Patent ID: 6490345
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method for restricting destinations that a telephone call from a calling station can reach, and for discounting a customer's billing for telephone calls completed in a wide area centrex/PBX network that includes an abbreviated dialing plan to which the calling station subscribes, the calling station attempting to call a destination at a called number, at least one privilege class being assigned to the calling station, the method comprising:ascertaining the assigned privilege class of the calling station; associating at least one blocking table with each privilege class, each blocking table having a blocking table type; determining whether a call type code, which is based on the calling station and the destination, corresponds to one of the blocking table types; when a call type code correspondence exists, determining whether the assigned privilege class corresponds to the blocking table corresponding to the telephone call; when a privilege class correspondence does not exist, bypassing validation of the called number; when the privilege class correspondence exists, validating the dialed telephone number, and either blocking the call when the called number is validated or continuing call processing when the called number is not validated; wherein the blocking tables are enabled based on privilege classes; determining whether the call type code is eligible for discounted billing; when the call type code is eligible, generating a unique billing record; modifying the billing record; and discounting the billing for a completed call based upon the modified billing record; and when the call type code is ineligible, creating a normal billing record.