US5878113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Service and information management system for a telecommunications network
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-22
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2017-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the various functions of the telecommunications network, such as call processing and routing, automatic fault detection and correction, providing services to customers in an interactive manner, fraud detection and control, identification of patterns of abuse of the network, collecting data regarding call activity at each network element, and producing a record of each call placed within the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Gurcharan S. Bhusri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/44; H04M15/55; H04M15/58; H04M15/90; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2254; H04M3/36; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/0062; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0104; H04M2215/016; H04M2215/0188; H04M2215/44; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13521; H04Q2213/13541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comrising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing Rrocessing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus, a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said information packet comprises a message part and a transaction part, the message part being transmitted between the interconnected network elements in response to the call traversing the network elements, the transaction information part being appended to the message part prior to said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comrising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing Rrocessing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus, a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said information packet comprises a message part and a transaction part, the message part being transmitted between the interconnected network elements in response to the call traversing the network elements, the transaction information part being appended to the message part prior to said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurlity of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises: means for detecting when an error has occurred during set-up of the call; and means for placing a test call being initiated and answered by said communications unit, so that the apparatus can determine where the error occurred.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurlity of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises: means for detecting when an error has occurred during set-up of the call; and means for placing a test call being initiated and answered by said communications unit, so that the apparatus can determine where the error occurred.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of network elements responsible for routing the call differentiates between the test call being initiated and answered by the communications unit and a normal call being placed by a telecommunications network subscriber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of network elements responsible for routing the call has means for indicating to a next succeeding network element that the test call is being placed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 4, wherein the means for indicating to the next succeeding network element that the test call is being placed comprises a signal contained within a second message.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecomunications network, comprising; an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in conmunication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit; and means for recognizing and responding to speech in communication with said communications unit, so that a customer may communicate with a telecommunications provider in an interactive manner.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecomunications network, comprising; an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in conmunication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit; and means for recognizing and responding to speech in communication with said communications unit, so that a customer may communicate with a telecommunications provider in an interactive manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for providing the customer with new services in response to the interactive communication.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in conmunication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said communications unit communicates with a work station managed by a case worker, the case worker simultaneously interacting with said communications unit, the plurality of interconnected network elements, and a customer of the telecommunications provider simultaneously.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in conmunication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said communications unit communicates with a work station managed by a case worker, the case worker simultaneously interacting with said communications unit, the plurality of interconnected network elements, and a customer of the telecommunications provider simultaneously.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for placing a test call being initiated and answered by said communications unit, the test call being placed when a telecommunications customer requests billing verification information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for placing a test call being initiated and answered by said communications unit, the test call being placed when a telecommunications customer requests billing verification information.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said database comprises a data table containing a list of numbers identifying phone numbers of calling parties which have been marked for fraud.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said database comprises a data table containing a list of numbers identifying phone numbers of calling parties which have been marked for fraud.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for determining whether a calling party's phone number has been marked for fraud.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said database comprises a data table containing a list of numbers identifying phone numbers of calling parties which have been marked for accumulated billing charges.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said database comprises a data table containing a list of numbers identifying phone numbers of calling parties which have been marked for accumulated billing charges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for servicing a telephone call according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for determining whether a calling party's phone number has been marked for accumulated billing charges.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for detecting patterns of abuse of the telecommunications network.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for detecting patterns of abuse of the telecommunications network.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for collecting data representing calling activity at each of the plurality of interconnected network elements.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for collecting data representing calling activity at each of the plurality of interconnected network elements.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for preparing a call detail record for the call based on the data contained in said information packet.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for servicing a telephone call made in a telecommunications network, comprising: an interconnect bus; a database for storing processing and routing information relating to the telephone call, said database in communication with said interconnect bus; a plurality of instructions specifying functions of the apparatus; a processor in communication with said interconnect bus; a communications unit in communication with a plurality of interconnected network elements in the telecommunications network and in communication with said interconnect bus; and an information packet associated with the telephone call, said information packet containing data which supports one of the functions of the apparatus, said information packet being transmitted from at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements to said communications unit, wherein said plurality of instructions comprises means for preparing a call detail record for the call based on the data contained in said information packet.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of recording information generated by a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements in response to a call traversing the network elements, comprising: transmitting to an originating network element a message generated by one of the plurality of interconnected network elements; copying the transmitted message; forwarding the message to a succeeding interconnected network element; appending transaction information to the copied message having an error signal indicating whether an error was detected in the transmitted message, so that the transaction information and the copied message form an information packet; forwarding the information packet to a communications unit in communication with the first network element; and storing the forwarded information packet in a database so that a record of each call is formed.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of recording information generated by a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements in response to a call traversing the network elements, comprising: transmitting to an originating network element a message generated by one of the plurality of interconnected network elements; copying the transmitted message; forwarding the message to a succeeding interconnected network element; appending transaction information to the copied message having an error signal indicating whether an error was detected in the transmitted message, so that the transaction information and the copied message form an information packet; forwarding the information packet to a communications unit in communication with the first network element; and storing the forwarded information packet in a database so that a record of each call is formed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
208 words
The method according to claim 17, further comprising: monitoring the information packet forwarded by the originating network element to detect the presence of the error signal, the error signal indicating that the call failed; determining a called number associated with the failed call; appending a prefix to the called number so that the communications unit becomes a called party instead of a party associated with the original called number, the communications unit providing for answering and release of the call; redialing the prefixed called number, a test call initiated and answered by the communications unit thereby being placed; traversing by the test call of the same network elements which were traversed by the failed call; embedding a signal into the messages generated by each one of the plurality of interconnected network elements traversed by the test call, indicating to a next succeeding network element that the test call associated with the failed call is being placed; and forwarding to the communications unit by each one of the plurality of interconnected network elements traversed by the test call a representation of all generated and received messages, so that a complete set of data about each failed call used for identifying a problem which resulted in call failure is formed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the prefixed called number is redialed automatically by the communications unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the prefixed called number is redialed by a case worker.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the prefixed called number is redialed by computer test equipment which verifies transmission quality of the call.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 17, further comprising: extracting the error signal from the message forwarded to the communications unit to determine a cause of the problem resulting in call failure; identifying at least one of the plurality of interconnected network elements associated with the error signal; and instructing the identified element to correct the error.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
187 words
The method according to claim 17, further comprising: determining a called number associated with the call; appending a prefix to the called number so that the communications unit becomes a called party instead of a party associated with the original called number, the communications unit providing for answering and release of the call; redialing the prefixed called number by a case worker, a test call initiated and answered by the communications unit thereby being placed; traversing by the test call of the same plurality of interconnected network elements which were traversed by the failed call; embedding a signal into the messages generated by each of the plurality of interconnected network elements traversed by the test call, indicating to a next succeeding network element that the call is the test call; and forwarding to the communications unit by each of the plurality of interconnected network elements traversed by the test call a representation of all generated and received messages associated with the network elements, so that a complete set of data about the call used for demonstrating the accuracy of the billing process to a customer is formed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 17, further comprising: utilizing the information packets associated with the calls placed from a particular phone number to detect patterns of abuse of the telecommunications network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |