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WO1997014242A2 - Method for optimizing the use of urban telephone lines - Google Patents

Method for optimizing the use of urban telephone lines Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997014242A2
WO1997014242A2 PCT/CA1996/000680 CA9600680W WO9714242A2 WO 1997014242 A2 WO1997014242 A2 WO 1997014242A2 CA 9600680 W CA9600680 W CA 9600680W WO 9714242 A2 WO9714242 A2 WO 9714242A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
users
user
group
telephone
telephone number
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA1996/000680
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1997014242B1 (en
WO1997014242A3 (en
Inventor
Denis Martel
Original Assignee
Denis Martel
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Denis Martel filed Critical Denis Martel
Priority to AU71234/96A priority Critical patent/AU7123496A/en
Publication of WO1997014242A2 publication Critical patent/WO1997014242A2/en
Publication of WO1997014242A3 publication Critical patent/WO1997014242A3/en
Publication of WO1997014242B1 publication Critical patent/WO1997014242B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M9/00—Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching
    • H04M9/02—Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching involving a common line for all parties
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/54—Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
    • H04Q3/002—Details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q5/00—Selecting arrangements wherein two or more subscriber stations are connected by the same line to the exchange
    • H04Q5/02—Selecting arrangements wherein two or more subscriber stations are connected by the same line to the exchange with direct connection for all subscribers, i.e. party-line systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres

Definitions

  • the invention concerns a method of optimizing the use of a switched network, and more particularly a telephone network in an urban centre
  • a method for optimizing the use of a switched network comprising assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning addresses to a second group of users outside ofthe geographical area, interconnecting together all the users of the first and second groups through switching means, whereby one of the users may contact another user by specifying the address ofthe other user, thus opening a communication between the users, the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another address to a primary user in the first group of users, redirecting any communication directed to the other address ofthe primary user to a secondary user in the second group of users, whereby the secondary user in the second group of users may be contacted by specifying the other address ofthe primary user in the first group of users
  • the method preferably entails the additional step of publishing, in electronic or paper form, a directory of all
  • the invention is a method for optimizing the use of a switched network, such as a telephone network
  • Establishing a switched network generally entails the steps of assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning addresses to a second group of users outside ofthe geographical area and interconnecting together all the users ofthe first and second groups through switching means, whereby one of the users may contact another user by specifying the address of the other user, thus opening a communication between the users
  • the improvement in the method comprises the additional steps of assigning another address to a primary user in the first group of users and redirecting any communication directed to the other address of the primary user to a secondary user in the second group of users such that the secondary user in the second group of users may be contacted by specifying the other address of the primary user in the first group of users
  • a secondary user outside of the geographical area is be listed in the directory ofthe first group of users, as the other address ofthe p ⁇ mary user refers to the secondary user
  • a suburban user (the "secondary user") wishing to obtain such a listing may approach an urban user (the "primary user"), such as a hospital or a public utility, that already subscribes to a number of telephone lines.
  • the primary user asks the telephone utility to program one or more additional phone numbers
  • This technology is known per se, and allows, for example, a user to have two or more separate phone numbers for the same telephone line When one or the other numbers is dialled, the user can distinguish between the two phone numbers by the signature of each ring.
  • user A has an existing phone line whose number is 555-1234.
  • User A asks the phone utility to program an additional number, say 555-1235.
  • the telephone utility assigns, for example, the first number a ring signature of long-long-long and the second number a signature of long-short-short.
  • user A simply by listening to the ring signature, can determine which number is being called.
  • the primary user asks the telephone utility that, on one or more ofthe additional numbers, a "call forward" command be placed to the phone number ofthe secondary user located in the given suburb
  • the "call forward” command exists already and is in use, for example, for a subscriber having a place of business in a city wishing to have all calls to that place of business transferred to the subscriber's home outside of business hours
  • the existing forwarding command is activated and deactivated by the subscriber from the handset
  • the command that is proposed would be "hard-wired" at the telephone central, so that the primary user would not be able to interfere with the operation ofthe command
  • the primary user's telephone number is indexed as such in the 41 1 index which is continually updated and in the hard-copy directory ofthe urban centre, generally published once a year.
  • the name that would appear is that ofthe secondary user's
  • a person wishing to call the secondary user but who does not know the phone number in the suburb or even the name ofthe suburb would be able to dial 41 1 and ask the operator ofthe urban centre or look in the directory ofthe urban centre The number given to that person is that of the additional line of the primary user Once dialled, the call is automatically transferred to the secondary user's telephone line in the suburb
  • the advantages for the secondary user are clear an entry into the directory of an urban centre, without having to pay the substantial investment required to have a dedicated line in the urban centre.
  • the secondary user would pay a rental fee to the primary user that is at least the cost of having the service installed on the telephone line plus a monthly fee, thus helping the primary user lower its telecommunication costs Furthermore, if the primary user is a charitable organization, the secondary user would be able to obtain a receipt for income tax purposes.
  • the call forward option could be to an "800" or "888" toll-free number, so that the caller, if from or around the urban centre, would not incur long distance charges.
  • the call forward option could be a voice mail system, with a number of options, such as leaving a message or having the call redirected to yet another number.
  • the secondary user is also located in the same geographical area as the primary user, thereby utilizing the residual lines ofthe primary user.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

In a method for optimizing the use of a telephone network including the steps of assigning telephone numbers to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning telephone numbers to a second group of users outside of said geographical area and interconnecting together all the users of said first and second groups through telephone lines, such that each user is connected to at least one telephone line, and switches, whereby one of the users may telephone another user by dialling the telephone number of the other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user. The improvement includes the additional steps of assigning another telephone number to a primary user in the first group of users on an existing telephone line of the primary user, redirecting any communication directed to the other telephone number of the primary user to a secondary user in the second group of users by programming a call forward command on the other telephone number thus directing a telephone call to the telephone number of the secondary user, such that the secondary user in the second group of users may be telephoned by dialling the other telephone number of the primary user in the first group of users. The improved method preferably further includes the additional step of publishing a directory of all of the telephone numbers of the first group of users within the urban centre, whereby the other telephone number of the primary user refers to the secondary user.

Description

METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE USE OF URBAN TELEPHONE LINES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a method of optimizing the use of a switched network, and more particularly a telephone network in an urban centre
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In an urban centre, particularly one divided into a number of different cities, users located in the suburbs do not have access to a listing in the 41 1 directory ofthe urban centre, neither in the white or yellow pages of the same urban centre, unless they have a place of business in the urban centre itself This entails additional costs, as the user must pay for an extra business line, and must rent some space in order for the line to be installed This may also oblige the user to incur further costs, such as a receptionist to answer the phone, or obtain options such as call forward to transfer any calls to the main place of business located in the suburbs
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide for a method, in a switched network. whereby a user located outside of a geographical area may be contacted by specifying an address in the geographical area In accordance with the invention. this object is achieved with a method for optimizing the use of a switched network comprising assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning addresses to a second group of users outside ofthe geographical area, interconnecting together all the users of the first and second groups through switching means, whereby one of the users may contact another user by specifying the address ofthe other user, thus opening a communication between the users, the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another address to a primary user in the first group of users, redirecting any communication directed to the other address ofthe primary user to a secondary user in the second group of users, whereby the secondary user in the second group of users may be contacted by specifying the other address ofthe primary user in the first group of users The method preferably entails the additional step of publishing, in electronic or paper form, a directory of all the users in the first group, such that the other address ofthe primary user refers to the secondary user
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a method for optimizing the use of a switched network, such as a telephone network Establishing a switched network generally entails the steps of assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning addresses to a second group of users outside ofthe geographical area and interconnecting together all the users ofthe first and second groups through switching means, whereby one of the users may contact another user by specifying the address of the other user, thus opening a communication between the users The improvement in the method comprises the additional steps of assigning another address to a primary user in the first group of users and redirecting any communication directed to the other address of the primary user to a secondary user in the second group of users such that the secondary user in the second group of users may be contacted by specifying the other address of the primary user in the first group of users
Thus, a secondary user outside of the geographical area is be listed in the directory ofthe first group of users, as the other address ofthe pπmary user refers to the secondary user
In accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, a suburban user (the "secondary user") wishing to obtain such a listing may approach an urban user (the "primary user"), such as a hospital or a public utility, that already subscribes to a number of telephone lines. On one of the existing lines, the primary user asks the telephone utility to program one or more additional phone numbers This technology is known per se, and allows, for example, a user to have two or more separate phone numbers for the same telephone line When one or the other numbers is dialled, the user can distinguish between the two phone numbers by the signature of each ring.
For example, user A has an existing phone line whose number is 555-1234. User A asks the phone utility to program an additional number, say 555-1235. The telephone utility assigns, for example, the first number a ring signature of long-long-long and the second number a signature of long-short-short. Thus, user A, simply by listening to the ring signature, can determine which number is being called. There can be more than one additional number per line, up to a limit determined by the telephone utility
Once the additional number or numbers are assigned, the primary user asks the telephone utility that, on one or more ofthe additional numbers, a "call forward" command be placed to the phone number ofthe secondary user located in the given suburb The "call forward" command exists already and is in use, for example, for a subscriber having a place of business in a city wishing to have all calls to that place of business transferred to the subscriber's home outside of business hours The existing forwarding command is activated and deactivated by the subscriber from the handset The command that is proposed would be "hard-wired" at the telephone central, so that the primary user would not be able to interfere with the operation ofthe command
Since the call forward command is placed on one or more ofthe additional numbers ofthe primary user, there is no need to have different ring signatures for those numbers, as they never ring at the primary user's phones The primary user's telephone number is indexed as such in the 41 1 index which is continually updated and in the hard-copy directory ofthe urban centre, generally published once a year. For the additional numbers, the name that would appear is that ofthe secondary user's Thus, a person wishing to call the secondary user, but who does not know the phone number in the suburb or even the name ofthe suburb would be able to dial 41 1 and ask the operator ofthe urban centre or look in the directory ofthe urban centre The number given to that person is that of the additional line of the primary user Once dialled, the call is automatically transferred to the secondary user's telephone line in the suburb
The advantages for the secondary user are clear an entry into the directory of an urban centre, without having to pay the substantial investment required to have a dedicated line in the urban centre. The secondary user would pay a rental fee to the primary user that is at least the cost of having the service installed on the telephone line plus a monthly fee, thus helping the primary user lower its telecommunication costs Furthermore, if the primary user is a charitable organization, the secondary user would be able to obtain a receipt for income tax purposes.
If, for example, the secondary user is further removed from the urban centre and long distance charges apply, the call forward option could be to an "800" or "888" toll-free number, so that the caller, if from or around the urban centre, would not incur long distance charges. Additionally, the call forward option could be a voice mail system, with a number of options, such as leaving a message or having the call redirected to yet another number.
In another preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the secondary user is also located in the same geographical area as the primary user, thereby utilizing the residual lines ofthe primary user.
Although the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be pointed out that any modifications to this preferred embodiment within the scope of the appended claims is not deemed to alter or change the nature and scope ofthe present invention

