GB2314994A - Communication systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A voice services equipment (VSE) 20 has freephone and non-freephone access. Upon receipt of a telephone request from a caller, the system causes a message transmission means, such as a paging system interface 28, to send a requested message to the desired message recipient, the message including one of the freephone numbers of the system. The allocated freephone number is stored in a database 24 in association with the original caller's number. When the system receives a return call on the freephone number, it checks the database 24 for the original caller's number, dials out on that number, and connects the return call with the dialled-out call. Thus the original caller can bear the cost of the return call.

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS The present invention relates to communication systems in which voice services apparatus is utilised to effect communication between parties.

it is becoming increasingly common for children and young adults to be educated or work away from home. Such individuals often move regularly, and often do not have access to their own telephone. Economic pressures may also tend to discourage regular telephone calls home.

To some extent, this problem has been alleviated by the introduction of calling cards, particularly the type that allows the holder free access to a specified number, the bill for all such calls being directed to the parent or whoever provided the card, the normal billing mechanism being an addition to that person's telephone bill.

However, this solution is less effective if the person to be called regularly moves between locations, such that the specified telephone number on the card is ineffective for reaching that person. It is, of course, possible to provide the card holder with a number of cards for different telephone numbers (typically home and work numbers), but this approach becomes increasingly cumbersome and ineffective if the person to be reached has a large number of possible locations and corresponding telephone numbers.

Certain radiopaging services have been designed to address some of these difficulties. In one type of service, known as "caller party pays" (CUP) paging, it is possible for a child or young adult to be provided with a paging receiver, and anyone (including the parent) can then contact the holder of the paging receiver by making a premium rate telephone call, which covers the cost of sending the message. However, this is only a partial solution in that, if it is desired to have a conversation rather than just send a simple one-way message, it is still necessary for the young person to telephone back to the sender of the message, involving the problems set out above.

According to the invention there is provided a communication system comprising: voice services apparatus having both freephone and non-freephone telephone access including an out-dial capability; a database for storing freephone numbers for dialling into the system with corresponding telephone numbers to be dialled out; and transmission means for sending a message to a message recipient; wherein the system is operable, upon receipt of a request from a caller: (i) to cause the transmission means to send a requested message to a desired recipient, the message including an allocated one of the freephone numbers of the system; (ii) to store in the database the allocated freephone number in association with a telephone number identified with the caller; (iii) upon receipt of an incoming telephone call on a freephone number, to check the freephone number in the database for an associated telephone number, and to dial out to the associated telephone number and connect that incoming call with the dialled-out call.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system is set up to receive requests from callers on the non-freephone lines, which provides a route for passing on the call charges to the caller. The system can set a call credit limit, as well as a call validity period, upon receiving the message request. The telephone number that is associated in the database with the freephone number transmitted to the message recipient may either be entered by the caller (typically in response to voice prompts), or may be automatically derived from the calling line identity (CLI) signal from the caller's telephone. The preferred transmission means involves a paging network whereby the message, including the freephone number, can be sent to the message recipient's paging receiver and displayed thereon. For additional security, a personal identification number (PIN) may need to be entered when the message recipient calls the freephone number, and this can be sent with the message, if desired.

Thus the preferred embodiment of the invention involves the use of premium rate of subscription payment by the parent or other calling party such that the message not only alerts the message recipient that they should ring home (or elsewhere), but also provides a mechanism for payment of the call.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a first voice services equipment (VSE) 10 is set up for standard non-freephone telephone access, whereas an interconnected second VSE 12 is set up for only freephone (or toll free) access, but with an outdial facility. A database 14 is connected to the VSEs 10 and 12 by means of a data bus 16. The data bus 16 is also connected to a paging system interface 1 8 which can send messages to a paging network for onward transmission. Each of the VSEs 10 and 1 2 may, for example, be a Telsis Hi-Call system, some aspects of which are described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 92/22165.

In operation, a calling party telephones into the system by means of a standard (non-freephone) line to the VSE 10 and voice interaction is provided by the VSE 10. As part of that interaction, whether directly or indirectly (for example, some information may be conveyed to the system by the number dialled, particularly if the system has been pre-programmed), the caller selects the message recipient by providing details of the recipient's pager number, enters the message and, if required, the number to be used by the return call. If CLI is available and the calling party wishes to be called back at the same number, it is not necessary for the caller to enter the telephone number; it can be derived automatically from the CLI signal. The telephone number of the return call is then stored in the database 14 together with a freephone number of the system (namely, a freephone number that will provide access to the VSE 12). In addition, a validity period and a call credit can be associated with that freephone number in the database 14, the call credit then being chargeable to the call originator by any suitable means. As an alternative to a call credit being established, the call originator may instead be billed subsequent to the return call being made.

Once the caller has disconnected from the system, the paging system interface 18 receives and sends on a paging message which provides details of the freephone number associated with that message, as well as any other requested information. For further security, it is possible for a PIN to be additionally transmitted as part of the message, whereby a nuisance caller to the freephone number will not receive further access without entry of the correct PIN.

Once the message has been received by the pager owner, that person, can then ring the freephone number (forming part of the received message and, if necessary enter the PIN, whereupon the VSE 12 will check the database 14 for the corresponding telephone number to be outdialled, and (if appropriate) also check whether the call is within the validity period and/or whether there is any remaining call credit; if these factors are acceptable, the VSE 12 will then outdial the corresponding telephone number.

Thus, for example, if a father wishes to speak to his daughter, the system could be used to send a message "Please call Dad tonight" which would be sent by the system to the daughter's pager, followed by a freephone number allocated to that call by the system. The daughter can then make a free call (to the freephone number) at any time that evening which will be connected through to the father's telephone number, or any other telephone number that he may have originally entered when setting up the call.

Variations and modifications of the system are possible. For example, if the original caller is also a pager owner, the return call can be established on a "meet me" basis such that when the free return call is made, the original caller is paged so that the original caller can once more dial into the system on an indicated number, whereupon the two parties are connected together.

In another variation, the system can be used to reach anyone within a "class" of individuals, rather than a specific individual. In this case, if a caller wishes to contact, for example, a plumber urgently, the caller can ring into the system on a specific number and/or interact with the VSE 10 to establish the type of service desired. The database 14 then includes a list of numbers of available plumbers and a paging message will be sent to one of these numbers. The plumber will then call back once alerted by the pager message, and communication will be achieved. The charging structure in this arrangement may be varied so that the plumber rather than the original caller bears the costs; alternatively, the costs could be covered by a subscription arrangement for all plumbers on the list. A refinement of such a system would allow the system to monitor for receipt of the return call; in the absence of a return call within a predetermined period, the system could call another plumber on the list.

Figure 2 shows a different arrangement utilising a single VSE 20 having both freephone and non-freephone access, as well as an outdial facility. A database 24 and a paging system interface 28 are connected to the VSE 20 via a data bus 26. The system operates in a similar manner to that of Figure 1, except that both freephone and non-freephone calls are handled by the VSE 20.

Claims (11)

1. A communication system comprising: voice services apparatus having both freephone and non-freephone telephone access including an out-dial capability; a database for storing freephone numbers for dialling into the system with corresponding telephone numbers to be dialled out; and transmission means for sending a message to a message recipient; wherein the system is operable, upon receipt of a request from a caller: (i) to cause the transmission means to send a requested message to a desired recipient, the message including an allocated one of the freephone numbers of the system; (ii) to store in the database the allocated freephone number in association with a telephone number identified with the caller; (iii) upon receipt of an incoming telephone call on a freephone number, to check the freephone number in the database for an associated telephone number, and to dial out to the associated telephone number and connect that incoming call with the dialled-out call.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the voice services apparatus comprises a first voice services equipment having nonfreephone access, and a second voice services equipment having freephone access including an out-dial capability.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the voice services apparatus comprises a voice services equipment having both freephone and non-freephone access including an out-dial capability.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the system is operable to receive requests from callers on the nonfreephone lines.

5. A communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database sets a call credit limit upon receiving a request from a caller.

6. A communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database sets a call validity period upon receiving a request from a caller, within which period a call from the message recipient can be forwarded to the original caller.

7. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the telephone number stored in the database in association with the allocated freephone number is a telephone number entered by the caller.

8. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the telephone number stored in the database in association with the allocated freephone number is derived from a calling line identity signal from the caller's telephone.

9. A communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means involves a paging network whereby the message is sent to a paging receiver of the message recipient.

10. A communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the message sent to the message recipient includes a PIN as well as the allocated freephone number.

11. A communication system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.