United States Patent
`[19]
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,867,562
`
`Scherer
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Feb. 2, 1999
`
`U8005867562A
`
`[54] CALL PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH CALL
`SCREENING
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Gordon F. Scherer, 1190 S. Sunbury
`-
`-
`Rd”WeSterV1He’ 0th 43081
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 633,507
`.
`Flledi
`
`[22]
`
`Apr-17a 1996
`
`5
`
`Int. Cl.
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`
`........... H04M 1/64
`........................................
`.......................... .. 379/88, 379/112, 379/127,
`379/229; 379/243; 379/245
`[58] Field Of Search ................................ .. 379/67, 88, 89,
`379/220, 221, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
`127, 133, 142, 201, 210, 211, 212, 213,
`265, 266, 230, 309, 245, 246, 249, 258,
`243
`
`[56]
`
`_
`References Clted
`Us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,792,968 12/1988 Katz ........................................ .. 379/92
`
`Ea?
`a z . . . . . . . .
`. . . ..
`,
`,
`
`379/32
`6/1990 Katz et a1.
`4,932,046
`
`7/1990 Katz ......... ..
`4,939,773
`-- 379/204
`4,975,945
`12/1990 Carbullido
`379/212
`
`.. 379/204
`1/1991 Katz ...... ..
`.
`4,987,590
`379/93
`5,014,298
`5/1991 Katz
`
`5/1991 Katz . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 379/92
`5,016,270
`5/1991 Cation et a1.
`......................... .. 379/207
`5,018,191
`5,048,075
`9/1991 Katz ........................................ .. 379/92
`5,073,929
`12/1991 KHZ
`379/93
`
`570917933
`2/1992 Katz """ "
`379/204
`5’109’404
`4/1992 Katz et al‘
`379/88
`5,128,984
`7/1992 Katz ........................................ .. 379/88
`
`5,255,309
`5,259,023
`5,297,197
`
`,
`,
`5,351,285
`5,355,406
`5,359,645
`5,365,575
`5,375,161
`5,442,688
`5,446,774
`5,574,776
`5,594,784
`5,625,680
`
`10/1993 Katz ..
`.. 379/88
`
`11/1993 Katz ..
`.. 379/88
`3/1994 Katz ............ ..
`379/204
`
`
`------
`glides 6t al~
`a z ........................................ ..
`9/1994 Katz .......................................... 379/94
`10/1994 Chencinski et al.
`.. 379/88
`
`.. 379/93
`10/1994 Katz ............... ..
`
`.. 379/92
`11/1994 Katz ........ ..
`............................ .. 379/57
`12/1994 Fuller et al.
`8/1995 Katz ...................................... .. 379/156
`8/1995 Friedes ....u
`379/266
`11/1996 Leuca et a1.
`379/113
`1/1997 Velius ............. ..
`379/217
`4/1997 Foladare et al.
`...................... .. 379/243
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Harris Corp. Slide Presentation (25 pages) —date uncertain
`V&H Cooridinates Data, Bellcore, pp. 1—5 and Appendix
`A—1, pp. 1—6, Jan. 15, 1996.
`Local Exchange Routing Guide General Information, Bell
`1ngni1n7u3nications Research, Dec. 1, 1995, Section 1, pp.
`NXXtype Matrix, Sep. 22, 1995, Timothy G. Mulligan (1 pg).
`Appendix A: SS7 Messages, Generic Requirements for Call
`-
`_
`_
`Control Using ISDNUP, Feb.1994, Issue 1, pp. A 1 toA 8.
`Primary Examiner—Fan S. Tsang
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Standley & Gilcrest
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system is described in Which call processing considers
`unique information about the call to better serve the caller
`and/or to enable the called party to more efficiently handle
`the call. In one embodiment, the unique information con-
`sidered by the call processor is information indicator digits,
`.
`.
`.
`Which may indicate to the called party Whether to accept the
`11b f
`h
`.
`.
`f h
`H .
`.
`.
`.
`d
`e oret e V01ce portion 0 t e ca
`is initiate .
