CA2112060C - Apparatus and method for providing services prior to call completion in a telecommunication system - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for providing services prior to call completion in a telecommunication systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2112060C CA2112060C CA002112060A CA2112060A CA2112060C CA 2112060 C CA2112060 C CA 2112060C CA 002112060 A CA002112060 A CA 002112060A CA 2112060 A CA2112060 A CA 2112060A CA 2112060 C CA2112060 C CA 2112060C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- service node
- services
- party
- call request
- service
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/54—Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/4228—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in networks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/436—Arrangements for screening incoming calls, i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
- H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
- H04Q3/0029—Provisions for intelligent networking
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
Abstract
In a method implemented by a telecommunications switch, a call request is made for a called party having a predetermined directory number. A
determination is made if preconnection services are to be provided for the called party, and if such services are to be provided, a service node to provide the services is identified. A further determination is made if the call request is from other than the selected service node. If the call request is not from the selected service node, the call request is routed to the service node for preconnection services. If a call request is from the selected service node, the call is routed to the called party. This permits a selected service node to originate a separate call to the called party so that services can be provided on behalf of the called party in response to a call request made by a calling party. This method allows preconnection services to be provided without the requirement of multiple directory numbers being assigned to the called party.
determination is made if preconnection services are to be provided for the called party, and if such services are to be provided, a service node to provide the services is identified. A further determination is made if the call request is from other than the selected service node. If the call request is not from the selected service node, the call request is routed to the service node for preconnection services. If a call request is from the selected service node, the call is routed to the called party. This permits a selected service node to originate a separate call to the called party so that services can be provided on behalf of the called party in response to a call request made by a calling party. This method allows preconnection services to be provided without the requirement of multiple directory numbers being assigned to the called party.
Description
-`` 2~12~
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICES PRIOR -~ - -TO CALL COMPLETION IN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM -;
.::
Back~round of the Invention This ~ is generaUy directed tv services l,nv~idcd to ~ bi ' S in a t lec - - - system and is more ~r;fi~ y directed to services p.J.i~dto a called party ~,ts.~ . prior to the establishment of c~ - - - with thecalling party.
Modem ~le c 1 - systems are capable of p.o . ;~;ng a variety ~ ~ -of services for ~Jb~ , Swh serviees can be sc~regated into services ~.v.i~
10 prior to eall ~ p'( ~ and services p.v.i~cd after call c ~ "'rt ~ ~ Services can be furth characterized based upon whether the service is ~ ~d on behalf of the calling or called party. The primary foeus of this invendon acldresses services p,v.idcl prior to call r . Iefic on behalf of the ealled party. -Depending on the nature of the service to be ~ idcd, services can be 15 ~v.id~ by customer I ~m;s~s equipment such as a ~ instrument, a central -offlce switch, or a c - !~- controlled peripheral device (service node) coupled to the t~kco~ unication netwv~ Subseriber senrices whieh are rendered on behalf of the called party prior tv the completion of a ealling party's call to the called party must be pfv. idcd by the t~,lcco~nunieation system. Called party features, sueh as 20 "Sel~~ Call Aeeept~nee", may require the assignment of muldple di.~tv.~
numbers to the ealled party's line. F the Selc~ ti.~ Call Aeeeptance feature, the central offiee switeh of the eallet party rvutes the ineoming eall request to a serviee node such as a serviee eircuit node (SCN). The SCN eompares the ealling party's ~tv.~ number to a list of direetory num~rs previously selected by the called 25 party. The call is aeeepted and ruted to the ealled party only if a match is found. If a mateh is not found, the ealling party is not eonneeted to the ealled party; the treatment of a n~ d eall is defined by the t~ o.l.,nunieation system, e.g. aeco~ css~g~, could be played to the ca'.ling party or the calling party's call could be routed to an answering device. Such p.. e - - - - etil)n services typically 30 udlize architectures cont~uning a service node for ~,no~id;ng such services in cooperation with a central of fice switch.
In order to provide p..~ ~ lcc' ~r services, it may be required to assign the called party two dil~tv ~ numbers. Calls to a published ~tv.~ number of the s- bsc- i~ - are forwarded to an SCN for possible 1~ ~ c ~ nne cl call processing; calls 35 to an unpuklicl~ed di.~,~,tv ~ number known to the SCN are allowed to temunate at ~ 21~ 2~0 the called party's line. For the ~ c ~ ~cdon services, the central of fice switch d with the called pany ru .~ds the initial call made to the published ~t~ numb^r to the SCN for ~ g. The service circuit node, after providing the desired service on behalf of the called pany, ~ - ~ a call to the 5 called party using the unpublished ~- v~t~ number. Upon the called pany answering the call placcd by the SCN, the service function which may require interaction with the called party is completed while the call rcquest by the original calling pany is held in abeyance. Connection ofthe calling parly to the called party may or may not occur depending on the outco ne of the service ~ .idvd and 10 possible - between the called party and the SCN. With ody a single direc~ry number, all calls made to the ~ ~s -nh~ including calls made by the SCNwould be forwarded to the SCN. Thus, an undesirable recursive loop between the SCN and the : nh~ could occur.
Although the use of multiple directory numbers for a single ~I b~ ~nhCr 15 permits called parly services, assigning multiple directory numbers rapidly depletes the total number of available directory numbers. In !oc ~ - )ns where a large demand for directory numbers exists, such u in large metropolitan areas, asSigniQg muldple directory numbers depletes a valuable central of fice s vitch resource. Thus, there exists a need for techniques that can provide I ~ - ct;or called pany services 20 without requinng the assignment of multiple directory numbers to each ~ ' c~kr-Sun~ry of ehe ~venebn It is an object of the present invention to provide a nethod and apparatus which petmits ~ewnnocdon called par~y services to be ~erlde~ without incurring a recursive loop between the se~vice node and a subscriber, or assigning 25 muldple direct~y numbers to a subscriber.
It is also an obpct of the present invention to p~ovide a method and apparatw which permits a switch to selectively utilize other network elements toprovide services prior to call terminadon.
In accordance wi~h an embodiment of a method in accordance with the 30 present il~ _ ~n, precûnnecdon sen~ices are ~.~ . ;d~ in a ~ ~-~o-- ~ unicadon system including an SCN and a central of fice switch tO which the caUed party iscoMected. A caU request is .~v;. d from a calL;ing pany by the switch for a called party having a p.~d~,~.~ined directory number. A determinalion is cnade by the switch if prcconnecdûn services involving an SCN arc to be p,o.;~d for the call 35 request. If such services are to be p~ . .d~, an SCN is idendfied to assist in providing the services. The caU is then forwarded to the SCN and the SCN then ~ 2~12~0 , originates a call request to the original called party's number. A dete mination is ~ -made by the switch whether the caU request is from the ' - ~ ~d SCN. If the callrequest is not from the i~ ' SCN, the caU request is redirected to the SCN for the providing of p~ k services. If a caU request is f~om the SCN
S that provides services for the caUed party, the caU request is routed by the switch to the called party having the p~ mined tuectory number. This aUows the call request from the originating calling party to be helt in ahc~y~ - at the SCN while the SCN p~vides services for the caUed party. The SCN a ~ lu~' e s the service, and finaUy aUows the held caU request from the caUing party to be ~ p'l d to the 10 caUed party, depending on the outcome of the service acdon. This method facilitates m - - services where the SCN and the caUing party udlize the same number for a called party.
Brkf Description of the Dra~in~
FIG. 1 is a bloclc tiagram of a telecommunicadon network including an 15 embodiment of a central office in an ~ e with an embodiment of the present invendon.
