Method and apparatus for altering the access format of telephone calls
AssigneeIntellicall, Inc.
InventorsJohn A. Hird, Lindsey D. Owen, Michael R. Rice
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone receives a destination telephone number and billing format information from a user. The microprocessor control system (10) alters the access format of the destination number and places the call as a direct dial telephone call. The billing format information is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing format information may later be retrieved to facilitate the billing of charges for the call to an appropriate party.
Claims35
A localized telecommunications device utilized by a user placing a telephone call through a telecommunications network, comprising:
- circuitry at the device for receiving a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the user, said billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the localized telecommunications device;
- and
- circuitry at the device for placing the call to said destination number through the telecommunications network such that the call is billed to said account associated with the localized telecommunications device despite the account indicated by said billing format information of the user.
A local pay telephone station used by a patron placing a telephone call through a telecommunications network, comprising:
- circuitry at the station for receiving a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the patron, said billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the pay telephone station;
- conversion circuitry at the station for changing said billing format information to an access format recognizable by the telecommunications network as indicating a call to be billed to said account associated with the pay telephone station despite the account indicated by said billing format information of the user;
- circuitry at the station for placing the call using said access format and said destination telephone number;
- and
- circuitry at the station for storing said billing format information such that said billing format information may later be retrieved to enable the subsequent billing of the charges for the call to an appropriate party.
A method for processing a telephone call placed by a user of a local telecommunications device through a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at the device a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the user, the billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the local telecommunications device;
- and
- placing the call at the destination number through the telecommunications network such that the call is billed to the account associated with the local telecommunications device despite the account indicated by said billing format information of the user.
A method for processing a telephone call placed by a patron of a pay telephone station through a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at the station a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the patron, the billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the pay telephone station;
- changing the billing format information at the station to an access format recognizable by the telecommunications network as indicating a call to be billed to the account associated with the pay telephone station despite the account indicated by the billing format information of the user;
- creating a communication path through the telecommunication network using the access format and the destination telephone number;
- and
- storing the billing format information at the station such that the billing format information may later be retrieved to enable the subsequent billing of the charges for the call to an appropriate party.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.