`
`ca
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2/1993 Katz ...................................... .. 379/204
`5,185,787
`6/1993 Katz
`379/88
`5,218,631
`6/1993 Katz
`379/93
`5,224,153
`
`5,251,252 10/1993 Katz ........................................ .. 379/92
`10 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`CALL PROCESSOR
`CALL PROCESSOR CHECKS
`EXAMINES
`‘NPA‘NXX DATA SCREEN
`giéRSEIRérgi)
`CE%:%A'fifSAEY
`CALL
`LAUNCHED #- TELEPHONE —— To 6A“: a, NETWORK DATA
`BY CALLER
`NETWORK
`PROCESSOR
`1) DIALED NUMBER CSgIDCE “NE CALL VOLUME STATUS
`2) CALLER ANI
`*PRIORITY CALIrCALL CONTROL
`*3)
`II
`INFO DIGITS
`*RESOURCES AVAILABLE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ONE CHOIC: SPECIAL
`CALL HANDLING
`
`SPECIAL CALL TREATMENT FOR
`THIS SUBSET OF DATA
`
`1) DIALED NUMBER
`2) CALLER ANI
`‘3)
`ii
`iNEO DIGITS
`uTHIS GILL CAN NOT BE COMPLETED
`FROM A QESTRICTED PHONE"
`
`
`
`ONE CHO CE SPECIAL
`CALL HANDLNC
`
`I
`WE ARE SORRY—
`AL, AGENTS ARE
`BUSY, PEASE
`
`CALL BACK iN
`"Y" MINUTES
`
`V
`REJECT CALI. NETWORK
`To PLAY BUSY, SAVE
`NETWORK DATA, FREE
`LINE, CALL PROCESSOR
`LINE USE IS CLOSE TO
`PRIORIIY CALL
`MAX: [315,13 A LOWER
`
`000001
`
`YMAX EXHIBIT 1036
`
`YMAX CORP. V. FOCAL IP
`|PR2016-01258
`
`000001
`
`YMAX EXHIBIT 1036
`YMAX CORP. V. FOCAL IP
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`
`
`tnetaPS”U
`
`9
`
`1tw
`
`5,867,562
`
`
`
`b.mmzfisaR935mommmuomm420mommmoommfig
`
`
`2zmmmumES521$?5:3mmoEmz
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`hozdazfi.35wzdmzé1:8SiguanaESEE8455%@235ES
`
`mmfifi
`
`imam9Him.063558$23254‘3EBr8Emmpm25Mxmofimz£8BEEuémomE:asmomSEES:d8gummm
`memmmoommA120.mzi7:Mo<m~35mmmzazmafia3mm»:33mmoEmz
`
`
`
`
`mm;OA<mHmmwb.x<fi
`
`4:6EEOEQ
`
`OBmmoao9mm:H23mmELDZE=V=
`
`Dmeangoomm902as420mag...
`
`
`
`EZOEQomeonBmmm<20mm
`
`whoa9%a3,.
`
`:2$155a
`
`$8283.mamaSEa8..”42328£5138Exam?555:2mmfifiAm3542:
`
`
`
`
`1mariaEB?1:555.Bammmzaz8.252acmmmoomm
`
`
`
`:2541240
`
`95.2mmme
`
`30g.
`
`<55go
`
`>mamgkmmzmmo
`
`EZOELEEE
`
`mmoEmz
`
`30
`
`ammUZDj
`
`mm_EuWm
`
`j
`
`"550E
`
`000002
`
`
`
`000002
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`S.
`
`tnem
`
`b.m
`
`265,
`
`
`
`p5“,eszH
`
`mon9,2mmombommm20mmm<mmags
`
`
`
`
`
`:553m:Q725%:1E5{8548
`
`
`
`
`
`Eoszwommmoomm£5~53qu.mm<m
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`m123mm;qummmoommmefimzou8mo\mz<,5qumafiabfizES938%
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`920mam/EWmmuMDommmmmombowmm3.55a1.257:58>zofiumzzoo
`
`12093552032m2,12022055$20$9520omm<m
`
`xlefizmmgmEEom@550:
`
`
`
`
`
`azoflwhmama
`
`BEFEMS”;2.mmumbommm
`
`eonEhbm2mmommmoomm1:5
`
`
`
`ESEMa;20mz<@553go
`
`
`
`20mm<mQmEEoz55¢sz
`
`Pm:553E
`
`
`
`
`
`Immmbmomv83.75QO.5quMac320258mmamok£2052EEom£502
`
`
`
`
`
`5205128523ioEzooomm58>20
`
`
`
`000003
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ionmoma20Qmm<m122255mambomm:20omimmm<mTEEImmombommm5.3.355:MESSmoS<93mambloe
`
`
`
`
`EbomEl.3$5985mom.mEoEL»?20mmm<menumanmmiummmmmquzwfimzw52ESE;Hommmmz92mgmagmamborSzngfimmomm2.mEm@9332FEmammmmzoempu80.80"55>02onI.39;go:53momzHfizEmémmmombowmm@3255.ES6E33459E4211540
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mmombommmnz<EEomEEO:wgofifizwmE:220m5Mm<mhE.E:E@372Zofiumzzoo78BagFEE135"mqu
`
`
`
`
`
`000003
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`SHUV
`
`ftnD»4tanr
`
`Feb. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`Eu
`
`265,7600,
`
`BZMU<
`
`mHHofifi
`
`g2<ozfima.zea
`68m.aflmfid<o
`
`Hm<m¢E<Q
`
`
`
`\mu<m09m<e<m
`
`mm¢m<e<a
`
`commfim
`
`mm<m<B<Q
`
`
`
`
`
`.1540momaxi“55>20mmquiwmdammmqmgfli<55«EdwolgoumQ30mmEEmEHm
`
`EHwa
`
`Mmqq<o
`
`000004
`
`
`
`000004
`
`
`

`

`whS
`
`2
`
`whommmmnbngonuMEG
`
`EOE3213.03
`
`mommmuomm
`
`4mafia
`
`tE
`
`9mmmofismMmammmogmmmBeam
`
`%.UE5&2.
