Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-23
2001-02-27
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
C379S014000, C379S016000, C379S220010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195416
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communication networks. In particular, this invention relates to a method for collecting data associated with called numbers and calling numbers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Telecommunication switching networks are well-known. These networks are comprised of large, computer-controlled switching systems routing telephone calls that might carry voice and/or data. Most of these switching systems include a limited ability to trap certain kinds of data for a telephone call. Call traps are software features of switching systems whereby subscribers calling to or from a certain predetermined number, i.e. the trapped number, are identified. Prior-art call traps within a single switching system identify all of the subscriber phones that dial a particular number and the incoming trunks on which the calls arrive at the switching system or all of the numbers dialed from a specified number.
In many instances it is desirable to be able to completely document calls through a network, including the time that a call began; when it was answered; when it was terminated; the trunk(s) it was routed on; and which party terminated the call. It is currently only possible to collect all of the foregoing data if the number being called and party calling the particular number are coupled to the same physical switch. In modern telecommunications networks a call might be routed through several switches between a calling party and the party being called. In a large network of numerous switches, a call placed to a telephone that is terminated at another switch cannot be completely documented unless each switch in the path over which the call is routed is programmed to search for and trap the particular called number. Thereafter, reconstructing or documenting the exact route through the network which the call was routed cannot be readily determined simply because of the several different switches a call traverses through a network.
For many reasons, knowing the exact route of a call through a network can be valuable. Knowing the exact route of a call might help diagnose problematic circuitry causing customer complaints or to identify the source of annoying calls. For example, law enforcement agencies needing to pin point an annoyance call origin might be able to do so, regardless of where a call originated from.
A method and an apparatus by which calls can be trapped through a network, based upon either the called number or the calling number, would be an improvement over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Calls through a switching network can be fully documented if the switches are commonly controlled and operatively coupled together such that the switches are able to respond to externally supplied triggers and to exchange data between them. Trapping a called number or a calling number requires that each switch of a network be programmed or configured to trap a particular number. This is established via an input message into each switch, individually, or by broadcasting the request from a single source. A network management computer is normally connected to each switch and has the capability to send a common message (e.g. a trap message) to all switches. Inasmuch as a call to be trapped might originate from outside the network and might therefore enter a network at virtually any switch thereof, each switch of the network is sent a message to trap a particular call, either on a called number basis, a calling number basis, or some other data.
The switch at which the call originates and every switch that handles the call thereafter, must be capable of, and be programmed to identify and initiate a call trap based on some predetermined criteria. Secondly, when an incoming call to be trapped occurs, the switch at which the call originates begins collecting predetermined data and processes the call as it normally would by routing the call to a subsequent switch in the network. Finally, the originating switch that received the call being trapped, signals the subsequent switch that the call is the subject of a complete data trap and also identifies where the data should be sent. This could be in the form of a destination point code (“DPC”) known in the art as a location in a SS7 network. The subsequent switch must be capable of receiving and responding to a call trap instruction and thereafter collect pertinent data on the call being trapped as the originating switch did. Switches routing a trapped call through the switching network each collect data on the call. The data that is collected might include: the trunk on which the call came to a switch; the time of the calls arrival at the switch; the trunk on which the call was routed out of the switch; the identity of the switch the call was routed to and the time at which the call was routed out of a switch; the time when a call was answered and when a call was terminated.
As a call is routed by each switch in the network, it returns collected data back to the switch that routed the call to it. Alternatively, switching systems collecting trap data on a call can send collected data to one or more predetermined switches designated to collect call trap data. Other embodiments would include collecting call trap data at a dedicated, call trap data collection computer or other appropriate processor, which is not necessarily a switching system.
As a call is routed through a network of switches, each switch that passes the call to another switch signals the subsequent switch that the call is to be trapped. Each switch that handles the call identifies the location to send the data, which could be the original switch that received the call. In one embodiment of the invention, data from each switch in the network that handles the call is returned through each switch that previously handled the call such that all of the call data is eventually collected for subsequent processing at the originating switch. The originating switch will continue to receive data from the switches that process the call through the network from the time it is established until the call is terminated. Eventually a complete history of the call for the network is assembled at one location.
The call data that can be collected about the call can include: the originating phone number; the dialed number; the time the call was answered; the identity of the party that terminated call; which trunks routed the call through the network; the time that the call entered the network, i.e. the first off-hook to the network; and the time that the call was terminated, i.e. the first on-hook to the network.
Trapped calls through the network might be identified to network switches by a multi-digit number or other label or tag associated with a call that uniquely identifies a trapped call. A call serial number, label, or tag that identifies trapped calls could be distributed throughout a switching network using the SS7 signaling network, well-known to those skilled in the art. This information could be included in the SS7 call set up message. Trapped calls might also be identified, in part, merely by specifying the trunks over which they are routed and routing such data over the SS7 network as well. This would then be rebuilt at the collection site by linking the trunks together.
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DeCaluwe Craig L.
Demmert Robert G.
Kohler Joseph
Mc Carthy Joseph H.
AT&T Corp.
Kuntz Curtis
Tieu Binh K.
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