US007496345B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Rae et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`PROCESSING CALLS DIRECTED TO
`TELEPHONES HAVING A PORTABLE
`INTERFACE
`
`Inventors: Robert L. Rae, Plano, TX (US);
`Michelle L. Davis, Plano, TX (US);
`James E. King, Little Elm, TX (U S);
`Luke Keiser, Frisco, TX (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Evercom Systems, Inc., Dallas, TX
`(Us)
`
`6,487,200 B1
`
`11/2002 Fraser
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1175074 A2
`
`1/2002
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 467 days.
`
`Bobb Swope, et 31., U.S. Appl. No. 09/640,831, Entitled “System and
`Method for Reverse Billing for Telephone Call,” Filed Aug. 17, 2000.
`(Reference not included).
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Appl. No.: 10/954,935
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 30, 2004
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04M 11/00
`U.S. Cl. ................ .. 455/406; 379/114.29; 379/188;
`379/343
`Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 455/414,
`455/1, 404.2, 406, 407, 408, 414.3, 414.4,
`455/417, 432.1, 433, 435.1, 456.3, 456.5,
`455/456.6, 457, 558; 379/11429, 188, 343,
`705/75; 375/343
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,935,956 A
`4,993,062 A
`5,247,569 A
`5,255,305 A
`6,320,946 B1
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`Hellwarth et a1.
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`Sattar
`EnZmann et a1.
`Dunn et 31.
`Thornton et a1.
`Jones et 31.
`Blair et a1.
`Ku
`
`(Continued)
`Primary ExamineriDuc Nguyen
`Assistant ExamineriWayne Cai
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiSinter & Matsil, L.L.P.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed are systems and methods Which provide for pro
`cessing of calls by determining When a called number is
`associated With telephone having a portable interface and
`providing call processing adapted for addressing issues asso
`ciated With a portable interface. Call processing may provide
`for point of demand processing of calls to facilitate comple
`tion of calls in real-time, even When such calls are directed to
`a Wireless telephone, a telephone for Which LNP has been
`utilized, or other telephone having a portable interface. If an
`appropriate relationship has not been already been estab
`lished for facilitating a call to a telephone having a portable
`interface, embodiments operate to establish such a relation
`ship. When it is determined that a called number is associated
`With telephone having a portable interface, embodiments
`operate to invoke rating schemes appropriate to the called
`number, possibly including ?at rate schemes and rating deter
`mined using current location determination.
`
`78 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`2115
`
`208
`
`ASSDClATEB
`WITH A PORTABLE
`INTERFACE
`?
`
`PROCESS CALL
`ACCORDING TO
`NON-PORTABLE
`INTERFACE ALGORITHM
`
`207
`
`A
`ITABLE
`BlLLlNB/PAYEMENT
`ARRANGEMENT
`IN PLACE
`7
`
`CONNECT CALLING AND
`CALLED PARTIES, CHARGE
`CALL ACCDRDlNG T0
`APPROPRIATE RATE
`
`CONNECT CALL TO
`CUSTOMER SERVICE
`
`211]
`
`GTL 1009
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 8,626,118
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4/2003 Johnson et al.
`6,553,336 B1
`6,606,377 B2* 8/2003 Ruckart et al. ....... .. 379/12102
`6,697,469 B1* 2/2004 Koster ...... ..
`.. 379/114.29
`6,795,545 B1* 9/2004 Addicks .............. .. 379/22001
`6,920,209 B1
`7/2005 Gainsboro
`7,068,742 B2* 6/2006 Yousefet al. ............. .. 375/343
`2002/0071537 A1* 6/2002 Gainsboro ................ .. 379/188
`2002/0176403 A1 11/2002 Radian
`2002/0197989 A1* 12/2002 Cruder et al. ............. .. 455/426
`2003/0002639 A1
`1/2003 Huie
`2003/0114142 A1* 6/2003 Brown et al. .............. .. 455/408
`2003/0126470 A1* 7/2003 Crites et al. ............... .. 713/201
`2003/0185204 A1 10/2003 Murdock
`2003/0198325 A1* 10/2003 Bayne ................. .. 379/114.21
`2003/0200182 A1* 10/2003 Truitt et al.
`.... .. 705/75
`2004/0029561 A1* 2/2004 Holter et a1.
`. 455/405
`2005/0113064 A1* 5/2005 Halsell ..... ..
`. 455/406
`
`2005/0250537 A1* 11/2005 Narea .... ..
`. 455/558
`2006/0006227 A1* 1/2006 Williams .................. .. 235/380
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`2002157627
`2003110758
`
`5/2002
`4/2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Michael Lord, U.S. Appl. No. 09/955,253, Entitled “Method and
`Apparatus for Exchanging Data Between a Primary Computer Sys
`tem to Ensure Transactional Reconciliation Between the Systems,”
`Filed Nov. 27, 2001 (Reference not included).
`Nadia DraiZin, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/022,946, Entitled “A Method
`for Determining an Entity Responsible for Billing a Called Party,”
`Filed Dec. 17, 2001. (Reference not included).
`John J. Viola, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/135,878, Entitled “Information
`Management and Movement System and Method,” Filed Apr. 29,
`2002. (Reference not included).
`
`Richard Falcone, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/190,315, Entitled “Sys
`tems and Methods for Offering a Service to a Party Associated with
`a Blocked Call,” Filed Jul. 3, 2002. (Reference not included).
`Michael Lord, U.S.Appl. No. 10/ 252,956, Entitled“Three-Way Tele
`phone Call Prevention System and Method,” Filed Sep. 20, 2002.
`(Reference not included).
`Dick Falcone, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/135,883, Entitled “Optimiz
`ing Pro?tability in Business Transactions,” Filed Nov. 25, 2003.
`(Reference not included).
`Marc Hite, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/437,839, Entitled “Intelligent
`Queuing of Transaction Records,” Filed May 14, 2003. (Reference
`not included).
`Richard Falcone, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/360,248, Entitled “Sys
`tems and Methods for Account Establishment and Transaction Man
`agement Using Interrupt Messaging,” Filed Feb. 7, 2003. (Reference
`not included).
`Richard Falcone, et al., US. Appl. No. 10/360,442, Entitled “Sys
`tems and Methods for Transaction Authorization Determination,”
`Filed Feb. 7, 2003. (Reference not included).
`“SciDyn VoIP Technology Now Available for Call Control Solu
`tions,” SciDynTM Press Release, [online] [Retrieved on Nov. 4,
`2005], Retrieved from: http://www.scidyn.com/news/pr/0122pr.
`html.
`“Call Control4Commander IIz,” SciDynTM Products, [online]
`[Retrieved on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved from: http://www.scidyn.
`com/products/cammander2.html.
`“Smart Features for Optimizing Your Network,” SciDynTM Bub
`bleLink(R), [online] [Retrived on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved from:
`http://www.scidyn.com/products/bubblehtml.
`“BubbleLink(R) Software Architecture,” SciDynTM, The Voice of IP
`TechnologyTM, [online] [Retrieved on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved
`from: http://www.scidyn.com/products/BubbleLink%20White.pdf.
`“ShoreTel-Intelligent Phone Systems,” ShoreTel, [online] [Retrieved
`on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved from: http://www.shoretel.com/STCorp/
`product s/ architecture .aspX.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`20:63
`
`3550, \Q?
`
`mzomxuim
`
`m 29.2004
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`B
`
`C “a.” A .>.T..>.._,
`
`N m T
`
`m \ 4| 4|
`
`WORKSTATION
`
`A _
`
`A 7 2
`
`TRANSPORT
`
`m P mm D T
`
`l T
`
`WORKSTATION
`
`m K 1 ,H a a a %
`WIN 0 M P L
`
`C S R 3 R
`
`Jll
`
`C HR N E
`
`s .L R 08
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`
`4| 4|
`
`3 4
`
`o m B A 1m TW
`0 L U E0 C
`
`0 D P 9V AD"
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`.Aln mA EWN HE C Tm mvo MC HWHEM
`
`0 AM a Rn OW R T
`
`L C 000 TR V A
`M _WAN_D C L
`LE T R
`OR HAE SE | F.
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`
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`
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`
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`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`201\ USER PLACES A CALL
`I
`CALL IS VALIDATED
`
`202\
`
`IS
`CALL vALID
`'2
`
`BLOCK CALL
`
`[204
`
`205\
`
`CALL TREATMENT
`ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED
`
`206
`
`'3 CALL
`ASSOC'ATED
`WITH A PORTABLE
`INTEFZFACE
`
`NO
`
`PROCESS CALL
`ACCORDING TO
`\207
`NON_PORTABLE
`INTERFACE ALGORITHM
`
`208/
`
`PERFORM LOCATION
`DETERMINATION
`V:
`IS A
`SUITABLE
`BlLLlNG/PAYEMENT
`ARRANGEMENT
`IN PLACE
`?
`
`CONNECT CALLING AND
`CALLED PARTIES, CHARGE
`211/ CALL ACCORDING TO
`APPROPRIATE RATE
`
`CONNECT CALL TO
`CUSTOMER SERVICE
`\
`210
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
`PROCESSING CALLS DIRECTED TO
`TELEPHONES HAVING A PORTABLE
`INTERFACE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is related to co-pending and com
`monly assigned US. patent application Ser. No. 10/ 135,878
`entitled “Information Management and Movement System
`and Method,” ?led Apr. 29, 2002, Ser. No. 10/ 135,883
`entitled “Optimizing Pro?tability in Business Transactions,”
`?led Apr. 29, 2002, Ser. No. 10/190,315 entitled “System and
`Methods for Offering a Service to a Party Associated With a
`Blocked Call,” ?led Jul. 3, 2002, Ser. No. 10/217,149 entitled
`“System and Method for Call Treatment,” ?ledAug. 12, 2002,
`Ser. No. 10/ 3 60,248 entitled “System and Method for
`Account Establishment and Transaction Management Using
`Interrupt Messaging,” ?led Feb. 7, 2003, Ser. No. 10/360,442
`entitled “Systems and Methods for TransactionAuthoriZation
`Determination,” ?led Feb. 7, 2003, Ser. No. 10/ 642,532
`entitled “Centralized Call Processing,” ?led Aug. 15, 2003,
`and Ser. No. 10/720,848 entitled “Information Management
`and Movement System and Method,” ?led Nov. 24, 2003, the
`disclosures of Which are hereby incorporated herein by ref
`erence.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to call processing
`and, more particularly, to processing calls directed to tele
`phones having a portable interface, including Wireless tele
`phones and telephones for Which local number portability has
`been utiliZed, or for Which a suitable billing agreement is not
`otherWise in place With respect to a service provider.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Various call processing systems have been developed over
`the years to provide automated calling functionality, includ
`ing call routing, call completion, call monitoring, and call
`billing. Many such call processing systems bene?t from the
`use of call information obtained from a calling party, a called
`party, and/ or the communication netWork in order to provide
`calling functionality as desired. For example, in order to
`provide automated completion of a collect telephone call (a
`call for Which the charges are reversed to the called party),
`billing name and number (BNA) information may be
`obtained from a system coupled to the public sWitched tele
`phone netWork (PSTN), such as through the use of a line
`information database (LIDB). Similarly, rates charged for a
`long distance call may be determined using dialed number
`information, such as through use of North American tele
`phone numbering system (NATNS) telephone numbering
`conventions (e. g., NPA-NXX number analysis).
`Call processing systems providing call processing With
`respect to certain environments may be particularly sensitive
`to availability/accuracy of one or more aspects of call infor
`mation. For example, a call processing system providing call
`ing services to a prison facility, or other controlled environ
`ment facility (e.g., camp, nursing home, school, hospital,
`etcetera), may utiliZe call information to make determinations
`regarding the propriety of completing a call. Calling services
`from a prison facility may comprise a prisoner privilege
`Which is closely regulated and monitored, such as to prevent
`harassing phone calls, fraud, and the commission of crimes.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`Accordingly, call processing systems providing prison facil
`ity calling services may experience increased overhead asso
`ciated With providing the services and, thus, demand a pre
`mium rate.