`
`HI,2.3.mN.N.bmmSSEmam»m6mmoEmz<553;zoaomzzOU
`
`mxmoEaz:3mmmoEm8|$2$55,muéoam11!mmoEmzmmEo
`<5502ES-muEBm8v2:
`
`
`
`
`
`Eu
`
`
`2www.Mm.tmummmDemnaMMmmmoEm.mmfibnfioowSEEmoEozmm.mezfié
`
`.xmm3BeamXMmammmEmamP8.2453EH2;S.:5:EEEmmommmE:52qummmooE355E“wizfim"mimosaU.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5mm0.:m0933%.M$mm58>ES31V.0O+|'I|||'v
`29Emu<m3ms8m<53aim5NSNb.mE:MS:a:qA;mmflu.ma:m"l'
`TuWTil..-.I!L5mmmmuemmmaM2::32an9:mwmzonfim523E200dwmwdw%vac:92mmm3Nzoromzzou
`$25$85«:2H
`
`000005
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`e_
`
`
`m.mmmgnfioumamer
`
`
`
`.mezmg.xmmBeamMmoEmz
`
`
`
`tmammazasm5.55mzommEEEgmma502mmPat,EHRH
`
`U
`
`
`
`SH:5:35%moSEm<E:a:wszmmooE£8E;"mumzfimuimmbwfi
`
`
`
`Smagma
`
`ES-Ce
`
`muéoem
`
`5\amzoagmm58:$2mmm
`
`EofimmgA403<B<Q
`
`
`Frommmnfibnflaoo
`
`mmEo-9mmmmwemmMmammacs/mammuszEzoo
`
`2
`
`%.DEElma.
`Fl,29¢.nm.x.bmm.ijmMEWm6mmoEmzSam2;ZoaomzzooEmofimzEd
`
`
`mmmuEm8,I82mmam5535%EEO
`
`
`
`
`pmmo:mmwm58>mgm2,mm:3aimEm:m.IAlliMmmmm3MNmszmzommm2WEu
`92mg.3;SMAli-v.L.wmmv2::32mm9:m0“CCHd0wammzoaomzzS
`9.52000._H‘|'a“.%mmz:ESEX:x
`
`Hhofimmgiooq
`
`E.sz
`
`
`
`
`
`000006
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`S.TEE$09.55HE.QZEmmm3Q73UZHmmmoomm€35FEBMagazimumwmeDUHmU.,
`
`
`
`
`
`Ei.I.NHN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EmEmu<@852Wm82.33
`
`LuluHEOEHmmBZHU<Nm&3mammmfimamPm:
`<53.tm:.0Enmmmerm.mmmfibnfioo
`
`
`
`
`$2:
`
`M6a
`
`26
`
`
`
`@8me821330mmmmoSmMmmmogmmm
`
`9«inIfimmmam
`EommmEbnEoomafiaemzmmefimmmmafiammmoygm
`
`
`
`micaemufioflsmmm
`mommmoomm502mm
`
`
`
`5amuéoemmmoEmzES3;52mmbm
`
`«in03own58%maps-mozmmmmzoo
`
`5..9DemElmofi
`
`
`
`
`rpmEa3.x.Em83%minE8ZOEUHZZOUmMMOEmZ<55mmmOHEm
`
`
`
`mmm:ESzmmHmSmE:H
`
`mm‘|ll|il'ld7GdOEUHZZOU
`
`b.R;.mszE85x:xW...
`bmmon;wmsmwas,E?m0N‘|"0”ma<55aim255M09985%Mme;8,:av1,wizfimmeESHmmmzfi
`
`"ESE92m2982%SE1203Emfl<__“on
`
`000007
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 9
`
`5,867,562
`
`god420mgeémmEEz53:33
`
`HZOELEE.zHZOE.ng
`mo22.5304EmHmmom
`
`”&"iESE
`
`
`
`
`
`E:
`
`
`
`
`
`.vH23mmmoemwmVNAgommmmoEEEVA5E6UEVA
`1::>VNA37Mi-E:
`
` mum.mlflncHDHO>OE¢E<Qm2AonNAEmmflqomezooDEmS}@238VAmumuzmfi535mm«23,,m,MaE{>EmfiVAVAmesmEmKmmmuo<om4‘}}xmmom5E6SHgummm’
`1203EEOmmgummm$68m55%Kon
`
`'ll.55%mmgmommmoomm1:8by>$2835VA«mQ:;
`ummEUBEm
`122%228IL..I“mmmuiEa:|mmmzfimamESEw:Sma9:
`
`
`
`mmmofir.73{{mum:$55mmm8<mmmofism
`mmgwfizou55%m0mmOm:mOHDOH
`ommmmoasm32mmoEmza5.mom{‘{9‘3KK3K......--r’mmmomfi
`
`
`mmmfio\1mmmoegm4_“ENmwwe:_8mfizeumm_AM924.303_’WA2aEHEEE5%heEOE
`mfibdmoVammmzaam
`{}VAmm«mES32
`moSmEmE%mm@458fimeaaD
`KManxmmmogmmBEm@EESE
`
`
`
`mmoimzmfipfimoK~215de
`
`
`
`Eommm13.2wmfibflmuII.ESE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`000008
`
`
`
`000008
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`265a768a5
`
`
`
`newmomaE}wmémam
`
`$35$55
`
`commamcommam--
`
`£5a:mo5.:58>WE.9,:gm,8rodfiénfifiswa
`
`Fananan
`.m95"am“am
`Maa‘aa8em{IBaBa0%w\ll,,58m
`n;
`.nx,1,,,uzmspzs
`Sx,xwusmmm“am
`9Emlmmagmpoan98.35ama‘“an9:DE.33cull.
`1xx5as
`29x\E0330
`”mmméfi95x\EESzas
`
`
`IIIHUEOSEND-IIon$2mmmmmmmmm50%“mm7ESE.Emu":EizopdzmgIIIIIII"III-"I
`
`Ema\I,
`
`Em
`
`on;
`
`000009
`
`uzazzua
`mummagicmugofimfiau9mhamEBmum86.28
`
`mmmuEmszEmBE58>.3EEUHH--EonEma385uan‘‘EBquUEm"magmaummmEB.
`
`:3mthEv;E:ugzgmin!cowewflmRagga
`
`
`mamfiu550E38n0%mafiaBEMm
`28goEzoo55mm“mummflmmmé
`
`
`pmmBEugzgmIII
`
`
`
`000009
`
`
`

`

`aPS”U
`
`tn
`
`2
`
`e
`
`0
`
`265a768a5
`
`wa$595
`
`
`
`
`
`$735200wzaqom5mmiZonmmwmZommmgoommmoo<1350mm
`
`
`
`
`
`mfifififififififigfigll
`
`
`Hm::pmummkfidom
`mxofimz
`
`mwemag:Smog
`
`9mm,05534mommw01,N3aomfiwna
`
`
`
`
`£50mmumm
`
`0
`
`000010
`
`

`

`
`
`5,867,562
`
`1
`CALL PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH CALL
`SCREENING
`
`The present invention relates generally to the science of
`telecommunications. Particularly,
`the present
`invention
`relates to a system for providing screening information
`about the calling party and/or call origination party. The
`system uses enhanced network information and/or switch
`information to select a multi-input template. The enhanced
`network information and/or switch information in many
`instances nullifies the importance or relevance of Calling
`Number (ANI) and Dialed Number (DNIS) in a call pro-
`cessing environment.
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`For many years the telephone system in general has
`known certain information about the phone from which a
`call has been made. For example, the telephone system has
`known what area code the call was placed from, the long
`distance carrier of the phone call, and even the approximate
`geographic location for a non-mobile phone based on the
`first six digits of the caller’s number. This geographic
`information comes from the Local Exchange Routing Guide
`of Bell Core (LERG). However, in reality,
`the extent of
`information that has been collected to date about a calling
`party by the telephone system is quite low. For example,
`consider a home in which two or more people reside. If a call
`is placed from that home there is no way of knowing, as the
`call is handled by the telephone system, who is making the
`call. The only thing the telephone system may know is the
`approximate geographic location of a non-mobile phone and
`the calling number. The call may even have been placed by
`a visitor to the home.
`
`The examples of lack of knowledge about the calling
`party quickly expand when one considers phone calls origi-
`nating from institutions (for example, hotels, hospitals,
`airports, offices, prisons, universities, etc.). Then consider
`mobile phones, Personal Communication System (PCS)
`Service, air phones, maritime phones, and cellular phones,
`and it soon becomes apparent how little information is really
`known about a calling party. A public phone (such as a pay
`phone) in a lobby of an institution, provides little if any
`information about the calling party especially if the calling
`party is paying cash for the call.
