GTL 1014
`IPR of U.S. Pat. No. 8,135,115
`
`0001
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Richard Falcone, et al., U.S. 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., U.S. Appl. No. 10/135,883, Entitled “Optimiz-
`ing Profitability in Business Transactions,” Filed Nov. 25, 2003.
`(Reference not included).
`Marc Hite, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 10/437,839, Entitled “Intelligent
`Queuing of Transaction Records,” Filed May 14, 2003. (Reference
`not included).
`Richard Falcone, et al., U.S. 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., U.S. 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.
`
`[online]
`“Call Control—Commander II:,” SciDynTM Products,
`[Retrieved on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved from: http://www.scidyn.
`con}/products/can1Inander2.htInl.
`“Smart Features for Optimizing Your Network,” SciDynTM Bub-
`bleLink(R), [online] [Retrived on Nov. 4, 2005], Retrieved from:
`http://www.scidyn.com/products/bubb1e.html.
`“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.shorete1.com/STCorp/
`products/architecture .aspx.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`0002
`
`4/2003 Johnson et al.
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`....... .. 379/121.02
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`7/2005 Gainsboro
`6,920,209 B1
`............. .. 375/343
`6/2006 Yousefet al.
`7,068,742 B2*
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`2002/0176403 A1
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`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*
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`.
`. 455/405
`2005/0113064 A1*
`5/2005 Halsell
`..... ..
`455/406
`2005/0250537 A1* 11/2005 Narea .... ..
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`2006/0006227 A1*
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`
`............. .. 455/426
`
`.............. .. 455/408
`............... .. 713/201
`
`
`
`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., U.S. 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., U.S. Appl. No. 10/135,878, Entitled “Information
`Management and Movement System and Method,” Filed Apr. 29,
`2002. (Reference not included).
`
`0002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`<2:
`
`__________________
`
`____.___________
`
`53%__m:Es:"FnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnLof
`
`
`
`Eng
`
`ms_<E
`
`><._mm
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`zo:<z__>_Emo__E>\5:_;
`_,_o:<o3_N2
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`Emzom_va<m__0mm.
`
`0003
`
`0003
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`
`
`151\@
`LOCATION A
`
`%§§§%r151
`LOCATION B
`
`1 71
`
`,,
`a
`
`ACCESS
`NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SIP/MGCP
`CARRIER
`
`
`
`IP
`TRANSPORT
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`SAN
`116
`
`
`
`IIIIIIIIIIIIII
`
`
`
`UNAUTHO ZED
`
`CALL ACTIVITY
`DETECTION
`
`CUSTOMER
`SERVICE
`
`CALL TREATMENT
`
`@132
`
`133 W
`
`-
`
`134 W
`
`E911
`
`135
`
`PROVIDER
`
`LOCATION
`SERVICE
`
`1 35
`
`':
`
`IIIIIIIIIIIIII
`
`0004
`
`1003
`
`0004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 24, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`201
`
`USER PLACES A CALL
`
`202
`
`CALL IS VALIDATED
`
`203
`
`'5
`CALL VALID
`?
`
`YES
`
`N0
`
`BLOCK CALL
`
`204
`
`205
`
`CALL TREATMENT
`ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED
`
`206
`IS CALL
`
`ASSOCIATED
`
`WITH A PORTABLE
`
`INTERFACE
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERFACE ALGORITHM
`
`NO
`
`PROCESS CALL
`ACCORDING TO
`
`NON—PORTABLE
`
`207
`
`YES
`
`203
`
`PERFORM LOCATION
`DETERMINATION
`
`IS A
`SUITABLE
`
`
`
`
`
`BILLING/PAYEMENT
`ARRANGEMENT
`IN PLACE
`
`
`
`CONNECT CALL TO
`CUSTOMER SERVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`209
`
`?
`
`210
`
`CONNECT CALLING AND
`
`CALL ACCORDING TO APPROPRIATE RATE
`
`CALLED PARTIES, CHARGE
`
`211
`
`0005
`
`0005
`
`

`
`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 U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/135,878
`entitled “Information Management and Movement System
`and Method,” filed Apr. 29, 2002, Ser. No. 10/135,883
`entitled “Optimizing Profitability in Business Transactions,”
`filed Apr. 29, 2002, Ser. No. 10/190,315 entitled “System and
`Methods for Offering a Service to a Party Associated with a
`Blocked Call,” filed Jul. 3, 2002, Ser. No. 10/217,149 entitled
`“System and Method for Call Treatment,” filedAug. 12, 2002,
`Ser. No. 10/3 60,248 entitled “System and Method for
`Account Establishment and Transaction Management Using
`Interrupt Messaging,” filed Feb. 7, 2003, Ser. No. 10/360,442
`entitled “Systems and Methods for TransactionAuthorization
`Determination,” filed Feb. 7, 2003, Ser. No. 10/642,532
`entitled “Centralized Call Processing,” filed Aug. 15, 2003,
`and Ser. No. 10/720,848 entitled “Information Management
`and Movement System and Method,” filed 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
`
`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 benefit 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.
`
`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
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`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
`0006
`
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`
`0006
`
`

`
`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`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 specific 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 figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,
`that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illus-
`tration and description only and is not intended as a definition
`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 flow 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
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
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`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`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 ofthe 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 flat 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
`
`50
`
`55
`
`Directing attention to FIGS. 1A and 1B, call processing
`systems configured according to embodiments of the present
`invention are shown. Specifically, a distributed configuration
`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 configuration of a call processing platform useful in
`implementing embodiments ofthe 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 configuration 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 configuration.
`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
`0007
`
`60
`
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`
`0007
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`

`
`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
`
`defining 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 configurations 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 ofthe 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 configuration 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 Internet, 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
`
`6
`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 identifier, a called
`telephone identifier, an account identifier, 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 configurations, 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 ofthe
`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 ofthe 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 ofuser 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 ofthe 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 proces sor, memory, and appropriate input and
`output interfaces and which are operable under control of an
`instruction set or instruction sets defining 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-
`0008
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`US 7,496,345 B1
`
`7
`forms and call processing gateways, perhaps having varied
`configurations 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 configuration 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 171, as will be discussed
`in further detail below. The aforementioned call data may
`comprise such data as the identity of a calling party, a calling
`telephone identifier, a called telephone identifier, an account
`identifier, and/or the like, as may be communicated from
`access device 140 to call processing platform 101. The call
`data may additionally comprise such data as an instruction to
`connect the calling and called parties, a maximum permitted
`duration for the call, and/or the like, as may be communicated
`from call processing platform 101 to access device 140.
`In an embodiment wherein calls are placed on PSTN 192
`by call processing platform 101, such as via media gateway
`117, network 130 may provide packet switched links, such as
`those provided using various IP or frame relay protocols, for
`carrying voice signals, such as may comprise voice over
`Internet protocol (VoIP) packets. Embodiments ofthe present
`invention may utilize carrier access network and backbone
`network links implementing protocols such as Ethernet,
`asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), synchronous optical
`network (SONET), and the like.
`The illustrated embodiment of call processing platform
`101 includes a number of functional aspects, ones of which
`may be omitted in optional configurations, shown as various
`systems cooperating to provide call processing according to
`embodiments of the present invention. CAM system 110,
`billing system 112, validation system 113, call treatment
`system 115, media gateway 117, location determination sys-
`tem 123, and customer service system 124 may be utilized in
`various combinations to provide primary calling service func-
`tionality according to embodiments of the present invention.
`Call processing platform 101 may include additional or alter-
`native functionality useful
`in providing calling services
`according to the present invention. For example, unautho-
`rized call activity detection system 114, call recording system
`116, and/or the like may be included in call processing plat-
`form 101, if desired. Systems implementing examples of the
`
`8
`foregoing are shown and described in the above referenced
`applications entitled “Centralized Call Processing.”
`It should be appreciated that the functionality provided by
`call processing systems 100 A and 100B is not limited to that
`described above according to embodiment of the invention.
`For example, enhanced functionality may be provided in
`embodiments including a justice application management
`system (shown as JAM system 121 in FIG. 1B), a commerce
`system (shown as commerce system 122 in FIG. 1B), and/or
`the like. The use of such enhanced functionality with respect
`to call processing systems is described in further detail in the
`above referenced patent applications entitled “Information
`Management and Movement System and Method” and “Cen-
`tralized Call Processing.”
`Operation of a call processing system, such as call process-
`ing systems 100A and 100B, according to a preferred
`embodiment is shown in the high level flow diagram of FIG.
`2. The flow diagram ofFIG. 2 begins with a user placing a call
`at block 201. For example, a prison inmate may utilize one of
`user terminals 141 and provide call information, such as a
`telephone number to which a call is to be placed, identifica-
`tion of the inmate (e.g., a personal identification number
`(PIN)), identifi