Subscriber service management

[0001] 1. Statement of the Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the management of a service subscription for a telephone subscriber, and more particularly to the management of a service subscription based upon call processing provided in a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The intelligent network of today bears little semblance to the PSTN of old. In fact, the term “intelligence” has little to do with the operation of the conventional PSTN. Rather, the conventional PSTN of old incorporates a massive complex of switching matrices and transport trunks that, through the electronic equivalent of “brute force”, forge the interconnections necessary to call completion. More particularly, for decades for every call processed the PSTN relied upon each successive switch to route a voice signal to the next. Still, the modern volume of calls processed within the conventional PSTN demands a faster, more streamlined approach to call routing.

[0005] To overcome the elements of the brute force aspect of the conventional PSTN, physically separate signaling networks have been grafted upon the transport and switching PSTN elements to oversee call set-up and billing. These “out-of-band” adjuncts speed routing data and commands directly to the switches involved, establishing all the necessary links prior to the actual transmission of a call. Consequently, with “out-of-band” signaling the PSTN has become “conscious” of the operations it is to perform prior to their execution. As a result, the PSTN has become a more flexible beast, capable even of substantial logic.

[0006] The development of the “out-of-band” protocol, Signaling System 7 (SS7), has led to the widespread deployment of intelligent network technology. In SS7, signaling links transmit routing packets between switches. Consequently, specialized SS7 Signaling Transfer Points (STPs) appeared to shepherd routing messages from local switches onto a high-capacity packet switches for distribution to other switches, STPs and call-related databases, such as the Line Information Database (LIDB), the Local Number Portability (LNP) database, the Toll Free Calling database and other databases containing customer information or additional call routing instructions. And, so, the agility of high-speed computer networking began exerting control over the raw power of the PSTN.

[0007] The marriage of convenience between SS7 and the PSTN soon produced the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)—an architecture where centralized databases control call processing. Logic ported via STPs to select switches now have become widely distributed throughout the network. AIN—capable switches also have begun to function as interactive signaling-platforms. Equipped with resident software triggers, AIN capable switches now can halt a call in progress long enough to query Service Control Points (SCPs), databases containing service logic and subscriber information which can provide instruction as to how to route, monitor, or terminate the call. The PSTN of today now effectively includes long-term memory as well as intelligence. Accordingly, the modern local exchange carrier holds the means to deploy such advanced telecommunications features such as telephone number portability, wireless roaming, call waiting and a host of other subscriber options.

[0008] The LIDB is a database configured for coupling to the PSTN through an SCP. The LIDB typically includes amorphous records arranged to store information regarding telephone callers, such as the business name of the caller, the address of the caller, billing information for the caller, and the like. By storing invariable information regarding the caller, such as the name, address and billing method, many intelligent telephonic services can be provided over the PSTN through a simple query to the LIDB. In this regard, several local exchange carriers have deployed independent LIDB access services to facilitate the deployment of intelligent telephonic services which can exploit the invariant information stored within the LIDB.

[0009] Despite the wealth of information associated with a telephone caller stored in the LIDB, the LIDB seems to remain an untapped resource suitable only for advanced telephony billing applications. Accordingly, many conventional inconveniences remain prevalent in the world of the call center and in the customer service industry. For instance, oftentimes service subscribers seek to renew a service telephonically such as the renewal of a time limited rental of a consumer product such as a movie, an automobile, a household appliance, and the like.

[0010] Notwithstanding, a high degree of automation required to implement a renewal or subscription extension service telephonically requires access to substantial identifying information. Typically, at least a name, a portion of a social security number, an address, or an account number will be required to access computing data in an enterprise application programmed to manage the subscription service. In consequence, subscribers can become irritated conversing with a customer service representative, an interactive voice response system, or both simply to provide identifying information sufficient to activate the renewal or extension of a subscription service.

[0011] The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the art in respect to the renewal or extension of a subscription service and provides a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for managing subscriber services. The method of the invention can include the step of prompting a subscriber through an established telephone call to manage a service subscription without first prompting the subscriber for identifying information. The method further can include the step of managing the service subscription without accessing subscriber information derived through the phone call. Finally, the method can include the step of transferring the phone call to a customer service representative responsive to a request for help by the subscriber.

[0012] The prompting step can include the step of prompting a subscriber through an established telephone call to renew a service subscription without first prompting the subscriber for identifying information. In consequence, the managing step can include the step of renewing the service subscription without accessing subscriber information derived through the phone call. Similarly, the prompting step can include the step of prompting a subscriber through an established telephone call to extend a service subscription without first prompting the subscriber for identifying information. Again, as before the managing step can include the step of extending the service subscription without accessing subscriber information derived through the phone call.

[0013] A system for managing subscriber services can include a service renewal system configured to renew service subscriptions based upon identifying information associated with the service subscriptions. The system also can include one or more subscribers calling a service renewal system over a PSTN to renew respective service subscriptions. Finally, the system can include logic disposed within the PSTN to obtain the identifying information and to provide the obtained identifying information to the service renewal system.

[0014] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

[0019] The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for managing a subscription service. As used herein, a subscription service can include a consumer or commercial service in which a term can be specified during which term the service can be provided. Examples include the rental of a film, the rental of an automobile, and the rental of a home appliance or a commercial tool, and the provision of consumable materials such as food items, drink items, magazines, newspapers and the like, to name but a few. The subscription service in accordance with the present invention can be renewed for the pre-specified term, or extended for a period of time which differs from the term.

[0020] In either circumstance, the subscription service can be operated automatically through identifying information resolved within the PSTN and provided to the service provider electronically concurrently with the placement of a telephone call by the service consumer to the service provider. Significantly, the identifying information can be resolved externally to the service provider within the PSTN. In this way, the service provider can manage the subscription service without first prompting the service consumer for identifying information.

[0021] In further illustration, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system, method and process for managing a subscription service according to the inventive arrangements. Specifically, a subscriber 130 to a subscription service 140 can extend or renew the subscription service 140 by contacting the subscription service 140 telephonically by way of the PSTN 110. As the subscriber 130 initiates the telephone call in the PSTN 110, a name resolution adapter 180 disposed within the PSTN 110 can capture the caller identification 190 for the subscriber 130 to identify the subscriber 130.

[0022] Using the caller identification 190, the name resolution adapter can produce corresponding identification data 170 for the subscriber 130, for instance a name, address, phone number, credit card number, or account number, to name a few. In this regard, the name resolution adapter 180 can query one or more databases disposed within the PSTN 110 to obtain corresponding identifying data 170 for the caller identification 190. Once the name resolution adapter 180 has acquired the identification data 170, the name resolution adapter 180 can provide the identification data 170 to an enterprise application 160 associated with the subscription service 140 over the data communications network 120. Concurrently, the call between the subscriber 130 and the subscription service 140 can be established over the PSTN 110.

[0023] Once the enterprise application 160 has received the identification data 170 for the subscriber 130, the enterprise application 160 can use the identification data 170 to obtain the subscription records for the subscriber 130. Importantly, the enterprise application 160 can retrieve the subscription records without first having annoyingly prompted the subscriber 130 over the PSTN 110 for identifying information. In any case, renewal logic 150 can prompt the subscriber 130 to renew or extend the subscription. The subscriber 130 can select a renewal or extension of the subscription service 140 and the enterprise application 160 can update the subscriber records accordingly. Remarkably, the foregoing renewal/extension process can be performed over the PSTN without requiring a single identifying prompt, or the resolution of caller identifying data in the enterprise application.

[0024] To further illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for managing a subscription service using identifying information acquired within a PSTN. As shown in FIG. 2, a system for managing a subscription service using identifying information acquired within a PSTN can include one or more telephonic switches 230 coupled to one another within a PSTN 200. Each of the switches 230 can be communicatively linked to a service switching point (SSP) 220 coupled to an out-of-band signaling network comprised of a multiplicity of signal transfer points (STP) 210. Each STP 210 can be cross-connected to other ones of the STPs 210 in the PSTN so as to form an inter-network of switched communications links to support out-of-band signaling as is well-known in the art.