`Businesses have attempted to learn more about a calling
`party by asking questions of the calling party when their call
`is received. For example, a rental car company receives a
`call from a person wanting to rent a car. A live attendant for
`the rental car company will collect information about the
`call by asking several questions. Consider that the caller is
`likely to have rented a car previously from the same com-
`pany. There should be no need to have to re-ask all of the
`same questions every time the same caller wants to rent a
`car. The present invention provides a solution to this and
`related problems of telecommunications.
`The telephone system has evolved to include limited
`standard identification information about the calling phone
`(calling number and/or ANI) and the phone that was called
`(dialed number and/or DNIS). This information is primarily
`obtained from the telephone number from which the phone
`call was placed and the telephone number that was dialed by
`the caller. The telephone system has recognized these two
`numbers as basic information sources (for routing calls and
`for billing purposes for example) and has developed a
`system of standards for
`the data character fields these
`numbers are to fill.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`The following background information will better explain
`these standards of limited phone identification used today by
`the current call processing systems,
`Interactive Voice
`Response Systems (IVR), and telephone systems of the
`United States and foreign countries.
`Automatic Number Identification (ANI): ANI is a basic
`element of telephone calls transported throughout the public
`and private telephone networks. For the North America
`Numbering Plan (NANP), ANI is currently 10 digits long.
`ANI is used extensively for call routing, call billing, call
`tracking, and call identification.
`Call routing has been based on ANI: area code routing
`based on the calling phone number is a common feature
`found in most long distance telephone networks. Based on
`the calling party number (ANI), the call can be routed and/or
`receive special treatment through use of databases, computer
`processors attached to and/or available to the telephone
`switches, the phone network, and equipment. Some Inter-
`exchange Carriers (IXC’s) (such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint,
`etc.) and Local Exchange Companies (LEC’s) (such as
`Ameritech) provide many enhanced forms of call routing
`usually based on the first 3 or more ANI digits.
`Call routing based on the first 3 ANI digits is usually
`referred to as Area Code Routing. For example, if the calling
`number ANI was 614-847-6161, then Area Code Routing
`would consider the “614” part of the ANI and route the Ohio
`originated call using the “614” as the broad geographic data
`element to start the routing routines and calculations, based
`on the routing rules and other factors (time of day, day of
`week, percent allocation, etc.).
`Call Routing based on more than the first 3 ANI digits
`allows for more geographic precision. Most ANI’s have a
`geographic relationship. LERG gives the approximate lon-
`gitude and latitude for the area code/exchange (as well as
`other data contained in the LERG) represented by the first 6
`digits of the ANI. For example, for the calling number
`614-847-6161 the “614-847” component has the geographic
`representation of Ohio and the metropolitan area of North
`Columbus/Worthington.
`Area-Code-Exchange (NPA-NXX): The Area-Code-
`Exchange (NPA-NXX) routing ability gives even greater
`routing definition for the calling party
`If a caller to
`an 800number with an ANI of “614-847-6161” was in need
`
`of being connected to a towing service, then the geographi-
`cally closest towing service might be identified to handle the
`towing job (at a shorter travel time and possible lower cost).
`Call routing can be based on the first 6 ANI digits or more.
`In fact, call routing can be extended to the first 7, 8, 9, or 10
`digits and can even focus on a single calling telephone
`number. For example, calls originating from “614-847-
`6161” could be assigned to a specific travel department
`within a company. The caller with that ANI could be routed
`by the telephone network to a certain group that always
`handles that caller when he dials the local, 800, 500, or other
`number of a travel agency which routes calls using ANI. In
`this case, a specific ANI or set of ANI’s is given a defined
`routing algorithm, or treatment, when recognized by a
`controlling network to route the call based on ANI or a group
`of ANI’s.
`
`ANI used as a billing number and geographic represen-
`tation: ANI (as a term) is used, quite often interchangeably,
`for both the call originating billing number and/or the line
`number for the originating end of a call. For a location that
`has only one telephone line and one number (such as a
`residence with only one line), ANI usually refers to both the
`calling line and the billing number.
`
`000011
`
`
`
`000011
`
`

`

`5,867,562
`
`
`
`3
`
`For a multi-line location (such as a business or residence
`with 2 or more lines), a PBX (Private Branch Exchange, a
`location’s switch), or Centrex (where the local telephone
`company’s switch or a separate switch acts as a PBX), the
`billing number or the lead number may be presented by the
`public telephone network as the ANI for the actual line used
`to place the call. For example, for a multi-line location such
`as a business, the public telephone network may present all
`the out-bound calls with the same ANI as the billing ANI
`even though multiple lines are in use, each with their own
`assigned line ANI and most of which are different than the
`billing ANI. The billing ANI is usually a good geographic
`representation of the non-mobile caller and usually repre-
`sents the responsible (billing) party for the call (or one of
`them). However, in some cases, the billing ANI may not
`represent the actual ANI (or line number) of the call. In other
`cases, the billing ANI may not be presented and the line
`number ANI is presented instead. In any case, the line ANI
`or billing ANI do not define 100% of the time who is calling
`or why they are calling.
