Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of operating a communications system comprising the steps of: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing information relating to the call to a mediation point; based on predetermined criteria relating to the call, selecting one of a plurality of service providers and sending a second query containing at least some of the information relating to the call to a database of a selected service provider; accessing data in the database of the selected service provider in response to the second query to obtain a call processing instruction; sending a first response containing the call processing instruction from the database of the selected service provider to the mediation point; processing the first response to validate the call processing instruction; and processing the call in accord with the validated call processing instruction to provide calling service.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of operating a communications system comprising the steps of: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing information relating to the call to a mediation point; based on predetermined criteria relating to the call, selecting one of a plurality of service providers and sending a second query containing at least some of the information relating to the call to a database of a selected service provider; accessing data in the database of the selected service provider in response to the second query to obtain a call processing instruction; sending a first response containing the call processing instruction from the database of the selected service provider to the mediation point; processing the first response to validate the call processing instruction; and processing the call in accord with the validated call processing instruction to provide calling service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein a first one of the service providers operates a first portion of the communication network, and the database of the first provider contains data relating to one or more services provided via the first portion of the communication network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein a second one of the service providers operates a second portion of the communication network, and at least one database of the second provider contains data relating to one or more services provided via the second portion of the communication network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein the mediation point communicates with the database of the selected service provider via the interoffice signaling network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the switching offices are telephone central office switching systems, and the interoffice signaling network is a common channel interoffice signaling system of a telephone network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of processing the call comprises routing the call at least in part using network resources operated by the selected service provider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is an Advanced Intelligent Network trigger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is a trigger selected from the group consisting of: off-hook immediate, off-hook delay, trunk seizure, primary rate interface, individualized dialing plan, office dialing plan, transit network selection, originating line information, directory number, automatic route selection, automatic alternate routing, basic rate interface feature button, terminating attempt and virtual number.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
A communication network, comprising: a plurality of communication links; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the communication links; a mediation point, separate from the central office switching systems; a signaling communication system coupled to the central office switching systems and to the mediation point for two-way communications of data messages; at least one service control database separate from and in communication with the mediation point wherein: the central office switching systems transmit query messages to the mediation point via the signaling communication system in response to occurrences of predetermined events in processing of calls, and, in response to each query relating to a particular call, the mediation point obtains calling control data from said at least one service control database separate from the mediation point, and transmits said calling control data to one of the central office switching systems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
A communication network, comprising: a plurality of communication links; a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the communication links; a mediation point, separate from the central office switching systems; a signaling communication system coupled to the central office switching systems and to the mediation point for two-way communications of data messages; at least one service control database separate from and in communication with the mediation point wherein: the central office switching systems transmit query messages to the mediation point via the signaling communication system in response to occurrences of predetermined events in processing of calls, and, in response to each query relating to a particular call, the mediation point obtains calling control data from said at least one service control database separate from the mediation point, and transmits said calling control data to one of the central office switching systems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A network as in claim 9, wherein the mediation point comprises an integrated services control point (ISCP) containing a service control database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A network as in claim 9, wherein: the communication network further comprises an alternate service carrier network coupled to one of the central office switching systems.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A network as in claim 11, wherein: the communication network further comprises a second alternate service carrier network coupled to one of the central office switching systems.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A network as in claim 11, wherein the mediation point comprises an integrated services control point containing a service control database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A network as in claim 10, wherein the central office switching systems are telephone central office switches, and the interoffice signaling network is a common channel communicator system signaling of a telephone network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A network as in claim 14, wherein the local communication links are telephone communication links.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A network as in claim 15, wherein the telephone communication links are telephone lines.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network as in claim 11, wherein the alternate service carrier network is an interexchange carrier network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network as in claim 14, wherein the alternate service carrier network is a wireless communication network.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of operating a communications system comprising the steps of: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a first call for one subscriber through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing information relating to the call through an interoffice signaling network to a mediation point determining that a parameter relating to the first call meets a first predetermined condition; obtaining first call processing data from a database operated by a first service provider; processing the first call in accord with the first call processing data; detecting a predetermined event during processing of a second call for the one subscriber through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; determining that a parameter relating to the second call meets a second predetermined condition; obtaining second call processing data from a database operated by a second service provider; processing the second call in accord with the second call processing data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of operating a communications system comprising the steps of: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a first call for one subscriber through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing information relating to the call through an interoffice signaling network to a mediation point determining that a parameter relating to the first call meets a first predetermined condition; obtaining first call processing data from a database operated by a first service provider; processing the first call in accord with the first call processing data; detecting a predetermined event during processing of a second call for the one subscriber through one of a plurality of switching offices of a communication network; determining that a parameter relating to the second call meets a second predetermined condition; obtaining second call processing data from a database operated by a second service provider; processing the second call in accord with the second call processing data.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
149 words
A method comprising: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call from a caller through one of a first plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing first information relating to the call through an interoffice signaling network to a service controller serving as a first mediation point for the first plurality of switching offices; sending a second query containing at least some of the first information from the service controller to a second mediation point serving a second plurality of switching offices and having a database; receiving, at the service controller, second information, corresponding to the second query, from the second mediation point database; completing the processing of said call from the caller in response to the second information; and wherein said second information includes services information corresponding to subscription services used by the caller within the second plurality of switching offices.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
149 words
A method comprising: detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call from a caller through one of a first plurality of switching offices of a communication network; sending a first query containing first information relating to the call through an interoffice signaling network to a service controller serving as a first mediation point for the first plurality of switching offices; sending a second query containing at least some of the first information from the service controller to a second mediation point serving a second plurality of switching offices and having a database; receiving, at the service controller, second information, corresponding to the second query, from the second mediation point database; completing the processing of said call from the caller in response to the second information; and wherein said second information includes services information corresponding to subscription services used by the caller within the second plurality of switching offices.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the completing step comprises registering the caller in a subscriber location register for at least some services managed by the first mediation point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the registering comprises storing in said subscriber location register wireless telephone information contained in said first information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the first information includes a destination telephone number corresponding to one of said second plurality of switching offices, and the second information comprises routing information corresponding to said destination telephone number.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said routing information identifies a current location of the caller.