At+t Corp.

Alan B Moshinsky

Christine Patricia Peterson

A Helen McGrath

Shubert A Hau

Michael Davitt

Harold Fahrer

Leonard Matulewski

Steve L Cohen

Usha Rao

Kathleen T Quinn

Johan Adriaan Oudmaijer

A method of completing an international call comprises the steps of receiving one of a request to change the status of an international service or a request to provide system status. For example, in an international redial service, a subscriber may request that a redial service to a dialed international number be terminated. Also, in an international redial service, at the conclusion of a redial period for the service, apparatus for completing the international call may call the subscribing calling party and offer to initiate a new redial period. Other features of the method for completing an international call include the capability to permit the subscriber to receive an indication of the international service status or to change service parameters from default values.

Automatic international redial disablement and status delivery method

A system for an international telephone redial service is provided for callers who attempt to complete telephone calls to parties via foreign telephone networks. If a call is not completed, the foreign network returns unsuccessful call reason information related to the cause of the call completion failure. Informative messages may be played to the caller to inform the caller of the nature of a given call failure. Unsuccessful call reason information may be organized in groups, so that each group of unsuccessful call reason information is associated with a different informative message. International redial service may be selectively based on unsuccessful call reason information. International redial service may be inhibited when the cause of a call completion failure is due to a semi-permanent condition, such as when a non-existent number is dialed.

International redial system driven by unsuccessful call reasons

A communication system includes a network switch coupled through a telephone line uniquely associated with each customer for budgeted telephone calling time and amount, either pre-paid or post-paid, the budgeted amount being recorded in the system for calling purposes. A server is coupled to the switch for automated control of the budgeted telephone calls and costs. The server includes a control processor having access to databases for recorded budgeted amounts and call routing. A voice response unit is coupled to the processor and sends messages to the calling customer at the beginning of each budget telephone call indicating remaining budgeted telephone calling time and amount available to the calling purposes. The processor debits the customer account by an amount reflecting the call costs as the call proceeds. A voice message advises the calling customer when the available time and costs for the budgeted telephone call will terminate. Depending upon customer preference, the call may (i) terminate when the budget amount is exceeded or (ii) continue subject to a warning that the call budget has been exceeded with a prompt to obtain additional prepaid budgeted calling time and cost or (iii) continue the call and subsequent calls subject to later payment by the calling customer. Calls are placed directly to the calling party without accessing a special toll number or providing a credit card number.

Communications system and method with call expenditure control

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Somerville, NJ, United States of America

Alan B Moshinsky