Modular telecommunications system

Claim 2

The telecommunications system of Claim 1 wherein said interface systems are coupled to a plurality of network lines and wherein said local telecommunications device and said intelligent network platform are coupled through a telephone line, said telecommunications service modules comprising switching systems operable to selectively couple said telephone line to a selected one of said network lines.

Claim 3

The telecommunications system of Claim 2 wherein said switching systems are further operable to selectively couple said telephone line to other selected ones of said telecommunications service modules.

Claim 4

The telecommunications system of Claim 1 wherein said telecommunications service modules comprise a voice mail module operable to record and play back voice messages left by users of the telecommunications system.

Claim 5

The telecommunications system of Claim 1 wherein said local telecommunications device and said intelligent network platform are connected via a telephone line, the system further comprising: telephone line interface circuitry associated with said intelligent network platform and operable to couple said intelligent network platform to the telephone line; said telephone line interface circuitry comprising first out of band communications circuitry operable to transmit and receive signals via the telephone line using a predetermined frequency; and second out of band communications circuitry associated with the local telecommunications device and coupled to the telephone line, said second out of band communications circuitry operable to transmit and receive signals via the telephone line using said predetermined frequency.

Claim 6

The telecommunications system of Claim 1 and further comprising: a card reader system associated with said local telecommunications device operable to receive and read data from a card associated with the user.

Claim 7

A modular telecommunications system coupled to links of a telecommunications network and operable to process telecommunications traffic through the network, the system comprising: a multichannel bus; a power module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to deliver operating power to the system; an interface module coupled to a plurality of the links of the network, said interface module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to communicate traffic from the links to the system; a service module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to provide a telecommunications service to users of the system and the network; a switch module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to selectively route traffic within the system between selected links serviced by said interface module and said service module; and a real time module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to control the processing of telecommunications traffic using said interface module, said service module, and said switch module.

Claim 8

The system of Claim 7 and further comprising: an administrative control module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to administer the configuration of the system, said administrative control module comprising memory systems operable to store information associated with the telecommunications traffic processed by the system.

Claim 9

The system of Claim 8 wherein said memory systems are operable to store account identification and balance information associated with accounts associated with users of the system, said administrative control module operable to update said balance information by applying charges associated with telecommunications traffic processed by the system to an appropriate account stored within said memory systems.

Claim 10

The system of Claim 8 wherein said memory systems are operable to store account identification and preferred carrier information associated with accounts associated with users of the system; said administrative control module operable to retrieve particular preferred carrier information associated with a particular user of the system, said interface module comprising interface circuitry operable to be coupled to a plurality of common carrier trunks including a particular common carrier trunk identified by said particular preferred carrier information associated with said particular user; and the system operable to route appropriate telecommunications traffic requested by said particular user using said particular common carrier trunk.

Claim 11

The system of Claim 7 wherein said service module comprises a voice mail system operable to record and play back voice messages received from users of the system and the network.

Claim 12

The system of Claim 7 wherein said service module comprises an automated operator system operable to process automatic collect calls by recording information from the user identifying the user, the system operable to complete a communication path to a called party and inform the called party of the requested collect call using the information recorded from the user, the system further operable to prompt the called party as to how to indicate acceptance of the collect call and to receive an answer to the prompt from the called party.

Claim 13

The system of Claim 7 wherein said system is coupled to a local telecommunications device and is operable to receive a telephone number dialed in a first billing format indicating charges associated with the telephone call are to be billed to an account other than the account associated with the local telecommunications device, the system operable to convert the telephone number from said first format to a direct dial format and complete the call using said direct dial format.

Claim 14

The system of Claim 7 wherein said interface module comprises telephone line interface circuitry operable to couple the system to a telephone line associated with the network.

Claim 15

The system of Claim 7 wherein said interface module comprises SS7 link interface circuitry operable to couple the system to an SS7 link associated with the network.

Claim 16

The system of Claim 7 wherein said interface module comprises fiber-optic line interface circuitry operable to couple the system to a fiber-optic line associated with the network.

Claim 17

The system of Claim 7 wherein said interface module comprises network multiplexer/demultiplexer interface circuitry operable to couple the system to a network multiplexer/demultiplexer system associated with a cellular interface within the network.

Claim 18

A telecommunications system operable to route telecommunications traffic, comprising: an originating telephone accessible to a user of the system and comprising input systems operable to receive destination identification information; a first intelligent network platform selectively coupled to said originating telephone and comprising a first interface module, said first intelligent network platform operable to receive said destination identification information from said originating telephone; a second intelligent network platform comprising a second interface module; a destination telephone identified by said destination identification information and selectively coupled to said second intelligent network platform; and a transmission system selectively coupled between said first and second interface modules and operable to route telecommunications traffic from said first intelligent network platform to said second intelligent network platform.

Claim 19

The system of Claim 18 wherein said transmission system comprises a microwave transmitter associated with said first intelligent network platform and a microwave receiver associated with said second intelligent network platform.

Claim 20

The system of Claim 18 wherein said transmission system comprises a first satellite transceiver associated with said first intelligent network platform, a second satellite transceiver associated with said second intelligent network platform, and a communications satellite operable to route telecommunications traffic between said first and second satellite transceivers.

Claim 21

A telecommunications system, comprising: a local telecommunications device accessible to a user of the telecommunications system; an intelligent network platform coupled to said local telecommunications device through a telephone line and operable to receive telephone calls from said local telecommunications device; interface systems associated with said intelligent platform and operable to couple said intelligent network platform to communication links associated with a telecommunications network; telecommunications service modules associated with said intelligent network platform and operable to provide automated telecommunications services to the user in conjunction with calls placed by the user using said local telecommunications device; storage circuitry associated with said local telecommunications device operable to store identification information unique to the particular local telecommunications device; and processing circuitry associated with said local telecommunications device operable to retrieve and transmit said unique identification information to said intelligent network platform such that access to said intelligent network platform is secure against unauthorized use.

Claim 22

The telecommunications system of Claim 21 and further comprising: telephone line interface circuitry associated with said intelligent network platform and operable to couple said intelligent network platform to the telephone line; said telephone line interface circuitry comprising first out of band communications circuitry operable to transmit and receive signals via the telephone line using a predetermined frequency; second out of band communications circuitry associated with the local telecommunications device and coupled to the telephone line, said second out of band communications circuitry operable to transmit and receive signals via the telephone line using said predetermined frequency; said local telecommunications device operable to transmit said unique identification information to said intelligent network platform using said second out of band communication circuitry; and said intelligent network platform operable to receive said unique identification information using said first out of band communication circuitry.

Claim 23

A modular telecommunications system coupled to links of a telecommunications network and operable to process telecommunications traffic through the network, the system comprising: a multichannel bus; a power module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to deliver operating power to the system; an interface module coupled to a plurality of the links of the network, said interface module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to communicate traffic from the links to the system; a service module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to provide a telecommunications service to users of the system and the network; a switch module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to selectively route traffic within the system between selected links serviced by said interface module and said service module; a real time module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to control the processing of telecommunications traffic using said interface module, said service module, and said switch module; and an administrative control module coupled to said multichannel bus and operable to administer the configuration of the system, said administrative control module comprising memory systems operable to store information associated with the telecommunications traffic processed by the system, said memory systems operable to store security information identifying local telecommunications devices authorized to access the system, said administrative control module operable to access said security information responsive to a request for access to the system.