Patent US5764749A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5764749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carrier direct calling
Assignee: MCI Corp
•
Filing: 1996-06-27
•
Granted: 1998-06-09
•
Expires: 2016-06-27
Abstract
Abstract The processing of telephone calls is described herein. A telephone call is initiated over a public telephone line using a carrier direct telephone number having a carrier specific identifier. The carrier specific identifier designates the international carrier that has assigned the carrier direct number (Carrier Direct Service Provider). The telephone call is routed to an international carrier in the country of origin. That international carrier recognizes the carrier specific identifier and routes the call to the Carrier Direct Service Provider. The Carrier Direct Service Provider translates the carrier direct telephone number to a public telephone number. The call is then routed over public telephone lines in accordance with the public telephone number.
Inventors
- 👤 Michele Zelazny
- 👤 Karen A. McInerney
- 👤 Sergio Wernikoff
- 👤 Bruce A. Willey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13093; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13196; H04Q2213/13353; H04Q2213/13383; H04Q2213/13384; H04Q2213/13399
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for processing telephone calls, comprising the steps of: (a) initiating a telephone call over a public telephone line using a carrier direct telephone number having a carrier specific identifier, said carrier specific identifier identifying an international carrier; (b) routing said telephone call to said international carrier; (c) using said carrier direct telephone number including said carrier specific identifier as a key to translate, within said international carrier, said carrier direct telephone number to a public telephone number; and (d) routing said telephone call over public telephone lines in accordance with said public telephone number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for processing telephone calls, comprising the steps of: (a) initiating a telephone call over a public telephone line using a carrier direct telephone number having a carrier specific identifier, said carrier specific identifier identifying an international carrier; (b) routing said telephone call to said international carrier; (c) using said carrier direct telephone number including said carrier specific identifier as a key to translate, within said international carrier, said carrier direct telephone number to a public telephone number; and (d) routing said telephone call over public telephone lines in accordance with said public telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (e) identifying a plurality of public telephone numbers of interest; (f) assigning carrier direct telephone numbers to said public telephone numbers of interest; (g) generating a translation table which translates from said carrier direct telephone numbers to said public telephone numbers of interest.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: (h) publicly distributing said carrier direct telephone numbers.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for processing telephone calls, comprising: means for initiating a telephone call over a public telephone line using a carrier direct telephone number having a carrier specific identifier, said carrier specific identifier identifying an international carrier; means for routing said telephone call to said international carrier; means for using said carrier direct telephone number including said carrier specific identifier as a key to translate, within said international carrier, said carrier direct telephone number to a public telephone number; and means for routing said telephone call over public telephone lines in accordance with said public telephone number.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for processing telephone calls, comprising: means for initiating a telephone call over a public telephone line using a carrier direct telephone number having a carrier specific identifier, said carrier specific identifier identifying an international carrier; means for routing said telephone call to said international carrier; means for using said carrier direct telephone number including said carrier specific identifier as a key to translate, within said international carrier, said carrier direct telephone number to a public telephone number; and means for routing said telephone call over public telephone lines in accordance with said public telephone number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 4, further comprising: means for identifying a plurality of public telephone numbers of interest; means for assigning carrier direct telephone numbers to said public telephone numbers of interest; means for generating a translation table which translates from said carrier direct telephone numbers to said public telephone numbers of interest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 5, further comprising: means for publicly distributing said carrier direct telephone numbers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4565903A
Cited
US4577066A
Cited
US4555594A
Cited
US4754479A
Cited
US4791665A
Cited
US4866763A
Cited
US5272749A
Cited
US5333185A
Cited
US5237604A
Cited
US5222125A
Cited
US5333184A
Cited
US5479494A
Cited
US5550912A
Cited
US5475749A
Cited
US5550909A
Cited
US5661792A
Cited
US5550910A
Cited
US5583926A
Cited
US5598464A
Cited
US5625681A
Cited
US5602909A
Cited
US5610977A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-08 | 2001-12-08 | 2002-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-08 | 2005-12-08 | 2006-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | 2010-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |