Patent ID: 6178234
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A telephone calling card service system for processing telephone calls to be charged to calling card accounts, said system comprising:an input telephonic device operatively coupled to an origination telephone line, said input telephonic device comprising an alphanumeric information generator adapted to at least transmit a calling card account card number, security information, and a destination telephone number;an automated intelligent network (IN) coupled to origination telephone lines adapted to process calling card account telephone calls, said IN comprising a service control point (SCP), and said SCP comprising an SCP control unit and an SCP database coupled to said SCP control unit, and a bailout generator adapted to, upon said SCP determining that a call is unauthorized, generate and send to an SSP, Connect Operation signals, said IN being adapted to authorize the routing of calling card account telephone calls;a plurality of switches operatively coupled to said SCP, said switches comprising a service switching point (SSP), and an operator service position system (OSPS) operatively coupled to said SSP, said OSPS adapted to receive command and information signals from a telephone operator, and from a telephone customer, said switches routing calls authorized by said SCP to a destination number specified by said customer; andan interface between said SSP and said SCP (SSP/SCP interface);an interface between said SSP and said OSPS (SSP/OSPS interface);said SCP database at least storing system account numbers and corresponding security information, and said SCP control unit, upon receipt of customer information collected via said origination telephone line, compares information and determines whether a telephone call is authorized; andsaid SCP being adapted to bail out a call to a telephone operator via said OSPS when a call is unauthorized, said operator then having control over whether said call is routed to its destination;wherein said Connect Operation signals comprise a Destination Routing Address (DRA) having bailout information; andwherein said DRA comprises a Network Routing Address (NRA) identifying a bailout OSPS within said system, to which a bailed-out call is transferred for further processing, said bailout OSPS not limited to being an element of the switch from which the bailout call is transferred.