Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Verizon Services Corporation

Robert H Montgomery

J Alfred Baird

Robert D Farris

Barry Paul Pershan

Michael G Pilkerton

Lawrence A Delss

Audrey Renee Taylor

Gary Sacra

Using intelligent network processing, call notification allows a subscriber to determine the name and telephone number of one or more numbers of recent parties to call the subscriber. An incoming call to the subscriber's number activates a terminating attempt type trigger in the central office serving the subscriber. The trigger causes communication between that office and a service control point (SCP). Under instructions from the SCP, the central office indicates a disposition event regarding the call, e.g., whether the line was busy or there was no answer. If the subscriber's line is busy or does not answer, the SCP records at least the telephone number of the caller and the time and date of the call. Later, the subscriber dials a feature code, and the SCP instructs the central office to route the call to an intelligent peripheral (IP). The SCP polls a line identification database (LIDB) to obtain name information associated with the caller's number and supplies the number, name, date and time to the IP. The IP plays an announcement of the call information and offers the subscriber the option to place a call back to the number of the original caller and/or to initiate a call to voice mail.

Call notification service for use with call waiting

In a voice messaging system, voice mailboxes can be designated as private boxes from which boxes messages can be forwarded, with their source identities concealed, to destination mailboxes. Communication of messages may be between remote VMS systems as well as between mailboxes in the same VMS system. The private designation may be made selectively by a subscriber to the public switched telephone network on a global basis or on an individual basis for each message. The global designation may be toggled on or off at any time by a call to the system with appropriate input from the subscriber. Optionally, the private designation may be made for an individual message during the call in which the message is stored in the subscriber's mailbox. While information identifying the source of a communicated message is concealed from the recipient, a response message may be communicated from the recipient mailbox back to the source mailbox or a third party mailbox designated by the source subscriber.

Voice mail source address indentification blocking

A system and method is provided for using underused or unused local telephone company local loops to subscriber premises for providing to such premises a connection to an alternate service provider having a common channel signaling controlled switched network. The use of the local loop is leased to the service provider at a rate dependent upon the usage of the circuit. Information and data to permit efficient and convenient billing for leased usage of the loops is implemented by linking the common channel signaling control network of the telephone network and the common channel signaling control network of the service provider network. Common channel signaling control signals indicating call set-up and call tear-down are transmitted by the service provider's common channel signaling network to and stored in the telephone common channel signaling network in the storage of the controller therein to permit billing therefrom. Alternatively call set-up and tear-down are signaled by signals utilizing transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) protocol.

Telecommunications network circuit usage measurement

A system and method is provided for using underused or unused local telephone company local loops to subscriber premises for providing to such premises a connection to an alternate service provider. The use of the local loop is leased to the ultimate service provider at a rate dependent upon the usage and nature of usage of the circuit. Information and data to permit efficient and convenient billing for leased usage of the loops is implemented by providing on the local loop a passive monitor. The monitor detects and temporarily stores data relating to the commencement and termination of the signaling, the time of day, and the nature of the signaling that occurs. Data collected from the monitors is stored at a monitor center from which it is transferred to a billing operation such as the telephone company Revenue Accounting Office (RAO). Switching is provided to permit optional usage of the loop by either the telephone company of the alternate service provider or both. The use of a single local loop by multiple alternate service providers is also possible.

The invention provides a method for automatically selecting a carrier network from a plurality of available networks to carry a telephone call (including MTS, video, data, etc.) for which toll charges are to be levied. The selection is made as a function of the call-type, and the method may be used, for example, to select a carrier, pre-subscribed to by a subscriber, for intra-LATA toll calls, inter-LATA and international calls. Alternatively, within a call-type, a carrier may be selected on the basis of toll rates, either on a per-call basis or by pre-subscription. A receiving end-office receiving a call from a calling station determines call-type and accesses a database whose contents either produce the identity of a preferred carrier for the call-type or the identity of the carrier having the lowest toll rate for the call. In any case, the identity of the carrier is returned from the database to the end-office and the end-office switch acts to connect the call to that carrier's network.

Method and system for toll carrier selection

A system and method is provided for using underused or unused local telephone company local loops to subscriber premises for providing to such premises a connection to an alternate service provider. The use of the local loop is leased to the ultimate service provider at a rate dependent upon the usage and nature of usage of the circuit. Information and data to permit efficient and convenient billing for leased usage of the loops is implemented by providing on the local loop a passive monitor. The monitors are connected with a signal switching point (SSP) and deliver a dialed number. The dialed number contains information regarding the commencement or termination of the usage of an identified local loop and an identification of the nature of such usage. This dialed number triggers the SSP to formulate a message containing the information and forward the same to a service control point (SCP). The SCP contains a database for storing and processing the information. The usage information is periodically downloaded to a billing office for billing to the alternate service provider and/or customer.

A system and method for providing Feature Group B or Feature Group D access to the public data network for effecting point of sale transactions such as credit card authorization. The credit card authorization device includes a modem and auto-dialing mechanism which is connected by a station line to an originating central office switch. The originating central office switch is connected via Feature Group B or Feature Group D trunks to a designated destination central office including a stored program control (SPC) switch. The destination central office is a functioning central office connected to other central offices by non-Feature Group trunks. The Feature Group trunks are connected by the switch in the destination central office to a designated line which is connected to a line side modem which is connected via the public data network to a host computer for effecting the credit card authorization. The SPC switch at the destination central office converts the Feature Group number on the Feature Group trunk to a line side number for the station containing the line side modem. Common channel signaling and quick start or ground start are preferably utilized to optimize speed.

Growing community of inventors

Herndon, VA, United States of America

Robert H Montgomery