System and method for automated provision and customer selection of temporary advanced intelligent network services

Abstract

System and method for providing a customer with the ability to obtain temporary advanced telecommunication services in the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) for the customer's calling line by dialing a call to special access code, without the intervention of a service representative. The call is recognized as a request for an initiation of a temporary advanced telecommunication service with respect to the customer's calling line. On the basis of the recognition, an association may be retained between the calling line number and the service switching point serving the calling line number. This retained association may be used later in the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line number. The call is routed to a rental service interface through which rental information from the caller may be collected. This rental information may be compiled into a rental agreement that is used as the basis for activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication services with respect to the caller's calling line number. Confirmation of the activation may be provided to the communication.

1. A method to induce provision of a telecommunications service for a calling line, comprising:
 receiving a communication directed to a special access code (SAC), the communication providing information regarding the telecommunications service for the calling line; and  
 providing the telecommunications service for the calling line pursuant to the information.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a follow-up communication directed to the SAC, the follow-up communication providing additional information regarding the telecommunications service for the calling line; and  
 changing the provision of the telecommunications service for the calling line pursuant to the additional information.  
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication originates from a calling line served by a service switching point (SSP), the calling line being assigned a calling line number; and further comprising:
 retaining an association between the calling line number or the calling line and the SSP.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein providing the telecommunications service comprises use of the association. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein providing the telecommunications service comprises providing the telecommunications service for the calling line in the SSP based on the association. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein providing the telecommunications service comprises activating a trigger on the calling line in the SSP. 
     
     
       7. A method to keep track of a calling line and a service switching point (SSP) serving the calling line, comprising:
 receiving information from the SSP with respect to a communication originating from a calling line served by the SSP, the calling line being assigned a calling line number;  
 storing an association between the calling line number or the calling line and the SSP,  
 wherein the communication originating from the calling line served by the SSP comprises a communication dialed to a special access code (SAC);  
 wherein the information received from the SSP comprises the SAC; and  
 wherein the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the SSP is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the SSP.  
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information comprises a query from the SSP, the query including the calling line number and originating point code (OPC) for the SSP; and
 wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the OPC of the SSP.  
 
     
     
       10. A method to provide a telecommunications service to a line number, comprising:
 receiving information from a service switching point (SSP) regarding a communication originating from a line served by the SSP, the line being assigned the line number;  
 storing an association between the line number to the line and the SSP; and  
 using the associations to provide the SSP with the  activation instructions relating to the telecommunications service for the line number;  
 wherein the communication originating from the line served by the SSP comprises a communication dialed to a special access code (SAC);  
 wherein the information received from the SSP comprises the SAC; and  
 wherein the association between the line number of the line and the SSP is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the SSP.  
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the information comprises a query from the SSP, the query including the calling line number and originating point code (OPC) for the SSP; and
 wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the OPC of the SSP.  
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the line number or the line and an originating point code (OPC) of the SSP. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein using the association to provide the SSP with the activation instructions comprises directing the SSP to activate a terminating attempt trigger (TAT) on the line. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving a query from the SSP as a result of a call to the line number having encountered the TAT; and  
 providing a response to the SSP to provide the telecommunications service for the line number.  
 
     
     
       15. A method to keep track of a calling line and a switching node of a communication network serving the calling line, comprising:
   receiving information from the switching node with respect to a communication originating from a calling line served by the switching node, the calling line being assigned a calling line number;        storing an association between the calling line number or the calling line and the switching node,        wherein the communication originating from the calling line served by the switching node comprises a communication dialed to a special access code  ( SAC );      wherein the information received from the switching node comprises the SAC;        and wherein the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the switching node is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the switching node.     
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information comprises a query from the switching node, the query including the calling line number and originating point code for the switching node, and wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the originating point code of the switching node. 
     
     
       18. A method to provide a telecommunications service to a line number, comprising: receiving information from a switching node of a communication network regarding a communication originating from a line served by the switching node, the line being assigned the line number; storing an association between the line number to the line and the switching node; and using the associations to provide the switching node with activation instructions relating to the telecommunications service for the line number, wherein the communication originating from the line served by the switching node comprises a communication dialed to a special access code ( SAC );  wherein the information received from the switching node comprises the SAC; and wherein the association between the line number of the line and the switching node is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the switching node.   
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the information comprises a query from the switching node, the query including the calling line number and originating point code for the switching node, and wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the originating point code of the switching node. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the line number or the line and an originating point code of the switching node. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein using the association to provide the switching node with the activation instructions comprises directing the switching node to activate a terminating attempt trigger on the line. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
   receiving a query from the switching node as a result of a call to the line number having encountered the terminating attempt trigger; and        providing a response to the switching node to provide the telecommunications service for the line number.     
     
     
       23. A caller- activated rental system for temporary advanced telecommunication services, comprising:      a communication network element operative;        to make a recognition of a communication as a request for an initiation of a temporary advanced telecommunication service with respect to a calling line on the basis of use of a special access code to which the communication is directed;        to direct the collection of rental information regarding the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line;        to receive the rental information; and        on the basis of the rental information, to direct activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line number.     
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the communication network element is further operative to direct creation of a rental agreement regarding the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line number with the rental agreement being based on the rental information, and wherein the communication network element is further operative to receive the rental agreement instead of the rental information, and on the basis of the rental agreement, instead of the rental information, to direct the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the communication network element is further operative to provide confirmation to the communication of the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the communication network element is further operative, on the basis of the recognition of the communication, to retain an association between the calling line and a switching node serving the calling line number. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , wherein the association between the calling line number and the switching node serving the calling line is used in the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the rental information comprises a termination time for the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line, wherein the communication network element is operative to direct the collection of the termination time, to receive the termination time, and on the basis of the termination time, to direct deactivation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line. 
     
