Semi-automated operator assistance telecommunication calls

A method of setting up an operator assistance call from a back party station to a forward party station, comprising the steps of:

• collecting call information at the back party station, the information comprising operator assistance class of charge (COC) data for the back party station;
• sending a call setup message, comprising the collected call information from the back party station;
• and
• responsive to a receipt of the setup message in the system, extending a connection from the back party toward the forward party if the COC is one of a predetermined class of charge types;
• wherein the extending step comprises extending the connection without setting up a connection to an operator position, and further comprising:
• responsive to the receipt of an answer signal from the forward party, an operator assistance program process of a control processor of the operator assistance system controlling a set up of a connection between a communications link extending toward the forward party and an operator position, and displaying the call information at the operator position.

A method of setting up an operator assistance call from a back party station to a forward party station, comprising the steps of:

• collecting call information at the back party station, the information comprising operator assistance class of charge (COC) data for the back party station;
• sending a call setup message, comprising the collected call information from the back party station to an operator assistance system;
• and
• responsive to a receipt of the setup message in the system, extending a connection from the back party toward the forward party if the COC is one of a predetermined class of charge types;
• wherein the extending step comprises:
• by-passing a connection to an operator position prior to extending the connection toward the forward party.

A method of setting up an operator assistance call from a back party station to a forward party station, wherein the back party station comprises an intelligent phone, and wherein the forward party station and the back party station are connectable to an operator assistance system, comprising the steps of:

• the intelligent phone prompting a back party for input;
• responsive to input from the back party, the intelligent phone collecting call information, comprising operator assistance class of charge (COC) data;
• the intelligent phone checking the validity of the call information;
• the intelligent phone forming a user information data block from the call information if the call information is valid;
• the intelligent phone placing the user information data block in a call setup message;
• the intelligent phone sending the call setup message to the operator assistance system;
• responsive to the receipt of the call setup message by the operator assistance system, sending the call information to an operator assistance program process of a control processor of the operator assistance system for controlling the extension of a call;
• the operator assistance program process determining that the COC is one of a class of call types that are handled by the operator assistance process, the class including person-to-person calls, collect calls and bill to third party calls, without connection of an operator position;
• in the operator assistance system, by-passing a connection to an operator position prior to extending a connection toward the forward party;
• extending a connection from the back party toward the forward party, without setting up a connection to an operator position;
• and
• responsive to the receipt of an answer signal from the forward party, the operator assistance program process controlling the setting up of a connection between the forward party and an operator position and displaying the call information at the operator position.

A method of setting up an operator assistance call from a back party station to a forward party station, wherein the back party station comprises an intelligent phone, wherein the forward party station and the back party station are connectable to an operator assistance system, wherein the intelligent phone is equipped to handle CCITT (International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph) standard Layer 3 (Q.931) call control messages defined for message associated user-to-user information (MA-UUI), and wherein the back party station is connected to the system via an integrated services digital network (ISDN) basic rate interface (BRI), comprising the steps of:

• the intelligent phone prompting a back party for input;
• responsive to input from the back party, the intelligent phone collecting call information, comprising operator assistance class of charge (COC) data;
• the intelligent phone checking the validity of the call information;
• the intelligent phone forming a user-to-user information element (UUIE) comprising the call information, if the call information is valid;
• the intelligent phone placing the UUIE in a Q.931 SETUP message;
• the intelligent phone sending the SETUP message to the operator assistance system over a D-channel of the BRI;
• responsive to the receipt of the SETUP message by the operator assistance system, sending the UUIE comprising the call information to an operator assistance program process of a control processor of the operator assistance system for controlling the extension of a call;
• the operator assistance program process determining that the COC contained in the call information is one of a class of call types that are handled by the operator assistance process, the class including person-to-person calls, collect calls and bill to third party calls, without connection of an operator position;
• in the operator assistance system, by-passing a connection to an operator position prior to extending a connection toward the forward party;
• extending a connection from the back party toward the forward party, without setting up a connection to an operator position;
• and
• responsive to the receipt of an answer signal from the forward party, the operator assistance program process controlling the setting up of a connection between the forward party and an operator position and displaying the call information at the operator position.

Apparatus for signaling an operator assistance call request from a back party to a forward party comprising:

• a switching network, connectable to the back party, a trunk or line extendable to the forward party, and an operator position;
• and
• control means, operable under the control of the operator assistance process, for controlling the following operations:
• responsive to receipt of a call information data message comprising class of charge (COC) information from the back party, if the COC is one of a predetermined class of charge types, extending a connection from the back party through the network towards the forward party via a trunk or line without connecting an operator position;
• and
• responsive to receipt of an answer signal from the forward party, setting up a connection in the network between the operator position and the forward party and displaying the call information at an operator position.

Telecommunications station apparatus for requesting the setting up of an operator assistance call from a back party through an operator assistance system comprising:

• means for collecting class of charge (COC) information from the back party;
• means for forming a data message comprising the COC information;
• and
• means for sending the data message toward an operator assistance system for handling of the call;
• wherein the forming means comprises:
• means for forming CCITT (International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph) standard Layer 3 (Q.931) call control messages defined for message associated user-to-user information (MA-UUI);
• and
• the sending means comprises:
• means for sending the data message to the operator assistance system over a D-channel of an integrated services digital network (ISDN) basic rate interface (BRI).

Telecommunications station apparatus for requesting the setting up of an operator assistance call from a back party through an operator assistance system comprising:

• means for collecting class of charge (COC) information from the back party;
• means for forming a data message comprising the COC information;
• and
• means for sending the data message toward an operator assistance system for handling of the call,
• said operator assistance system comprising means responsive to the receipt of an answer signal from a forward party for controlling a setup of a connection between an communications link extending toward the forward party and an operator position connected to said operator assistance system and for displaying the call information of said data message at the operator position.