Method, system, network and computer-readable media for controlling outgoing telephony calls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9565217-B2
Application number	US-65100109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2009
Priority date	Dec 31, 2009
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

The present invention discloses numerous implementations for IP-based call processing systems that can selectively control an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device. The call processing system communicates with a Service Switching Point (SSP) associated with the source device and determines whether to effect control of the outgoing call. It could determine to effect control of the outgoing call for many reasons including to convey a media message to the source device, to implement a call feature or to manage call restrictions. Upon determining to effect control of the outgoing call, the call processing system causes the SSP to initiate a media connection between the source device and the call processing system. The call processing system can then utilize the media connection with the source device to perform functionality for the outgoing call prior to and/or during the outgoing call.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, implemented by a call processing system within an Internet Protocol (IP) network, for controlling an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device, the source device to effect telephonic communications using a switched telephone network comprising a Service Switching Point (SSP), the method comprising:
receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message via the IP network from a signaling converter, the SIP message comprising a call request message for the outgoing call comprising source and destination identifiers associated with the source and destination devices respectively, the signalling converter operative to receive an SS7 message from the SSP in response to initiation of the outgoing call by the source device in the switched telephone network and to convert the SS7 message to the SIP message;
selectively determining using the source identifier whether to cause a media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system; and
causing transmission of a routing message to the SSP via the IP network upon determining to cause the media connection to be established, the routing message to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) message initiated by an Off Hook Delay trigger on the SSP.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein causing transmission of the routing message to the SSP via the IP network comprises causing transmission of a second SIP message to the signaling converter for converting the second SIP message to a second SS7 message and transmitting the second SS7 message to the SSP.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second SS7 message comprises a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) call route message directing the outgoing call to the call processing system.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing transmission of a reject message to the SSP via the IP network upon determining not to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system, the reject message to cause the SSP to cause establishment of a media connection between the source and destination devices.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein causing transmission of the reject message to the SSP via the IP network comprises causing transmission of a second SIP message to the signaling converter for converting the SIP message to a second SS7 message and transmitting the second SS7 message to the SSP.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the second SIP message comprises one of a service unavailable message, an error message, an unauthorized call message and a service not implemented message.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the second SS7 message comprises a TCAP continue message.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device using the source identifier and the destination identifier; and wherein, upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call for the source device using the source identifier and the destination identifier and determining whether an authorization is required upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call; and wherein, upon determining that an authorization is required, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the outgoing call is a restricted call using the source identifier and the destination identifier and determining whether a call limitation is required upon determining that the outgoing call is a restricted call; and wherein, upon determining that a call limitation is required, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the call limitation comprises one of a call length limitation, an account credit limitation, a temporal limitation and a destination identifier limitation.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system comprises determining whether the source identifier is associated with a call feature.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey an audio element to the source device prior to establishment of a media connection with the destination device; and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature to convey an audio element to the source device, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the call feature comprises a call feature to convey a media element to the source device prior to establishment of a media connection with the destination device; and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call feature to convey a media element to the source device, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the media element comprises one of a video element, an image element and a text element.

18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the call feature comprises a call restriction feature; and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call restriction feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the call feature comprises a call record call feature; and wherein, upon determining that the source identifier is associated with the call record call feature, a determination to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system is made.

20. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the determining whether to cause the media connection to be established between the source device and the call processing system further comprises determining whether the destination identifier comprises a call feature identifier; and wherein, upon determinin

Assignees

• Liu Gaofeng
• Clark David William
• Arsenault Jonathan Allan
• Wolf Eric John
• Bce Inc

Inventors

• Liu Gaofeng
• Clark David William
• Arsenault Jonathan Allan
• Wolf Eric John

Classifications

• H04L65/104

  in the network · CPC title

• H04M15/56

  for VoIP communications · CPC title

• H04M15/88

  Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure · CPC title

• H04L12/1464

  using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM · CPC title

• H04M15/00

  Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} · CPC title