US5742667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Notification of toll free call charging status
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1996-06-05
•
Granted: 1998-04-21
•
Expires: 2016-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A caller who calls an 800 number is given an audible or visual indication that the call will not incur any charges for services provided on that call by the called party. If such charges will be incurred the caller is warned and may terminate or continue the call. For certain classes of telephone subscribers such as coin stations wherein the caller is not always the same person as the one who pays the bills, calls wherein the caller may incur charges for services provided on the call are automatically routed to an operator; such calls can then be completed using credit or calling cards in order to transfer the charges from the owner of the telephone station to the caller who made the specific call.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/83; H04M15/08; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/62; H04M2215/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of establishing a toll free telecommunications call connection over a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: responsive to receipt from a caller station of a call service request comprising an identification of a toll flee telecommunications destination, using call service parameters established by and stored in the network to determine whether caller telephone account charges will accrue for calls to said destination; and if said destination does not charge for said service, providing a network-formulated audible or visual indication to said caller station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of establishing a toll free telecommunications call connection over a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: responsive to receipt from a caller station of a call service request comprising an identification of a toll flee telecommunications destination, using call service parameters established by and stored in the network to determine whether caller telephone account charges will accrue for calls to said destination; and if said destination does not charge for said service, providing a network-formulated audible or visual indication to said caller station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: if said caller station will be charged for said services, determining whether said caller station has a class of service which does not permit direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services; and if said caller station has a class of service which does not permit such direct billed connections, routing said call to an assistance system for further disposition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said assistance system automatically processes calling, credit or debit card calls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said assistance system connects said caller station to an operator position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: if said destination charges for said services, determining whether said caller station has a class of service which does not permit direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services; and if said caller station has a class of service which permits such direct billing, provide a visual or audible indication to said caller station that a charge will be incurred for services provided by said destination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing to said caller station an indication of an identity of a carrier for establishing said call over said network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of establishing a toll free telecommunications call connection over a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: responsive to receipt from a caller station of a call service request comprising an identification of a toll free telecommunications destination, using call service parameters established by and stored in the network to determine whether caller telephone account charges will accrue for services provided on a call from said destination; determining whether said caller station has a class of service which permits direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services; and if said destination does not charge for said services, providing a network-formulated audible or visual indication to said caller station.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of establishing a toll free telecommunications call connection over a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: responsive to receipt from a caller station of a call service request comprising an identification of a toll free telecommunications destination, using call service parameters established by and stored in the network to determine whether caller telephone account charges will accrue for services provided on a call from said destination; determining whether said caller station has a class of service which permits direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services; and if said destination does not charge for said services, providing a network-formulated audible or visual indication to said caller station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: if said caller station has a class of service which permits direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services and if said destination charges for said services, providing a second audible or visual indication from said network to said caller station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing a second audible or visual indication comprises the step of providing said second audible or visual indication prior to establishing a connection to said destination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the determining step comprises determining whether a caller station within a private branch exchange or other customer premises station group has a class of service which permits direct billed connections to destinations which charge for said services.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing an indication to said caller station to said caller station of an identity of a carrier for establishlishing said call over said network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4191860A
Cited
US5199062A
Cited
US5003584A
Cited
US5187710A
Cited
US5184345A
Cited
US5146491A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-20 | 2001-10-20 | 2002-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-10-20 | 2006-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-20 | 2009-10-20 | 2010-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |