[1800579681213
`
`United States Patent
`Hanlon et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,796,812
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Aug. 18, 1998
`
`[54]
`
`[76]
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING CALL-
`SPECIFIC DATA BETWEEN CALLED
`PARTIES
`
`Inventors: Edite M. Hanlon. 16 Cloverhill La.;
`Steven T. Heinsius. 214—C Harding
`Rd.. both of Freehold. NJ. 07728;
`Mrinalini Natarajan. 4775 Lake Trail
`Dr. #ZA. Lisle. Ill. 60532; Antoinette
`Rule. 5 Windfall La.. Trenton. NJ.
`08690: Tejanand Sarju. 937 Manhattan
`Ave. Brooklyn. NY. 11222; Gary D.
`Walden. 179 W. Valley Brook Rd..
`Califon. NJ. 07830
`
`Appl. No.: 649,874
`
`Filed:
`
`May 13, 1996
`
`Int. Cl.6 ...................................................... HMM 3/58
`US. Cl. .......................... 379/212: 379/207: 379/265;
`370/264
`Field of Search ..................................... 379/210. 211.
`379/212. 265. 266. 220. 221. 207; 370/260.
`261. 262. 264
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4.723.273
`5.003.930
`5.131239
`5,432,845
`5,469.504
`
`379/210
`271933 Dieseletal.
`
`379/210
`4/1991 Gawryselal
`
` .379/266
`171993 Jolissaint
`.
`379/210
`7/1995 Burd et al.
`
`11/1995 Blaha ...................................... 379/265
`
`Primary Examiner—Ahmad F. Matar
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Robert B. Levy
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`A re-directing party ( 14) may transfer call-specific data to a
`target party (16) via a telecommunications network (10) in
`connection with the redirection of a telephone call by the
`network between the parties. To transfer the call-specific
`data. the re-directing party transmits an out—of-band message
`containing the data to the network. The network forwards
`the data in an out-of—band message to the target party. The
`message may be one that effects call set—up to the target party
`or call termination by the re—directing party. Alternatively.
`the message may be of the type that efiects data transfer
`during the call itself.
`
`8 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`14
`
`15 REDIRECTING
`
`
`
`12
`
`CALLING
`PARTY
`
`
`
`: l | |
`
`1
`
`l-_'___—I
`
`
`l'szP
`-_.....J
`7
`FROM
`I
`TO
`I
`1
`: CALLING
`: TARGET :
`:REDIRECTING:
`1
`__| l___
`___J L
`
`
`L _PARTY ,
`PARTY
`1
`.
`fARTY_ Jr
`
` 28
`
`ADJUNCT
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 1
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 18, 1998
`
`5,796,812
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`T4
`
`15
`
`REDIRECTING
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`CALLING
`
`PARTY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`{SETUP 5;
`;
`SETUP b
`rSETUP a];
`I
`TO
`T
`|
`T0
`FROM ll
`: TARGET :
`CALLING:
`:REDTRECTTNG:
`I
`PARTY I
`I
`PARTY II
`PARTY
`I
`|__
`_._l
`l_ _____ _| L_._ ._._J
`
`
`
`28
`
`
`
`ADJUNCT
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 2
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 2
`
`

`

`5.796.812
`
`1
`METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING CALL-
`SPECIFIC DATA BETWEEN CALLED
`PARTIES
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to a technique for transferring
`call—specific data from one party to another together with or
`after a telephone call that is re-directed from the one party
`to the other.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`In some circumstances. it is desirable to continue pro-
`cessing a telephone call made by a calling to a called party
`after the called patty has answered. As an example. a
`manufacturer of goods may find it desirable to contract with
`one or more separate service organizations to provide war—
`ranty and out—of warranty service on certain products.
`Despite having contracted with a separate service organiza-
`tion to provide such service. the manufacturer may want to
`screen incoming service calls rather have such calls directly
`terminate at one of the contracted service organizations. For
`instance. the manufacturer may want to screen calls for the
`purpose of ultimately transferring such calls to different
`service organizations depending on the type of product for
`which service is sought. or the location where the service is
`required.
`US. Pat. No. 5.432.845 incorporated by reference herein.
