US 5,311,572 A · Cooperative databases call processing system

Abstract

A system for processing a database-queried call uses the call processing capabilities of a carrier's database and a subscriber's database as part of a total communication switching system. Generally, origination information such as as ANI, dialed number and caller entered information are forwarded by the originating switch to the carrier's database which sends them to the subscriber's database. The latter uses prestored programs and callers' related information to formulate a processing label for the call. The processing label is comprised of i) a routing label which provides input to the carrier's database to select a destination number for the call ii) an end point label which includes information to be passed to the subscriber's premise equipment and iii) a billing information label which can be used by the originating switch to create a customized billing record for the call. If desired, the subscriber's database, upon finding that the received call origination information is insufficient to positively identify a caller, can request additional information from the caller. This allows the communication switching system to provide call-by call routing features to subscribers without subjecting all callers to post-dial delay inconveniences caused by an ordinary prompting arrangement. In order to update a file of call handling resources available at all subscriber's locations, the carrier's database can send the selected destination number after the call has been completed to the subscriber's database.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A method for processing database-queried calls through a communication switching system which includes:

i) a first database storing call handling and routing information;
ii) a second database which is connected to said first database and which stores subscriber information including callers' related information;
and
iii) a source of call origination information,
wherein said method includes the steps of:
generating a first call process information by applying said call origination information to said first database;
transmitting said first call process information to said second database;
retrieving in said second database said stored callers' related information using said first call process information as a retrieval key;
generating in said second database a second call process information as a joint function of said retrieved stored callers' related information and said first call process information;
transmitting said second call process information to said first database;
and
formulating in said first database processing instructions comprised of a destination number for routing and handling said call using said second call process information.

9 more elements

A method for processing database-queried calls using the call processing capabilities of a communication switching system, which includes:

i) a carrier's database which receives call originating information from an originating switch, and which stores a plurality of carrier definable call processing programs, call handling instructions and routing parameters associated with a subscriber;
and
ii) a subscriber's database which stores subscriber definable programs, parameters and callers' related information, and which has a connection to said carrier's database, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
a) retrieving from said carrier's database said call handling instructions which direct said carrier's database to forward said call originating information to said subscriber's database via said connection;
b) sending said call originating information to said subscriber's database so that said subscriber's database can execute said subscriber definable programs to formulate a processing label in said subscriber's database as a logical function of the value of said call originating information and said caller's related information associated with said originating information;
c) receiving in said carrier's database via said connection, said processing label from said subscriber's database;
d) executing said call processing programs in said carrier's database using as input data said processing label information and said routing parameters to select a destination number for said call wherein said destination number conforms to characteristics denoted in said processing label;
and
e) forwarding said destination number and at least part of said processing label from said carrier's database to said originating switch in order to route said call to a subscriber's location using said communication switching system.

6 more elements

A method of routing a caller-initiated database-queried call to a subscriber's premise equipment and forwarding to said subscriber's premise equipment information associated with said call, using the call processing capabilities of a communication switching system comprised of:

i) an originating switch which receives from the caller originating information associated with said call;
ii) a carrier's storage and processing facility storing carrier definable call processing programs, subscriber's related call processing information and routing parameters;
and
iii) a subscriber's storage and processing facility storing subscriber definable programs and callers' related information,
wherein said method comprises the steps of:
a) retrieving in said carrier's storage and processing facility initial call handling instructions based on said subscriber's related call processing information;
b) forwarding to said subscriber's storage and processing facility said originating information associated with said call so that said subscriber's storage and processing facility can execute said subscriber definable programs to formulate a processing label identifying with a code a plurality of stations with specific characteristics associated with said call at any of a plurality of locations;
c) receiving said processing label in said carrier's storage and processing facility and devising a destination number for said call in said carrier's storage and processing facility using at least part of said processing label and said carrier's storage and processing facility routing parameters;
e) forwarding said destination number and part of said processing label to said originating switch;
f) routing said call to said subscriber's premise equipment using said communication switching system;
and
g) forwarding part of said processing label to said subscriber's premise equipment for the purpose of directing said call to one of a plurality of specific stations connected to said subscriber's premise equipment.

9 more elements

A system for processing database-queried calls using the call processing capabilities of a communication switching system, which includes:

i) a carrier's database which receives call originating information from an originating switch, and which stores a plurality of carrier definable call processing programs, call handling instructions and routing parameters associated with a subscriber;
and
ii) a subscriber's database which stores subscriber definable programs, parameters and callers' related information, and which has a connection to said carrier's database, wherein said system comprises:
a) means for retrieving from said carrier's database said call handling instructions which direct said carrier's database to forward said call originating information to said subscriber's database via said connection;
b) means for sending said call originating information to said subscriber's database so that said subscriber's database can execute said subscriber definable programs to formulate a processing label in said subscriber's database as a logical function of the value of said call originating information and said caller's related information associated with said originating information;
c) means for receiving in said carrier's database via said connection, said processing label from said subscriber's database;
d) means for executing said call processing programs in said carrier's database using as input data said processing label information and said routing parameters to select a destination number for said call wherein said destination number conforms to characteristics denoted in said processing label;
and
e) means for forwarding said destination number and at least part of said processing label from said carrier's database to said originating switch in order to route said call to a subscriber's location using said communication switching system.

6 more elements

A system of routing a database-queried call initiated by a caller to a subscriber's premise equipment and forwarding to said subscriber's premise equipment information associated with said call, using the call processing capabilities of a communication switching system comprised of:

i) an originating switch which receives from the caller originating information associated with the call;
ii) a carrier'storage and processing facility storing carrier definable call processing programs, subscriber's related call processing information and routing parameters;
and
iii) a subscriber's storage and processing facility storing subscriber definable programs and callers' related information,
wherein said system comprises:
a) means for retrieving in said carrier's storage and processing facility initial call handling instructions based on said subscriber's related call processing information;
b) means for forwarding to said subscriber's storage and processing facility said originating information associated with said call so that said subscriber's storage and processing facility can execute said subscriber definable programs to formulate a processing label identifying with a code a plurality of stations with specific characteristics associated with said call at any of a plurality of locations;
c) means for receiving said processing label in said carrier's storage and processing facility and devising a destination number for said call in said carrier's storage and processing facility using at least part of said processing label and said carrier's storage and processing facility routing parameters;
e) means for forwarding said destination number and part of said processing label to said originating switch;
f) means for routing said call to said subscriber's premise equipment using said communication switching system;
and
g) means for forwarding part of said processing label to said subscriber's premise equipment for the purpose of directing said call to one of a plurality of specific stations connected to said premise equipment.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cooperative databases call processing system

Life of this patent

Cooperative databases call processing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46