FIG. 2 is a bloclc tiagram of a switch module as shown in FIG. 1. - -Detailed Description FIG. 1 iUustrates a pordon of a telecommunicadons network which 20 includes a central office switch 10 which inco~s an embodiment of the present invendon. The switch 10 may comprise an electronic t~,l~unicadon switch such as an ATD~T SESS~ switch The switch 10 includes an atministration motule 12 which provites cen~ral pro~or control and system funcdonality for the switch. Administration module 12 obtains op~ad;ng system data and other 25 operadonaltataf~mdatabase 14. Communicatdonmotule 16~ ,.idcsaspace switch functionality thatconnects time switched (muldplexed) channels createt byswitch motules 18, 22, and 24. The communication modules and switch motules provide the Icnown dme-space-dme switch formas A plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) such as telephone 30 instn~ments 26, 28, 30,32, 34, and 36 are c c ~ lorted by ~,L~, communicadonlines to the switch ~ - In the illustrathre example, semce circuit nodes (SCN) 38 and 40 are couplet by communicadon channels to thc switch modules.
Service circuit nocbs, such as available from AT~T, are progralmnabb netwadc notes that allow a public switche~d telephone netw~i (PSTN) l~ -) - ;~ to create new 35 circuit relatet services and features. These notes comprise an intelligent computer controlled peripheral which provide defined se~viccs in cooperation with central `; 21~2~
of fice switch 10 as shown in thc " ~ The SCN's can be duectly d to the switch by communicadon channcls or can be coupled to the switch by the PSTN.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of switch module 24 as shown in FIG. 1 and is S ~ .cs -~_ of each switch module. The switch module includcs a m- v~ ccssv, 42 which operates in conjunction with read-only memvry (ROM) 44, random access mcmo y (RAM) 46. The ROM 44 stores ~Ir _- '- g system data and programs. RAM 46 providcs accessible manory storage which can bc rapidly read frvm and writtcn to by thc m' ~ x A~ ~ Databasc 14 providcs a ~ -'ie data 10 stvrage medium for the mic -r _ A~' ~S5~ 42.
A dmc slot intcrchangcr S0 and linc units S2 opcratc undcr the control of the administradon modulc 12, communication modulc 16, and mL., c e ~ 42 to prvvide s~ communications for iUustlated CPE 34 and 36. The linc units 52 providc an intcrfacc for thc analog or digital cotnmunication lincs coupling 15 CPE 34 and 36 to switch modulc 24 and lina which couplc thc service circuit nodcs 38 and 40 to thc switch modulc. Thc communicadon signals from CPE and thc SCN arc coupled to dmc slot intcrchangcr 50. Therc thcy are muldplcxed into timc slot scgmcnts that ca~y digital infortnation which arc forwardod to communication modulc 16 and linlced to oth~ timc slots corrcsponding to anothcr 20 subscriber to establish communications bctweat two subscribers. Thc transmission of cotnmuntcations by time divtston muldplex ch~mncls and thc linldng of swh channcls is weU Icnown in thc ut.
Tablc 1 iUustratcs an cxcmplary da~bue for a switch modulc.
Prcfcrably, thc databasc is sto~t in memo~y associatcd with cach switch modulc for 25 thc .~ lincs supportcd by thc switch modulc.
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TABLE I
Port Director~Billing SCN
No. Number Number Featurc I . . .FeatureN ID
78 979-1234979-lZ34 X 2 -Each tuple or row in Tabk I contains infonnation relating to a port (communication line connection point) supported by a switch module. Thc illustradve information includcs thc number of the C~l~-r ding p~t suppor~ the num~er (~ r- ~ ~ ~ number) assigned to the port, and a billing number which ~:t - s where se~vicc charges arc to bc billed for saviccs rcndcred for thc 5 C~~ f ding di~ry number. Each tuple also inclutes a pluraliq of feature fields illustrated as Features 1-N in Tabb 1. The featurcs ~-r- S customer selectable scn~ices supportcd by the ccntral officc switch with the "X's" rcpresenting flags in the cu,~ onding featurc columns idcntifying whethcr or not the customcrasscciatcd with the directory number has subscribod to thc feature. The last column 20 in Table 1 cont~ data co~ponding to a svice circuit node i(knti~ication numbcr (SCN D)) whicb is udlizod as an indcx to locate aWdonal info~madon in Table 2. In the illust~sivo anl~limont of thc present ~nvendon, a zao "0" in thcSCN ID column of Tabb 1 is a flag reprcscnting that no c~ r ding entry exists in Table 2; this indicatcs that SCN provided preconnecdon scrviccs in accordancc2S with thc present invendon arc not subscribct to by the co...s~ 5 ding subscriber.
Other numbers or data in the SC~I ID colurnn of Tabb 1 indicate that the Cu~ r ~ ding sub~crib~ have subsffibed to a~didonal se vices in ax ~ e with the present invendon and require addidonal pr~ sin~ udlizing Table 2.
With regard to port 16S, the data in Tabk 1 indicates that the directory 30 number is also utilized as the billing numbe~, Feature 1 is s ': s ~ Sc d to; Feature N is not b~ ~ nt ed to; and no preconnecdon SCN services are s '~ rikd to as in&ated by the zero in the SCN ~ column. For port 218, the billing number is not the same as the Cu ~ !n~-ng &ectory number, Fea~ures 1 and N are ~ubs~ih~d to, and ~.~anne - - - services are ~ s^~-bcd to as indicated by the "3", i.e. nonzero, in the 35 SCN 11) column. It will be und~ cd that only a few ~.es~nlative examples of ;
: ~
., '' ' `, "'' ~ 2112~
s.,b~ ;b~; ., are illustrated in Table 1.
Table 2 il' : ~1 S an exemplary database in accordance with the prcscnt h.i~ - which is preferably stor~i in memory of each switch module. The data in the SCN Il) column of Tablc 1 function as an index to identify a tuple with 5 co.~ - iing data in the SCN ~ column of Table 2. It will be ~ d, that rs as ~ d by tuples in Table 1, may elect the same typc of pn~ services to be ~ t by the SCN and hence, will utilize the same SCN ID numbs. Thus, Tabb 2 need oQly contaiQ a sufficient numbcr of tuples to d with the numbcr of different SCN 11) data utiL~ized in Table 1. Table 2 10 will have a substantially fewcr numbcr of tuples as comp~i with Table 1. Thus, the database - -r- -se 1~ a by Table 2 minimizes the quandty of storod data requirod as compared to a switch which uses only a singlc database (tablc) in which all the data is storod SCN FWD Billing FWD Billing FWD
Il) #1 #1 #2 #2 . . .Sebct #Scrvice 2 713-2344 713-2300 ~?1 6C6S 2246600 1(2) ON
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICES PRIOR -~ - -TO CALL COMPLETION IN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM -;
.::
Back~round of the Invention This ~ is generaUy directed tv services l,nv~idcd to ~ bi ' S in a t lec - - - system and is more ~r;fi~ y directed to services p.J.i~dto a called party ~,ts.~ . prior to the establishment of c~ - - - with thecalling party.
Modem ~le c 1 - systems are capable of p.o . ;~;ng a variety ~ ~ -of services for ~Jb~ , Swh serviees can be sc~regated into services ~.v.i~
10 prior to eall ~ p'( ~ and services p.v.i~cd after call c ~ "'rt ~ ~ Services can be furth characterized based upon whether the service is ~ ~d on behalf of the calling or called party. The primary foeus of this invendon acldresses services p,v.idcl prior to call r . Iefic on behalf of the ealled party. -Depending on the nature of the service to be ~ idcd, services can be 15 ~v.id~ by customer I ~m;s~s equipment such as a ~ instrument, a central -offlce switch, or a c - !~- controlled peripheral device (service node) coupled to the t~kco~ unication netwv~ Subseriber senrices whieh are rendered on behalf of the called party prior tv the completion of a ealling party's call to the called party must be pfv. idcd by the t~,lcco~nunieation system. Called party features, sueh as 20 "Sel~~ Call Aeeept~nee", may require the assignment of muldple di.~tv.~
numbers to the ealled party's line. F the Selc~ ti.~ Call Aeeeptance feature, the central offiee switeh of the eallet party rvutes the ineoming eall request to a serviee node such as a serviee eircuit node (SCN). The SCN eompares the ealling party's ~tv.~ number to a list of direetory num~rs previously selected by the called 25 party. The call is aeeepted and ruted to the ealled party only if a match is found. If a mateh is not found, the ealling party is not eonneeted to the ealled party; the treatment of a n~ d eall is defined by the t~ o.l.,nunieation system, e.g. aeco~ css~g~, could be played to the ca'.ling party or the calling party's call could be routed to an answering device. Such p.. e - - - - etil)n services typically 30 udlize architectures cont~uning a service node for ~,no~id;ng such services in cooperation with a central of fice switch.
In order to provide p..~ ~ lcc' ~r services, it may be required to assign the called party two dil~tv ~ numbers. Calls to a published ~tv.~ number of the s- bsc- i~ - are forwarded to an SCN for possible 1~ ~ c ~ nne cl call processing; calls 35 to an unpuklicl~ed di.~,~,tv ~ number known to the SCN are allowed to temunate at ~ 21~ 2~0 the called party's line. For the ~ c ~ ~cdon services, the central of fice switch d with the called pany ru .~ds the initial call made to the published ~t~ numb^r to the SCN for ~ g. The service circuit node, after providing the desired service on behalf of the called pany, ~ - ~ a call to the 5 called party using the unpublished ~- v~t~ number. Upon the called pany answering the call placcd by the SCN, the service function which may require interaction with the called party is completed while the call rcquest by the original calling pany is held in abeyance. Connection ofthe calling parly to the called party may or may not occur depending on the outco ne of the service ~ .idvd and 10 possible - between the called party and the SCN. With ody a single direc~ry number, all calls made to the ~ ~s -nh~ including calls made by the SCNwould be forwarded to the SCN. Thus, an undesirable recursive loop between the SCN and the : nh~ could occur.
Although the use of multiple directory numbers for a single ~I b~ ~nhCr 15 permits called parly services, assigning multiple directory numbers rapidly depletes the total number of available directory numbers. In !oc ~ - )ns where a large demand for directory numbers exists, such u in large metropolitan areas, asSigniQg muldple directory numbers depletes a valuable central of fice s vitch resource. Thus, there exists a need for techniques that can provide I ~ - ct;or called pany services 20 without requinng the assignment of multiple directory numbers to each ~ ' c~kr-Sun~ry of ehe ~venebn It is an object of the present invention to provide a nethod and apparatus which petmits ~ewnnocdon called par~y services to be ~erlde~ without incurring a recursive loop between the se~vice node and a subscriber, or assigning 25 muldple direct~y numbers to a subscriber.
It is also an obpct of the present invention to p~ovide a method and apparatw which permits a switch to selectively utilize other network elements toprovide services prior to call terminadon.
In accordance wi~h an embodiment of a method in accordance with the 30 present il~ _ ~n, precûnnecdon sen~ices are ~.~ . ;d~ in a ~ ~-~o-- ~ unicadon system including an SCN and a central of fice switch tO which the caUed party iscoMected. A caU request is .~v;. d from a calL;ing pany by the switch for a called party having a p.~d~,~.~ined directory number. A determinalion is cnade by the switch if prcconnecdûn services involving an SCN arc to be p,o.;~d for the call 35 request. If such services are to be p~ . .d~, an SCN is idendfied to assist in providing the services. The caU is then forwarded to the SCN and the SCN then ~ 2~12~0 , originates a call request to the original called party's number. A dete mination is ~ -made by the switch whether the caU request is from the ' - ~ ~d SCN. If the callrequest is not from the i~ ' SCN, the caU request is redirected to the SCN for the providing of p~ k services. If a caU request is f~om the SCN
S that provides services for the caUed party, the caU request is routed by the switch to the called party having the p~ mined tuectory number. This aUows the call request from the originating calling party to be helt in ahc~y~ - at the SCN while the SCN p~vides services for the caUed party. The SCN a ~ lu~' e s the service, and finaUy aUows the held caU request from the caUing party to be ~ p'l d to the 10 caUed party, depending on the outcome of the service acdon. This method facilitates m - - services where the SCN and the caUing party udlize the same number for a called party.
Brkf Description of the Dra~in~
FIG. 1 is a bloclc tiagram of a telecommunicadon network including an 15 embodiment of a central office in an ~ e with an embodiment of the present invendon.
FIG. 2 is a bloclc tiagram of a switch module as shown in FIG. 1. - -Detailed Description FIG. 1 iUustrates a pordon of a telecommunicadons network which 20 includes a central office switch 10 which inco~s an embodiment of the present invendon. The switch 10 may comprise an electronic t~,l~unicadon switch such as an ATD~T SESS~ switch The switch 10 includes an atministration motule 12 which provites cen~ral pro~or control and system funcdonality for the switch. Administration module 12 obtains op~ad;ng system data and other 25 operadonaltataf~mdatabase 14. Communicatdonmotule 16~ ,.idcsaspace switch functionality thatconnects time switched (muldplexed) channels createt byswitch motules 18, 22, and 24. The communication modules and switch motules provide the Icnown dme-space-dme switch formas A plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) such as telephone 30 instn~ments 26, 28, 30,32, 34, and 36 are c c ~ lorted by ~,L~, communicadonlines to the switch ~ - In the illustrathre example, semce circuit nodes (SCN) 38 and 40 are couplet by communicadon channels to thc switch modules.
Service circuit nocbs, such as available from AT~T, are progralmnabb netwadc notes that allow a public switche~d telephone netw~i (PSTN) l~ -) - ;~ to create new 35 circuit relatet services and features. These notes comprise an intelligent computer controlled peripheral which provide defined se~viccs in cooperation with central `; 21~2~
of fice switch 10 as shown in thc " ~ The SCN's can be duectly d to the switch by communicadon channcls or can be coupled to the switch by the PSTN.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of switch module 24 as shown in FIG. 1 and is S ~ .cs -~_ of each switch module. The switch module includcs a m- v~ ccssv, 42 which operates in conjunction with read-only memvry (ROM) 44, random access mcmo y (RAM) 46. The ROM 44 stores ~Ir _- '- g system data and programs. RAM 46 providcs accessible manory storage which can bc rapidly read frvm and writtcn to by thc m' ~ x A~ ~ Databasc 14 providcs a ~ -'ie data 10 stvrage medium for the mic -r _ A~' ~S5~ 42.
A dmc slot intcrchangcr S0 and linc units S2 opcratc undcr the control of the administradon modulc 12, communication modulc 16, and mL., c e ~ 42 to prvvide s~ communications for iUustlated CPE 34 and 36. The linc units 52 providc an intcrfacc for thc analog or digital cotnmunication lincs coupling 15 CPE 34 and 36 to switch modulc 24 and lina which couplc thc service circuit nodcs 38 and 40 to thc switch modulc. Thc communicadon signals from CPE and thc SCN arc coupled to dmc slot intcrchangcr 50. Therc thcy are muldplcxed into timc slot scgmcnts that ca~y digital infortnation which arc forwardod to communication modulc 16 and linlced to oth~ timc slots corrcsponding to anothcr 20 subscriber to establish communications bctweat two subscribers. Thc transmission of cotnmuntcations by time divtston muldplex ch~mncls and thc linldng of swh channcls is weU Icnown in thc ut.
Tablc 1 iUustratcs an cxcmplary da~bue for a switch modulc.
Prcfcrably, thc databasc is sto~t in memo~y associatcd with cach switch modulc for 25 thc .~ lincs supportcd by thc switch modulc.
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TABLE I
Port Director~Billing SCN
No. Number Number Featurc I . . .FeatureN ID
78 979-1234979-lZ34 X 2 -Each tuple or row in Tabk I contains infonnation relating to a port (communication line connection point) supported by a switch module. Thc illustradve information includcs thc number of the C~l~-r ding p~t suppor~ the num~er (~ r- ~ ~ ~ number) assigned to the port, and a billing number which ~:t - s where se~vicc charges arc to bc billed for saviccs rcndcred for thc 5 C~~ f ding di~ry number. Each tuple also inclutes a pluraliq of feature fields illustrated as Features 1-N in Tabb 1. The featurcs ~-r- S customer selectable scn~ices supportcd by the ccntral officc switch with the "X's" rcpresenting flags in the cu,~ onding featurc columns idcntifying whethcr or not the customcrasscciatcd with the directory number has subscribod to thc feature. The last column 20 in Table 1 cont~ data co~ponding to a svice circuit node i(knti~ication numbcr (SCN D)) whicb is udlizod as an indcx to locate aWdonal info~madon in Table 2. In the illust~sivo anl~limont of thc present ~nvendon, a zao "0" in thcSCN ID column of Tabb 1 is a flag reprcscnting that no c~ r ding entry exists in Table 2; this indicatcs that SCN provided preconnecdon scrviccs in accordancc2S with thc present invendon arc not subscribct to by the co...s~ 5 ding subscriber.
Other numbers or data in the SC~I ID colurnn of Tabb 1 indicate that the Cu~ r ~ ding sub~crib~ have subsffibed to a~didonal se vices in ax ~ e with the present invendon and require addidonal pr~ sin~ udlizing Table 2.
With regard to port 16S, the data in Tabk 1 indicates that the directory 30 number is also utilized as the billing numbe~, Feature 1 is s ': s ~ Sc d to; Feature N is not b~ ~ nt ed to; and no preconnecdon SCN services are s '~ rikd to as in&ated by the zero in the SCN ~ column. For port 218, the billing number is not the same as the Cu ~ !n~-ng &ectory number, Fea~ures 1 and N are ~ubs~ih~d to, and ~.~anne - - - services are ~ s^~-bcd to as indicated by the "3", i.e. nonzero, in the 35 SCN 11) column. It will be und~ cd that only a few ~.es~nlative examples of ;
: ~
., '' ' `, "'' ~ 2112~
s.,b~ ;b~; ., are illustrated in Table 1.
Table 2 il' : ~1 S an exemplary database in accordance with the prcscnt h.i~ - which is preferably stor~i in memory of each switch module. The data in the SCN Il) column of Tablc 1 function as an index to identify a tuple with 5 co.~ - iing data in the SCN ~ column of Table 2. It will be ~ d, that rs as ~ d by tuples in Table 1, may elect the same typc of pn~ services to be ~ t by the SCN and hence, will utilize the same SCN ID numbs. Thus, Tabb 2 need oQly contaiQ a sufficient numbcr of tuples to d with the numbcr of different SCN 11) data utiL~ized in Table 1. Table 2 10 will have a substantially fewcr numbcr of tuples as comp~i with Table 1. Thus, the database - -r- -se 1~ a by Table 2 minimizes the quandty of storod data requirod as compared to a switch which uses only a singlc database (tablc) in which all the data is storod SCN FWD Billing FWD Billing FWD
Il) #1 #1 #2 #2 . . .Sebct #Scrvice 2 713-2344 713-2300 ~?1 6C6S 2246600 1(2) ON
3 713-234S 713-2300 2~ 6666 '~ 66~D 2 ON
4 713-2346 713-2300 2246667 '~?~ 6600 1 ON(OFE~
Tabb 2 contsi~ ~pbs ~ochtod with caeh different SCN ID number f~ n:~ d in Sabb 1. She eomsFo~ng datacontdned in columns of Table 2 2S contain a forwarding diroctory number (E:WD #l) ant a eor,responding billing diratory nun*er (Billing #1). Addidonal fwarding and billing numbers may also be ~ d as indieated. A fonvarding select number (E;WD SELECT #) column contains da~a which is utilizet to selat one of the sets of forwarding and billing number~ The "Serviee" eolurnn contains an ON or OFF flag which deter~ines 30 whether a c~ onding assuranee of service feature, which will be ~ s~ ih~ below, is enabled. Entries in parentheses in a call represent changes made to the data in the call as will be explained with regard to example 3 below.
In the illustrative embodiment, malcing the detenninadon if praonnadon serviees are to be 1~ .;dW comprises loeadng the co .~s~onting tupb 35 in the database represented by Tabb 1 ant determining if the SCN ID column contains other than a zero. The specific SCN to provite services is idendfiet in ~ 120~0 .
e witb the tuplc of the database l.,n s - ~ d by Table 2 idendfied by the g SCN ID data ~ from Table 1 and in 7 ~ with the - ~ ;
Forward Select # column of Table 2. The f : .~ and billing numbers of the selected SCN are thus ~ I- - ' by the Forward and Billing numbers in Table 2.
Tabb 2 contsi~ ~pbs ~ochtod with caeh different SCN ID number f~ n:~ d in Sabb 1. She eomsFo~ng datacontdned in columns of Table 2 2S contain a forwarding diroctory number (E:WD #l) ant a eor,responding billing diratory nun*er (Billing #1). Addidonal fwarding and billing numbers may also be ~ d as indieated. A fonvarding select number (E;WD SELECT #) column contains da~a which is utilizet to selat one of the sets of forwarding and billing number~ The "Serviee" eolurnn contains an ON or OFF flag which deter~ines 30 whether a c~ onding assuranee of service feature, which will be ~ s~ ih~ below, is enabled. Entries in parentheses in a call represent changes made to the data in the call as will be explained with regard to example 3 below.
In the illustrative embodiment, malcing the detenninadon if praonnadon serviees are to be 1~ .;dW comprises loeadng the co .~s~onting tupb 35 in the database represented by Tabb 1 ant determining if the SCN ID column contains other than a zero. The specific SCN to provite services is idendfiet in ~ 120~0 .
e witb the tuplc of the database l.,n s - ~ d by Table 2 idendfied by the g SCN ID data ~ from Table 1 and in 7 ~ with the - ~ ;
Forward Select # column of Table 2. The f : .~ and billing numbers of the selected SCN are thus ~ I- - ' by the Forward and Billing numbers in Table 2.
5 The ~ tion of whethçr the caU request is from the selected SCN c . - s a comparison of tbe billing number of the calling party and the billing number 3SS ;- : ~ with the selected service circuit node as identified in Table 2.
It is believed that the embodiment of the present invention will be more rcadily ~ ' Q d if ~,- il~i by an iUustrative example. In the ~,~.. g 10 e~amples SCN 38 and 40 have forwarding and billing numbers as defined by #1 and#2, r~ inTable2. ItwiUbe, ' ~ ~ that ' ' group capability aUows each SCN to be assigned a plulality of ~ Also, CPE 32, 34, and 36 are associated with port nurnbers 78, 218, and 129, as indicated in Table 1.
In the first example, a subscriber using CPE 26 places a call to the - ~ ~
subscriber associated with CPE 34 by dialing directory number 979-1468. The call ~ -request is routed from switch modulè 18 via communicadon module 16 to switch rnodule 24. Informadon tlan~tted witb the calling patty's caU rcquest includes the ~ ~
caUing party's ~ numbcr and billing numbsr. On .~;.- lg the call lequest, - ~ -20 switch module 24 consults the databass as repressnted by Table 1 and t ~ ` 5 the tuple associated witb the called patty tirectory number (port number 218). Since the conesponting SCN 11) fielt contdns a nonzero ent y, i.e. "3", tbe caU is not directly routed to CPE 34 but rather, furtber inquiry is made of tbe databass represented by Table 2.