`discloses a technique for accomplishing post-answer call
`redirection. thus allowing the manufacturer in the above
`example to readily re-direct calls to one or more independent
`service organizations. While call re-direction can be readily
`accomplished. there has been no effective way to transfer
`call specific data between the rte-directing party and the
`target party to whom the call
`is re—directed. Prior to
`re-direction of a call. a caller may have provided the
`redirecting party with certain data. After the call has been
`re-directed to the target party. that party will likely ask the
`caller the same questions previously asked by the
`re-directing party. This can be very frustrating for the caller.
`Thus.
`there is a need for a technique mat
`transfers
`call-specific data along with a telephone call
`that
`is
`re-directed from a re-directing party to a target party.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Briefly. a method is provided for transferring call- specific
`data within a telecommunications network between a
`re-directing and a target party in conjunction with the
`redirection of a telephone call from the re-directing party to
`the target party. In accordance with the invention. upon
`receipt of a telephone call that the re-directing party wishes
`to re—direct. the re—directing patty transmits an out—of—band
`signal to the network to cause the network to re—direct the
`call to the target party. If the re-directing party wishes to
`transfer call—specific data to the target party in connection
`with the re—direction of the call. re—directing party places the
`call-specific data in a message that is transmitted by the
`network to the target party out-of band from the initially-
`received call. Typically. the message containing the call»
`specific data is transmitted as part of a message on a data
`channel within an ISDN link coupling the roe-directing party
`to the network. The message containing the calLspecific data
`is then forwarded to the target party along with the
`rte-directed call. typically via an ISDN link coupling the
`target party to the network. The message can be sent as part
`of call set up to the target party or as part of a message from
`20 the rte-directing party 14 to terminate that portion of the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`call path between the redirecting party and the caller.
`Alternatively. the call~specific data can be sent during such
`time that
`the call paths between the caller and the
`redirecting party 14 and between the re—directing party and
`the target party remain connected.
`BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of telephone network
`for transferring call-specific data from a re-directing party to
`a target party in conjunction the re-direction of a telephone
`call between the parties.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. I illustrates a telephone network 10 for routing a
`telephone call from a calling party 12 to one or more called
`parties 14 and 16. For reasons that will become better
`understood. the called parties 14 and 16 will hereinafter be
`referred to as the re-directing and target parties. respectively.
`Typically. the calling party 12 receives telephone service
`(dial tone) via a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) 18. When the
`calling party 12 goes 01f hook and enters the digits of a
`called party (i.e.. the re—directing party 14). the call initiated
`by the called party is received at
`the LEC 18.
`In the
`illustrated embodiment.
`the redirecting party 14 is pre-
`sumed to have an 800 or 888 number that is toll-free to the
`calling party 12. Under such circumstances. the LEC 18
`routes the call to an Inter-Exchange Carrier (IXC). such as
`AT&T. for receipt at an originating switch (OS) 20 main-
`tained by the IXC.
`Upon receipt of the call originated by the calling party 12.
`the OS 20 queries in Network Control Point (NCP) 22 that
`determines the proper routing for the call. In particular. the
`NCP 22 determines the appropriate terminating switch (TS)
`24 to which the call should be routed for delivery to the
`re-djrecting party 14. In the process of routing the call from
`the OS 20 to the TS 24. the call may pass through at least one
`other terminating switch. such as TS 26. In practice. the TS
`26 typically includes an adjunct processor 28 that cooperates
`with the switch to enable the switch to perform certain
`functions described hereinafter. including set—up of the call
`received by the OS 20 for receipt by the TS 24. The
`functionality alforded by the adjunct processor 28 could be
`readily included within the T5 26 itself. thus obviating the
`need for the adjunct processor.
`After initially screening the call. the re—directing party 14
`may wish to re—direct the call to the target party 16 who is
`served by a Terminating Switch (18) 29 coupled to the TS
`26. To re—direct the call. the re—direcdng party 14 enters a call
`re—direction request
`to the TS 24. In the illustrated
`embodiment. the re-directing party 14 subscribes to ISDN.
`Under such circumstances. the re—directing party request to
`re—direct the call comprises an out-of band signal sent to the
`TS 2A. As distinguished from an in-band signal. an out-of
`band signal is sent via a data channel separate from the
`bearer channel that carries the call. The advantage of an
`out-of-band re-djrection trigger is that the likelihood of
`“talk-oil" is virtually eliminated. Talk-off occurs when an a
`caller’s voice simulates a Dual-Tone Multi Frequency
`(DTMF) in—band signal. causing confusion as to whether an
`in—band trigger was indeed received.
`Typically.
`the out-of-band re-direction request (often
`referred to as a “trigger”) typically specifies the complete
`number of the target party 16. However. if the re-directing
`party 14 subscribes to a speed dial service. the out-of—band
`request may only specify a corresponding speed dial code
`associated with the target party 16. Such a speed dial request
`would then be translated to yield the complete number of the
`target party 16.
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 3
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 3
`
`

`

`5.796.812
`
`3
`Upon receipt of the call re-direction request. the request
`is then acknowledged. The TS 24 relays the call re-direction
`request received from the re-directing party 14 to TS 26. As
`seen in FIG. 1. the TS 26. in combination with the adjunct
`processor 28. serves both the TS 2A and the TS 29 that serves
`the target party 16. In response to the rte-direction request.
`the adjunct processor 28 causes the TS 26 to set-up a call to
`the target party 16 via the TS 29 while placing the calling
`party on hold. Once the target party 16 has answered. the
`re-directing party 14 may wish to engage in a conversation
`before signaling the TS 26 to remove the caller from hold
`and merge the call paths to re—direct the call to the target
`party. It is possible for re-directing party to drop the target
`party 16 prior to removing the calling party from hold.
`Alternatively. the re-directing party 16 could drop the target
`party and consult with another target party (not shown) prior
`to removing the caller from hold and connecting the call
`paths. Indeed. the re-directing party 14 may wish to drop off
`after effecting call re—direction.
`In accordance with the invention. call specific data. as
`defined hereinafter. may be advantageously transferred from
`re-directing party 14 to the target party 16 in connection with
`call re—direction. provided that both parties subscribe to
`ISDN service. After deciding to re-direct
`the call.
`the
`re-directing party 14 enters the appropriate “trigger” to
`re-direct the call as discussed. To transfer information to the
`target party 16. the re—directing party 14 places such call—
`specific data in an out-of band message as a User-To—User
`Interface Information Element (UUI IE) within that mes-
`sage. A typical message of the type utilized in connection
`with ISDN service has some 192 octets (eight-bit bytes) that
`can be utilized to carry call-specific data from the
`re-directing party 14 to the target party 16. Thus. caller-
`entered information received by the redirecting party 14.
`such as the caller’s address.
`telephone number. account
`number. etc. can be readily transferred via the UUI IE in the
`message to the target party 16. The call-specific information
`need not be limited to caller-entrued data. Such call specific
`data may include information generated by the re-directing
`party 14 that
`is specific to the call. For example.
`the
`re-directing party may place in the UUI 1E account balance
`information associated with the caller. What is important is
`that the information be specifically related to the call itself
`rather than some abstract parameter.
`The UUI IE sent by the re-directing party 14 is received
`at the TS 26. Under the control of the adjunct processor 28.
`the UUI IE is sent to the TS 29 for receipt by the target party
`16. There are several possible mechanisms by which a
`data-containing message could be sent from the re-directing
`party 14 to the target party 16. Consider the situation when
`the re-directing party 14 wishes to re-direct the call without
`continuing on the call. To initiate such call re-direction. the
`redirecting party 14 enters an out~of—band trigger. The
`adjunct processor 28 (or alternatively.
`the TS 26 in the
`absence of the adjunct processor) acknowledges the request
`by sending the re-directing party 14 an acknowledgment.
`After sending the acknowledgment. the adjunct processor 28
`(or the TS 26) starts a timer. Should the re-directing party 14
`send a disconnect request Via a corresponding message
`containing call—specific data to be transferred before the
`timer times out. the call-specific data is transferred to a
`message that is sent out—of—band to the target party 16 in
`connection with call set up.
`The re-direc’ting party 14 may wish to remain on the call
`following call re—direction to the target party 16. Under such
`circumstances. the re-directing party 14 typically triggers
`this type of call re—direction by sending an out-of-band
`message requesting call re-direction as discussed previously.
`
`4
`Such a re—direction message also includes the UUE IE
`containing the call-specific data. The data-containing mes-
`sage generated by the re-directing party 14 is received by the
`adjunct processor 28 and is thereafter acknowledged. The
`adjunct processor 28 takes the call-specific data and places
`it in UUE IE portion of a set—up message send to the TS 29
`to set up the call with the target party 16.
