WO2014016763A2

WO2014016763A2 - System and method for signalling based collect calls

Info

Publication number: WO2014016763A2
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sandeep MIRAKHUR
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-24
Filing date: 2013-07-23
Publication date: 2014-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-24
Also published as: WO2014016763A3

Description

System and method for signalling based collect calls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to telecommunication system and more particularly to system and method for providing signalling based collect calls in wireless or wired telecommunication network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Mobile stations or Landline phones are commonly used by a wide range of customers for a variety of reasons such as convenience, increased availability for receiving and making calls, safety concerns, etc.

Typically, users of the phone services pay the network service provider for usage of network infrastructure either on a post paid basis (for incurred charges such as calls, periodic fees, etc.) or on a prepaid basis. In some networks, for a call where the calling party and the called party, the calling party pays for the entire call but in other networks the cost of the call may be shared between the calling party and the called party.

A "Collect call" is a reverse charge call in which the calling party places a call at the called party's expense. Collect call services may be used in a number of situations. One such situation may be where the caller runs short of balance or does not have enough money to pay the phone subscriber, and therefore the caller wants the called party to pay for the call. Another situation could be in case of a fiduciary relationship such as a son-father, student- teacher, employee-employer and such other relationship and, where the caller wants the called party to pay for the call. The presently available method for providing collect call service between mobile stations, landlines or between mobile stations and landlines comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving an indication that a call from a first mobile station is a collect call;

(b) receiving a destination identifier for a second mobile station or landline phone;

(c) checking status information of said second mobile station or landline phone corresponding to said received destination identifier;

(d) depending on results of said checking, deciding whether to establish a first channel with said first mobile station or to end the method; and

(e) if a first channel is established, then

(i) transmitting an audio request for an audio caller identification to said first mobile station via said first channel,

(ii) receiving said audio caller identification via said first channel,

(iii) establishing a second channel with said second mobile station or landline phone and transmitting said received audio caller identification to said second mobile station or landline phone via said second channel, and

(iv) if in response to said transmitting said received audio caller identification, an acceptance indication for said collect call is received from said second mobile station, connecting said first mobile station and said second mobile station to each other.

Since, Collect calls are typically costlier for called party i.e. the callee, many collect calls are terminated due to the called party(callee) rejecting to pay for the call; even though later the called party does end up making a direct call to the calling party by way of a separate phone call. However even if the collect call is rejected, the collect call service provider incurs costs for the rejected calls due to the logistics and the technology involved in the process of providing collect-call service. It is for this reason that the accepted calls are charged at a premium rate to recover the costs incurred for rejected calls. Due to large number of rejected calls, the Collect calls service becomes financially unviable. The fall out is that a very useful service ends up being unpopular. Although there are no prior art teachings of a solution to the deficiencies and shortcomings as disclosed above, there are a number of disclosures that describe a collect call service. For instance the U.S. Patent No. US 2006 0121881 discloses a method for performing communication using a collect call in GSM/UMTS-based mobile station which includes the steps of setting by a call originating mobile station a specific field of a call communication system. The method includes the steps of setting by a call originating mobile station a specific field of call connection request message in such a manner that communication based on collect call is performed, transmitting the set call connection request message to call terminating mobile switch and if call terminating mobile station accept the collect call complete call connection with the call terminating mobile station and performing based on collect call.

In another US Patent no. 6,138,006, the patent discloses a system and method of delivering collect calls in a radio telecommunications network. The system and method of the invention relates to informing a called mobile station operating in a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) that an incoming call is a collect call prior to delivering the incoming call to the mobile station. The system obtains in an originating mobile switching center (O-MSC), a collect call prefix from a calling party and determines from the collect call prefix that the incoming call is a collect call. A collect call indication (CCI) is generated and sent along with the calling number to the V-MSC in a Location Request (LocReq) Invoke message and a Routing Request (RoutReq) Invoke message, thereby notifying the V-MSC that there is an incoming call for the mobile station and the incoming call is a collect call. The V-MSC sets a collect call flag to ON, stores the calling number in a subscriber record in the V-MSC, and determines whether the mobile station is a digital mobile station. If so, a Short Message Service(SMS) message including the calling number is sent to the mobile station informing the subscriber that the incoming call is about to be delivered and the incoming call is a collect call. If the mobile station is a dual-capable mobile station, a distinctive ringing signal is sent to the mobile station. The incoming call is then delivered to the mobile station, and the subscriber may choose to answer or not. The collect call flag is then reset to OFF in the subscriber record in the V-MSC.

However, the according to the SMS standards, there is no assurance that a message shall arrive at the called number before the call is established, rendering the SMS(digital) solution of the above mentioned patent difficult to implement. Furthermore, said patent employs an IVR(Interacted Voice Response) or any other solution based which connect the Calling party and the called party, informs the called party of a collect call and only connects both the parties if the called party accepts the collect call. .

Further said IVR based collect call solution is inefficient for two reasons. Firstly the disclosed collect call system requires more hardware in terms of media cards and licenses to play IVR announcements to A and B party (i.e. the caller and the callee). These resources are upfront investment to the operator. Secondly, since the announcements are played before and during call setup, the time required for call setup is significantly higher which eventually leads to poor user experience and adverse impact on service usage. The hold time from the time the A party request is accepted till the B party accepts (in cases of approval) or Call gets connected to B party (in white list), the A party is on hold and spectrum/ airtime is consumed without generating revenue.

Therefore collect call employing an IVR (voice ports) based approach, network and media resources are occupied both at the calling party and called party end. The resources are used in even in scenarios where the call is eventually declined by called party. The resources are deployed for every collect call attempt which leads to wastage of resources with no revenue earned.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide system and method for providing signal based collect call with minimum resources or wastages of resources.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the system and method for providing collect call with faster call set up time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In order to obviate the drawbacks in the available technical services on date, the present invention discloses a system for providing signalling based collect calls in which pure signal approach is used to make collect call with minimal deployment of additional hardware or other limitations depending on whether the caller has a pre-paid or a post-paid service. The present invention is aimed at reducing the wastage of resources as well as the decreasing of the call set up time. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for making signalling based collect calls. Accordingly, said system comprising of: at least one calling party A at least one receiving party B, at least one calling party A, at least one Originating Switching Center, at least one Terminating Switching Center, at least one Collect Call Server that hosts the white list of the receiving party B, at least one Billing System .

The calling party A makes a collect call to receiving party B by adding prefix to the called party number and the call is routed to the Originating switching center. The originating switching center identifies the call as a collect call with predefined prefix and sends the signal to the Collect Call Server. Then the Collect Call Server checks if calling party A is on the white list of the called party or not.

After affirming that the calling party is in the white list of receiving party B the Collect Call Server(CCS) sends the signal to the Originating Switching Centre(OSC) to send the call connect signal to Terminating Switching Center(TSC) and also send the billing parameter to the Billing System(BS) for charging the call to said receiving party B wherever it is required. The Terminating Switching Center (TSC) set up the call between calling party A and receiving party B.

According to another aspect of the invention method for providing signal based collect call may comprise the steps of making of collect call by calling party A to receiving party B and routed to the OSC. Further the method includes the step of identifying the call as a collect call in the originating switching center on locating predefined prefix on called number failing which call is directly connected to receiving party B as a normal call. The method may include sending the signal to route the collect call to the Collect Call Server on identifying the prefix in calling phone number. Further method may comprise the step of checking the presence of calling party A telephone number in the white list of the receiving party B stored in the Collect Call Server. The method includes the step of rejecting the call if the calling party telephone number is not in the white-list of receiving party B. The method also include the step of sending the signal to the OSC if collect call is success, which further send the call connecting signal to terminating switching center to setup the collect call between calling party and receiving party B. The method also include sending of billing signal with billing parameter by the Collect Call Server to the Billing System

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAM

Fig. 1 describe the system for providing signalling based collect call between calling party A and calling party B in the telecommunication network Fig 2 describes method for providing signalling based collect flow between calling party A and called party B in the telecommunication network.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWING AND EXAMPLES

The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing signal based collect call. The definition of some of the terms and acronyms used in the specification for describing the invention are given below

The term "white list" is defined as the list of calling numbers in the signal Collect Call Server which are allowed to use the collect call service by the called party.

Switching Center refers to primary service node in telecommunication network responsible for routing voice call, SMS and other services. Originating Switching Center is the Switching Center associated with the calling party.

Terminating Switching Center is the Switching Center associated with the called party.

The term "Billing System" used here refers to the system which performs the billing process and charges the calls in telecommunication network. The term "billing parameters" refers to the parameter which may include time property of the call such as day of week or time of day, amount of usage destination of the call (landline), origin of call etc.

The term "calling party" terms may be defined as mobile station or a fixed line while the receiving party is either a mobile station or a fixed line. The mobile station may be either in roaming or based in home network. Said invention applies to both in the prepaid as well as post paid system.

In order to make the collect call service viable for the subscriber as well as for the operator, the collect call service must use minimum resources and it should not have higher call setup time. The present invention provides the system and method in which pure signal approach is used for making collect call instead of using the IVR voice port which has higher hold time so that faster caller set up time is achieved.

Fig 1 shows the main embodiment of present invention in which the collect system which provides signalling based collect calls is illustrated , said system comprising of: at least one calling party A (CP- A) (101) at least one receiving party B (RP-B) at least one Originating Switching Center (OSC)(102) at least one Terminating Switching Center (TSC) (105) at least one Collect Call Server (CCS) (104) that hosts the white list (104a) of the RP-B (106) at least one Billing System (BS)(103).

System for providing signalling based collect calls, as collect calls with prefix made by CP-A to RP-B are routed to the OSC. The OSC (102) identifies said call as a collect call with predefined prefix (1.1) and sends the signal (1.2) to CCS (104). Then the CCS (104) checks if CP-A is on the white list (104a) of RP-B(106).

After affirming that the CP-A is in the white list (104a) of RP-B the CCS (104) sends signal (1.3) to OSC (102) to send the call connect signal (1.5) to TSC (105) with billing parameter sent (1.4) to said BS (104) for charging the call to said RP-B where it is required (1.4) wherein TSC shall set up the call (1.6) between CP-A and RP-B,

Fig 1 also shows the method of making the collect calls by CP-A to RP-B makes a call in step (401) and routed to the OSC in step (402). The OSC identifies the call as a collect call with predefined prefix like * and # in a step (403) and sends the signal to rout the call to CCS in step (404). Then Collect Call Server (CCS) checks if CP-A phone number/ telephone number is on the white-list of RP-B in the step (405). If the calling party is not present in the whitelist of receiving party (RP-B) in the step (404) the call is released and rejected in the step (413) and call is ended. If Collect Call Server (CCS) finds the phone number of (RP-B) in white-list of the receiving party RP-B, then it goes to the step (406). Then the Collect Call Server (CCS) sends signal to originating switching center (OSC) as well as to the billing party. The Collect Call Server (CCS) sends the billing signal with billing parameters to the Billing System (BS) or call routing parameter to ensure that the called party B RP-B is charged whenever required (4060). The Originating Switching Center (OSC) sends signal to Terminating Switching Center (TSC) to establish a call between CP-A and RP-B in the step (4061).

The various scenarios such as the status of the calling party and the receiving party for such calls may be described in a tabulated form as described below:

The present invention also allows the alternate way of placing the collect call in which the outgoing call routing profile is temporarily changed to send all outgoing call request through the Collect Call Server (CCS).

The outgoing profile is defined by a number series like *180 provided by the call service provider such that subsequent calls are diverted to the Collect Call Server (CCS) till the number series is redialed by said calling party.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a system for the receiving party B as shown in figure 1 to put anyone or everyone on the white list so as to allow the white listed number to make collect calls whenever the same wishes to make a collect call to the said party by adding a prefix or changing their profile temporarily to make their outgoing calls as collect calls.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for anyone to put anyone on the not-allowed/ barred list so as to not allow the said not-allowed/ barred number from requesting for it to be added to the Allowed/ White list.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure herein. Additionally other combinations, omissions, substitutions, and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. It is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and a variety of combination and sub-combinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the recitation of the preferred embodiments.

Claims

I claim:

1. System for providing signalling based collect calls, said system comprising of:

atleast one calling party A (CP-A),

- atleast one receiving party B (RP-B) ,

atleast one Originating Switching Center (OSC)

atleast one Terminating Switching Center (TSC) ,

atleast one Collect Call Server (CCS) (105) that hosts the white list of the RP-B

- atleast one Billing System (BS)

wherein

collect calls made by CP-A to RP-B are routed to the OSC

said OSC identifies said call as a collect call with predefined prefix and sends the signal to CCS

said CCS checks if CP-A telephone number is on the whitelist of RP-B on affirmation of which CCS sends signal to OSC to send call to TSC with billing parameter sent to said BS (104) for charging the call to said RP-B, wherein TSC shall set up the call between CP- A and RP-B,

- on non-affirmation of which, said collect call request is rejected.

2. System for providing signalling based collect calls as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predefined prefix is a symbol defined by the collect call provider.

3. System for providing signalling based collect calls, said system comprising of:

- atleast one calling party A (CP-A) ,

- atleast one receiving party B (RP-B) , - atleast one Originating Switching Center(OSC),

- atleast one Terminating Switching Center(TSC) ,

- atleast one Collect Call Server(CCS) that hosts the white list of the RP-B

- atleast one Billing System (BS)

wherein

collect calls made by CP-A to RP-B are routed to the OSC

said OSC identifies said CP-A through an outgoing profile and sends the signal to CCS,

said CCS checks if CP-A is on the whitelist of RP-B

- on affirmation of which said CCS sends signal to OSC to send call to TSC with billing parameter sent to said BS for charging the call to said RP-B, wherein TSC shall set up the call between CP-A and RP-B as per known methods;

- on non-affirmation of which, said collect call request is rejected.

System for providing signalling based collect calls as claimed in claim 4 wherein said outgoing profile is defined by a number series provided by the call service provider such that subsequent calls are diverted to the CCS till said number series is redialed by said CP-A.

A method for providing signal based collect call comprising the steps of

making of collect call by CP-A to RP-B step (401) and routed to the OSC step (402),

identifying the call as a collect call in OSC on locating predefined prefix (403) failing which the call is directly connected to RP-B as a normal call, sending the signal to route the call to the CCS (404), on identifying the collect call in step (403),

checking the presence of CP-A in the whitelist of said RP-B as stored in said CCS (404),

rejecting the call if said CP-A is not present in said whitelist of said RP-B (416) ,

sending the call connect signal to OSC if CP-A is on said whitelist of RP-B as well as either sending the billing signal to Billing System with billing parameter to the said Billing System (BS) or call routing parameter to ensure the calling party B is charged whenever required (4060),

sending of said call connect signal by said OSC to TSC to establish a call between CP-A and said RP-B (4061).