MXPA97008585A - Systems and methods to provide management of personal, non-geographic displays - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing a subscriber with a plurality of call handling features that can be accessed through a personal telephone number, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: identifying said number personal telephone with the subscriber, the personal telephone number is independent of the subscriber's physical location, and the personal telephone number is one of a plurality of personal telephone numbers, each of the plurality of personal telephone numbers being assigned to a specific individual subscriber, and wherein the identification step includes the steps of: (i) verifying a personal identification number (NIP) of reverse invoicing of retro-demand, and (ii) billing the subscriber for an incoming telephone call if the Back-demand PIN, the coupling of the personal telephone number to a device, of so that the subscriber can receive the incoming telephone call through the personal telephone number, and the authorization to the subscriber to initiate an outgoing telephone call using the personal telephone number, the outgoing telephone call of any physical calling site being independent , and independent of any incoming call

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PERSONAL, NON-GEOGRAPHICAL CALLS Background of the Invention This invention relates to the transmission of communications through a communications network. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for providing bi-directional call handling capabilities to users having non-geographic telephone numbers. Telephone numbers are related traditionally to a specific physical location, such as an individual house. In such cases, the handling of calls for an individual telephone number is developed in a fundamental domicile-to-domicile principle. The handling of calls for each address is developed by the local change transmitter (eg, the "LEC") to which the residence is connected. Therefore, if several individuals reside in a particular residence, one or more individuals in that residence must be considered for the LEC of the telephone line, in addition to the LEC having the ability to handle calls for each individual. All calls made out through telephones (including modems, facsimile devices, etc.) located within the residence are charged to the residential geographic base telephone number, as well REF: 25681 as any telephone call that takes place using a calling card that is often linked to the geographic base telephone number. In this way, the residence receives a single telephone bill that includes the telephone activity of the given address. A problem with handling geographically based traditional telephone calls is that telephone numbers must be changed each time individuals change residence. As a result, individuals could obtain various telephone services from different transmitters to reduce the number of changes that are typically required when the individual changes residence (eg, a user should have their 1+ long distance company be AT & since you also get a calling card from another transmitter). However, this still results in the individual receiving multiple invoices and having to charge multiple calling cards, each having its own unique personal identification number (eg, PIN code-- a security code formed of information). additional that is not typically shown on the card, but is often required to access the services provided by the card). When an individual uses a calling card from another transmitter (eg, not the 1+ long distance carrier), the calling card number is typically a billable account number that allows the sender to bill the individual for calls made using the calling card, rather than a number that is related to the telephone numbers geographically based on the individuals. Thus, the individual must remember and protect an additional number, often greater than 10 digits, to establish calls (the theft of a calling card number is unfortunately made easier when the number must be referred by the individual while dialing-- a problem that could be mitigated by reducing the number of numbers an individual must use to establish calls). One service that has been implemented to address these problems is the personal telephone number service. A personal telephone number, unlike a geographically based number, is not geographically based, but is related to an individual or business, rather than a residence. Known examples of these non-geographic based numbers are telephone numbers that begin with 800 or 888, instead of an area code (where an individual call an 800, for example, knows that the call is geographically channeled, but not knowing where , the call is answered). Jordán et al. U.S. Patent No. 4, 313,035 discloses a method of providing person location service in which a called subscriber could be reached by dialing a unique personal number for the subscriber. The subscriber is assigned to a personal telephone number and access to the group of characteristics related to that number is given. For example, if the subscriber is at home, the subscriber could dial into the personal telephone number system and set the following characteristic to be the home telephone number (the following feature could be used to direct the call to any stationary telephone number) . If, however, the individual will be "mobile", the personal number would be set in the person search mode so that any call that comes in front of a person search device (or incoming calls could in turn be addressed) to voicemail). Under these circumstances, the subscriber's personal telephone number would not have to change when the subscriber moves because the number is not subject to a specific residence. This solution, however, does not address the problems of establishing calls that leave, which would still be subject to the geographic base telephone number. It would therefore be desirable to provide systems and methods that provide bidirectional call handling services to individuals who are not confined to specific residences. It would also be desirable to provide systems and methods that provide full-range bidirectional call handling services to individuals as well as individuals who need to use only a simple service provided for their telephone needs.

