CA2143183C - Apparatus for use in completing telephone calls - Google Patents
Apparatus for use in completing telephone callsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2143183C CA2143183C CA002143183A CA2143183A CA2143183C CA 2143183 C CA2143183 C CA 2143183C CA 002143183 A CA002143183 A CA 002143183A CA 2143183 A CA2143183 A CA 2143183A CA 2143183 C CA2143183 C CA 2143183C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- station set
- telephone station
- telephone
- selection
- carrier
- 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
- H04M3/02—Calling substations, e.g. by ringing
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
- H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
- H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
- H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
- H04M1/27485—Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
Abstract
A telephone station set (101) is arranged to automatically prefix calls with the access code of a particular, preselected IXC. In one embodiment, the telephone station set (101) is arranged to have at least one locking button (103-1, 103-2, 103-3, 103-4) that corresponds with an IXC and whenever the locking button is in the selected state, any calls originated from the telephone station set are automatically prefixed with the access code of the IXC to which the button corresponds. Whenever there are not any IXC buttons selected, only those digits corresponding to the buttons dialed by the calling party are transmitted to the LEC.
Description
.~o 95/01689 APPARA TUS FOR USE IN COMPLETING TELEPHONE CALLS
Technical Field This invention relates to the processing of telephone calls;
Back~round of the Invention In the United States, telephone service is provided by multiple providers or carriers. Some calls are handled by one service provider, e.g., a local call completed between two wired telephone stations. Other calls, e.g., long-distancecalls, require multiple service providers to cooperate for their completion.
The initial carrier providing telephone service is a local service provider, 10 illustratively a local exchange carrier (LEC), such as New Jersey Bell, but also-including cellular (wireless), cable and any so-called "dial-tone provider" or "first contact service provider", all such being referred to herein as local service providers.
The second carrier is typically, but not necç~rily, a long-distance--or so-called interexchange--telephone carrier. For example, presently, for a long-~ t~n-~e 15 telephone call between wired telephone subscribers, the local service providers serving the calling and called telephones are LECs which are interconnected by along-tli~t~n~e, or interçx~h~n~e, carrier (IXC). In the United States, AT&T, MCIand Sprint are three such IXCs. In another exarnple, for a local call from a mobile telephone to a wired telephone station, the local service provider is a cellular service 20 provider while the second carrier could be a LEC that is connecting the network of the cellular service provider to a called party at the wired telephone station. Thus, it is possible for a teleco.. ~ tions carrier to serve multiple roles, e.g., being the local service provider for some calls while being a second carrier for other calls.
Each telephone suhscriher of a local service provider has associated with 25 his telephone service a prçsubsçrihed default second carrier that was selected by or for the subscriber. The presubscrihed default second carrier carries multiple-carrier calls origin~ted from the subscriher's telephone unless the local service provider is instructed otherwise by way of the call-by-call entry of a telecommunic~tions carrier code indicating which teleco--..-.----ic~tions carrier should carry the particular call.
30 For any call for which a teleco.--...~n~ic~tions carrier code is not entered, the default second carrier is typically identified based on the particular telephone link--illustratively represented herein by a wired telephone line but also including wireless (cellular), fiber optic or cable connections and any other link provided to connect telephones to local service providers--on which the local service provider received 35 the call.
2143~83 Continuing with the above-described interexchange call example, which ,~presel1ts the most common scenario at present, each subscriber to local telephone service from a LEC has associated with his telephone line a "primary interexchange carrier," or PIC. The local subscriber is said to be "PIC'd" to the associated IXC.
The interexchange carrier to which a subscriber is PIC'd will be used by default to complete interexchange calls origin~te~l from his telephone line unless the LEC is instructed otherwise. Such instruction is given when the subscriber enters, on acall-by-call basis, plior to dialing the ealled telephone number, a teleco~ lul,ications carrier code, illustratively an IXC access code, corresponding to the desired IXC.
10 One such IXC access code is " 10 2 8 ~'' ( 1 0 A T T) corresponding to AT&T.
Specifically, when a long~ t~nc~e call is initi~f~-l by the subscriber from his telephone line, and no access code is entered prior to the dialing of the called telephone number, the call is routed through the network of the origin~ting subscriber's LEC, over the network of the PIC'd IXC and, ultim~t~ly, through the15 network of the LEC which has as one of its subscribers the termin~ting subscriber.
Alternatively, a subscriber may initiate a long~ t~nt~e call by (li~ling, prior to supplying the called telephone number, an ~C access code that in~ tes which of the IXCs he wishes to carry his call. Upon receipt of the access code by a switch of the LEC serving the caller, it is recognized that the caller wishes his call to be carried 20 over the IXC corresponding to the received access code. Accordingly, the LEC
routes the caller's call to a trunk connectin~ the LEC to the IXC intlie~ted by the access code, regardless of the IXC to which the caller's telephone line is PIC'd.
Thereafter, the LEC passes the called telephone number to the selected IXC. It is noted that the supplying of an IXC access code typically inclic~tes the selection by 25 the caller of an ~C other than the one that he is PIC'd to, but occasionally it may in-lic~te the same IXC to which the caller is PIC'd.
According to prior art arrangelllell~, the information in~ ting whether a call was routed to a particular telecommunications carrier because a telecommunications carrier code was supplied by the caller, as opposed to the caller 30 having selected that particular teleco" " "~ tions carrier by default, is never conveyed to the particular telecol~ u.lications carrier. Such inforrnation couldprove useful and valuable to a telecommllnic~tions carrier, especially in the area of providing special services. Therefore, in accordance with the principles described in concurrently filed United States Patent application Serial No. 08/086,975, if a 35 telecommunications carrier code specifying a particular telecornmunications carrier is supplied by a caller, the network of the local service provider routing such a call to ~Vo 95/01689 PCT/US94/06609 21~18~
the specified telecnmm~mic-~tions carrier is arranged to transmit to the network of the selected telecomm-lnications carrier an indication that a telecomrnunications carrier code was supplied by the caller to the local service provider. For example, the indication is tr~ncmitt~d as a cign~ling system 7 (SS7) message, or a portion thereof S Moreover, the local service provider may also provide an in-lic~tion that the carrier whose telecommunications carrier code was entered is not the carrier that would have been selected by default for the calling telephone line.
Furtherrnore, in accordance with the principles described in concurrently filed United States Patent application Serial No. 08/086,956, a telecommunications 10 carrier is arranged to provide different call tre~tm~nt for a call, e.g., different call features or services, when the telecommnnic~tions carrier receives an indic~tion that the teleco"~ ications carrier's telec~ "lll-~-ic~fions carrier code was entered by the caller, as coll,y~cd to the ~leallllcll~ the teleco"-",l"lic~tions carrier provides for the same call when such an indication is not received. According to one such service, 15 the "follow me anywhere" service, if a caller placing a call to the subscriber's telephone prefixes the call with the telec- ""~ ications carrier code of the telecommunications carrier, the telecommnnir~tions carrier completes the call to the telephone coll~;,ponding to a telephone number previously specified by the subscriber. If the caller places the call without prefixing the call with the 20 telecommunications carrier code of the teleco"",.~ ic~tions carrier, the call is completed to the subscriber's telephone. According to another such service, if acaller's call cannot be completed and the caller prefixed his call with the telecomml-ni~tions carrier code of a telecommllnic~tions carrier, then the caller is supplied with a voice mailbox in which he can store a message that can later be 25 retrieved by the called party. In one embodimlont~ the telecommunir~tions carrier is an interexch~n~e. carrier and the teleco,,,,,,-~,ications carrier code is an IXC access code.
