US 5,862,203 AGranted

Telecommunications call management system

AssigneeCall Manage

InventorsItzhak Wulkan, Gideon Barak

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A call management system is disclosed for choosing the optimum telecommunications carrier for telephone calls made by a user. The system can interface with an existing PBX or with ordinary analog telephone lines. The system intercepts digits dialed by the caller or user and determines an optimum route for the call based on a plurality of parameters. The optimum route includes a particular carrier through which the call is to be placed. The system then dials the prefix for the carrier and subsequently places the destination digits originally dialed by the user onto the telephone line. A data server constructs a carrier selection table optimized for a user's location, calling habits, preferences, personal data, etc. The carrier selection table is downloaded via a communications network to a local computer. In one embodiment, the local computer receives call progress signals and the user's dialed digits from one or more line units. The local computer determines the optimum route utilizing the carrier selection database and passes the calling prefix and destination string to the line unit. In another embodiment, the local computer also performs the functions of the line unit via an attached modem. The local computer, using the modem, intercepts dialing digits, determines the optimum route, places the call, monitors the line for call progress signals and records call start and end times. In the event the modem cannot detect call progress signals, the local computer uses digital signal processing techniques to detect the tones.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A telecommunication call management system for determining an optimum telecommunication carrier for a telephone call made by a subscriber, said telephone call routed through a telephone line to a local exchange carrier, said local exchange carrier coupled to one of M long distance carriers, the system comprising:

a data server coupled to a communications network, said data server for managing a database containing tariff and geographical related information on local and long distance carriers, local exchange, telephone exchange location related data and subscribers and for generating a carrier selection database from selected deterministic and statistical parameters;
and a local computer coupled to a plurality of telephone devices, said local exchange carrier and said communications network, said local computer for intercepting a call dialed by said subscriber, monitoring said telephone line, choosing said optimum carrier from said carrier selection database and placing said call utilizing said optimum carrier wherein said data server comprises
a processor for controlling the operation of said data server;
a server database interface coupled to said processor, said server database interface for fulfilling database requests issued by said processor;
a server database coupled to said server database interface, said server database containing tariff related information on local and long distance carriers;
a client communications module coupled to said processor and to said communications network, said client communications module for managing communications between said processor and said local computer;
a call accounting module for processing call data uploaded from said local computer;
a personal data database holding data relevant to said subscriber's location and calling preferences;
and
a local computer database preparation module coupled to said processor, said local computer database preparation module determining, a priori, optimum carriers for calls placed by said subscriber from said subscriber's location to almost all possible destinations, said local computer database preparation module utilizing said optimum carriers in constructing said carrier selection database.

7 more elements

a data server coupled to a communications network, said data server for managing a database containing tariff and geographical related information on local and long distance carriers, local exchange, telephone exchange location related data and subscribers and for generating a carrier selection database from selected deterministic and statistical parameters;
and a local computer coupled to a plurality of telephone devices, said local exchange carrier and said communications network, said local computer for intercepting a call dialed by said subscriber, monitoring said telephone line, choosing said optimum carrier from said carrier selection database and placing said call utilizing said optimum carrier wherein said local computer comprises
a processor controller for controlling the operation of said local computer;
a modem coupled to said processor;
a modem control module coupled to said processor for managing and controlling said modem;
a data server interface coupled to said processor, said data server interface for interfacing with said data server through said communications network;
and
carrier selection means comprising a carrier selection database for enabling said at least one line unit to determine said optimum carrier for telephone call.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/700,195Filed 20 Aug 1996 · continuation in part
Priority: 21 Jul 1995
Granted: 19 Jan 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

H04M 15/8044
Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects: least cost routing
H04M 15/00
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication
H04M 15/28
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: with…
H04M 15/30
With meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal: the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange