摘要:
An automated freephone (or toll free) telephone system allows a subscriber (S) to request a freephone number, by dialling into a telephony server (23) and being allocated, or choosing, a freephone number. Access to that freephone number may be restricted by the subscriber to just certain telephone numbers and/or area codes. Subsequently, when another subscriber rings the allocated freephone number, the telephony server (23) routes the call to the subscriber's number, assuming that the other subscriber is on the restricted list, if applicable. The telephony server (23) arranges for the call charges of the freephone call to be billed to the subscriber (S).
摘要:
Apparatus for and method of establishing a communication connection to enable a customer or user at a first location to establish a connection to a predefined second network address (e.g., an 800 telephone number) and thereafter enter a product identifier code which is converted to a third network address of an agent which is used to establish a connection between the user and the agent.
摘要:
Multiple special service numbers, such as 800 numbers, that are owned by a customer are routed using a single, common routing plan. An 800 number database system (114) which provides routing information for 800 number calls is configured to compare a dialed 800 telephone number (e.g., by 102) received from a telephone switching system (106) with telephone numbers stored in the database memory (118). Corresponding to each of the stored telephone numbers and stored within the database memory is a pointer to a routing plan to be used in processing and routing calls placed to the respective telephone number (e.g., 112). Upon finding a match between the dialed 800 telephone number and a stored telephone number, the 800 number database provides an indication of the appropriate routing plan to be used to route the dialed 800 telephone number. The 800 database then determines from the selected routing plan how to route the call.
摘要:
A telephone services functionality (250-1,--250-N) is disposed in a telecommunications network (200) to ensure that a telephone call is processed in accordance with the telephone services respectively subscribed to by the calling (e.g. S1) and called (e.g. S2) parties. In addition, the functionality retains control over the call so that it may respond to service requests entered by either the calling or called party at any point following establishment of the call connection.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for setting up a telecommunications call from a calling customer (caller) terminal (1) to one of a plurality of call destinations (25) through an interconnection network (15). The caller dials an 800 number. This number is identified in a first data base (9) as indicating a plurality of possible services, each of which is associated with one or more call destinations. A second data base (13) provides the identification of a switch (17) for generating an announcement to the customer and for the identification of an announcement in that switch. The call is connected to that announcement and an automatic speech and tone recognition unit (19), and the announcement (21) prompts the caller to speak a command or key a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal in order to select one of the possible destinations. Based on the number dialed by the caller, the Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code of the caller plus the command keyed or spoken by the caller and recognized by the recognition unit, one of a plurality of POTS (plain old telephone service) telephone numbers is selected by the second data base and the call is routed to a destination identified by that POTS telephone number. Advantageously, such an arrangement permits a business to use a single directory number for serving a plurality of services of the business, to select among these services on the basis of a command spoken or a DTMF signal keyed by a caller in response to an announcement of that business, and permits the business to receive the call at an appropriate destination for processing that call.
摘要:
Method and apparatus for reducing call setup time for calls to Advanced 800 customers by eliminating one database query. (Toll charges for 800 calls are paid by the called customer.) In the prior art, a call to an Advanced 800 customer required accessing a Basic 800 database, then, using data obtained therefrom, accessing an Advanced 800 database. In accordance with this invention, a table of the most frequently called Advanced 800 numbers and the corresponding data normally obtained from the Basic 800 database is dynamically maintained in each toll switching system. When an 800 call is received at a toll switching system, the table is examined to see if the Advanced 800 service accessing data is stored therein. If so, the advanced 800 database is directly accessed without first accessing the Basic 800 database; ifnot, the call is processed as in the prior art, plus updating the table if the call is to an Advanced 800 customer. Advantageously, such an arrangement reduces call setup time to frequently called Advanced 800 customers by about 1.5 seconds.
摘要:
An improved data transmission system (2) which transmits data at least partially over existing telephone system (10), the improvement comprising devices (4, 6) which, in addition to transmitting and receiving data and being actuated by a non-telephone signal, automatically complete a telephone communication with a predetermined computer (8). Once the device (4, 6) is connected to the computer, it receives information such as a particular telephone number which is used in the reception and/or transmission of data. The received information is preferably peculiar to the location of the device (4, 6) and can be used to appropriately program the device (4, 6) for carrying out a function in a manner specific to its location. The information specific to the location is determined in accordance with the telephone number of the telephone line connecting the device (4, 6) to the telephone system (10) as the computer (8) has the capability of Calling Number Identification.
摘要:
Easily accessed and widely available language interpretation services are provided in a public switched telephone network by a common platform adjunct (24) which automatically connects an interpretation services subscriber (12) with a selected language interpreter (L0,L1) associated with a language interpretation platform (30) in the network. A subscriber dials, for example, an international telephone number which includes a code indicating that the call is an international call, a country code, a city code, and a local destination number. The ANI of the subscriber is detected and the call is routed to the adjunct (24) which further verifies and validates the subscriber. The adjunct places a call through the public switched telephone network to the language interpretation platform (30). The call is answered either by an automatically preselected interpreter or by a human operator who causes the call to be manually transferred to a desired interpreter (L0,L1). The international call is completed to the destination and the calling subscriber, the interpreter, and the called party are bridged together.
摘要:
Increased network security is provided by monitoring (in 28) in real time one or more characteristics or attributes of telephone calls that are placed through the network (10) and notifying the network customer, (at 38, 42 or 44), in real time, when the attributes are indicative of abnormal or fraudulent network usage. The subscriber, once notified of the abnormal usage, is in a position to take steps to minimize unauthorized network usage. For example, the subscriber can selectively block network usage, deny access to the network on a call-by-call basis, or trace the call to catch the unauthorized user while the call is still in progress.