As articulated in the above-cited patent applications, loss of service for non-local service provider activated features can occur if a called party who is a 30 subscriber to such services, e.g., the "follow me anywhere" service, is a subscriber of the same local service provider as the calling party. This is because calls between such parties are local calls that are typically dialed without the prefixing of such calls with a telecommunications carrier code, the calls being processed only by the common local service provider. As such, the non-local service provider never gets a 35 chance to invoke its "follow me anywhere" service and the local service provider is not aware that calls to such a subscriber are to be forwarded to another telephone.
2143~83 However, by prefixing even local calls with a telecommllnic~tions carrier code, the non-local service provider can check its data base to de~ermine if special processing is to be provided for even a non-long-rlict~n~e call. If the called party had indeed subscribed to the "follow me anywhere" service, and had stored a telephone number 5 of a telephone to which his calls are to be routed that is not served by the same local service provider that is serving the calling party, the non-local service provider would complete the call to the (l~ocign~t~d telephone. But, if the called party had subscribed to the "follow me anywhere" service, and had stored the telephone number of a telephone to which his calls are to be routed that is served by the same 10 local service provider as is the calling party, the non-local service provider would supply to the local service provider the stored telephone number. The local service provider could then complete the call to the telephone in.1ic~te-1 by the storedtelephone number. Moreover, I have recognized that requiring a caller to enter ateleco""llll"ic~tions carrier code for each call for which he wishes non-default15 treatment is cumbersome.
Summary of the I~vt:l~lioll To ove.col,le these difficulties, in accordance with the principles of the invention, a telephone station set is arranged to have an opel~ling mode in which any calls ori~:in~t.-d from that telephone station set are autom~tic~lly supplied, e.g., 20 prefixed, with the telecolll"lllllir~tions carrier code of a particular, preselected telecommnnications carrier. While at present it is typical only for IXCs to havetelecommllni~tions carrier eodes, e.g., their IXC aeeess codes, some LECs also have telecomm--nit~tions carrier codes for particular types of calls that they can carry, e.g., New Jersey Bell has a teleco-.,--,.-i-ic~tions carrier code "l-0-NJB," that is 25 10652, for calls plaeed from northern New Jersey to New York City and it is anticipated that other telec~...""ll,.ic~tions carriers may be ~ccigned corresponding telecommllnir~tions carrier codes in the future. In one embodiment of the invention, the telephone station set is arranged to have at least one locking button that corresponds to a telecommllni~tions carrier and whenever the locking button is in 30 the depressed, or selected, state, any calls t)rigin~t~cl from that telephone station are autom~tiçz~lly prefixed with the telecolllmullications carrier code of the telecomml-nic~tions carrier to which the button corresponds. In some jurisdictions, a non-toll call that is not one of the special services (such as the "follow me anywhere"
service) is blocked when an IXC access code is prefixed. For those jurisdictions, 35 means are provided to prevent the prefixing of the IXC access code. Whenever there are no buttons corresponding to a teleeommnnic~tions earrier in the depressed, or CA 02143183 1998-0~-0~
selected, state, only that which is dialed by the calling party is transmitted to the LEC to which the telephone station set is connected.
In another embodiment of the invention, the telephone station set is arranged to have a slide switch that has one or more telecommunicationscarrier positions and a "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" position. Positioning the slide switch at a telecommunications carrier position causes all calls dialed from the telephone station set to be prefixed by the telecommunicationscarrier code of the corresponding telecommunicationscarrier. Positioning the slide switch at the "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" position causes, for all calls dialed from the telephone station set, only that which is dialed by the calling party to be transmitted to the LEC
to which the telephone station set is connected.
In yet a still further embodiment of the invention, a particular telecommunications carrier, or "No Telecommunications Carrier" is selected from a menu provided by the telephone station set on its display. If a particular telecommunicationscarrier is selected from the menu, all calls dialed from the telephone station set are prefixed by the telecommunicationscarrier code of the correspondingtelecommunicationscarrier. If "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" is selected from the menu, the telephone station set transmits to the LEC only thatwhich is dialed by the calling party.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the telecommunications carrier code may be dialed a) when the telephone station set goes off-hook, or b) in response to the initiation of dialing by the calling party.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone station set for use in connecting a caller to the network of a local service provider, the telephone station set comprising: multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunicationscalls originated from said telephone station set and carried by a telecommunicationscarrier other than said local service provider, said selection rem~inin~ in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunicationcarrier code of said selected telecommunicationscarrier to saidnetwork of said local service provider during all calls originated after registration of said selection that are to be carried by a telecommunications system other than said local service provider.
CA 02143183 1998-0~-0~
- Sa-In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method comprising the steps of: registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of a telecommunications carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said S selection is explicitly changed; and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the telecommunicationscarrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to a network of a local service provider for every call originated from said telephone station set.
Brief Description of the D. ,.wi- ~
FIG. I shows an exemplary telephone station set arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram view of the circuitry of the telephone station set of FIG. I;
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process for automatically l S prefixing onto calls the IXC access code of an IXC for which a locking button is selected, in accordance with the principles of the invention;
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which a telephone station set is arranged to incorporate a slide switch;
FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, in which a particular IXC, or "No IXC" is selected by using a menu provided on the display of a telephone station set;
~3 PCT/US94/06609 ~
Wo 95/01689 2~43~
" .' i ~ r~-, FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a simplified exemplary process for use in a telephone embodying the principles of the invention;
FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process by which the IXC
access code is autom~tic~lly dialed only when the caller dials a telephone number for 5 which it can be determined that the IXC access code should be automatically supplied;
F~G. 8 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process by which a telephone deterrnines whether or not to autom~tiç~lly supply an IXC access code; and FIG. 9 shows a flow chart for a process equivalent to that shown in FIG.
10 8 but focusing on when not to supply the IXC access code.
Detailed Description FIG. 1 shows exemplary telephone station set 101 conn~ctç-l to a LEC
via telephone line 109 and arranged in accorda~lce with the principles of the invention. Telephone station set 101 inrlucles a) locking buttons 103, including15 locking buttons 103-1 through 103~, b) keypad 105 and c) handset 107. Each oflocking buttorls 103 co..~ ol,ds to a particular IXC, e.g., AT&T, IXC1 and IXC2, or "No IXC" and are accordingly labeled. Only one of locking buttons 103 can be depressed, or selected, at a time. Sçlçcting one of locking buttons 103, by depressing it, autom~ti( ~lly deselects the locking button that had previously been 20 sel~cte-l In accordance with the principles of the invention, whenever one of locking buttons 103-1 through 103-3 is in the depressed, or selected, state, any calls ori~in~t~-l from station set 101 are autom~tic~lly prefixed with the IXC access code of the IXC to which the button col-t;sponds. Whenever locking buttons 103-1 25 through 103-3 are not depressed, because locking button 103-4 corresponding to "No IXC" is depressed, any previous choice of lXC is canceled and only that which isdialed, e.g., only those digits co..e~ol1ding to the buttons pressed, by the calling party on keypad 105 are tr~n~mitt~d to the LEC to which the telephone is connected.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram view of the ci,c~iL,y of telephone 30 station set 101. Processor 201, which includes memory 211, is connected to locking selector cir-;uiLly 203--which, for telephone station set 101 is the electronics of locking buttons 103--, keypad 105, switch hook 205, dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 and analog telephone circui~-y 209.
Processor 201 provides all the c(J.~.~uul~lional capability n~ces~ry to 35 control all the processes of telephone station set 101. Memory 211 stores program code and data for use by processor 201. Processor 201 can deterrnine, ~Wo 95/01689 21~3183 independe~tly, a) which buttons, if any, of keypad 105 are pressed, b) the state of the switch hook, i.e., is telephone station set 101 in an on-hook state or an off-hook state, and c) which of locking buttons 103 is depressed. Associated with knowingwhich locking button is depressed is the knowledge of the IXC access code that 5 would need to be generated by processor 201. Processor 201 can also cause dualtone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 to supply dual tone multi-frequency signals over telephone line 109 via analog telephone cil~;ùiL- y 209. Analog telephone cil~;ùilly 209 also causes telephone station set 101 to go on-hook and off-hook in response to comm~n(1~ from processor 201.
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemrl~ry process for automatically prefixing the IXC access code of the IXC whose one of locking buttons 103 is selected, onto any call origin~tP~l from telephone station set 101, in accordance with the principles of the invention. The process is entered in step 301 when a caller at telephone station set 101 lifts handset 107. Doing so causes switch hook 205 to 15 generate a signal to which processor 201 can respond. Next, in response to the signal from switch hook 205, processor 201 causes analog telephone circuitry 209 to take telephone station set 101 off-hook on telephone line 109, in step 303.
Thereafter, conditional branch point 305 tests to determine if one of locking button 103 corresponding to an IXC is selected.
If the test result in step 305 is YES, in-lic~ting that an IXC was preselected, control passes to step 307, in which the IXC access code corresponding to the selected locking button is tietçrminP~l The access codes are stored in memory 211. In step 309, processor 201 causes dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 to supply tones to telephone line 109, via analog telephone Ch(;uill,y 209, that 25 correspond to the determint~d IXC access code. The process then exits in step 311, at which point any digits dialed by the caller at keypad 105 will be supplied over telephone line 109. If the test result in step 305 is NO, intiil-~ting that an IXC was not preselected, e.g., "No IXC" locking button 1034 is depressed, control passes to step 311, and the process is exited. At this point, any digits dialed by the caller at 30 keypad 105 will be supplied over telephone line 109.
It is noted that there need not be a separate "No IXC" locking button.
Tn~te~tl the "No IXC" condition may be in~ t~dl and any previous choice of IXC is canceled, by not having any of the locking buttons that represent IXCs being depressed. In such an embodiment the "No IXC" condition may be brought about 35 by, for example, depressing any non-selected IXC button one quarter of the way, thereby causing the selected IXC button to become unselected. It should also be PcT/uss4lo66 Wo 95/01689 ~ .' 21~3183 noted that, while FIG. 1 depicts a number of buttons, a single locking button iswithin the scope of this invention, and this locking button can be a locking push button, or any other two-state on/off switch. In an exemplary embodiment, when the button is locked in the depressed position, the IXC access code is autom~tic~lly5 prefixed. When the button is not depressed, then the IXC access code is not autom~tir~lly prefixed. While this limits the selection to a single IXC, it is quite possible that some people will prefer such an embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the il~vention, in which telephone station set 401 is arranged to incorporate slide switch 404. Slide switch 404 has one 10 or more IXC positions 403-1 through 403-3 and a "No IXC" position 403-4. While arm 411 of slide switch 404 is positioned at a particular one of ~C positions 403-1 through 403-3, all calls dialed from station set 401 are prefixed by the IXC access code of the c-,llGspol1ding IXC. Positioning arm 411 of slide switch 404 at the "No IXC" position causes, for all calls dialed from telephone station set 401, only that 15 which is dialed by the calling party to be tr~n~mittçd to the LEC to which telephone station set 401 is conn~-cte~l by telephone line 409. Thus, any previous choice of an IXC is canceled. The circuit configuration of telephone station set 401 is the same as that for telephone station set 101, shown in FIG. 2, except that locking selector circuitry 203 is the cil-;uilly of slide switch 404 instead of that of locking buttons 20 103.
Shown in FIG. S is yet another embodiment of the invention, in which a particular IXC, or "No IXC" is selected by using a menu provided on display 503 of telephone station set 501. Upon pressing IXC select button 511-1, the user is given a choice of several IXCs, e.g., AT&T, IXCl and IXC2, and "No IXC", in the manner 25 shown. The user selects his choice by pressing the ap~,lupliate key on keypad 505.
If a particular IXC is select~-d from the menu, all calls dialed from telephone station set 501 are prefixed by the IXC access code of the corresponding IXC. If "No IXC"
is selected from the menu, when a call is made from telephone station set 501 only that which is dialed by the calling party is tr~n~mitt~d to the LEC. Thus, any 30 previous choice of an IXC is canceled. It is noted that, not only the keypad but other forms of input, such as touch screen, voice recognition, or so-called "softkeys" may be used to register the user's selection.
In each of the above described emb~tlim~ont.c, the particular IXC access codes may either be fixed in the telephone station set during its m~nllf~ctllre or they 35 may be stored in the telephone station set by following a set of steps for doing so.
Those skilled in the art will know how to implement such progr~mming steps. For ~vo 95/01689 ~ 2i~3183 example, they can parallel the steps, or protocol, employed in the AT&T Answering System Telephone ~532 for remote progr~mming of the telephone, via the telephonelines, to play back a recorded message in response to a predesign~tç~l sequence of DTMF signals. Such pro~ g of the AT&T Answering System Telephone 5 1532 can be done remotely. Sirnilarly, the progr~mming of the FIGs. 1 and 4 telephones can be done remotely.
In fact, to assist customers, a purchaser of the FIGs. 1 or 4 telephones can be instructed to connect the purchased telephone to the telephone network and to dial with it a given number. When that number is dialed, the customer informs the 10 equipment (or the operator) of the IXC access code or codes that are to be inserted into the telephone, and the e~ m~nt at that number proceeds to program the connected telephone by trancmitting the necess~ signals.
The invention may be implemented so that the IXC access code is dialed imm~diately after the telephone station set goes off-hook, per FIG. 3 or FIG. 6.15 Alternatively, the tr~ncmitting of the IXC access code may be delayed until the dialing of an initial digit by the caller, at which point the IXC access code and the dialed digits are sent in "sen-1çri7~od" fashion, i.e., the dialed digits are collected and are then sent sequentially, albeit delayed, after tr~ncmiccion of the IXC access code.
Furthermore, the invention may be implem~nt~od so that the IXC access code is only 20 dialed if the prefix code for long-~ict~n~ç~ e.g., a leading 1, is dialed by the calling party. This can be implemP-nted by adding an additional conditional branch pointafter step 303 which tests for the first digit dialed being the long-distance prefix. If the test result is NO, the process exits in step 311. If the test result is YES, the process continues at conditional branch point 305. This is shown in FIG. 7.
Additionally, the invention can be implem~nted so that before automatically dialing out an IXC access code, the telephone station set waits todetermine if the caller dialed an IXC access code. An access code might be dialed, even though one was selectçd at the telephone station set, by someone who was unfamili~r with telephone station sets that automatically dialed IXC access codes or 30 by someone who wanted to override the selected IXC for just one call. If it is deterrnined that the calling party dialed an IXC access code, the telephone station set will not autom~tic~lly dial the access code of the selected IXC for the call. Instead, only that which is dialed by the calling party will be tr~ncmittto~l to the LEC to which the telephone station set is connçcterl However, if it is determined that the calling 35 party did not dial an IXC access code, the telephone station set will automatically prefix the access code of the selected IXC to that which the calling party dialed.
W O 95101689 2 1~ 3 18 ~ PCTrUS94/06609 ~
This is shown in FIG. 8. Step 331 stores dialed digits, and step 332 analyzes the digits. When it is determined that the user dialed a "1" plus an area code, or requested a service where inserting an IXC access code may be of benefit, control passes to step 333 where it is determined whether an IXC access code was selected.
5 If it was selected, then control passes to step 334 which outputs the selected and prestored IXC access code. Thereafter, control passes to step 335 which outputs the stored digits.
It may be noted that FIG. 8 includes three paths that lead to the decision not to output the IXC access code. ~IG. 9 presents the equivalent flow chart that 10 highlight~ this fact. FIG. 9 also allows one to focus on an ~ltern~tive view of the invention, in which the consideration is when NOT to output the IXC access code,rather than when to output the IXC access code. With this focus in mind, it can simply be seen that the IXC access code is NOT autom~t~ y supplied when the use actively wishes it to not be so supplied (such as when the user dials in an IXC access 15 code), or when the local exchange carrier's equipment cannot handle receipt of an IXC access code. As intliç~t~l above, there are jurisdictions where an intra-LATA
call cannot be handled by the LEC e4~ "-,~"1 when an IXC access code is provided.
However, this is likely to change in the future.
Although dual tone multi-frequency sign~ling has been shown, the invention may be used with pulse dialing as well as with other digital signalingformats, e.g., the ISDN sign~ling format. Also, embo(1im~ntc of the invention may be developed by those skilled in the art wherein the functionality of the invention is divided between the telephone station set and a private branch exchange (PBX) towhich the telephone station set is conn~ct~cl The PBX is, in turn, conn~ctlocl to the LEC.
It is noted that the IXC access code has been in(li~ted to be prefixed before any other numbers are dialed. This is because that is the place that the telephone networks currently operated by the expect to receive the IXC access code.
However, the invention is int~le~l to include embodiments when the IXC access 30 code is not expected to be the first portion of number transmitted to the LEC. In that case the ~C code would be inserted at the a~p~ liate place within the dialed digit stream.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various35 arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope.
Technical Field This invention relates to the processing of telephone calls;
Back~round of the Invention In the United States, telephone service is provided by multiple providers or carriers. Some calls are handled by one service provider, e.g., a local call completed between two wired telephone stations. Other calls, e.g., long-distancecalls, require multiple service providers to cooperate for their completion.
The initial carrier providing telephone service is a local service provider, 10 illustratively a local exchange carrier (LEC), such as New Jersey Bell, but also-including cellular (wireless), cable and any so-called "dial-tone provider" or "first contact service provider", all such being referred to herein as local service providers.
The second carrier is typically, but not necç~rily, a long-distance--or so-called interexchange--telephone carrier. For example, presently, for a long-~ t~n-~e 15 telephone call between wired telephone subscribers, the local service providers serving the calling and called telephones are LECs which are interconnected by along-tli~t~n~e, or interçx~h~n~e, carrier (IXC). In the United States, AT&T, MCIand Sprint are three such IXCs. In another exarnple, for a local call from a mobile telephone to a wired telephone station, the local service provider is a cellular service 20 provider while the second carrier could be a LEC that is connecting the network of the cellular service provider to a called party at the wired telephone station. Thus, it is possible for a teleco.. ~ tions carrier to serve multiple roles, e.g., being the local service provider for some calls while being a second carrier for other calls.
Each telephone suhscriher of a local service provider has associated with 25 his telephone service a prçsubsçrihed default second carrier that was selected by or for the subscriber. The presubscrihed default second carrier carries multiple-carrier calls origin~ted from the subscriher's telephone unless the local service provider is instructed otherwise by way of the call-by-call entry of a telecommunic~tions carrier code indicating which teleco--..-.----ic~tions carrier should carry the particular call.
30 For any call for which a teleco.--...~n~ic~tions carrier code is not entered, the default second carrier is typically identified based on the particular telephone link--illustratively represented herein by a wired telephone line but also including wireless (cellular), fiber optic or cable connections and any other link provided to connect telephones to local service providers--on which the local service provider received 35 the call.
2143~83 Continuing with the above-described interexchange call example, which ,~presel1ts the most common scenario at present, each subscriber to local telephone service from a LEC has associated with his telephone line a "primary interexchange carrier," or PIC. The local subscriber is said to be "PIC'd" to the associated IXC.
The interexchange carrier to which a subscriber is PIC'd will be used by default to complete interexchange calls origin~te~l from his telephone line unless the LEC is instructed otherwise. Such instruction is given when the subscriber enters, on acall-by-call basis, plior to dialing the ealled telephone number, a teleco~ lul,ications carrier code, illustratively an IXC access code, corresponding to the desired IXC.
10 One such IXC access code is " 10 2 8 ~'' ( 1 0 A T T) corresponding to AT&T.
Specifically, when a long~ t~nc~e call is initi~f~-l by the subscriber from his telephone line, and no access code is entered prior to the dialing of the called telephone number, the call is routed through the network of the origin~ting subscriber's LEC, over the network of the PIC'd IXC and, ultim~t~ly, through the15 network of the LEC which has as one of its subscribers the termin~ting subscriber.
Alternatively, a subscriber may initiate a long~ t~nt~e call by (li~ling, prior to supplying the called telephone number, an ~C access code that in~ tes which of the IXCs he wishes to carry his call. Upon receipt of the access code by a switch of the LEC serving the caller, it is recognized that the caller wishes his call to be carried 20 over the IXC corresponding to the received access code. Accordingly, the LEC
routes the caller's call to a trunk connectin~ the LEC to the IXC intlie~ted by the access code, regardless of the IXC to which the caller's telephone line is PIC'd.
Thereafter, the LEC passes the called telephone number to the selected IXC. It is noted that the supplying of an IXC access code typically inclic~tes the selection by 25 the caller of an ~C other than the one that he is PIC'd to, but occasionally it may in-lic~te the same IXC to which the caller is PIC'd.
According to prior art arrangelllell~, the information in~ ting whether a call was routed to a particular telecommunications carrier because a telecommunications carrier code was supplied by the caller, as opposed to the caller 30 having selected that particular teleco" " "~ tions carrier by default, is never conveyed to the particular telecol~ u.lications carrier. Such inforrnation couldprove useful and valuable to a telecommllnic~tions carrier, especially in the area of providing special services. Therefore, in accordance with the principles described in concurrently filed United States Patent application Serial No. 08/086,975, if a 35 telecommunications carrier code specifying a particular telecornmunications carrier is supplied by a caller, the network of the local service provider routing such a call to ~Vo 95/01689 PCT/US94/06609 21~18~
the specified telecnmm~mic-~tions carrier is arranged to transmit to the network of the selected telecomm-lnications carrier an indication that a telecomrnunications carrier code was supplied by the caller to the local service provider. For example, the indication is tr~ncmitt~d as a cign~ling system 7 (SS7) message, or a portion thereof S Moreover, the local service provider may also provide an in-lic~tion that the carrier whose telecommunications carrier code was entered is not the carrier that would have been selected by default for the calling telephone line.
Furtherrnore, in accordance with the principles described in concurrently filed United States Patent application Serial No. 08/086,956, a telecommunications 10 carrier is arranged to provide different call tre~tm~nt for a call, e.g., different call features or services, when the telecommnnic~tions carrier receives an indic~tion that the teleco"~ ications carrier's telec~ "lll-~-ic~fions carrier code was entered by the caller, as coll,y~cd to the ~leallllcll~ the teleco"-",l"lic~tions carrier provides for the same call when such an indication is not received. According to one such service, 15 the "follow me anywhere" service, if a caller placing a call to the subscriber's telephone prefixes the call with the telec- ""~ ications carrier code of the telecommunications carrier, the telecommnnir~tions carrier completes the call to the telephone coll~;,ponding to a telephone number previously specified by the subscriber. If the caller places the call without prefixing the call with the 20 telecommunications carrier code of the teleco"",.~ ic~tions carrier, the call is completed to the subscriber's telephone. According to another such service, if acaller's call cannot be completed and the caller prefixed his call with the telecomml-ni~tions carrier code of a telecommllnic~tions carrier, then the caller is supplied with a voice mailbox in which he can store a message that can later be 25 retrieved by the called party. In one embodimlont~ the telecommunir~tions carrier is an interexch~n~e. carrier and the teleco,,,,,,-~,ications carrier code is an IXC access code.