     
       29. In a telecommunications network having a rental system of temporary advanced telecommunication services wherein an activation of a temporary advanced telecommunication service has been made based on a rental agreement relating to the calling line, a method to deactivate the temporary advanced telecommunication service with respect to the calling line, the method comprising:
   receiving a communication directed to the calling line;        in response to receiving the communication directed to the calling line, making a check of the rental agreement relating to the calling line, the rental agreement including a termination time for the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line;        determining the termination time has expired; and        in response to said determining, processing the communication without application of the temporary advanced telecommunication service to the calling line.     
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein said processing further comprises deleting the rental agreement relating to the calling line. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service comprises setting a trigger to cause the check of the rental agreement in response to receipt of the communication directed to the calling line; and
   wherein said processing further comprises releasing the trigger so as to avoid another check of the rental agreement in response to receipt of another communication directed to the calling line.     
     
     
       32. In a communication network, a system to keep track of a calling line and a switching node servicing the calling line, comprising:
   a network element configured to:      receive information from a switching node, the information relating to a communication received at the switching node, and the communication being on a calling line that is served by the switching node;        recognize the communication as indicating a request for a service, based on the information; and        retain an association between the calling line and the switching node, based on said recognizing, wherein the association is used to provide the service.       
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the network element is further configured to:
   recognize the communication as making a request for the service on the basis of use of a special access code in association with the communication.     
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the network element is further configured to:
   retain the association between the calling line and the switching node serving the calling line for a predetermined period of time; and        erase the association between the calling line and the switching node serving the calling line after expiration of the predetermined period of time.     
     
     
       35. In a telecommunications network having a rental system of temporary advanced telecommunication services wherein an activation of a temporary advanced telecommunication service has been made based on a rental agreement relating to the calling line, a system to deactivate the temporary advanced telecommunication service with respect to the calling line, the system comprising:
   a network element operative;        to recognize a communication directed to the calling line as necessitating a check of the rental agreement relating to the calling line, the rental agreement including a termination time for the temporary advanced telecommunication service for the calling line;        to cause the check of the rental agreement including a determination as to whether the termination time has expired; and        if the termination time has expired, to direct processing of the communication without application of the temporary advanced telecommunication service to the calling line.     
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 35 , wherein the network element is further operative to cause deletion of the rental agreement relating to the calling line. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 35 , wherein the activation of the temporary advanced telecommunication service comprises setting a trigger to cause the check of the rental agreement relating to the calling line; and
   wherein the network element is further operative to cause a release of the trigger so as to avoid another check of the rental agreement in response to receipt of another communication directed to the calling line.     
     
     
       38. A computer- readable medium containing machine - executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method to induce provision of a telecommunications service for a calling line, the method comprising:      receiving a communication directed to a special access code  ( SAC ),  the communication including information regarding the telecommunications service for the calling line; and        providing the telecommunications service for the calling line pursuant to the information.     
     
     
       39. The medium of  claim 38 , wherein the machine- executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the method implemented by the processor to comprise:      receiving a follow - up communication directed to the special access code, the follow - up communication providing additional information regarding the telecommunications service for the calling line; and        changing the provision of the telecommunications service for the calling line pursuant to the additional information.     
     
     
       40. The medium of  claim 38 , wherein the communication originates from a calling line served by a switching node, the calling line being assigned a calling line number, wherein the machine- executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the method implemented by the processor to comprise:      retaining an association between the calling line number or the calling line and the switching node.     
     
     
       41. The medium of  claim 40 , wherein providing the telecommunications service comprises using the association. 
     
     
       42. A computer- readable medium containing machine - executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method to keep track of a calling line and a switching node of a communication network serving the calling line, the method comprising:      receiving information from the switching node with respect to a communication originating from a calling line served by the switching node, the calling line being assigned a calling line number;        storing an association between the calling line number or the calling line and the switching node,        wherein the communication originating from the calling line served by the switching node comprises a communication dialed to a special access code  ( SAC );      wherein the information received from the switching node comprises the SAC; and        wherein the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the switching node is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the switching node.     
     
     
       43. The medium of  claim 42 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
       44. The medium of  claim 42 , wherein the information comprises a query from the switching node, the query including the calling line number and originating point code for the switching node; and
   wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line or calling line number and the originating point code of the switching node.     
     
     
       45. A computer- readable medium containing machine - executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method to provide a telecommunications service to a line number, comprising:      receiving information from a switching node of a communication network regarding a communication originating from a line served by the switching node, the line being assigned the line number;        storing an association between the line number to the line and the switching node; and using the associations to provide the switching node with the activation instructions relating to the telecommunications service for the line number,        wherein the communication originating from the line served by the switching node comprises a communication dialed to a special access code  ( SAC );      wherein the information received from the switching node comprises the SAC; and        wherein the association between the line number of the line and the switching node is stored based on the SAC being included in the information received from the switching node.     
     
     
       46. The medium of  claim 45 , wherein the information comprises a query from the switching node, the query including the calling line number and originating point code for the switching node; and
   wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the originating point code of the switching node.     
     
     
       47. The medium of  claim 45 , wherein storing the association comprises storing the association between the calling line number or the calling line and the originating point code of the switching node. 
     
     
       48. The medium of  claim 45 , wherein using the association to provide the switching point with the activation instructions comprises directing the switching node to activate a trigger on the line. 
     
     
       49. The medium of  claim 48 , wherein the machine- executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the method implemented by the processor to comprise:      receiving a query from the switching node as a result of a call to the line number having encountered the trigger; and        providing a response to the switching node to provide the telecommunications service for the line number.