Brief description of the invention. The foregoing and other topics of the invention are refuted in the present invention in that non-geographic telephone numbers are assignable to individuals who could use them to make and receive telephone calls. Each individual subscriber is assigned a personal telephone number that is unique to the entire telephone system (against the geographic base telephone numbers assigned by L? Cs and intended to be unique to a given region, such as a code). of geographic base area). The uniqueness of the personal number provides access across the nation to the number without regard to the residence of the individual. Simply by dialing the personal number, the calls could be established by the individual where he / she is still located. Additionally, and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the personal telephone number is configured such that outgoing calls could be established using the personal number as a calling card number. Additional advantages of the present invention could be achieved by: (1) coupling the personal number with a central call handling interface through which the individual could use his personal telephone service; (2) coupling the personal number to a voice mail system that receives messages when calls to the personal number are not going to be answered; (3) linking the personal telephone number to a 1-800 number such that the personal number could be called even if a personal telephone company does not provide access to the personal telephone number service; and (4) billing upside down to allow the individual to pay for incoming calls in addition to outgoing calls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other subjects and advantages of the invention will be understood on the consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in all of which as reference features refers to equal parts , and in which: FIG. l is a schematic diagram of a communication network illustrating the principles of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the preferred method of the present invention in relation to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 for incoming calls; FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the preferred method of the present invention in relation to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 for outgoing calls; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the preferred method of the present invention in relation to the communication system shown in FIG. 1 for call handling features accessible to the subscriber; and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a server providing exchange of the communication system shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The present invention provides enhancement of call handling capabilities for individuals by providing non-geographic telephone numbers that could be used for incoming and outgoing telephone calls, as well as a central location for handling calls. A communication system 100 is shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate the principles of the present invention. The basic components of the system 100 include local multiple change transmitters ("LECs") 112, 114, 116 and 118, where each LEC is located in a region designated by the last digit of the reference number of FIG. 1 (eg, LEC 112 is in the "XX2" region), an access tandem (122, 124, 126 and 128, respectively) connected to each LEC to supply the LECs with access to the exchanged networks, and a network provided with exchange ("IXP") 130. Each of the LECs connects many individual telephones (eg, telephones 102, 104, 106 and 108, respectively) together through one or more terminal offices ( not shown). The terminal offices, which are connected together with each LEC, actually cut the components into smaller, more manageable ones. Each telephone 102, 104, 106 and 108 represents a physical telephone having a corresponding telephone number confined to a specific address. Telephone calls in the LEC are made simply from the claimant, through the LEC to the receiver, while inter-LEC calls must be established through an exchange proportioner, such as IXP 130. When an individual moves from the region covered by an LEC to the region of another LEC (or even from a terminal office to another terminal office in a LEC), that terminal telephone number must be changed. Exchange interchanger 130 preferably includes a local server in at least the region of each LEC, as shown for server 132 in region XX2, and servers 134, 136 and 138 (in regions XX4, XX6 and XX8, respectively ). The IXP 130 servers are connected together via a network 140. The network 140 represents a traditional long-distance network and a data network, such as the Internet, to exchange information between the servers. Each of the local servers is connected to the corresponding LEC by one of the appropriate access tandem 122, 124, 126 and 128. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, non-geographic personal telephone numbers are established by means of the exchange provider 130 for individuals subscribed to. a personal telephone number service. The personal telephone numbers are assigned a prefix that identifies the telephone numbers as those that are personal numbers for the LECs. An individual (not shown) who wishes to call a personal telephone number could establish the call from any telephone 102, 104, 106 and 108. The call is routed through the appropriate LEC through the appropriate access tandem to a server with IXP 130. Depending on the configuration selected by the subscriber, the call is directed to one of the telephones 102, 104, 106 and 108, to a personal search device, or to a voice mail system in the IXP 130. In addition , when the subscriber wishes to establish an outgoing call at his charge, the subscriber dials simply zero plus the telephone number that is called from one of the telephones 102, 104, 106 and 108, and then enters the personal telephone number as a number of calling card. If desired, a PIN may be required for additional security. FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating the specific steps of the preferred method of the present invention for incoming calls. A preferred hardware configuration for the local servers performing the steps shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 5. The first step 202 occurs when the claimant dials the personal number. If the local LEC provides access to the "Personal Number Service", step 202 continues to step 204, where the LEC sends the call to the appropriate exchange provider. Otherwise, the LEC rejects the call and the claimant must dial a 1-800 number to access the Personal Number Service, in a step 206. The LEC, in a step 208, directs the call to the appropriate exchange provider where, in a step 202, the user is directed to provide the personal number. In any case, a server in the exchange provider, in a step 212, receives the personal telephone number. The server, in a step 214, checks the configuration of the user of the subscriber that is called. As part of the configuration check, an optional checkback verification may be presented in a step 216. The callback verification allows the claimant to enter a PIN that causes the incoming call to be billed to the subscriber instead of the plaintiff.

Processed by the server then follows one of three branches, depending on the configuration selected by the subscriber. If the subscriber has selected personal search as the main mode of receiving incoming calls, the server, in a step 218, directs the claimant to enter a personal search message. The server receives the personal search message in a step 220 and then sends the search message in a step 222. The server determines whether the attempted search message was successfully completed in a step 224, and if so, the call is completed in step 226. If the personal search was not completed successfully, the server sends the personal search to voice mail (assuming the subscriber receives the voice mail) in a step 228. If the subscriber has selected the voice mail as In the main mode of receiving incoming calls, the server directs the plaintiff to enter a message in the voice mail in a step 230. The server, in a step 232, receives the voice mail message and then, in a step 234 , deposits the message in the subscriber's voice mail and sends a notification procedure to inform the subscriber that the mail is waiting. The server then completes the call in step 226. If the subscriber has selected call forwarding as the primary mode for receiving incoming calls, the server sends the call, in a step 236, via an access tandem, to the Appropriate LEC with instructions to complete the call and notify the server to observe the termination of the LEC call, in a step 238, attempts to establish the call to the appropriate telephone. Then the server determines, in a step 240, whether the telephone was answered. If the telephone is answered, the call is completed in step 226. If the telephone is not answered, an additional check is made to determine the subscriber's secondary configuration. In a step 242, the server determines whether the personal search is selected as the second option. If the personal search is the second option, the server continues processing in step 218, as described above. If the personal search is not the second option, the server continues processing in step 230 assuming that voicemail is the second option. FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating the specific steps of the preferred method of the present invention for outgoing calls. A preferred hardware configuration for the local servers performing the steps shown in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 5. The subscriber could initiate the process by carrying out one of the two steps. In a step 300, the subscriber dials zero plus the number to be called. After being indicated by the LEC, the user, in a step 302, enters the "Personal" number as the calling card number requested by the LEC. The LEC, in a step 304, then processes the entered calling card number and determines that the calling card number is, in fact, a "Personal" number. In response to the determination that the number is a "Personal" number by the LEC, the LEC sends the call to the appropriate exchange provider in a step 306, ignoring the exchange provider with which the LEC is associated. Alternatively, in one step, the subscriber dials a 1-800 number to access the IXP 130 network (access to the IXP 130 network is provided through the LEC that serves the geographic region where the 1-800 call was established) ). In response to the system indicated from the IXP 130 network, the subscriber, as part of a step 310, enters the telephone number to be called. Also in response to the indicated system, the subscriber enters the "Personal" number as the calling card number (in a step 312). Ignoring the initiation steps of the call, the next step occurs when the exchange provider takes the incoming call and routes the call to a server that, in a step 314, sends the call to the LEC necessary to complete the call. The server, carrying out step 314, preferably directs the LEC to maintain the link to the server after the call is terminated to notify the server that the call is complete. Once the call is completed, the server, in a step 316, acts to provide the subscriber with a menu to determine if additional processing should take place. The first option provided to the subscriber is whether additional calls will be established. If the server determines, in a step 318, that the additional calls will be established, the subscriber enters the new number and the processing returns to step 314. If no more outgoing calls are desired, the subscriber could give the opportunity to change their configuration . If the server determines that configuration changes are not desired in a step 320, the call is terminated in a step 322. If configuration changes are made, processing continues, as described below with respect to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating the specific steps of the preferred method of the present invention for changing the subscriber accessibility settings of the subscriber. A preferred hardware configuration for the local servers performing the steps shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5. A configuration menu is provided to the subscriber in a step 402. The configuration menu step could be accessed in one of two ways, by calling a configuration telephone number (as shown in step 404), or after complete an exit call (as shown by the exit reference number 1 in FIG.3 and the entry reference number 1 in FIG.4). While several options are shown for subscriber configuration options, people with practice in the art will appreciate that not all subscribers will subscribe to all options, and that there could be other options that, in accordance with the principles of the present invention , will also improve the ability to provide subscribers with bi-directional, non-geographic telephone service. After completing each configuration option, the processing returns to step 402 where the configuration menu is once again provided to the subscriber. In a step 406, the subscriber is provided with the ability to change one or more return call billing numbers nip. The nip numbers of return calls, as described above with respect to processing step 216, allow a subscriber to be billing incoming calls as well as standard billing of outgoing calls. Processing step 406 allows the subscriber to establish one or more nip numbers of return calls in such a way that multiple individuals could give their own nip numbers to access the personal system. The ability to protect the call is alternated between the input and output states in a step 408. The subscriber could change their nip number in a step 410, while step 412 provides the subscriber with the ability to adjust the feature of the sent call . The sent call could be provided with a simple telephone number, or it could be established for a series of telephone numbers that are dialed by the server, if each attempted call is not answered. The extent of this option may vary depending on the level at which the subscriber chooses to subscribe. Additionally, the subscriber could set the number of rings in which the server will assume that there is no response and continue processing.

