whether the called telephone number is present in the do-not-call database and if present, treating the destination as a do-not-call destination.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the call compliance treatment further comprises:

if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, monitoring the call for an occurrence of an update signal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the call compliance treatment further comprises:

if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, monitoring the call for an occurrence of an update signal from the caller, said update signal being an indication to identify said destination as a do-not-call destination in said database.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the call compliance treatment further comprises:

if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination and after allowing the call to take place, detecting an update signal from the caller and in response to detecting said update signal identifying said destination as a do-not-call destination in said database.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the incoming connection is a 1-800 line, a local access number or any other means of access.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer server is further capable of charging fees to an account based on the length of the incoming or outgoing call or both.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein the connection unit is further capable of receiving an indication to exempt an outgoing call from call compliance treatment.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer server is further capable of charging fees to the account based on a combination of any of a periodic maintenance fee, the call treatment, length of the incoming call and length of the outgoing call.

34. The system of claim 19 further comprising any of a web based interface, live operator, and mail to activate an account and its corresponding account number.

35. A system for providing call compliance, said system comprising:

a connection unit having an incoming connection and an outgoing connection, the incoming connection capable of receiving a call into the system, receiving an authentication number from a caller, and receiving an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated, the outgoing connection capable of initiating the call to the destination;

an account database containing account information;

a computer server for verifying the authentication number against the account database to evaluate corresponding account information, for determining whether the caller on the incoming connection can to initiate an outgoing call, updating account information based on the outgoing call; and

for providing call compliance treatment to the outgoing call to the destination by;

(i) checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination;

(ii) if it is determined that the destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place over the outgoing connection; and

(iii) if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.

36. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program codes for execution by a processor to perform functions, the functions comprising:

receiving a call from a caller on an incoming connection;

receiving an authentication number from the caller on the incoming connection;

verifying the authentication number against an account database to evaluate corresponding account information;

enabling the caller on the incoming connection to initiate an outgoing call on an outgoing connection based on account information;

receiving over the incoming connection an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated over the outgoing connection;

providing call compliance treatment to the outgoing call to the destination; and

updating account information based on the outgoing call.