Tbe co --r ~rding SCN ID number 3 is located in Table 2. Tbe For~vart Select # entry of 2 indicates tbat ~ or SCN ser ices are to be . d~ d by SCN 4û identified by forwarding and billing 112. Next, tbe billing number of the calling patty (CPE 26) is comparet witb tbe billing number of tbe selected SCN (2246600). Since the billing numbm are not the same, the call 30 rcquest is fonvartet from switch module 24 to SCN 40. It wi11 be apparent to those sl~illed in thc art that thc biL~ing numbers represent only onc example of a call attributc that coult form the basis for such a compaTison.
SCN 40 then ~.;dcs a service on behalf of the called party CPE 34.
This scrvice rnay com~ c a ~aricty of features as offered by thc operator of the35 scn~ice circuit node. In this illustradve exarnple, it will be assumed that the service ll v.id~d by the sen~ice circuit node consists of scl~d~c call acceptance whcrein, for r-- 2 1 1 2 0 ~ O
each - ~ ~; a list of ~ r ~ ~r - numbers are stored co~ e to calling partyd;~tu~,~ numbers which are to be a ~ t ~ d by the ~ . NU ~ ~s of CPE
which are not on the ~ e list for the caUed party may receive vanous 1~ men- such as roudng the calling party to an r ~ g se~vice o~ playing a S p.~.~ined ~scag~ In this ç ,~r. it is assumed that the calling party's numher is on the aceeptanee list as determined by SCN 40. Upon making the aeeeptance detaminadon, SCN 40 originates a eall to CPE 34 by switeh module 24 by calling direetory number 979-1468. Switeh module 24 tleats the reedved call request from SCN 40 as any other call request and thus determines that addidonal10 services are to be I .i~ as indieated by the 3 in the SCN ID, and continues e with regard to database Table 2.
Upon entedng Table 2 at the tuple identified with SCN of 3, and seleedng forwarding and billing #2, as indieated by the 2 in the Forward Select #
eolumn, a eomparison of the billing numbers is again made. The eall request plaeed 15 by SCN 40 eontains the direetory and billing number of SCN 40. Thus, the comparison of the billing number 224-6600 of the ealling party (SCN 40) to the billing #2 of Table 2 results in a TRUE comp uison. Beeause the eo~arison is TRUE, the call request from SCN 4û is p~eessed and eonneedon established with CPE 34. In this exampk, the call request frorn CPE 26 whieh was forwardod to 20 SCN 40 is now joined with the eall made from SCN 40 to CPE 34 and the SCN 40 terminates its servieea It should be noted that the same eall processing is applied regardless of whether the ealling party is served by switeh 10 or another switehwhieh is part of the PSTN as shown in FIG. 1.
In a seeond example, a subscriber assoeiated with CPE 26 initiates a eall 2S to thc subsc iber asso~od with CPE 36. Upon switch module 24 receiving the call request and locating the tuple in Table 1 ~ ~ - iing to directory numbGr979-7S31 of CPE 36, proconnection processing is indicated by the 4 of the SCN ~
column. In this ex~npb forwarding and billing #l are sekcted, as indicated by the 1 in the FWD Select # column of Table 2 which is associated with the tuple of SCN ID
30 of 4. Since the billing numbcr of the calling par~y does not match billing #1 (713-2300), the call request is forwarded to SCN 38 which is ~ ~ d with direc~ry number 713-2346. In this e1~ample, SCN 38 contains a ~ listing all di.~.
numbers associated with central of ~ice switch 10 and the ~ --r ~ ding names of the SCN 38 searches the database, locates thc directory number of the 35 calling party and associates a stored name.
~ 2 1 ~ 2 ~
9 .: .- -The SCN 38 places a call request to the di-~lu-y number associated with CPE 36 via switch module 24. This caU request is again routed from Table 1 to TaWe 2 to the tuple having the COl-~i r - ' g SCN ID of 4. Since SCN 38 has a billing number of 713-2300, a r ~ -tpr ~ of the calling party biUing number with S the billing number in the Billing #l of Table 2 results in a TRUE ~ -r ~~ ~ Since the c~ ps,i~ of billing numbers is TRUI~, the call request from SCN 38 is ,ss~l and the caU made to the subscriber of CPE 36.
Upon the subscriber answering, an audible announcement is made by SCN 38 of the identity of the cal~ing party in accordance with the data table stored in 10 SCN 38. A text-to-speech ~ s l~ is employed to provide an audible m ~ of the name of the calling party. The ~ of CPE 36, upon ~ -g ~ P a ~.~e~. nined touch-tone - i can indicate ~ c ~: - e of the call ~ -or indicate r ~ ~ - -r: ~e of the caU, such as by hanging up. If the call is to be a-c p~ d. the originating call request from CPE 26 is merged with the existing caU
15 between SCN 38 and CPE 36, and SCN 38 thereafterexits the c ~ , leaving s.Jbs.,~ of CPE 26 and 36 in communication. If the caU is not a~ ~r ~1 ~. SCN 38foUows a p.~,t,.mined nonaccept~nce procedure such as by providing an audible - ~ to J~ ~: ibr 26 and thereaf~r terrninating the call request from CPE 26.
In third and fourth examples, a s bs ~ ceii g services in a c ~ e with the pre'sent invention is caUed by another subsr - il.v~ II~,.. _._., in these examples SCN 38 is not in s~vice. The iUustrative Service feature providestwo d~ reatments of caL~ when the original SCN designated by Table 2 is ~ -unavailable to handle the call, e.g. when SCN 38 is out of service. In the third25 example, incoming caU requests are routed by Table 2 directly to the called party ;
~b~ In the founh example, call roquests are routed by Table 2 to an alternate SCN which is in service. The Administradon Motule wiU have ~t~ d the out~
of-service condidon of an SCN, e.g. SCN 38. Upon making this determination, Table 2 is updated to effectuate the two call treatments by changing the data in the 30 cells of Table 2 having data in parentheses. In the third and founh examples, the data is changed to the data shown in parentheses, i.e. the data of the cell idendfied by the FWD Select # column and SCN Il) 2 row is changed from 1 to 2 and the data ofthe cell identified by the Sfice column and SCN Il) 4 is changed from ON to OFF.In the third example, a call request f~om CPE 26 for CPE 36 is routed to 35 SCN 11) 4 of Tablc 2. Thc co l~ n.l- ~g Service column data is now OF~; to indicate that call requests should not be routed to any SCN's for further services.
- 2~20~3 -lo-When the Service column is OFF, the call request is directly routed to CPE 36 toassure that the called ~ does not lose service, should the p.~ c ~ ~ e m service p,ovidcd by the SCN be unavailable. Thus, the call request from CPE 26 will be routed to CPE 36 without a comparison of billing numbers, thereby 5 ~r ~ l; the out-of-service SCN 38.
In the fourth example, CPE 26 originates a call to the ~ ~Ibs.. - ;~-asm- -~e ~ with CPE 32. This call request is routed to Table 2 with the tuple ofSCN ID 2 in acc~ e with Table 1. Since the co~ ' g Service column in Table 2 is ON, the FWD Select # is checked to i - ' r which FWD # and 10 Billing # set to use. The FWD # ~ which SCN to use. The FWD Select #
has been changed f~om 1 to 2 so that SCN 40 ~ ~ with the FWD #2 will be used instead of the out-of-service SCN 38 which is ~ with FWD #1. Thus, this call request is routed to SCN 40 for processing. The .~ of the processing steps ~ s as previously explained for the first example. It will be noted that 15 SCN 40 may have processing capabilities that duplicate SCN 38 for those -_ ~6 ' that have elected sonrices c~ "onding to SCN ID 2 in order to permit SCN ~- by the FWD Se1ect # column.