`However. the UUI IE need not necessarily be sent as part
`of the message incorporated within the set—up of a call to the
`target party 16 or associated with call termination. Rather.
`the UUI IE containing the call—specific data could be sent as
`part of a message generated by the res-directing party 14 to
`effect data transfer after call re-direction. As discussed. the
`re—directing party 14 requests band call re—direction request
`by entering an out-of band request. After the call
`is
`re-directed pursuant to the request of the re—directing party
`14. the re-directing party may transfer the call-specific data
`to the target party 16 by sending a data-transfer message
`containing the call—specific data to the TS 24 for transmis-
`sion via the TS 26 to the TS 29. The message received at the
`TS 29 is then set to the target party 16.
`The foregoing describes a technique for transferring call-
`specific data from a re-directing party to a target party in
`connection with re-direction of a call between the parties.
`It is to be understood that the above—described embodi—
`ments are merely illustrative of the principles of the inven-
`tion. Various modifications and changes may be made
`thereto by those skilled in the art which will embody the
`principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and
`scope thereof.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for transferring data within a telecommuni-
`cations network obtained by a re—directing party from a
`calling party following answering of a call by the
`re—direcu'ng party from the calling party. the data transferred
`from said re-directing party to a target party in connection
`with re-directicn of the telephone call answered by the
`rte—directing party to the target party. the method comprising
`the steps of:
`generating an out-of—band re—direction request to signal
`the network to re—direct the call from the re-directing
`party to the target party;
`generating an out-of-band message for transfer to the
`target party containing said data obtained by the
`re—directing party following answering of said call from
`the calling party;
`transmitting. from the re-directing party to the network.
`the message containing the data obtained by the
`re—directing party following answering of said call from
`the calling party; and
`forwarding the data from the network to the target party
`together with the re-directed call,
`2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the out-of;
`band call—specific data-containing message is a message for
`effecting set-up of a call to the target party.
`3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the out~of—
`band call-specific data-containing message is a message for
`effecting disconnection of the call from the re-directing
`party.
`4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the out-of—
`band call-specific data—containing message is a message for
`effecting transfer of data from the re-directing party to the
`target party after call set-up to the target party but prior to
`call disconnection from the re—directing party.
`5. A method for transferring data within a telecommuni-
`cations network obtained by a re-directing party from a
`calling party following answering of a call by the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`'25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 4
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 4
`
`

`

`5.796.8I2
`
`5
`redirecting party from the calling party. the data transferred
`from the redirecting party. coupled to the network via a first
`ISDN link in connection with redirection of the call to a
`target party coupled to the network via a second ISDN link.
`the method comprising the steps of:
`generating an out-of-band re-direction request to signal
`the network to re-direct the call from the redirecting
`party to the target party:
`generating an out—of—band ISDN message. for transfer
`from the re—directing party to the target party. contain-
`ing the data obtained by the re-directing party from a
`calling party following answering of the call by the
`re-directing party:
`transmitting the ISDN message containing the data from
`the re-directing party to the network across the first
`ISDN link; and
`
`5
`
`1C
`
`15
`
`6
`forwarding the data from the network to the target party
`together with the re-directed call across the second
`ISDN link.
`6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the out-of—
`hand ISDN call-specific data-containing message elfects
`set—up of a call to the target party.
`7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the out—off
`band ISDN call specific data-containing message effects
`disconnection of the call from by the rte-directing party.
`8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the out-of-
`band ISDN call specific data-containing message efiects
`transfer of data from the re-directing party to the target party
`after call set-up to the target party but prior to call discon-
`nection of the redirecting party.
`*
`3i?
`3’
`
`*
`
`$5
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 5
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 5
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENT NO.
`DATED
`1NVENTOR(S)
`
`: 5,796,812
`: August 18, 1998
`: Edite M. Hanlon. et. ale
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`
`Title page, item [73], Assignee:
`
`insert —AT&T Corp.--.
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Eleventh Day of July, 2000
`
`Director of Patents and Trademarkx
`Arresting Ofiicer
`
`
`Q. TODD DICKINSON
`
`Unified Patents |nc., Ex. 1003, pg. 6
`
`Unified Patents Inc., Ex. 1003, pg. 6
`
`