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. In a method for optimizing the use of a switched network comprising" assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area; assigning addresses to a second group of users outside of said geographical area, interconnecting together all the users of said first and second groups through switching means, whereby one of said users may contact another one of said users by specifying the address of said other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user, the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another address to a primary user in said first group of users, redirecting any communication directed to the other address of said primary user to a secondary user in said second group of users, whereby said secondary user in said second group of users may be contacted by specifying said other address of said primary user in said first group of users
2 In a method for optimizing the use of a telephone network comprising assigning telephone numbers to a first group of users within a geographical area, assigning telephone numbers to a second group of users outside of said geographical area, interconnecting together all the users of said first and second groups through telephone lines and switching means, whereby one of said users may telephone another one of said users by dialling the telephone number of said other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user, such that each user is connected to at least one telephone line, the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another telephone number to a primary user in said first group of users, redirecting any communication directed to the other telephone number of said primary user to a secondary user in said second group of users, whereby said secondary user in said second group of users may be telephoned by dialling the other telephone number of said primary user in said first group of users
3 In a method for optimizing the use of a telephone network comprising assigning telephone numbers to a first group of users within a geographical area; assigning telephone numbers to a second group of users outside of said geographical area; interconnecting together all the users of said first and second groups through telephone lines, such that each user is connected to at least one telephone line, and switching means, whereby one of said users may telephone another one of said users by dialling the telephone number of said other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user, the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another telephone number to a primary user in said first group of users on the at least one telephone line of said primary user, redirecting any communication directed to the other telephone number of said primary user to a secondary user in said second group of users by programming a call forward command on said other telephone number thus directing a telephone call to the telephone number of said secondary user, whereby said secondary user in said second group of users may be telephoned by dialling the other telephone number of said primary user in said first group of users
4 The improved method of claim 3, wherein said geographical area is an urban centre
5 The improved method of claim 4, further comprising the step of publishing a directory of all of said telephone numbers of said first group of users within said urban centre, whereby said other telephone number of said primary user refers to said secondary user
6 The improved method of claim 1, further comprising the step of publishing a directory of all of said addresses of said first group of users within said geographical area, whereby said other address of said primary user refers to said secondary user
7 The improved method of claim 2, further comprising the step of publishing a directory of all of said telephone numbers of said first group of users within said urban centre, whereby said other telephone number of said primary user refers to said secondary user.
8. In a method for optimizing the use of a switched network comprising: assigning addresses to a first group of users within a geographical area; interconnecting together all the users of said first group through switching means, whereby one of said users may contact another one of said users by specifying the address of said other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user; the improvement comprising the additional steps of: assigning another address to a primary user in said first group of users; redirecting any communication directed to the other address of said primary user to a secondary user in said first group of users; whereby said secondary user in said first group of users may be contacted by specifying said other address of said primary user in said first group of users.
9 In a method for optimizing the use of a telephone network comprising: assigning telephone numbers to a first group of users within a geographical area, interconnecting together all the users of said first group through telephone lines, such that each user is connected to at least one telephone line, and switching means, whereby one of said users may telephone another one of said users by dialling the telephone number of said other user, thus opening a communication between said user and said other user; the improvement comprising the additional steps of assigning another telephone number to a primary user in said first group of users on the at least one telephone line of said primary user, redirecting any communication directed to the other telephone number of said primary user to a secondary user in said first group of users by programming a call forward command on said other telephone number thus directing a telephone call to the telephone number of said secondary user; whereby said secondary user in said first group of users may be telephoned by dialling the other telephone number of said primary user in said first group of users.
PCT/CA1996/000680 1995-10-11 1996-10-10 Method for optimizing the use of urban telephone lines WO1997014242A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU71234/96A AU7123496A (en) 1995-10-11 1996-10-10 Method for optimizing the use of urban telephone lines

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US524395P 1995-10-11 1995-10-11
US60/005,243 1995-10-11

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997014242A2 true WO1997014242A2 (en) 1997-04-17
WO1997014242A3 WO1997014242A3 (en) 1997-06-05
WO1997014242B1 WO1997014242B1 (en) 1997-07-10

Family

ID=21714908

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA1996/000680 WO1997014242A2 (en) 1995-10-11 1996-10-10 Method for optimizing the use of urban telephone lines

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7123496A (en)
CA (1) CA2207055A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1997014242A2 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4401856A (en) * 1981-05-13 1983-08-30 Amtel Communications, Inc. Control system for handling direct inward dialed telephone calls
US4629831A (en) * 1984-02-13 1986-12-16 Amtel Communications, Inc. Series connected interceptor
WO1993025035A1 (en) * 1992-05-26 1993-12-09 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Switch reduction for multiple lines of the public telephone network
US5422936A (en) * 1992-08-28 1995-06-06 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Enhanced message service indication

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4401856A (en) * 1981-05-13 1983-08-30 Amtel Communications, Inc. Control system for handling direct inward dialed telephone calls
US4629831A (en) * 1984-02-13 1986-12-16 Amtel Communications, Inc. Series connected interceptor
WO1993025035A1 (en) * 1992-05-26 1993-12-09 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Switch reduction for multiple lines of the public telephone network
US5422936A (en) * 1992-08-28 1995-06-06 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Enhanced message service indication

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2207055A1 (en) 1997-04-17
AU7123496A (en) 1997-04-30
WO1997014242A3 (en) 1997-06-05

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