Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-05
2001-04-24
Nguyen, Duc (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
C379S130000, C379S140000, C379S115030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to carrier access from customer premises equipment (CPE) through a central office switch in a public switched telephone network (PSTN). More particularly, the invention is related to ways in which the CPE can be programmed by a user to access alternate carriers in accordance with particular conditions.
2. Description of the Problem Solved
The evolution of the public telephone system and the telecommunication business over the last two decades has presented consumers with a myriad of choices. Prior to deregulation, the telephone customer procured telephone service from a local company, and long distance service from a different arm of the same company. Fairly early on, competition for long distance service was introduced. At first, customers who wished to use an alternate long distance carrier had to use an access code at all times. After deregulation, telephone customers were given the opportunity to choose a long distance carrier to be a default carrier whenever the customer made a call. Today, telephone customers have a default carrier, but may also choose an alternate access carrier by dialing a specific access code. The advent of competition between local and long distance telephone carriers has resulted in even more options for the customer in choosing a carrier. Other factors such as monthly charges, point of billing increment, special promotional programs, and minimum duration of the call also affect the cost of the call.
Today, a customer may select one pre-subscribed carrier and change the carrier on a per call basis, by dialing an alternate five or seven digit access code prior to making a call. However, in order for the average telephone customer to make an informed choice as to what carrier to use for a given call, the customer must refer to or remember which carriers are less costly for a given time of day or day of the week, remember the appropriate access code to select a particular carrier, and manually dial the access code prior to making a call. What is needed is a way for a user to preprogram alternate access codes into his or her CPE, along with information on when to use each code. Ideally, this capability should be accessible to all customers regardless of location or the type of switch through which the customer is connected to the network. It is also important that the telephone customer have complete control over which access carrier is used at any given time.
SUMMARY
The present invention solves the problem described above by providing customer premises equipment (CPE), where the feature can be used to program one or more alternate access carriers to use at different times and different days of the week. After the user programs this feature, when the user originates a call requiring an access carrier, the CPE determines which access carrier to use, and sends an access code so a central office switch can route the call. The user can override this feature by preceding the original directory number with an alternate carrier access code which will take precedence. For time periods not programmed, no access code is supplied, and the pre-subscribed access carrier will be used. The invention allows a telephone customer to take advantage of varying rates, programs, and advantages of different carrier's without having to remember all the details of the various carriers billing plans for each call. The telephone customer is also relieved of the burden of remembering which access code goes with which carrier each time he or she makes a call.
The present invention meets the above need by providing a method of programming customer premises equipment (CPE) for alternate access carriers in response to user input. This CPE may be customer terminal equipment such as a telephone, or an external device designed to carry out the function of the invention. In either case, the term “CPE” refers to the apparatus which carries out the invention. According to the present invention the CPE collects and stores digits representing specific time periods. The CPE then collects and stores one or more alternate carrier codes wherein each of the alternate carrier access codes is associated with one or more of the specific time periods. Optionally, multiple programs may be entered, each program containing specific time periods and specific alternate carrier access codes. The specific time periods may include specific times of specific days.
When a user initiates a call for the CPE, the CPE first determines if the call is a toll call. If so, the CPE determines the current time period and retrieves alternate carrier access data for the current time period. The CPE then selects the appropriate alternate access carrier based on the alternate carrier access data. Optionally, the CPE may override its program whenever it receives a carrier code which has been entered with a called number by the user.
As previously mentioned, the invention may be implemented in a terminal device such as a telephone, or any separate device which is connected to a network and which performs the function of the invention. In either case I refer to such device as customer premises equipment. In any case, in the preferred embodiment, the device includes a network interface, and an input/output block which includes a display for user feedback, and optionally includes a keypad for entering numbers. The device also includes a control block for controlling the functions of the CPE. The control block is connected to the network interface and the input output block. The control block is also connected to a memory which includes program code for causing the CPE to implement the present invention. If the device is a digital telephone, it also includes an encoder/decoder through which the device is connected to a telephone handset.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4791665 (1988-12-01), Bogart et al.
patent: 4866763 (1989-09-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 5550910 (1996-08-01), DeJager
patent: 5781620 (1998-07-01), Montgomery et al.
patent: 5878122 (1999-05-01), White et al.
patent: 5881139 (1999-03-01), Romines
Moore & Van Allen PLLC
Nguyen Duc
Nortel Networks Limited
Phillips Steven B.
LandOfFree
Programmable access carrier selection terminal does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Programmable access carrier selection terminal, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Programmable access carrier selection terminal will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2509690