Upon the SCN 38 retuming to service, the ~ ~ Module 12 will change the data in Table 2 baclc to the inidal data, i.e., the data of the cell of 20 column FWD Select # and SCN D) 2 row from 2 to I and the data of the cell of column Service and SCN ~) 4 from OFF to ON. Thus, call processing is restored tothe "normal" condidon where SCN 38 retu ns to sorvice.
The illus~adve ernbodiment of the presen~ invendon facilitates tho providing of preconnection services to a callod party such as without reqDg 2S muldple directory numbers to be assigned to the callod party. Upon receiving a call request, a detenninadon is mado if 1~ r cdon services are to be pl~,.ided for the called party. If such L-- ~ ~ ~ ~ C~' ~ services arc to bc l,~v~ , the service nodc to provide thc scrviccs is idcndfied and a dctenninadon is madc if thc call request is frvm o hor than the idendfiod service node. If the call request is not from the servicc 30 node, the call request is routod to the service node for prcconnection services. If a call request is frvm the scloctcd scrvice nodo, the ~ d call is rwted to thecallod party, thereby pcrmifflng the service nodc to establish communicadons with the callcd party subscriber while the original calling party's call request can bo held in abeyance pending the ~n~ g of services by the selected sen~ice node.
35 P.pc~ ;ng on the result of the services, the original calling party can then be cVAAr~ t~nd to the called party. Although the SCN call to the original called party was . - . . .
~ 2~12~
triggered by the call request from the original calling party in the illustrated..p~es other events could cause the SCN tO inidate a call to a subscriber.
Although an illustradve c .~ of the present invendon has been ~ lesç~ibed and shown in the ~a~ , the scope of the present h~en~ion iS defined by 5 the claims which follow.
: , : .:
It is believed that the embodiment of the present invention will be more rcadily ~ ' Q d if ~,- il~i by an iUustrative example. In the ~,~.. g 10 e~amples SCN 38 and 40 have forwarding and billing numbers as defined by #1 and#2, r~ inTable2. ItwiUbe, ' ~ ~ that ' ' group capability aUows each SCN to be assigned a plulality of ~ Also, CPE 32, 34, and 36 are associated with port nurnbers 78, 218, and 129, as indicated in Table 1.
In the first example, a subscriber using CPE 26 places a call to the - ~ ~
subscriber associated with CPE 34 by dialing directory number 979-1468. The call ~ -request is routed from switch modulè 18 via communicadon module 16 to switch rnodule 24. Informadon tlan~tted witb the calling patty's caU rcquest includes the ~ ~
caUing party's ~ numbcr and billing numbsr. On .~;.- lg the call lequest, - ~ -20 switch module 24 consults the databass as repressnted by Table 1 and t ~ ` 5 the tuple associated witb the called patty tirectory number (port number 218). Since the conesponting SCN 11) fielt contdns a nonzero ent y, i.e. "3", tbe caU is not directly routed to CPE 34 but rather, furtber inquiry is made of tbe databass represented by Table 2.
Tbe co --r ~rding SCN ID number 3 is located in Table 2. Tbe For~vart Select # entry of 2 indicates tbat ~ or SCN ser ices are to be . d~ d by SCN 4û identified by forwarding and billing 112. Next, tbe billing number of the calling patty (CPE 26) is comparet witb tbe billing number of tbe selected SCN (2246600). Since the billing numbm are not the same, the call 30 rcquest is fonvartet from switch module 24 to SCN 40. It wi11 be apparent to those sl~illed in thc art that thc biL~ing numbers represent only onc example of a call attributc that coult form the basis for such a compaTison.
SCN 40 then ~.;dcs a service on behalf of the called party CPE 34.
This scrvice rnay com~ c a ~aricty of features as offered by thc operator of the35 scn~ice circuit node. In this illustradve exarnple, it will be assumed that the service ll v.id~d by the sen~ice circuit node consists of scl~d~c call acceptance whcrein, for r-- 2 1 1 2 0 ~ O
each - ~ ~; a list of ~ r ~ ~r - numbers are stored co~ e to calling partyd;~tu~,~ numbers which are to be a ~ t ~ d by the ~ . NU ~ ~s of CPE
which are not on the ~ e list for the caUed party may receive vanous 1~ men- such as roudng the calling party to an r ~ g se~vice o~ playing a S p.~.~ined ~scag~ In this ç ,~r. it is assumed that the calling party's numher is on the aceeptanee list as determined by SCN 40. Upon making the aeeeptance detaminadon, SCN 40 originates a eall to CPE 34 by switeh module 24 by calling direetory number 979-1468. Switeh module 24 tleats the reedved call request from SCN 40 as any other call request and thus determines that addidonal10 services are to be I .i~ as indieated by the 3 in the SCN ID, and continues e with regard to database Table 2.
Upon entedng Table 2 at the tuple identified with SCN of 3, and seleedng forwarding and billing #2, as indieated by the 2 in the Forward Select #
eolumn, a eomparison of the billing numbers is again made. The eall request plaeed 15 by SCN 40 eontains the direetory and billing number of SCN 40. Thus, the comparison of the billing number 224-6600 of the ealling party (SCN 40) to the billing #2 of Table 2 results in a TRUE comp uison. Beeause the eo~arison is TRUE, the call request from SCN 4û is p~eessed and eonneedon established with CPE 34. In this exampk, the call request frorn CPE 26 whieh was forwardod to 20 SCN 40 is now joined with the eall made from SCN 40 to CPE 34 and the SCN 40 terminates its servieea It should be noted that the same eall processing is applied regardless of whether the ealling party is served by switeh 10 or another switehwhieh is part of the PSTN as shown in FIG. 1.
In a seeond example, a subscriber assoeiated with CPE 26 initiates a eall 2S to thc subsc iber asso~od with CPE 36. Upon switch module 24 receiving the call request and locating the tuple in Table 1 ~ ~ - iing to directory numbGr979-7S31 of CPE 36, proconnection processing is indicated by the 4 of the SCN ~
column. In this ex~npb forwarding and billing #l are sekcted, as indicated by the 1 in the FWD Select # column of Table 2 which is associated with the tuple of SCN ID
30 of 4. Since the billing numbcr of the calling par~y does not match billing #1 (713-2300), the call request is forwarded to SCN 38 which is ~ ~ d with direc~ry number 713-2346. In this e1~ample, SCN 38 contains a ~ listing all di.~.
numbers associated with central of ~ice switch 10 and the ~ --r ~ ding names of the SCN 38 searches the database, locates thc directory number of the 35 calling party and associates a stored name.
~ 2 1 ~ 2 ~
9 .: .- -The SCN 38 places a call request to the di-~lu-y number associated with CPE 36 via switch module 24. This caU request is again routed from Table 1 to TaWe 2 to the tuple having the COl-~i r - ' g SCN ID of 4. Since SCN 38 has a billing number of 713-2300, a r ~ -tpr ~ of the calling party biUing number with S the billing number in the Billing #l of Table 2 results in a TRUE ~ -r ~~ ~ Since the c~ ps,i~ of billing numbers is TRUI~, the call request from SCN 38 is ,ss~l and the caU made to the subscriber of CPE 36.
Upon the subscriber answering, an audible announcement is made by SCN 38 of the identity of the cal~ing party in accordance with the data table stored in 10 SCN 38. A text-to-speech ~ s l~ is employed to provide an audible m ~ of the name of the calling party. The ~ of CPE 36, upon ~ -g ~ P a ~.~e~. nined touch-tone - i can indicate ~ c ~: - e of the call ~ -or indicate r ~ ~ - -r: ~e of the caU, such as by hanging up. If the call is to be a-c p~ d. the originating call request from CPE 26 is merged with the existing caU
15 between SCN 38 and CPE 36, and SCN 38 thereafterexits the c ~ , leaving s.Jbs.,~ of CPE 26 and 36 in communication. If the caU is not a~ ~r ~1 ~. SCN 38foUows a p.~,t,.mined nonaccept~nce procedure such as by providing an audible - ~ to J~ ~: ibr 26 and thereaf~r terrninating the call request from CPE 26.