`Changes in the communication netWork and protocols
`(e.g., development of a location routing number (LRN)
`scheme) have introduced issues With respect to information
`available to call processing systems for use in processing
`calls. The development of Wireless telephones (e.g., cellular,
`personal communication services (PCS) mobile telephones,
`or other digital or analog based Wireless communication sys
`tems) may facilitate arbitrage Where rating based upon dialed
`number information is used. For example, a family member
`of an inmate may purchase a Wireless telephone having a
`number (NPA-NXX) that is local to a prison in Which the
`inmate is incarcerated. This Wireless telephone may be trans
`ported to another area, e.g., another state, in Which the family
`member resides, to alloW the inmate to make calls to the
`family member Which are charged as local calls. Such a
`scheme alloWs the inmate and/or family member to avoid
`paying rates calculated to compensate the calling service
`provider for their investment in the specialiZed equipment
`and services required in providing calling services to such a
`facility.
`Wireless telephones further present issues With respect to
`automated completion of collect calls. For example, reversing
`of charges to a Wireless telephone as a called number is
`typically not permitted by Wireless service providers. More
`over, BNA information is typically not available With respect
`to Wireless telephones through typical means, such as the
`aforementioned LIDB. Accordingly, call processing systems
`providing call processing With respect to certain environ
`ments, such as a prison facility, may be unable to obtain useful
`call information, such as to determine if the dialed number is
`associated With an individual the calling party is to be pre
`vented from calling (e.g., harassing phone call to a victim or
`judge).
`Local number portability (LNP) also presents issues With
`respect to information available to call processing systems for
`use in processing calls. For example, a prepaid account may
`be established for calls placed to a particular Wireline tele
`phone number and a call rate established for calls placed to
`that telephone number based upon location. Additionally, a
`payment history may be established With respect to the tele
`phone number, and therefore a call processing system may
`relax or omit one or more validation operations When calls are
`placed to that telephone number. HoWever, With LNP, that
`telephone number may be subsequently utiliZed at a different
`location and/or With a different service (e.g., Wireless rather
`than Wireline service). Such a change may incur a different
`rate and/or involve different restrictions (e.g., preventing calls
`placed to particular locations or using particular services)
`Which may remain unrealiZed Where the call processing sys
`tem relies on the dialed number.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to systems and methods
`Which provide for processing of calls by determining When a
`called number is associated With telephone having a portable
`interface (e. g., a Wireless telephone Which itself is transport
`able, a telephone for Which the telephone number has been
`ported to a different location and/or service using local num
`ber portability (LNP), etcetera) and providing call processing
`adapted for addressing issues associated With a portable inter
`face. Call processing according to preferred embodiments of
`the present invention provide for point of demand processing
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`3
`of calls to facilitate completion of calls in real-time, even
`When such calls are directed to a Wireless telephone, a tele
`phone for Which LNP has been utilized, or other telephone
`having a portable interface. Additionally or alternatively, call
`processing according to embodiments of the invention pro
`vide for point of demand processing of calls to facilitate
`completion of calls in real-time When a call is placed to any
`destination terminal for Which the service provider does not
`have a direct billing agreement in place, such as Where the
`destination terminal comprises an Internet phone or is served
`by a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC).
`Embodiments of the invention operate to intervene in a call
`at the point of demand to determine if the call is directed
`toWard a telephone having a portable interface. If an appro
`priate relationship has not been established a priori for facili
`tating a call to a telephone having a portable interface,
`embodiments of the invention operate to establish such a
`relationship (e.g., by connecting the caller to a customer
`service representative and/ or using an automated interactive
`voice response (IVR) unit) to thereby facilitate completion of
`the call. For example, although billing name and address
`(BNA) information may not be available for a called Wireless
`telephone, embodiments of the present invention operate to
`establish a prepaid relationship, perhaps just for the current
`call, to facilitate completion of a call to the Wireless telephone
`at the point of demand. Additionally or alternatively, arrange
`ments maybe made With appropriate carriers (e. g., a Wireless
`carrier serving a called Wireless telephone) to facilitate post
`billing a called party. Accordingly, calls may be serviced by
`call processing systems operating in accordance With the
`present invention Which otherWise may not have been served
`due to the called telephone being a Wireless telephone,
`because a called telephone number has been ported from a
`Wireline telephone to a Wireless telephone, etcetera.
`Embodiments of the present invention, When it is deter
`mined that a called number is associated With telephone hav
`ing a portable interface, operate to invoke rating schemes
`appropriate to the called number and/or portable interface.
`For example, Where the called number is associated With a
`Wireless telephone or a telephone for Which LNP has been
`utiliZed, a current location determination may be made to
`apply an appropriate rate for the call. Additionally or alterna
`tively, a location independent rate, such as a ?at rate for
`Wireless telephone calls, may be utiliZed. Selection betWeen
`various rating schemes may be made based upon such infor
`mation as the tariff in the state, any relationship the calling
`service provider has With the carrier or carriers being used,
`etcetera. Such rating schemes may be employed to prevent
`arbitrage, such as Where calling services are provided at a
`higher rate for a particular market (e.g., calling services for a
`controlled environment facility).
`Current location determinations according to embodi
`ments of the invention may be based upon one or more infor
`mation sources. For example, netWork elements (e. g., signal
`ing system seven (SS7) netWork elements, databases, home
`location registers (HLR), visiting location registers (VLR),
`etcetera) may be queried to determine the location of a called
`telephone, such as by identifying a terminating netWork ele
`ment and/or querying HLRs and/or VLRs. Additionally or
`alternatively, telephone locating infrastructure, such as
`enhanced 911 (E911) emergency locating systems or third
`party location systems Which monitor communications to
`make location determinations, may be utiliZed, such as by
`placing a commercial query to an E91 1 or third party system.
`The foregoing third party location systems may provide loca
`tion services through such techniques as collocating With a
`Wireless carrier’s base transceiver station (BTS) toWer site
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`and directly connecting With the carrier and/ or scanning Wire
`less signals in the area for information for making location
`determinations.
`Current location information may be utiliZed according to
`embodiments of the present invention for applications in
`addition to or in the alternative to rating a call. For example,
`current location information may be particularly useful in
`investigative applications Where calling services are provided
`in association With a prison facility.
`The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
`technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
`detailed description of the invention that folloWs may be
`better understood. Additional features and advantages of the
`invention Will be described hereinafter Which form the sub
`ject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated
`that the conception and speci?c embodiment disclosed may
`be readily utiliZed as a basis for modifying or designing other
`structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
`invention. It should also be realiZed that such equivalent
`constructions do not depart from the invention as set forth in
`the appended claims. The novel features Which are believed to
`be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organiZation
`and method of operation, together With further objects and
`advantages Will be better understood from the folloWing
`description When considered in connection With the accom
`panying ?gures. It is to be expressly understood, hoWever,
`that each of the ?gures is provided for the purpose of illus
`tration and description only and is not intended as a de?nition
`of the limits of the present invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present inven
`tion, reference is noW made to the folloWing descriptions
`taken in conjunction With the accompanying draWing, in
`Which:
`FIG. 1A shoWs a high level block diagram of a call pro
`cessing system adapted according to an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 1B shoWs a high level block diagram of a call pro
`cessing system adapted according to another embodiment of
`the present invention; and
`FIG. 2 shoWs a How diagram of operation of the call pro
`cessing systems of FIGS. 1A and 1B according to an embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Directing attention to FIGS. 1A and 1B, call processing
`systems con?gured according to embodiments of the present
`invention are shoWn. Speci?cally, a distributed con?guration
`of a call processing platform useful in implementing embodi
`ments of the present invention is shoWn in FIG. 1A as call
`processing platform 100A. LikeWise, a centraliZed or net
`centric con?guration of a call processing platform useful in
`implementing embodiments of the present invention is shoWn
`in FIG. 1B as call processing platform 100B. Many of the
`components illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B perform substan
`tially the same functions irrespective of the particular call
`processing system con?guration and, therefore, are refer
`enced herein using the same reference numeral. HoWever, it
`should be appreciated that various alterations may be imple
`mented With respect to any such component to accommodate
`a particular call processing system con?guration.
`To aid in understanding the concepts of the present inven
`tion, call processing systems 100A and 100B shall be
`described herein With reference to providing calling services
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`5
`With respect to prison facilities (e.g., a county jail, a state or
`federal prison, a military stockade, an internment camp, and/
`or the like). However, it shall be appreciated that the concepts
`of the present invention are not limited in applicability to the
`exemplary prison facilities and, therefore, call processing
`systems or portions thereof may be utilized With respect to
`any number of locations and/or facilities. For example,
`embodiments of the present invention may be utiliZed With
`respect to any number of controlled environment facilities
`other than a prison facility, such as hospitals, nursing homes,
`camps, dormitories, schools, etcetera. Additionally or alter
`natively, embodiments of the present invention may be uti
`liZed With respect to any number of locations, such as busi
`nesses, residences, kiosks, etcetera.
`Referring noW to FIG. 1A, call processing system 100A of
`the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of user sites,
`here sites 150 and 160, for Which calling services are to be
`provided. For example, calling services may be provided
`betWeen any of user terminals 141 (shoWn as telephone ter
`minals), user terminals 151, (shoWn as telephone terminals),
`and user terminals 161 (shoWn as Wireless telephone termi
`nals). Each of sites 150 and 160 include a call processing
`platform, shoWn here comprising call application manager
`(CAM) system 110, in communication With a validation/
`authoriZation service platform, shoWn as service platform
`102, via netWorks 130 and 192. Service platform 102 and
`CAM systems 110 of the preferred embodiment may com
`prise one or more processor-based systems or servers, such as
`may comprise a computer having a processor, memory, and
`appropriate input and output interfaces and Which are oper
`able under control of an instruction set or instruction sets
`de?ning operation as described herein.
`It shouldbe appreciated that, although only a single service
`platform and tWo CAM systems are represented in FIG. 1A,
`any number of service platforms and CAM systems, perhaps
`having varied con?gurations and/or disposed at different geo
`graphic locations, may be implemented With respect to a call
`processing system of the present invention. LikeWise, func
`tionality as described herein With respect to the service plat
`form and CAM system may be distributed differently than
`illustrated. For example, some or all of the functional aspects
`of service platform 102 of FIG. 1A may be disposed Within
`CAM system 110 according to embodiments of the invention.
`Embodiments of the invention dispose CAM system 110
`local to a facility or location being provided calling services
`and provide the CAM system With substantial call control
`functionality, supplemented by centraliZed call validation,
`billing, etcetera by centraliZed service platform 102, Wherein
`service platform 102 may provide similar services to a plu
`rality of CAM systems. Further detail With respect to such a
`distributed call processing system con?guration is provided
`in the above referenced patent application entitled “Informa
`tion Management and Movement System and Method.”
`The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A includes netWork
`130, such as may comprise a local area netWork (LAN),
`metropolitan area netWork (MAN), Wide area netWork
`(WAN), an intranet, an extranet, the lntemet, and/ or combi
`nations thereof, coupling service platform 102 and CAM
`system 110 of site 150 using corresponding ones of routers
`118 and 145. Additionally, the embodiment of FIG. 1A
`includes netWork 192, such as may comprise the PSTN, cou
`pling service platform 102 and CAM system 110 of site 160
`using corresponding ones of modems 146 and 147. Commu
`nication via netWork 130 and netWork 192 betWeen service
`platform 102 and CAM system 110 may include exchanges of
`call data to facilitate connection of calls betWeen one or more
`of user terminals 141 and one or more of user terminals 151
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`and/or 161, as Will be discussed in further detail beloW. The
`aforementioned call data may comprise such data as the iden
`tity of a calling party, a calling telephone identi?er, a called
`telephone identi?er, an account identi?er, and/or the like, as
`may be communicated from CAM system 110 to service
`platform 102. The call data may additionally comprise such
`data as a validation acknoWledgment or non-acknowledge
`ment, an authorization to complete the call, an instruction to
`connect the calling and/or called party to a customer service
`system, a maximum permitted duration for the call, and/ or the
`like, as may be communicated from service platform 102 to
`CAM system 110.
`The illustrated embodiment of service platform 102
`includes a number of functional aspects, ones of Which may
`be omitted in optional con?gurations, shoWn as various sys
`tems cooperating to provide call processing according to
`embodiments of the present invention. Billing system 112,
`validation system 113, call treatment system 115, location
`determination system 123, and customer service system 124
`may be utiliZed in various combinations to provide primary
`calling service functionality according to embodiments of the
`present invention. Service platform 102 may include addi
`tional or alternative functionality useful in providing calling
`services according to the present invention. Systems imple
`menting examples of the foregoing are shoWn and described
`in the above referenced applications entitled “Information
`Management and Movement System and Method.”
`CAM systems 110 of the illustrated embodiment cooperate
`With billing system 112, validation system 113, call treatment
`system 115, location determination system 123, and customer
`service system 124 of service platform 101 in connecting
`calls from one or more of user terminals 141 With one or more
`of user terminals 151 and/or 161. Accordingly, the foregoing
`embodiment of call processing system 100A provides a dis
`tributed architecture in Which call processing functionality is
`provided local With respect to locations for Which calling
`services are provided, With validation and authentication ser
`vices useful With respect to said call processing provided by
`a shared or centraliZed system (service platform 102). Alter
`native embodiments of the invention provide a robust central
`iZed call processing platform, Wherein the call processing
`platform may provide similar call control With respect to a
`plurality of facilities and/or locations, and a calling system
`disposed local to a facility or location Which provides little
`call control functionality.
`Referring noW to FIG. 1B, call processing system 100B of
`the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of user sites,
`here sites 170 and 180, for Which calling services are to be
`provided. For example, calling services may be provided
`betWeen any of user terminals 141 (shoWn as telephone ter
`minals), user terminals 151, (shoWn as telephone terminals),
`user terminals 161 (shoWn as Wireless telephone terminals),
`and user terminals 171 (shoWn as multi-media systems). Each
`of sites 170 and 180 include a call processing gateWay, shoWn
`here comprising access devices 140, in communication With
`a call processing and validation/authorization service plat
`form, shoWn as call processing platform 101, via netWork
`130. Call processing platform 101 and access devices 140 of
`the preferred embodiment may comprise one or more proces
`sor-based systems or servers, such as may comprise a com
`puter having a processor, memory, and appropriate input and
`output interfaces and Which are operable under control of an
`instruction set or instruction sets de?ning operation as
`described herein.
`It should be appreciated that, although only a single call
`processing platform and tWo call processing gateWays are
`represented in FIG. 1B, any number of call processing plat
`
`

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`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`7
`forms and call processing gateways, perhaps having varied
`con?gurations and/or disposed at different geographic loca
`tions, may be implemented With respect to a call processing
`system of the present invention. Likewise, functionality as
`described herein With respect to the call processing platform
`and call processing gateWay may be distributed differently
`than illustrated.
`Embodiments of the invention dispose access device 140
`local to a facility or location being provided calling services
`and provide call processing platform 101 With substantial call
`control, call validation, treatment, and/or billing functional
`ity, Wherein call processing platform 101 may provide similar
`services to a plurality of call processing gateWays. Accord
`ingly, call processing system 100B illustrated in FIG. 1B
`provides a robust centralized call processing platform,
`Wherein the call processing platform may provide similar call
`control With respect to a plurality of facilities and/or loca
`tions, and a call processing gateWay disposed local to a facil
`ity or location Which provides little call control functionality.
`Further detail With respect to such a centralized call process
`ing system con?guration is provided in the above referenced
`patent application entitled “Centralized Call Processing.”
`The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B includes netWork
`130, such as may comprise a local area netWork (LAN),
`metropolitan area netWork (MAN), Wide area netWork
`(WAN), an intranet, an extranet, the Internet, and/ or combi
`nations thereof, coupling call processing platform 101 and
`access devices 140. Communication via netWork 130
`betWeen call processing platform 101 and access devices 140
`may include exchanges of call data to facilitate connection of
`calls betWeen one or more of user terminals 141 and one or
`more ofuser terminals 151, 161, and 1