Method for processing collect calls

#This invention relates generally to a method for processing collect telephone calls, and, in particular, to providing to the called party receiving a collect call, information relating to the charges for the call as well as other related information.

#Various regulatory and technological developments have opened competition in the field of both local and long distance collect calls. The traditional method of initiating a collect call is to dial "0" plus the desired telephone number, and this call will be carried by the local exchange carrier (LEC) in the case of a local call, and by the interexchange carrier (IXC) to which the called party subscribes, in the case of a long distance call. To route the call using a particular long distance carrier, it is possible to prefix a collect call with an access code, such as 10288 in the case of AT&T. A further alternative is to make the collect call by dialing a predetermined toll free number, such as 1-800-CALL-ATT or 1-800-OPERATOR.

#What is common to all of these variants is the fact that the calling party now has a choice of the carrier that will carry a collect telephone call, but the called party, who will pay for the collect call (if the call is accepted as a collect call) has no choice, and indeed, little or no advance information about the call.

#The present invention will be more fully appreciated by consideration of the following detailed description, which should be read in light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in which the present invention may be practiced, for completing collect calls from a calling party to a called party, and for playing an announcement to the called party, giving the called party information about the cost of the call;

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the process followed in the system of FIG. 1, when a collect call is initiated; and

#Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a system in which the present invention may be practiced, for completing collect calls from a calling party located at a calling terminal 40 or 42 to a called party located at called terminal 46. When properly configured and programmed, as explained below, the system may be arranged to play an announcement to the called party, typically before the called party decides to accept the call, giving the called party information about the cost of the call. Many of the elements shown in FIG. 1 are the same as those shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,910 issued to Daudelin et. al on Jan. 10, 1989 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which is incorporated herein by reference. For convenience, the elements shown in FIG. 1 retain the same reference designations as in the Daudelin et. al patent. It is also noted that the present invention can be carried out using the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,966 issued to Hird et. al on Jun. 12, 1990, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,858, issued Mar. 3, 1992, which is a continuation thereof, when that apparatus is properly modified, configured and programmed, as explained herein. Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,983, issued to Dorst et. al on Aug. 27, 1991, and to U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,403, issued to Atkins et. al on Feb. 15, 1994, both assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which each also disclose an environment in which the present invention may be practiced.

#The context of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is the processing of collect calls by a local exchange carrier (LEC). However, as explained below, it is to be understood from the outset that the present invention is also applicable to collect calls processed by an interexchange carrier (IXC) such as AT&T.

#Switch 1 is an electronic program controlled switch such as AT&T's 5ESS.RTM. electronic switch, arranged to offer the Operator Services Position System (OSPS) features. The 5ESS switch is described, for example, in AT&T Technical Journal, volume 64, No. 6, Part 2, pages 1305-1564, and the OSPS feature is described, for example, in Paper 3, Session 22C presented at the International Switching Symposium in May, 1984.