In third and fourth examples, a s bs ~ ceii g services in a c ~ e with the pre'sent invention is caUed by another subsr - il.v~ II~,.. _._., in these examples SCN 38 is not in s~vice. The iUustrative Service feature providestwo d~ reatments of caL~ when the original SCN designated by Table 2 is ~ -unavailable to handle the call, e.g. when SCN 38 is out of service. In the third25 example, incoming caU requests are routed by Table 2 directly to the called party ;
~b~ In the founh example, call roquests are routed by Table 2 to an alternate SCN which is in service. The Administradon Motule wiU have ~t~ d the out~
of-service condidon of an SCN, e.g. SCN 38. Upon making this determination, Table 2 is updated to effectuate the two call treatments by changing the data in the 30 cells of Table 2 having data in parentheses. In the third and founh examples, the data is changed to the data shown in parentheses, i.e. the data of the cell idendfied by the FWD Select # column and SCN Il) 2 row is changed from 1 to 2 and the data ofthe cell identified by the Sfice column and SCN Il) 4 is changed from ON to OFF.In the third example, a call request f~om CPE 26 for CPE 36 is routed to 35 SCN 11) 4 of Tablc 2. Thc co l~ n.l- ~g Service column data is now OF~; to indicate that call requests should not be routed to any SCN's for further services.
- 2~20~3 -lo-When the Service column is OFF, the call request is directly routed to CPE 36 toassure that the called ~ does not lose service, should the p.~ c ~ ~ e m service p,ovidcd by the SCN be unavailable. Thus, the call request from CPE 26 will be routed to CPE 36 without a comparison of billing numbers, thereby 5 ~r ~ l; the out-of-service SCN 38.
In the fourth example, CPE 26 originates a call to the ~ ~Ibs.. - ;~-asm- -~e ~ with CPE 32. This call request is routed to Table 2 with the tuple ofSCN ID 2 in acc~ e with Table 1. Since the co~ ' g Service column in Table 2 is ON, the FWD Select # is checked to i - ' r which FWD # and 10 Billing # set to use. The FWD # ~ which SCN to use. The FWD Select #
has been changed f~om 1 to 2 so that SCN 40 ~ ~ with the FWD #2 will be used instead of the out-of-service SCN 38 which is ~ with FWD #1. Thus, this call request is routed to SCN 40 for processing. The .~ of the processing steps ~ s as previously explained for the first example. It will be noted that 15 SCN 40 may have processing capabilities that duplicate SCN 38 for those -_ ~6 ' that have elected sonrices c~ "onding to SCN ID 2 in order to permit SCN ~- by the FWD Se1ect # column.
Upon the SCN 38 retuming to service, the ~ ~ Module 12 will change the data in Table 2 baclc to the inidal data, i.e., the data of the cell of 20 column FWD Select # and SCN D) 2 row from 2 to I and the data of the cell of column Service and SCN ~) 4 from OFF to ON. Thus, call processing is restored tothe "normal" condidon where SCN 38 retu ns to sorvice.
The illus~adve ernbodiment of the presen~ invendon facilitates tho providing of preconnection services to a callod party such as without reqDg 2S muldple directory numbers to be assigned to the callod party. Upon receiving a call request, a detenninadon is mado if 1~ r cdon services are to be pl~,.ided for the called party. If such L-- ~ ~ ~ ~ C~' ~ services arc to bc l,~v~ , the service nodc to provide thc scrviccs is idcndfied and a dctenninadon is madc if thc call request is frvm o hor than the idendfiod service node. If the call request is not from the servicc 30 node, the call request is routod to the service node for prcconnection services. If a call request is frvm the scloctcd scrvice nodo, the ~ d call is rwted to thecallod party, thereby pcrmifflng the service nodc to establish communicadons with the callcd party subscriber while the original calling party's call request can bo held in abeyance pending the ~n~ g of services by the selected sen~ice node.
35 P.pc~ ;ng on the result of the services, the original calling party can then be cVAAr~ t~nd to the called party. Although the SCN call to the original called party was . - . . .
~ 2~12~
triggered by the call request from the original calling party in the illustrated..p~es other events could cause the SCN tO inidate a call to a subscriber.
Although an illustradve c .~ of the present invendon has been ~ lesç~ibed and shown in the ~a~ , the scope of the present h~en~ion iS defined by 5 the claims which follow.
: , : .:
Claims (20)
1. A method for providing preconnection services in a telecommunication system prior to a call from a calling (CG) party being offered to a called (CD) party, the system including a central office switch to which the CD party is connected and a service node coupled to the switch, the method implemented bythe switch comprising the steps of:
receiving a call request from a CG party to a CD party having a predetermined directory number;
determining if preconnection services are to be provided for said call request;
if preconnection services are to be provided, identifying one service node to assist in providing said preconnection services;
determining if said call request is not from said one service node;
if said call request is not from said one service node, routing the call request to said one service node for preconnection services;
if said call request is from said one service node, routing the call to said CD party having said predetermined directory number, thereby facilitating preconnection services.
receiving a call request from a CG party to a CD party having a predetermined directory number;
determining if preconnection services are to be provided for said call request;
if preconnection services are to be provided, identifying one service node to assist in providing said preconnection services;
determining if said call request is not from said one service node;
if said call request is not from said one service node, routing the call request to said one service node for preconnection services;
if said call request is from said one service node, routing the call to said CD party having said predetermined directory number, thereby facilitating preconnection services.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining if preconnection services are to be provided for calls comprises the steps of locating a record corresponding to the CD party in a customer database associated with saidswitch and making said preconnection service determination based on data stored in a predetermined field of said record.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of identifying said one service node comprises the steps of locating a record corresponding to the CD
party in a services database associated with said switch and identifying said one service node based on service node data stored in a field of said record.
party in a services database associated with said switch and identifying said one service node based on service node data stored in a field of said record.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining if said call request is not from said one service node comprises the steps of locating a record in a services database associated with said switch connected to the CD party, comparing a predetermined call attribute provided as part of said call request with a corresponding call attribute stored as part of said record, and determining if said call request is not from said one service node based on the results of said comparison.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said comparing step compares a billing number assigned to the party making the call request with a billing number assigned to said one service node, an equality resulting from thecomparison indicating that said one service node is the CG party.
6. A telecommunication switch that facilitates preconnection services in a telecommunication system prior to a call from a calling (CG) party being offered to a called (CD) party, the system including a service node coupled to the switch, the switch comprising:
means for receiving a call request for a CD party having a predetermined directory number;
means for determining if preconnection services are to be provided for said call request;
means for identifying one service node to assist in providing said preconneciton services if preconnection services are to be provided;
means for determining if said call request is not from said one service node;
means for routing the call request to said one service node for preconnection services if said call request is not from said one service node;
means for routing the call to said CD party having said predetermined directory number if said call request is from said one service node, thereby facilitating preconnection services.
means for receiving a call request for a CD party having a predetermined directory number;
means for determining if preconnection services are to be provided for said call request;
means for identifying one service node to assist in providing said preconneciton services if preconnection services are to be provided;
means for determining if said call request is not from said one service node;
means for routing the call request to said one service node for preconnection services if said call request is not from said one service node;
means for routing the call to said CD party having said predetermined directory number if said call request is from said one service node, thereby facilitating preconnection services.
7. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said means for determining if preconnection services are to be provided for calls comprises means for locating a record corresponding to the CD party in a customer database associated with saidswitch and means for comparing data stored in a predetermined field of said record with a predetermined value, said preconnection service determination based on the result of said comparison.
8. The switch according to claim 7 wherein said means for identifying said one service node comprises means for locating a record corresponding to theCD party in a services database associated with said switch, and means for identifying said one service node based on service node data stored in a field of said record.
9. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said means for determining if said call request is not from said one service node comprises means for locating a record in a services database associated with said switch connected to the CD party, means for comparing a predetermined call attribute provided as part of said callrequest with a corresponding call attribute stored as part of said record, and means for determining if said call request is not from said one service node based on the results of said comparison.
10. The switch according to claim 9 wherein said comparing means compares a billing number assigned to the party making the call request with a billing number assigned to said one service node, an equality resulting from thecomparison indicating that said one service node is the CG party.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined number is utilized by said CG party and by said one service node to originate calls to said CD party.
12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining if said one service node is available for service, and if said one service node is not available for service, routing said call request to an alternate service node for preconnection services.
13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of changing data in a field of a record that controls which service node is to provide the preconnection services upon said determination that said one service node is notavailable for service.
14. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining if said one service node is available for service, and if said one service node is not available for service, routing said call request to said CD party thereby not routing said call request to a service node for preconnection services.
15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of changing data in a field of a record that controls whether a service node is to provide the preconnection services upon said determination that said one service node is not available for service so that said call request is not attempted to be routed to a service node.
16. The switch according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined number is utilized by said CG party and by said one service node to originate calls to said CD party.
17. The switch according to claim 6 further comprising means for determining if said one service node is available for service, and means for routing said call request to an alternate service node for preconnection services if said one service node is not available for service.
18. The switch according to claim 17 further comprising means for changing data in a field of a record that controls which service node is to provide the preconnection services upon said determination that said one service node is notavailable for service.
19. The switch according to claim 6 further comprising means for determining if said one service node is available for service and means for routing said call request to said CD party if said one service node is not available for service, thereby not routing said call request to a service node for preconnection services.
20. The switch according to claim 19 further comprising means for changing data in a field of a record that controls whether a service node is to provide the preconnection services to different data that prohibits the routing of said call request to a service node upon said determination that said one service node is not available for service, wherein said call request is not attempted to be routed to a service node.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/010,950 US5442689A (en) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-01-29 | Apparatus and method for providing services prior to call completion in a telecommuncation system |
| US010,950 | 1993-01-29 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2112060A1 CA2112060A1 (en) | 1994-07-30 |
| CA2112060C true CA2112060C (en) | 1997-08-05 |
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| CA002112060A Expired - Fee Related CA2112060C (en) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-12-21 | Apparatus and method for providing services prior to call completion in a telecommunication system |
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| US (1) | US5442689A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0609016B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3270612B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2112060C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69413078T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2120566T3 (en) |
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| US6717938B1 (en) | 1999-04-15 | 2004-04-06 | J2 Global Communications, Inc. | System controlling use of a communication channel |
| US5426694A (en) * | 1993-10-08 | 1995-06-20 | Excel, Inc. | Telecommunication switch having programmable network protocols and communications services |
| DE4340326A1 (en) * | 1993-11-26 | 1995-06-01 | Philips Patentverwaltung | Communication system |
| GB2290675A (en) * | 1994-06-22 | 1996-01-03 | Engineering Support Limited Sy | Telecommunications system |
| JPH08139809A (en) * | 1994-11-08 | 1996-05-31 | Fujitsu Ltd | Exchange service start system |
| US5546452A (en) | 1995-03-02 | 1996-08-13 | Geotel Communications Corp. | Communications system using a central controller to control at least one network and agent system |
| US5754627A (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1998-05-19 | Mitel Corporation | Method and apparatus for managing calls using a soft call park |
| US5598464A (en) * | 1995-06-20 | 1997-01-28 | Dsc Communications Comporation | Method and apparatus for providing local number portability |
| US5930708A (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 1999-07-27 | Trw Inc. | Communications satellite router-formatter |
| WO1997050225A2 (en) * | 1996-06-25 | 1997-12-31 | Bellsouth Corporation | A system and a method to provide an audio calling name service implemented through an advanced intelligent network |
| FR2751818B1 (en) * | 1996-07-23 | 1998-09-04 | Chemin Francois | METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO SUBSCRIBERS OF A TELEPHONE NETWORK |
| FR2755336B1 (en) * | 1996-10-30 | 1998-12-04 | Chemin Francois | COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN A TELEPHONE SERVICE WITH SERVER AND AN ISDN SERVICE FOR APPLICANT IDENTIFICATION |
| US6052458A (en) * | 1996-11-22 | 2000-04-18 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Method for message marking and detection of message looping among signaling networks in a telecommunications system |
| US5905791A (en) * | 1997-01-23 | 1999-05-18 | At&T Corp. | Method and apparatus for providing combined communication services including local service and toll service |
| US6282279B1 (en) | 1997-02-10 | 2001-08-28 | At&T Corp. | Method and system for processing outbound service calls via a network adjunct platform |
| US6535596B1 (en) | 1997-09-29 | 2003-03-18 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Call processing system utilizing subscriber services and preferences |
| GB2330271A (en) * | 1997-10-08 | 1999-04-14 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Handling telephone calls |
| CA2266964A1 (en) * | 1998-05-14 | 1999-11-14 | Katherine Anne Koenig | Operator assisted call subscriber screening using an intelligent network interface protocol |
| US7920684B2 (en) * | 2003-08-11 | 2011-04-05 | Arbinet-Thexchange, Inc. | Method and system for processing call setup messages using call attributes |
| US8126017B1 (en) * | 2004-05-21 | 2012-02-28 | At&T Intellectual Property Ii, L.P. | Method for address translation in telecommunication features |
| FR2899243B1 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2008-05-16 | Saint Gobain Vetrotex | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPOSITE WIRE |
| US8249230B1 (en) | 2012-01-09 | 2012-08-21 | EC Data Systems, Inc. | Scalable and flexible internet fax architecture |
| US8254538B1 (en) | 2012-02-27 | 2012-08-28 | EC Data Systems, Inc. | Scalable and flexible internet fax architecture for processing outbound fax messages |
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| US4277649A (en) * | 1980-01-18 | 1981-07-07 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Method and apparatus for screening telephone calls |
| US4310727A (en) * | 1980-02-04 | 1982-01-12 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Method of processing special service telephone calls |
| US4656658A (en) * | 1985-10-11 | 1987-04-07 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Network routing arrangement |
| US4959855A (en) * | 1986-10-08 | 1990-09-25 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Directory assistance call processing and calling customer remote signal monitoring arrangements |
| US5099509A (en) * | 1987-04-17 | 1992-03-24 | Dytel Corporation | Integration of voice store and forward facility |
| US4794642A (en) * | 1987-09-24 | 1988-12-27 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Call screening in a public telephone station |
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| US5329578A (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1994-07-12 | Northern Telecom Limited | Personal communication service with mobility manager |
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1993
- 1993-01-29 US US08/010,950 patent/US5442689A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-12-21 CA CA002112060A patent/CA2112060C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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1994
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- 1994-01-19 DE DE69413078T patent/DE69413078T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-01-19 EP EP94300408A patent/EP0609016B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-01-31 JP JP02590694A patent/JP3270612B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0609016A1 (en) | 1994-08-03 |
| CA2112060A1 (en) | 1994-07-30 |
| JPH06253018A (en) | 1994-09-09 |
| EP0609016B1 (en) | 1998-09-09 |
| ES2120566T3 (en) | 1998-11-01 |
| DE69413078D1 (en) | 1998-10-15 |
| JP3270612B2 (en) | 2002-04-02 |
| DE69413078T2 (en) | 1999-03-18 |
| US5442689A (en) | 1995-08-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |