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US6134311A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Services node routing service

Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP

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Filing: 1997-12-23

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Granted: 2000-10-17

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Expires: 2017-12-23

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Abstract

Abstract A method and system for treating telephone calls at a services node prior to completing the telephone call. The services node may provide a variety of services to treat the telephone call such as a Personal Access Service or playing a pre-recorded message. After treatment at the services node, the system recognizes that the telephone call has already been treated at a services node and the call is completed.

Inventors

👤 Gayle R. Ekstrom

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 04:03

CPC Classifications

H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/64; H04Q3/66; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42229; H04M3/42263; H04M3/54; H04M3/545; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of treating a telephone call prior to connecting the telephone call to a telephone number comprising the steps of: querying a Service Control Point ("SCP") regarding the treatment of the telephone call at a services node; associating the telephone number with a services node; forwarding the telephone call to the services node for treatment; treating the telephone call at the services node, wherein the step of completing the telephone call further comprises the step of: determining whether the call has already been treated at the services node based on the originating telephone number of the telephone call; and completing the telephone call to the telephone number after treating the telephone call at the services node.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 117 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of querying the SCP comprises the step of associating a Called Party Telephone Number with a terminating telephone number of the services node.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of querying the SCP comprises the step of comparing a Calling Party Telephone Number with an originating telephone number of a services node to determine if the telephone call was originated from the services node.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone call is completed if an originating telephone number of the telephone call comprises an originating telephone number of a services node.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of treating the telephone call comprises identifying the telephone number where the telephone call will be completed by a Personal Access Service ("PAS").

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number to terminate the telephone call is determined based on the time of the day.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the telephone number to terminate the telephone call is determined based on the day of the week.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment plays a message to callers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the message comprises a pre-recorded announcement played for callers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the message comprises a menu of choices for callers to select.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the time of the day.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the day of the week.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the Calling Party Telephone Number.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the station type of the calling party.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is conditioned on a switch to enable/disable forwarding.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 106 words

A telephone routing system for treating a telephone call prior to connecting the telephone call to a telephone number comprising: a programmable switch with a trigger for signaling a query to a database; and a Service Control Point ("SCP") in communication with the programmable switch, wherein the SCP identifies a services node to treat the telephone call in response to the query, and the SCP determines whether the services node has treated the telephone call; wherein the programmable switch further comprises circuitry to connect the telephone call to the telephone number if the SCP determines that the call has been previously treated at the services node.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 106 words

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the SCP comprises logic to make an association between a called party telephone number and a services node for treating telephone calls.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the services node identifies the telephone number to connect the telephone call after the treatment at the services node.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the SCP comprises logic to access data to determine whether the telephone call has already been treated by the services node by associating a Calling Party Telephone Number to a services node.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 19 wherein the SCP logic comprises a Personal Access Service.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

The invention of claim 19 wherein the SCP logic comprises a prerecorded message.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 19 wherein the SCP logic comprises a menu of selections.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the trigger comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network Termination Attempt Trigger.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the trigger comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network 3/6/10 Digit Public Office Dialing Plan trigger.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 17 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the trigger comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network Specific Digit String trigger.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the trigger is set on a telephone line.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein the trigger is set on a trunk circuit.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-17	2004-04-17	2004-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-17	2008-04-17	2008-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-17	2012-04-17	2012-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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