Patent · US Expired

Change of equal access carrier notification

US6128376A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 1997
Grant dateOct 3, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M3/493
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement for routing the possibility of switching telephone users to another preferred carrier without the intent of the telephone user. When a record has been made in a data base indicating a change of preferred carrier, the telephone user is provided with an announcement indicating the change when the user makes a toll call. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the user simply is informed and if the user wants to undo the change the user contacts the local carrier. In accordance with another embodiment the user is provided with a validation code and must enter the validation code in order to effect the change of carriers. In accordance with another embodiment the user is provided with a number of options including the keying of a request to effect the change of carrier, or cancel the change of carrier. Advantageously, users are informed of a change of carrier before they make any calls using the new carrier and before they receive any telephone bills identifying the change.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.