[0025] One or more switchless nodes each referred to as an SCP 240 can be communicatively linked to the out-of-band signaling network via one of the STPs 210 as is well-known in the art and embodied within the SS7 signaling network. The SCP 240 can be coupled to one or more databases 260A, 260B, 260n which can be configured to store invariant data such as the name, address and billing information for callers. For example, the databases 260A, 260B, 260n can include a local number portability (LNP) database, a LIDB, or any other such database which can be accessed within an SCP 240.

[0026] Notably, as is well-known in the art, the information stored within the databases 260A, 260B, 260n can be stored in amorphous records in nothing more than a flat file database, an object database or a relational database. In any event, through the communicative linkages between the SCP 240, the STP 210 and the databases 260A, 260B, 260n, transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages can be processed in the SCP 240 to access the invariant data in the databases 260A, 260B, 260n. In this way, calls processed through the switch 230 can access logic in the SCP 240 and data in the databases 260A, 260B, 260n through the SSP 220.

[0027] Notably, a name resolution adapter 250 can be coupled to the out-of-band network comprised of inter-connected STPs 210 to access data and logic through the SCP 240 through an exchange of messages such as TCAP messages. The name resolution adapter 250 can include a gateway node 250 having both an interface to the PSTN 200 and also an interface to a data communications network 270 such as an Internet Protocol driven network. In this way, data received through the PSTN 200, and more particularly from accessing the databases 260A, 260B, 260n in the PSTN 200 can be passed within IP packets to an enterprise application 280 over the data communications network 270. Also, as the enterprise application 280 can be coupled to a switch 230 within the PSTN 200 through an associated adapter, data disposed within the databases 260A, 260B, 260n regarding an incoming call can be processed within the enterprise application 280.

[0028] In operation, the name resolution adapter 250 can monitor calls placed to a switch 230 to which the enterprise application 280 has been coupled. As calls are received in the switch 230, the name resolution adapter 250 can receive respective TCAP messages from the STP 210 coupled to the switch 230. Using the TCAP messages, the name resolution adapter 250 can create additional TCAP messages to query the LIDB 260B to identify the callers. For each TCAP message querying the LIDB 260B, the LIDB 260B can return the identity of the caller, for instance the caller's name, or other identification such as caller's address. Once the name resolution adapter 250 has received the identity of the caller from the LIDB 260B, the name resolution adapter 250 can transmit the identity to the enterprise application 280 over the data communications network 270. The enterprise application 280 subsequently can correlate the caller identity received from the name resolution adapter 250 with a corresponding call received through the switch 230.

[0029] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, service renewal logic 290 can be coupled to the enterprise application 280. The service renewal logic 290 can provide a facility through which service subscribers can renew or extend the term of service without requiring the subscribers to respond to exhaustive prompting necessary to identify the subscribers. In further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for managing a subscription service in the system of FIG. 2.

[0030] Beginning in block 310, a calling party known to the PSTN can be identified as attempting to establish a call to a switch associated with the service renewal system of the present invention. In this regard, the PSTN can resolve the identity of the caller based upon the phone number corresponding to the call attempt. In block 320, the PSTN can communicate the identity of the caller to the service renewal system. Specifically, the PSTN can provide the identity of the caller through a computer communications network coupled to the service renewal system. Concurrently, the PSTN can establish the call without regard to the name resolution activities occurring through the data communications network.

[0031] In decision block 330, the service renewal system can present service renewal options to the caller through the call established in the PSTN. Specifically, to formulate suitable options for the caller, the service renewal system can retrieve the subscriber records for the caller based upon the identifying data provided by the PSTN through the data communications network. To the extent that the caller is eligible for service renewal or service term extension, the service renewal system can so specify in decision block 330 by way of an audio prompt.

[0032] If in decision block 330 the caller responds to the prompt by selecting to renew the service period, in block 340, the service period can be renewed for the caller. Notably, the service period can be renewed without having first prompted the caller for the caller's identity. Similarly, if in decision block 330 the caller responds to the prompt by selecting to adjust the service period, in block 350, the service period can be adjusted for the caller. Once again, the service period can be adjusted without having first prompted the caller for the caller's identity. Finally, if the caller requires assistance, the call can be transferred to a customer service agent in block 360.

[0033] The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. An implementation of the method and system of the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein, is suited to perform the functions described herein.

[0034] A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which, when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.

[0035] Computer program or application in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. Significantly, this invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.