Once a sent call is not answered, a second communication route is searched. The second route is established by the subscriber, in a step 414, either to the personal search system or to the voice mail (as described above and shown in FIG.2 as step 242). In addition, if the subscriber wishes to enter the voice mail system, either for confirmation messages or to establish or change an outgoing message, the server processes step 416. Once in the voice mail, the server processes the messages in a step 418 before returning them to the main menu in a step 402. A schematic diagram of the representative circuits of a local server 530 (eg, local server 132) that is part of the communication system 100 (of FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 5. Local server 530 includes four basic components: 552 processor, 554 input / output interface, 556 processor memory, and 558 system memory. The 552 processor could be as simple as a pre-programmed controller, or it could be as complex as a multi-processor arrangement that develops multi-task processing. The memory of the processor 556 preferably includes the storage memory and could also include the processor registers (which could, instead of being included in the processor 552). Additionally, processor 552 and processor memory 556 could be combined in a single integrated circuit or combined over a large single circuit without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. The input / output interface develops several functions to interconnect the processor 552 with the "outside world". The outside world includes network 540 and access tandem 520 (which is representative of any of the access tandem 122, 124, 126 and 128 shown in FIG 1) for the processing of information communications (including telephone and data communications), as described above. System memory 558 could include random access memory (RAM), hard drives, magneto-optical disks, tape disks, or any other conventional apparatus used to store information in a computer system. As stated later in the FIGS flow charts. 2-4, local server 530 provides various subscriber capabilities. For example, in processing step 214 of FIG. 2, server 530 operates as follows. The processor 552 retrieves the subscriber configuration information from the system memory 558 and the load on the memory of the processor 556 for processing. The information could include the return call verification codes (from step 216). The processor 552 analyzes the retrieved information to determine whether the sent call, the personal search or the voice mail is the primary incoming call mode. In step 310 of FIG. 3, the processor 552 sends the call through the input / output interface 554 to either the access tandem 520 or the network 540, depending on whether the call will be routed to the locally connected access tandem or to another access tandem through of the network. Thus, the systems and techniques to provide non-geographic bi-directional telephone service were presented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention could be practiced by other means than those described, which were presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims (24)

1. A method for providing a subscriber with a plurality of call handling features that could be accessed by means of a personal telephone number, characterized in that said method comprises the steps of: identifying said personal telephone number with said subscriber, said personal telephone number which is one of a plurality of personal telephone numbers, each of said plurality of personal telephone numbers that are assigned to a specific individual subscriber; coupling said personal telephone number to a device so that said subscriber can receive incoming telephone calls by means of said personal telephone number; and allowing said subscriber to establish outgoing telephone calls using said personal telephone number.

The method of claim 1, characterized in that said coupling step comprises the steps of: coupling said personal telephone number to a personal search device so that said subscriber can receive incoming telephone calls as a personal search through said number personal telephone

3. The method of claim 2, characterized in that said coupling step to a device further comprises the steps of: coupling said personal telephone number to a geographical base telephone number assigned to said subscriber, said geographical base number being one of a plurality of geographic-based telephone numbers, said coupling step of said personal telephone number to a geographical base telephone number being presented before said coupling step to a personal search device such that calls to said personal telephone number are coupled to said personal search device only after that geographic-based telephone number is answered at a predetermined number of rings.

The method of claim 1, characterized in that said coupling step comprises the steps of: coupling said personal telephone number to a voice mail system so that said subscriber can receive incoming calls as voice mail messages through of said personal telephone number.

The method of claim 4, characterized in that said step of coupling to a device further comprises the step of: coupling said personal telephone number to a geographical base telephone number assigned to said subscriber, said geographical base number being one of a plurality of geographically-based telephone numbers, said coupling step of said personal telephone number to a geographical base telephone number presenting before said coupling step to a voice mail system such that calls to said personal telephone number are connect to said voice mail system only after that geographic base telephone number is not answered during a predetermined number of rings.

The method of claim 1, characterized in that said coupling step comprises the steps of: coupling said personal telephone number to at least one geographical base telephone number assigned to said subscriber, said at least one geographic base number that is one of a plurality of geographic base numbers.

The method of claim 6, characterized in that said coupling step to at least one geographic base telephone number comprises the steps of: coupling said personal telephone number to a first geographical base telephone number assigned to said subscriber, said first geographic base number which is one of a plurality of geographic base telephone numbers; and coupling said personal telephone number to a second geographic base telephone number assigned to said subscriber, said second geographic base number being one of said plurality of geographic base numbers that is not said first geographical base number, said coupling to second number appearing only after said call to said first geographic base number remains unanswered for a predetermined number of rings.

8. The method of claim 6, characterized in that said coupling step to at least one geographic base telephone number comprises the step of: coupling said personal telephone number to a predetermined sequence of geographical base telephone numbers in order, said sequence of numbers geographically based that is of said plurality of geographic base numbers, said coupling to a predetermined sequence of telephone numbers begins with the first geographical base telephone number in said order and continues for each subsequent geographical base telephone number in order after which said call remains unanswered in each geographic base telephone number, said sequence ends if said call is answered in any geographical base telephone number in said sequence. The method of claim 1, characterized in that said identification step further comprises the steps of: verifying a PIN number for callback calls; and billing of said subscriber for said incoming call if said PIN number of return calls is verified. The method of claim 1, characterized in that said step of allowing said subscriber to make outgoing calls comprises the steps of: identifying said personal telephone number as a calling card number; identify said calling card number as it is associated with a specific exchange provider; and processing said exit call through said specific exchange provider based on said personal number which is said calling card number. The method of claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: determining that a call established through said specific exchange provider has been completed; and provide said with the ability to make additional outgoing calls without disconnecting from the exchange provider. The method of claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises the step of: enabling said subscriber to change the subscriber configuration information stored for said subscriber by means of said exchange provider. The method of claim 1, characterized in that said identification step further comprises the step of: enabling said subscriber to change the subscriber configuration information stored for said subscriber by means of said exchange provider that provides said handling characteristics of calls. The method of claim 13, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber to change the configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to provide and review one or more return call billing PIN numbers as one of said subscriber characteristics. handling of calls. The method of claim 13, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber to change the configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to provide and review one or more PIN numbers as one of said call handling features. 16. The method of claim 13, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber changes in the. configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to switch to incoming and outgoing call protection, said call protection being one of said call handling features. The method of claim 13, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber to change the configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to enter a voice mail system, said voice mail system being one of said characteristics Call handling The method of claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the step of: processing said voice mail in said voice mail system, said processing step is presented after said step of entering said voice mail system. The method of claim 13, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber to change the configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to provide a sequence of one or more geographic base telephone numbers sent from said plurality of numbers telephone-based telephony, said ability to provide a sequence of numbers of calls sent is one such call handling feature. The method of claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to establish a predetermined number of timbres in which a call will be considered unanswered, said capability being one of said call handling features. The method of claim 19, characterized in that said step of allowing the subscriber to change the configuration comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to establish a second communication path in the event that each call to said sequence of numbers sent do not answer The method of claim 21, characterized in that said step of allowing a secondary route comprises the step of: allowing said subscriber to establish said second route to direct said call without answering a personal search device of said subscriber. The method of claim 21, characterized in that said step of allowing a secondary route comprises the step of: enabling said subscriber to establish said second route to direct said call without answering a voice mail of said subscriber. 24. A system for providing a plurality of subscribers with bi-directional, non-geographic telephone communication capability between one or more LECs, each LEC being connected through an access tandem to an exchange provider network, characterized in that said system comprises: a plurality of local servers, having at least one local server coupled to each LEC; a network connected to each of said plurality of local servers, said network and said plurality of local servers are connected to form said exchange provisioning network, said network is capable of transmitting communications between any two of said plurality of local servers, said exchange provider network stores a unique, bi-directional, non-geographic personal telephone number and subscriber configuration information for each of said plurality of subscribers, said personal telephone numbers allow said plurality to the subscribers to make telephone calls from exit and to receive incoming telephone calls.