Communications: electrical – Systems – Answer back
Patent
1997-05-01
2000-10-31
Hofsass, Jeffery A.
Communications: electrical
Systems
Answer back
3403111, 379202, 455408, G08B 2300, H04M 342
Patent
active
06140912&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forwarding and billing a telephone call, and also to therefor apparatus for carrying out the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In present-day telephone systems, it is only possible to allow the subscriber who calls another subscriber to pay for the call without engaging manual services. However, it is possible to allow the called subscriber to pay for the call by engaging a manual service offered by the telephone company concerned. In Sweden, however, the receiving subscriber is allowed to pay for a call without engaging a manual service, provided that the receiving subscriber has a so-called 020 number.
It is not possible to allow a third person to pay for the call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and to a device for enabling a third person to pay for a telephone call between two subscribers without engaging a manual service.
Thus, the present invention relates to a method of forwarding and billing a telephone call wherein a first subscriber telephone is connected to a second subscriber telephone over a standard telephone network. The first subscriber dials a prefix followed by a subscriber, number which leads to a third subscriber and also a subscriber number which leads to a second subscriber. The prefix causes the telephone network to connect the call, via the telephone network, to a computer unit associated with the third subscriber and that is also connected to the telephone network. The prefix and also causes the computer unit to forward the call to the second subscriber via the computer unit, so as to connect the first subscriber with the second subscriber. Detection of the prefix by the telephone network causes the network to bill the call between the first and the second subscriber to the subscription (subscriber account) of the third subscriber.
The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a block schematic which illustrates the telecommunication.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention thus relates to a method of forwarding and billing a telephone call, wherein a first subscriber telephone is connected to a second subscriber telephone via a standard telephone network. The standard telephone network may be both a public switched telephone network and a mobile telephone network.
According to the present invention, the connection of a telephone call is established by virtue of the first subscriber dialling a prefix followed by a subscriber number, referred to below as 333 333, by way of example, which leads to a third subscriber, and further dials a subscriber number which leads to a second subscriber, referred to below as 222 222 by way of example. According to one embodiment, this can be achieved by first dialling the first subscriber prefix followed by the number 333 333, therewith connecting the first subscriber to that third subscriber. When that connection has been established, the first subscriber then dials the number 222 222, therewith forwarding the call to the second subscriber. According to one alternative embodiment, the first subscriber instead dials the prefix and then dials the numbers 333 333 and 222 222, whereafter the call is connected to the third subscriber followed by a call connection to the second subscriber.
By prefix is meant a number, for instance 030, or some other appropriate number. Thus, in the case of this latter alternative, the first subscriber will dial 030 333 333 222 222.
The prefix causes the telephone network to connect the call; via the network, to a computer unit belonging to the third subscriber, having the number 333 333, and connected to the telephone network. The prefix also causes the computer unit to forward the call to the second subscriber, having
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patent: 5187710 (1993-02-01), Chau et al.
patent: 5333186 (1994-07-01), Gupta
patent: 5452348 (1995-09-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5539807 (1996-07-01), Ghisler et al.
Gratistelefon Svenska AB
Hofsass Jeffery A.
Mangels Alfred J.
Trieu Van T.
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