`ANI is not always a good geographic representation: for
`example, when a call is routed through a private network
`before it reaches the “Public Telephone Network”, the ANI
`may have no relationship with the physical
`location or
`approximate identity of the caller. If the caller at one
`location calls through a tie line or on a “Private Network” to
`another location and then access the Public Network from
`the second location, the call will probably be identified by an
`ANI based on the point at which the call entered the Public
`Telephone Network of the second location. For example, if
`a caller in Columbus, Ohio accesses a switch in New York
`City through a private network and then accesses dial tone
`to reach the Public Telephone Network through the New
`York City switch, the ANI for the call will most likely be a
`New York City ANI and the bill will be based on the New
`York City ANI (distance, identification, location, bill to, etc.)
`Billing based on ANI: the caller’s ANI (billing number
`and/or line number) is directly used for billing of calls dialed
`to:
`
`900 access code type calls (e.g., 1-900-WEATHER);
`500 access code type calls (e.g., 1-500 personal commu-
`nications which currently can be billed to the caller);
`10XXX access code type calls (e.g., 10288 where the
`caller dials an access code to reach a carrier and then
`
`dials a number);
`1+ long distance number type calls per the caller’s pre-
`scribed carrier; and
`411, 1-555-1212 and many other access codes, methods
`and applications.
`The caller’s ANI is indirectly (and sometimes directly)
`used as part of the billing equation for calls where the Dialed
`Number pays for the call:
`collect calls;
`
`1-500 (depending on features);
`1-700 (depending on features);
`1-800(e.g., 1-800-SCHERER); and
`other access methods, codes and applications where the
`ANI is used, but the caller is not billed for the call
`(1-800-COLLECT, 1-800-CALL ATT, etc.).
`For 1-800access code calls, the caller’s originating ANI is
`used to control some of the billing decisions—for example:
`Intra-state;
`Inter-state;
`
`origination from a different country or island (e.g., calls
`from Canada);
`time zones; and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`000012
`
`4
`mileage between calling parties and mileage bands.
`1-800access service was introduced by AT&T around
`1967. From that
`time on,
`the caller’s originating ANI
`became an integral part of the billing, routing, and call
`detail. 1-900, 411, and other pay-per-call numbers have also
`been around for 15 or more years and use the caller’s
`originating ANI for part of the billing and routing equation.
`Call tracking: ANI, along with Dialed Number including
`date and time, may be used as an approximation to track
`calls. However,
`if two callers dial from a PBX with a
`common billing ANI at the same time to the same multi-line
`location and both callers hang up at the same time, 2 call
`records will be created that look the same (even though there
`were 2 calls). Caller ANI, even with Dialed Number, date,
`time, and duration, do not provide exclusive call tracking,
`nor specific information about who was calling.
`Presentation of network data and/or switch data: most
`advanced PBX’s, ACDs (Automated Call Distributors), net-
`work transferring features (such as AT&T’s Transfer
`Connect), PBX call transferring, and other forms of call
`switching and call transferring—preserve and transfer the
`caller’s ANI (if possible) in the transfer of a call. This is
`done to preserve this piece of network provided data to the
`next call location, in an attempt to better serve the caller, and
`to help identify the caller for billing purposes. ANI preser-
`vation and passing has been a feature of Computer-
`Technology Integration to manage calls.
`Caller ID (ANI): one of the most widespread and well-
`known uses of the caller’s ANI
`is Caller
`ID (Caller
`Identification). The concept of Caller ID is to pass on to the
`recipient of the call the ANI of the caller before the call is
`answered. ANI has been a key component of ISDN
`(Integrated Services Digital Network) defined by the CCITT
`in the 1970’s. The caller’s ANI has traveled the phone
`network since the 1970’s, if not earlier, in the form of two
`products:
`1) 1-800Access Type Service; and
`2) Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN Service).
`Many companies, businesses, and individuals use ISDN,
`digital access, and/or Caller ID to get certain data elements
`of the call—one of which is caller ANI. Despite the benefits
`of ANI, caller ANI does not define the actual calling person.
`It does not indicate why the caller is calling.
`The ANI of the caller is preserved and passed on as the
`call passes through the Public Telephone Network (and
`usually the Private Telephone Network, if possible). For
`example, the caller ANI may traverse through the LEC, IXC,
`CAP (Competitive Access Provider), PBX, ACD, Agent and
`so forth, so the final recipient receives the caller’s ANI (i.e.,
`caller ID).
`Dialed Number: Dialed Number is the number that the
`caller dialed. Dialed Number, like ANI, must comply with
`the North America Numbering Plan (NANP) and the CCITT
`International Standards if the call is to originate and use the
`public switched telephone network of the USA, Canada,
`North American (NANP) and international locations.
`Examples are:
`
`847-6161
`
`809-776-8500
`614-847-6161
`
`65
`
`1-800-356-6161
`1-900-932—8437
`1-500-422—7537
`
`7 digit dialing within the Local Access and Transport
`Area (LATA) where the area code is assumed to be
`the same as the local area code (i.e.: 614). With
`multiple area codes for the same LATA coming into
`existence, 7 digit dialing will be phased out in some
`areas to 10 digit dialing.
`These are examples of 10 digit dialing geographic
`numbers. The 809-776 indicates a phone number in
`St. Thomas, a US Virgin Island.
`These are all examples of non-geographic routing
`numbers where the carrier and/or telephone network
`that has handled the call checks a database for the
`
`
`
`000012
`
`

`

`
`
`5,867,562
`
`5
`-c0ntinued
`
`1-700-328-5000
`911
`411
`“0”
`011-44
`011-72
`
`designated termination and associated routing.
`These are examples of local special purpose Dialed
`Numbers that again have specific routing and
`geographic assumptions.
`International Dialed Numbers that start with
`international access, country code, and then the
`number (city, line, etc.) in the designated country.
`
`For North America and the countries (including the
`USA.) which are using the NANP,
`the public switched
`telephone network requires the Dialed Number to conform
`to the NANP. The Dialed Number is passed on to each
`successive party of the transport of the call (LEC-IXC-LEC-
`PBX-ACD-etc.) so the call can go through the telephone
`network ultimately being routed to the intended destination
`and for call accounting purposes.
`Dialed Number and DNIS: the Dialed Number Identifi-
`
`cation Service (DNIS) is a shortened presentation form
`representing the Dialed Number. When the incoming call is
`terminated on digital access (and other forms of special
`access), the transport provider will usually offer DNIS to
`help identify what number was dialed for an incoming call,
`to the target telephone equipment and location. If the Dialed
`Number was, for example, 1-800-356-6161, then 6161 may
`be sent with the call presentation to reflect the 10 digit
`number dialed to give special treatment, routing, and infor-
`mation for the incoming call. The DNIS assigned could be
`from 1 to 10 digits or more (but usually not more than 10)
`and does not have to be the same as, or part of, the Dialed
`Number. In the above example, for the 800number 1-800-
`356-6161, the DNIS could be, for example, “100” or “2” or
`the number itself.
`
`Uses of DNIS: a common use of DNIS, besides repre-
`senting the Dialed Number, is to aid in routing the calls
`within the telephone equipment so multiple different Dialed
`Numbers can share a common access trunk group and a
`common routing and still receive selective routing and
`unique audiotext greetings and selective handling. For
`example, within a business one 1-800 number may route to
`sales while a different 1-800 number for the same company
`routes to customer service, but calls to both numbers share
`the same or parts of the same trunk group to improve
`network access, switch and telephone equipment utilization.
`Geographic Dialed Numbers:
`for the traditional geo-
`graphic Dialed Numbers, such as 411, 911, 614-847-6161,
`the public switched network will attempt to deliver the call
`to a primary location, and if the local phone company and/or
`the IXC offers advanced features (Call Forward on Busy,
`Call Forwarding, Call Forward on Ring No Answer, and
`other possible static and dynamic delivery options), the call
`can have special “pre-designated routings” that are mostly
`static in nature.
`
`for non-geographic
`Non-geographic Dialed Number:
`Dialed Numbers, such as 1-800, 1-900, 1-500 (PCS Follow
`Me), Cellular, and other non-geographic Dialed Numbers,
`the routing is controlled by the local access provider (LEC)
`accessing local databases to hand the call to the appropriate
`IXC (interexchange carrier) for providing inter-LATA (and
`intra-LATA) services and network routing. It utilizes the
`traditional public telephone network supplied ANI plus
`Dialed Number(s) as key data elements.
`in both cases
`Network data and/or switch data:
`(geographic and non-geographic Dialed Numbers), the tele-
`phone network currently uses the public network supplied
`ANI and/0r Dialed Number to determine call routing and
`special call treatment. Both the ANI and Dialed Numbers are
`fixed or static in nature, and are located in pre-designated
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`fields of the actual call data. The USA Network and Many
`International Telephone Networks Support CCS7 Signaling.
`Network data and/or switch data flows over a separate
`signaling network: a CCS7 (Common Channel Signaling 7)
`network consists of nodes called Signaling Points (SP’s).