As articulated in the above-cited patent applications, loss of service for non-local service provider activated features can occur if a called party who is a 30 subscriber to such services, e.g., the "follow me anywhere" service, is a subscriber of the same local service provider as the calling party. This is because calls between such parties are local calls that are typically dialed without the prefixing of such calls with a telecommunications carrier code, the calls being processed only by the common local service provider. As such, the non-local service provider never gets a 35 chance to invoke its "follow me anywhere" service and the local service provider is not aware that calls to such a subscriber are to be forwarded to another telephone.
2143~83 However, by prefixing even local calls with a telecommllnic~tions carrier code, the non-local service provider can check its data base to de~ermine if special processing is to be provided for even a non-long-rlict~n~e call. If the called party had indeed subscribed to the "follow me anywhere" service, and had stored a telephone number 5 of a telephone to which his calls are to be routed that is not served by the same local service provider that is serving the calling party, the non-local service provider would complete the call to the (l~ocign~t~d telephone. But, if the called party had subscribed to the "follow me anywhere" service, and had stored the telephone number of a telephone to which his calls are to be routed that is served by the same 10 local service provider as is the calling party, the non-local service provider would supply to the local service provider the stored telephone number. The local service provider could then complete the call to the telephone in.1ic~te-1 by the storedtelephone number. Moreover, I have recognized that requiring a caller to enter ateleco""llll"ic~tions carrier code for each call for which he wishes non-default15 treatment is cumbersome.
Summary of the I~vt:l~lioll To ove.col,le these difficulties, in accordance with the principles of the invention, a telephone station set is arranged to have an opel~ling mode in which any calls ori~:in~t.-d from that telephone station set are autom~tic~lly supplied, e.g., 20 prefixed, with the telecolll"lllllir~tions carrier code of a particular, preselected telecommnnications carrier. While at present it is typical only for IXCs to havetelecommllni~tions carrier eodes, e.g., their IXC aeeess codes, some LECs also have telecomm--nit~tions carrier codes for particular types of calls that they can carry, e.g., New Jersey Bell has a teleco-.,--,.-i-ic~tions carrier code "l-0-NJB," that is 25 10652, for calls plaeed from northern New Jersey to New York City and it is anticipated that other telec~...""ll,.ic~tions carriers may be ~ccigned corresponding telecommllnir~tions carrier codes in the future. In one embodiment of the invention, the telephone station set is arranged to have at least one locking button that corresponds to a telecommllni~tions carrier and whenever the locking button is in 30 the depressed, or selected, state, any calls t)rigin~t~cl from that telephone station are autom~tiçz~lly prefixed with the telecolllmullications carrier code of the telecomml-nic~tions carrier to which the button corresponds. In some jurisdictions, a non-toll call that is not one of the special services (such as the "follow me anywhere"
service) is blocked when an IXC access code is prefixed. For those jurisdictions, 35 means are provided to prevent the prefixing of the IXC access code. Whenever there are no buttons corresponding to a teleeommnnic~tions earrier in the depressed, or CA 02143183 1998-0~-0~
selected, state, only that which is dialed by the calling party is transmitted to the LEC to which the telephone station set is connected.
In another embodiment of the invention, the telephone station set is arranged to have a slide switch that has one or more telecommunicationscarrier positions and a "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" position. Positioning the slide switch at a telecommunications carrier position causes all calls dialed from the telephone station set to be prefixed by the telecommunicationscarrier code of the corresponding telecommunicationscarrier. Positioning the slide switch at the "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" position causes, for all calls dialed from the telephone station set, only that which is dialed by the calling party to be transmitted to the LEC
to which the telephone station set is connected.
In yet a still further embodiment of the invention, a particular telecommunications carrier, or "No Telecommunications Carrier" is selected from a menu provided by the telephone station set on its display. If a particular telecommunicationscarrier is selected from the menu, all calls dialed from the telephone station set are prefixed by the telecommunicationscarrier code of the correspondingtelecommunicationscarrier. If "No TelecommunicationsCarrier" is selected from the menu, the telephone station set transmits to the LEC only thatwhich is dialed by the calling party.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the telecommunications carrier code may be dialed a) when the telephone station set goes off-hook, or b) in response to the initiation of dialing by the calling party.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone station set for use in connecting a caller to the network of a local service provider, the telephone station set comprising: multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunicationscalls originated from said telephone station set and carried by a telecommunicationscarrier other than said local service provider, said selection rem~inin~ in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunicationcarrier code of said selected telecommunicationscarrier to saidnetwork of said local service provider during all calls originated after registration of said selection that are to be carried by a telecommunications system other than said local service provider.
CA 02143183 1998-0~-0~
- Sa-In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method comprising the steps of: registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of a telecommunications carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said S selection is explicitly changed; and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the telecommunicationscarrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to a network of a local service provider for every call originated from said telephone station set.
Brief Description of the D. ,.wi- ~
FIG. I shows an exemplary telephone station set arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram view of the circuitry of the telephone station set of FIG. I;
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process for automatically l S prefixing onto calls the IXC access code of an IXC for which a locking button is selected, in accordance with the principles of the invention;
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which a telephone station set is arranged to incorporate a slide switch;
FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, in which a particular IXC, or "No IXC" is selected by using a menu provided on the display of a telephone station set;
~3 PCT/US94/06609 ~
Wo 95/01689 2~43~
" .' i ~ r~-, FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a simplified exemplary process for use in a telephone embodying the principles of the invention;
FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process by which the IXC
access code is autom~tic~lly dialed only when the caller dials a telephone number for 5 which it can be determined that the IXC access code should be automatically supplied;
F~G. 8 shows a flow chart of an exemplary process by which a telephone deterrnines whether or not to autom~tiç~lly supply an IXC access code; and FIG. 9 shows a flow chart for a process equivalent to that shown in FIG.
10 8 but focusing on when not to supply the IXC access code.
Detailed Description FIG. 1 shows exemplary telephone station set 101 conn~ctç-l to a LEC
via telephone line 109 and arranged in accorda~lce with the principles of the invention. Telephone station set 101 inrlucles a) locking buttons 103, including15 locking buttons 103-1 through 103~, b) keypad 105 and c) handset 107. Each oflocking buttorls 103 co..~ ol,ds to a particular IXC, e.g., AT&T, IXC1 and IXC2, or "No IXC" and are accordingly labeled. Only one of locking buttons 103 can be depressed, or selected, at a time. Sçlçcting one of locking buttons 103, by depressing it, autom~ti( ~lly deselects the locking button that had previously been 20 sel~cte-l In accordance with the principles of the invention, whenever one of locking buttons 103-1 through 103-3 is in the depressed, or selected, state, any calls ori~in~t~-l from station set 101 are autom~tic~lly prefixed with the IXC access code of the IXC to which the button col-t;sponds. Whenever locking buttons 103-1 25 through 103-3 are not depressed, because locking button 103-4 corresponding to "No IXC" is depressed, any previous choice of lXC is canceled and only that which isdialed, e.g., only those digits co..e~ol1ding to the buttons pressed, by the calling party on keypad 105 are tr~n~mitt~d to the LEC to which the telephone is connected.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram view of the ci,c~iL,y of telephone 30 station set 101. Processor 201, which includes memory 211, is connected to locking selector cir-;uiLly 203--which, for telephone station set 101 is the electronics of locking buttons 103--, keypad 105, switch hook 205, dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 and analog telephone circui~-y 209.
Processor 201 provides all the c(J.~.~uul~lional capability n~ces~ry to 35 control all the processes of telephone station set 101. Memory 211 stores program code and data for use by processor 201. Processor 201 can deterrnine, ~Wo 95/01689 21~3183 independe~tly, a) which buttons, if any, of keypad 105 are pressed, b) the state of the switch hook, i.e., is telephone station set 101 in an on-hook state or an off-hook state, and c) which of locking buttons 103 is depressed. Associated with knowingwhich locking button is depressed is the knowledge of the IXC access code that 5 would need to be generated by processor 201. Processor 201 can also cause dualtone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 to supply dual tone multi-frequency signals over telephone line 109 via analog telephone cil~;ùiL- y 209. Analog telephone cil~;ùilly 209 also causes telephone station set 101 to go on-hook and off-hook in response to comm~n(1~ from processor 201.
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemrl~ry process for automatically prefixing the IXC access code of the IXC whose one of locking buttons 103 is selected, onto any call origin~tP~l from telephone station set 101, in accordance with the principles of the invention. The process is entered in step 301 when a caller at telephone station set 101 lifts handset 107. Doing so causes switch hook 205 to 15 generate a signal to which processor 201 can respond. Next, in response to the signal from switch hook 205, processor 201 causes analog telephone circuitry 209 to take telephone station set 101 off-hook on telephone line 109, in step 303.
Thereafter, conditional branch point 305 tests to determine if one of locking button 103 corresponding to an IXC is selected.
If the test result in step 305 is YES, in-lic~ting that an IXC was preselected, control passes to step 307, in which the IXC access code corresponding to the selected locking button is tietçrminP~l The access codes are stored in memory 211. In step 309, processor 201 causes dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) generator 207 to supply tones to telephone line 109, via analog telephone Ch(;uill,y 209, that 25 correspond to the determint~d IXC access code. The process then exits in step 311, at which point any digits dialed by the caller at keypad 105 will be supplied over telephone line 109. If the test result in step 305 is NO, intiil-~ting that an IXC was not preselected, e.g., "No IXC" locking button 1034 is depressed, control passes to step 311, and the process is exited. At this point, any digits dialed by the caller at 30 keypad 105 will be supplied over telephone line 109.
It is noted that there need not be a separate "No IXC" locking button.
Tn~te~tl the "No IXC" condition may be in~ t~dl and any previous choice of IXC is canceled, by not having any of the locking buttons that represent IXCs being depressed. In such an embodiment the "No IXC" condition may be brought about 35 by, for example, depressing any non-selected IXC button one quarter of the way, thereby causing the selected IXC button to become unselected. It should also be PcT/uss4lo66 Wo 95/01689 ~ .' 21~3183 noted that, while FIG. 1 depicts a number of buttons, a single locking button iswithin the scope of this invention, and this locking button can be a locking push button, or any other two-state on/off switch. In an exemplary embodiment, when the button is locked in the depressed position, the IXC access code is autom~tic~lly5 prefixed. When the button is not depressed, then the IXC access code is not autom~tir~lly prefixed. While this limits the selection to a single IXC, it is quite possible that some people will prefer such an embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the il~vention, in which telephone station set 401 is arranged to incorporate slide switch 404. Slide switch 404 has one 10 or more IXC positions 403-1 through 403-3 and a "No IXC" position 403-4. While arm 411 of slide switch 404 is positioned at a particular one of ~C positions 403-1 through 403-3, all calls dialed from station set 401 are prefixed by the IXC access code of the c-,llGspol1ding IXC. Positioning arm 411 of slide switch 404 at the "No IXC" position causes, for all calls dialed from telephone station set 401, only that 15 which is dialed by the calling party to be tr~n~mittçd to the LEC to which telephone station set 401 is conn~-cte~l by telephone line 409. Thus, any previous choice of an IXC is canceled. The circuit configuration of telephone station set 401 is the same as that for telephone station set 101, shown in FIG. 2, except that locking selector circuitry 203 is the cil-;uilly of slide switch 404 instead of that of locking buttons 20 103.
Shown in FIG. S is yet another embodiment of the invention, in which a particular IXC, or "No IXC" is selected by using a menu provided on display 503 of telephone station set 501. Upon pressing IXC select button 511-1, the user is given a choice of several IXCs, e.g., AT&T, IXCl and IXC2, and "No IXC", in the manner 25 shown. The user selects his choice by pressing the ap~,lupliate key on keypad 505.
If a particular IXC is select~-d from the menu, all calls dialed from telephone station set 501 are prefixed by the IXC access code of the corresponding IXC. If "No IXC"
is selected from the menu, when a call is made from telephone station set 501 only that which is dialed by the calling party is tr~n~mitt~d to the LEC. Thus, any 30 previous choice of an IXC is canceled. It is noted that, not only the keypad but other forms of input, such as touch screen, voice recognition, or so-called "softkeys" may be used to register the user's selection.
In each of the above described emb~tlim~ont.c, the particular IXC access codes may either be fixed in the telephone station set during its m~nllf~ctllre or they 35 may be stored in the telephone station set by following a set of steps for doing so.
Those skilled in the art will know how to implement such progr~mming steps. For ~vo 95/01689 ~ 2i~3183 example, they can parallel the steps, or protocol, employed in the AT&T Answering System Telephone ~532 for remote progr~mming of the telephone, via the telephonelines, to play back a recorded message in response to a predesign~tç~l sequence of DTMF signals. Such pro~ g of the AT&T Answering System Telephone 5 1532 can be done remotely. Sirnilarly, the progr~mming of the FIGs. 1 and 4 telephones can be done remotely.
In fact, to assist customers, a purchaser of the FIGs. 1 or 4 telephones can be instructed to connect the purchased telephone to the telephone network and to dial with it a given number. When that number is dialed, the customer informs the 10 equipment (or the operator) of the IXC access code or codes that are to be inserted into the telephone, and the e~ m~nt at that number proceeds to program the connected telephone by trancmitting the necess~ signals.
The invention may be implemented so that the IXC access code is dialed imm~diately after the telephone station set goes off-hook, per FIG. 3 or FIG. 6.15 Alternatively, the tr~ncmitting of the IXC access code may be delayed until the dialing of an initial digit by the caller, at which point the IXC access code and the dialed digits are sent in "sen-1çri7~od" fashion, i.e., the dialed digits are collected and are then sent sequentially, albeit delayed, after tr~ncmiccion of the IXC access code.
Furthermore, the invention may be implem~nt~od so that the IXC access code is only 20 dialed if the prefix code for long-~ict~n~ç~ e.g., a leading 1, is dialed by the calling party. This can be implemP-nted by adding an additional conditional branch pointafter step 303 which tests for the first digit dialed being the long-distance prefix. If the test result is NO, the process exits in step 311. If the test result is YES, the process continues at conditional branch point 305. This is shown in FIG. 7.
