Loading patent…
AssigneesNortel Networks Limited, Bell Canada, Stentor Resource Centre, Inc.
InventorsBernard Courville, Gilles Trepanier, Ron Kelly, Luc Samson, Michel Tougas
Estimating the term…
A telephone network comprises at least one switching unit having a plurality of subscriber access lines each having an associated calling number and, a storage device storing a plurality of listings of destination numbers. Each listing is associated with a respective one of the calling numbers and defines defining a personalized local calling area for that particular calling number. The switching unit detects a destination number dialed by a caller setting up a call, accesses the personalized local calling area listing for that calling number, and compares the detected destination number with the selected listing to determine whether the call is local or long distance. Each of the listings may comprise numbers having between three and ten digits. Provision may be made for the subscriber to create the personalized calling area by adding entries to, or deleting entries from, a standard local calling area common to a group of subscribers. The storage device may comprise central storage storing a plurality of listings for each of a plurality of switches in the network, and local storage associated with each of the switches for storing the plurality of listings for that particular switch.
A method of local call screening in a telephone network, the network comprising a plurality of switching units, each or the switching units having a plurality of access lines for an associated plurality of subscribers and storage means for a plurality of profiles, each profile being associated with a respective one of the subscribers and comprising data defining a personal local calling area the content of which personal local calling area has been predetermined by that particular subscribers the method comprising the steps of
A telephone network having provision for local call screening using personal local calling areas, the network comprising
A telephone network comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication
Selecting arrangements: arrangements providing connection between exchanges
Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems: digital apparatus individually associated with a…
Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems: numbering, addressing
Term ended 14 Feb 2016 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for screening calls in telecommunications networks and, in particular, for determining whether or not a call to a particular destination is a local call.
2. Background Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a telephone network showing components involved in implementing Personalized Local Calling Areas;
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate differences between Standard Local Calling Area screening and Personalized Local Calling Area screening;
FIG. 3 illustrates differences between a Standard Local Calling Area and a Personalized Local Calling Area;
FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a telephone network comprising a plurality of interconnected switching units. For simplicity of illustration, FIG. 1 shows only two central office switching units 10 and 12, for example DMS-100 (Trademark) stored program switches manufactured by Northern Telecom Limited, interconnected by the public switched telephone network (PSTN) as indicated at 14. Multiple access lines 16 connect subscribers to switch 10, the station apparatus of one subscriber 18 being illustrated, by way of example, by a telephone set.
A profile manager 20 is shown connected to switch 12 by line 22 and to switch 10 by way of the standard operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning system (OAM&P) as indicated at 24. The profile manager 20 is a software entity residing in a database unit, for example, at a central location, such as an operations centre of the network. The profile manager 20 communicates, by way of the PSTN 14, with subscribers accessing it via switch 10 and downloads their current profiles to switch 10 via the OAM & P systems 24.
In modern telephone systems, the service provider will make available various optional services, known as "features", which a subscriber may obtain by specifically requesting and paying for them. Typically the software and data for providing the features are stored in a data store at each central office switch or, in the case of Advanced Intelligent Networks, stored at a remote location and queried by the switch as required. The facility to establish a Personalized Local Calling Area (PLCA) will be provided to subscriber 18 as such a "feature". In order to provide the service, the switch will store "profiles" for those of its subscribers who subscribe to PLCA.