`Unique point codes for each network SP serve as the address
`for message distribution. A typical CCS7 network (as ref-
`erenced in FIG. 7 herein), has three key nodes:
`a Service Switching Point (SSP) capability at a central
`office provides CCS7 trunk signaling and/0r queries a
`database to determine call routing;
`Service Control Point (SCP) houses a database with the
`routing information used by network SSPs; and
`a Signaling Transfer Point (STP) provides routing capa-
`bilities for CCS7 messages between CCS7 nodes.
`The North American network is based on the basic
`“Mesh” structure. This structure is sometimes referred to as
`the “Quad” structure.
`The hub of the network is STP pairs. These are two
`separate STP nodes operating together in a logical arrange-
`ment for redundancy.
`The Signaling Links can be categorized into several types
`depending on the functions being performed. However,
`regardless of the function being performed, all Signaling
`Links operate in the same manner and have the same
`technical requirements.
`A-Links (Access Links) are used to allow SSPs, SCPs and
`SP5 to connect STP nodes. B-Links (Bridge Links) are used
`to join mated STP pairs to other mated STP pairs. These
`Links form the Quad structure, which will provide complete
`STP redundancy.
`C-Links (Cross Links) are used to interconnect two STP
`nodes, in order to create an STP pair.
`D-Links (Diagonal Links) interconnect primary and sec-
`ondary Signal Transfer Point pairs. They provide commu-
`nication between pairs and serve as an alternate routing path.
`A two level hierarchy is an extension of the basic mesh
`structure.
`
`Some networks, typically those with high levels of sub-
`network traffic volume, may require another level of STP
`pairs. This Primary level of the STP architecture would also
`be a convenient place to bridge signaling boundaries (i.e.
`from one operating region to another). Most CCS7 nodes
`will be connected to the network at Secondary level STP
`pairs, except SCPs may be connected at the Primary level.
`D-Links (Diagonal Links) are used to form connections
`between Secondary level mated STP pairs and Primary level
`mated STP pairs. This forms a Quad structure as well.
`The CCS7, SS7, ISDN networks have predefined fields
`that contain:
`
`1) The Dialed Number;
`2) The Calling Number; and
`3) Enhanced Data About the Call.
`This network call data travels through the signaling
`network and represents the call and is presented to the call
`processor as the IAM (Initial Address Message) that defines
`the in-bound call to the call processor as part of ISDN, SS7
`and CCS7 messages.
`Private networks (on-net): “On Net”, a Private Virtual
`Network term, represents a dialing plan that may or may not
`conform to the public switched network. AT&T in about
`1985 introduced its Software Defined Network (“SDN”).
`MCI offers Virtual Private Network (“VPN”) and others
`offer private dialing plans (e.g., switch to switch) that may
`not conform to the public network. These private telephone
`networks are under computer control with access to data-
`
`000013
`
`
`
`000013
`
`

`

`
`
`5,867,562
`
`7
`bases so as to receive calls over dedicated and special access
`lines or trunks and may use unique “Dialed Numbers” that
`may look like public Dialed Numbers. The private numbers
`are translated and routed differently (or can be routed the
`same) as the public network. For example, dialing 1-614-
`847-6161 on a private telephone network could ring to a
`phone in New York City (or anywhere) instead of the
`expected geographic location of the Columbus area in Ohio.
`New network data and/or switch data elements-II digits:
`Information Indicator Digits, (also referred to as “II digits”
`“info-indicator digits”, info-indicator (II) digits, and/or ANI
`Information Digit Codes) Bellcore Local Exchange Routing
`Guide, Dec. 1, 1995, Section 1, Page 168 (1.8 Automatic
`Number Identification (ANI) Information Digits Codes) are
`two-digit codes which precede the 7 or 10 digit number of
`the calling line (ANI) and inform the users of Network
`Information,
`the local LEC, Interexchange Carriers and
`others about the “type of line” that is originating the call, any
`special characteristics of the billing number (ANI) and/or
`certain classes of services. The two-digit II digit codes are
`part of the signaling protocol generated in equal access
`offices, which represents approximately 99% of all public
`U.S.A. calls by January 1996 (calls that originate by access-
`ing a local phone company access line such as 1-800 type
`calls for the U.S.A.) (See FIG. 8). The II digits provided
`information about the ANI to aid in special routing and
`billing decisions regarding the ANI for those parties that
`may handle the call. II digits are designed to help define the
`“type” of line the ANI represents that is placing the call.
`II digits are assigned by the NANP Administrator, at Bell
`Communications Research, Inc.(Bellcore) based on the tele-
`phone industry’s needs to classify types of call origination
`for specific applications and needs. Some of the key II digits
`codes (