Additionally, the invention can be implem~nted so that before automatically dialing out an IXC access code, the telephone station set waits todetermine if the caller dialed an IXC access code. An access code might be dialed, even though one was selectçd at the telephone station set, by someone who was unfamili~r with telephone station sets that automatically dialed IXC access codes or 30 by someone who wanted to override the selected IXC for just one call. If it is deterrnined that the calling party dialed an IXC access code, the telephone station set will not autom~tic~lly dial the access code of the selected IXC for the call. Instead, only that which is dialed by the calling party will be tr~ncmittto~l to the LEC to which the telephone station set is connçcterl However, if it is determined that the calling 35 party did not dial an IXC access code, the telephone station set will automatically prefix the access code of the selected IXC to that which the calling party dialed.
W O 95101689 2 1~ 3 18 ~ PCTrUS94/06609 ~
This is shown in FIG. 8. Step 331 stores dialed digits, and step 332 analyzes the digits. When it is determined that the user dialed a "1" plus an area code, or requested a service where inserting an IXC access code may be of benefit, control passes to step 333 where it is determined whether an IXC access code was selected.
5 If it was selected, then control passes to step 334 which outputs the selected and prestored IXC access code. Thereafter, control passes to step 335 which outputs the stored digits.
It may be noted that FIG. 8 includes three paths that lead to the decision not to output the IXC access code. ~IG. 9 presents the equivalent flow chart that 10 highlight~ this fact. FIG. 9 also allows one to focus on an ~ltern~tive view of the invention, in which the consideration is when NOT to output the IXC access code,rather than when to output the IXC access code. With this focus in mind, it can simply be seen that the IXC access code is NOT autom~t~ y supplied when the use actively wishes it to not be so supplied (such as when the user dials in an IXC access 15 code), or when the local exchange carrier's equipment cannot handle receipt of an IXC access code. As intliç~t~l above, there are jurisdictions where an intra-LATA
call cannot be handled by the LEC e4~ "-,~"1 when an IXC access code is provided.
However, this is likely to change in the future.
Although dual tone multi-frequency sign~ling has been shown, the invention may be used with pulse dialing as well as with other digital signalingformats, e.g., the ISDN sign~ling format. Also, embo(1im~ntc of the invention may be developed by those skilled in the art wherein the functionality of the invention is divided between the telephone station set and a private branch exchange (PBX) towhich the telephone station set is conn~ct~cl The PBX is, in turn, conn~ctlocl to the LEC.
It is noted that the IXC access code has been in(li~ted to be prefixed before any other numbers are dialed. This is because that is the place that the telephone networks currently operated by the expect to receive the IXC access code.
However, the invention is int~le~l to include embodiments when the IXC access 30 code is not expected to be the first portion of number transmitted to the LEC. In that case the ~C code would be inserted at the a~p~ liate place within the dialed digit stream.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various35 arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope.
Claims (19)
1. A telephone station set for use in connecting a caller to the network of a local service provider, the telephone station set comprising:
multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunications calls originated from said telephone station set and carried by a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider, said selection remaining in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunication carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to said network of said local service provider during all calls originated after registration of said selection that are to be carried by telecommunications system other than said local service provider.
multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunications calls originated from said telephone station set and carried by a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider, said selection remaining in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunication carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to said network of said local service provider during all calls originated after registration of said selection that are to be carried by telecommunications system other than said local service provider.
2. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said multi-position selection means for registering a selection includes at least one locking button.
3. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said multi-position selection means for registering a selection includes a slide switch having a plurality of positions.
4. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said multi-position selection means for registering a selection includes a menu system.
5. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying supplies said telecommunications carrier code in response to said telephone station set going off-hook.
6. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying supplies and telecommunications carrier code in response to the dialing of a first digit for a telephone call originated from said telephone station set.
7. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, further including means for cancelling said selection so that telecommunications carrier codes are not automatically supplied on calls.
8. The telephone station set as defined in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications carrier is an interexchange carrier.
9. The telephone station set as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for automatically supplying supplies the telecommunications carrier code for said interexchange carrier even for non-interexchange calls.
10. A telephone station set for use in connecting a caller to the network of a local service provider, the telephone station set comprising:
multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunications calls originated from said telephone station set, said selection remaining in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunications carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to said network of said local service provider during calls original after registration of said selection; and means, in said telephone station set for inhibiting said means for automatically supplying if said caller dialed a telecommunications carrier code.
multi-position selection means for registering a selection of a telecommunications carrier other than said local service provider to carry future telecommunications calls originated from said telephone station set, said selection remaining in effect, for all subsequent calls, until explicitly changed; and means for automatically supplying from said telephone station set the telecommunications carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to said network of said local service provider during calls original after registration of said selection; and means, in said telephone station set for inhibiting said means for automatically supplying if said caller dialed a telecommunications carrier code.
11. The telephone station set as defined in claim 10, wherein said multi-position means for registering a selection includes at least one locking button and said means for cancelling includes another one locking button.
12. The telephone station set as defined in claim 10, wherein said multi-position means for registering a selection includes a slide switch having a plurality of positions and said means for cancelling includes an additional position on said slide switch.
13. The telephone station set as defined in claim 10, wherein said multi-position means for registering a selection includes a menu system and saidmeans for cancelling includes a particular menu selection and corresponding input device.
14. A method comprising the steps of:
registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of a telecommunications carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said selection is explicitly changed;
and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the telecommunications carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to anetwork of a local service provider for every call originated from said telephone station set.
registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of a telecommunications carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said selection is explicitly changed;
and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the telecommunications carrier code of said selected telecommunications carrier to anetwork of a local service provider for every call originated from said telephone station set.
15. A method comprising the steps of:
registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of an interexchange carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said selection is explicitly changed;
and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the interexchange carrier code of said selected interexchange carrier to a network of a local service provider for each interexchange carrier and non-interexchange carrier call originated from said telephone station set.
registering, via multi-position selection means in a telephone station set, a selection of an interexchange carrier to carry all subsequent interexchange calls originated from said telephone station set until said selection is explicitly changed;
and automatically transmitting from said telephone station set the interexchange carrier code of said selected interexchange carrier to a network of a local service provider for each interexchange carrier and non-interexchange carrier call originated from said telephone station set.
16. The method as defined in 15, wherein said automatic transmission is initiated upon the going off-hook by said telephone station set.
17. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein said automatic transmission is performed in response to the dialing of a first digit for a telephone call originated from said telephone station set.
18. A method for use in a telephone apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, in said telephone apparatus, an indication that a particular interexchange carrier is to carry all interexchange calls originated from a telephone S station set served by said apparatus; and automatically supplying from said telephone apparatus, based upon the position of multi-position selection means within said telephone apparatus, the interexchange carrier code of said particular interexchange carrier to a network of a local service provider during interexchange carrier and non-interexchange carrier l O calls.
receiving, in said telephone apparatus, an indication that a particular interexchange carrier is to carry all interexchange calls originated from a telephone S station set served by said apparatus; and automatically supplying from said telephone apparatus, based upon the position of multi-position selection means within said telephone apparatus, the interexchange carrier code of said particular interexchange carrier to a network of a local service provider during interexchange carrier and non-interexchange carrier l O calls.
19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein said automatic supplying is performed in response to the dialing of a first digit for a telephone call originated from said telephone apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US086,963 | 1993-07-02 | ||
| US08/086,963 US5550915A (en) | 1993-07-02 | 1993-07-02 | Apparatus for use in completing telephone calls |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2143183A1 CA2143183A1 (en) | 1995-01-12 |
| CA2143183C true CA2143183C (en) | 1998-10-13 |
Family
ID=22202006
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002143183A Expired - Fee Related CA2143183C (en) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-06-22 | Apparatus for use in completing telephone calls |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5550915A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0663126A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH08500955A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR950703240A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1075915C (en) |
| AU (1) | AU680022B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2143183C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995001689A1 (en) |
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| TW285801B (en) * | 1995-01-11 | 1996-09-11 | Thomson Consumer Electronics | |
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| US6240175B1 (en) * | 1995-03-10 | 2001-05-29 | Lucent Technologies, Inc. | Intelligent phone cord apparatus |
| JP2910608B2 (en) * | 1995-03-17 | 1999-06-23 | 日本電気株式会社 | Call charge notice system and call charge notice device |
| GB2300089A (en) * | 1995-04-21 | 1996-10-23 | Eurotel Telecom Limited | Least cost router in a telecommunications system |
| US5970131A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1999-10-19 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. | Method for providing location/geographic portability in a system having different service providers within a common numbering plan area |
| US5978464A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1999-11-02 | Siemens Information And Communications Networks, Inc. | Method for updating a local switch internal database in system having different service providers within a common numbering plan area |
| US5991388A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1999-11-23 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. | Method and system for routing calls to a party |
| US5748724A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1998-05-05 | Siemens Stomberg-Carlson | Method for transferring a subscriber to a new local service provider |
| US5887056A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1999-03-23 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks | Method for routing telephone calls to subscribers of different service providers within a common numbering plan area |
| US6009160A (en) * | 1995-06-30 | 1999-12-28 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. | Method for routing a call |
| US5719931A (en) * | 1995-10-27 | 1998-02-17 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Access code dialing apparatus and method |
| US5754640A (en) * | 1995-12-01 | 1998-05-19 | Unifi Communications, Inc. | Apparatus and method for qualifying telephone numbers for a telephone network |
| NO301040B1 (en) | 1995-12-04 | 1997-09-01 | Ziad Badarneh | Keyboards for phones and the like |
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| US6134316A (en) * | 1996-10-18 | 2000-10-17 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Telecommunications network with relocateability of subscriber number |
| US5953402A (en) * | 1996-11-26 | 1999-09-14 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property | Method and system for assigning a communication to a network of a service provider |
| US5950126A (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 1999-09-07 | Nokia Telecommunications Oy | Network operator controlled usage of long distance carriers |
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| FI111895B (en) * | 1996-12-18 | 2003-09-30 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Method and apparatus for calculation |
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| US6137877A (en) * | 1997-07-09 | 2000-10-24 | Robin; Bruce | Method and apparatus for routing a dialed telephone number |
| GB9715277D0 (en) * | 1997-07-18 | 1997-09-24 | Information Limited | Apparatus and method for routing communication |
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| FR2774247B1 (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-03-03 | Info Realite | ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TELEPHONE LINK, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD |
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| US6141341A (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2000-10-31 | Motorola, Inc. | Voice over internet protocol telephone system and method |
| WO2000022845A1 (en) * | 1998-10-12 | 2000-04-20 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for establishing a communications link in a public communications network |
| US6292566B1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2001-09-18 | Qwest Communications International Inc. | Telephone and associated method for routing a call |
| JP4138116B2 (en) * | 1998-12-18 | 2008-08-20 | 富士通株式会社 | Exchange medium and recording medium on which exchange control program is recorded |
| US6643369B1 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2003-11-04 | Dimarco Anthony F. | Custom telephone |
| GB9901036D0 (en) * | 1999-01-18 | 1999-03-10 | Pathfinder Tech Resources Ltd | Apparatus and method for routing communications |
| WO2000051388A1 (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2000-08-31 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Multiple communication system, exchange and terminal |
| US6661890B1 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 2003-12-09 | Charles N. Ellis | Apparatus for prestored bypass dialing |
| WO2001020886A1 (en) * | 1999-09-14 | 2001-03-22 | Acoustic Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for long distance carrier selection |
| US6618478B1 (en) * | 1999-09-27 | 2003-09-09 | Ameritech Corporation | Telephone set having a help key and methods and systems for use therewith |
| US6580789B1 (en) * | 2000-01-18 | 2003-06-17 | Immix Telecom, Inc. | Automated prefix dialing system |
| JP2003046642A (en) * | 2001-08-01 | 2003-02-14 | Nec Corp | Line connection control unit |
| US7315615B2 (en) * | 2002-01-25 | 2008-01-01 | Sittelle Technologies, Inc. | Automatic telephone line switch |
| US6917677B2 (en) * | 2002-02-26 | 2005-07-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for defining call transfer rules for directory assistance |
| TW592676B (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2004-06-21 | Rayonier Prod & Fncl Serv Co | Absorbent cores with improved intake performance |
| US8077848B2 (en) * | 2003-01-09 | 2011-12-13 | Broadcom Corporation | Method and system for 7-digit dialing in 10 digit mandatory dialing areas |
| US20080280589A1 (en) * | 2007-05-08 | 2008-11-13 | At&T Knowledge Ventures, Lp | Wireless Device with Billing Code Button |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4565903A (en) * | 1983-08-03 | 1986-01-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Telephone interexchange carrier selection |
| JPS63187954A (en) * | 1987-01-30 | 1988-08-03 | Nec Corp | Facsimile equipment |
| US4751728A (en) * | 1987-03-27 | 1988-06-14 | Treat John M | Telephone call monitoring, metering and selection device |
| US4924492A (en) * | 1988-03-22 | 1990-05-08 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Method and apparatus for wideband transmission of digital signals between, for example, a telephone central office and customer premises |
| US4964159A (en) * | 1988-03-23 | 1990-10-16 | Datanet Corp. | Communication system having an automatic dialer |
| US4924496A (en) * | 1988-05-12 | 1990-05-08 | Romek Figa D/B/A Abraham & Sons | Automatic incoming telephone call originating number and party display system |
| US5119417A (en) * | 1988-07-20 | 1992-06-02 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Auto-dialing apparatus |
| US4870679A (en) * | 1988-12-23 | 1989-09-26 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Repertory telephone dialer with remote billing capability |
| US5157719A (en) * | 1990-03-12 | 1992-10-20 | Advanced Cellular Telcom Corp. | Automatic area code dialing apparatus and methods particularly adapted for cellular or other types of telephone systems |
| US5210790A (en) * | 1991-02-08 | 1993-05-11 | Winbond Electronics Corp. | Device for setting and tone dialing a single telephone number |
| US5341415A (en) * | 1992-09-22 | 1994-08-23 | Paul Baran | Method and apparatus for sharing of common in-house wiring to permit multiple telephone carriers to serve the same customer |
-
1993
- 1993-07-02 US US08/086,963 patent/US5550915A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-06-22 WO PCT/US1994/006609 patent/WO1995001689A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-06-22 CN CN94190453A patent/CN1075915C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-06-22 CA CA002143183A patent/CA2143183C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-06-22 EP EP94921949A patent/EP0663126A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-06-22 KR KR1019950700852A patent/KR950703240A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-06-22 JP JP7503516A patent/JPH08500955A/en active Pending
- 1994-06-22 AU AU72459/94A patent/AU680022B2/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0663126A1 (en) | 1995-07-19 |
| WO1995001689A1 (en) | 1995-01-12 |
| EP0663126A4 (en) | 1999-09-29 |
| CN1111925A (en) | 1995-11-15 |
| CN1075915C (en) | 2001-12-05 |
| AU7245994A (en) | 1995-01-24 |
| US5550915A (en) | 1996-08-27 |
| CA2143183A1 (en) | 1995-01-12 |
| AU680022B2 (en) | 1997-07-17 |
| KR950703240A (en) | 1995-08-23 |
| JPH08500955A (en) | 1996-01-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |