Dialer detection and conversational traffic differentiation for the purpose of optimal call termination

Abstract

The invention is an algorithm that allows a service provider to differentiate dialer traffic from conversational traffic and to divert the dialer traffic and/or to block or release it, enabling the routing of dialer calls only to those carriers that offer favorable rate conditions for dialer traffic and conversational calls to another larger superset of least cost routing carriers. Additionally, the invention allows the service provider to block the dialer type traffic, in which case the algorithm returns a “release-back” code.

We claim: 
     
       1. A telecommunications computer system comprised of one or more computers, each having a processor connected to memory and a graphical user interface, wherein the telecommunications computer is connected to one or more network lines or connections, which can be part of an Ethernet, wireless, cellular, direct cable, or similar link to other local computer systems, remote computer systems, or the Internet or other wide area communication network, comprising software instructions encoded to perform the following steps: (a) identify incoming telephone calls as either dialer calls or conversational calls, by (i) receiving a service provider query request to a Dialer Detection System (DDS) platform; (ii) obtaining current system time; (iii) obtaining an ANI from a request for Dialer detection and for White List consideration; (iv) obtaining an origination Resource Group (RG) from request for White List consideration; (v) executing the expiration of records that are maintained in memory (one record per ANI); (vi) inserting the ANI of the query into a table in the system's memory; and (vii) determine the presence or absence of a Dialer Condition; and (b) segregate incoming dialer traffic from non-dialer traffic. 
     
     
       2. The telecommunications computer system of  claim 1 , wherein step (a)(v) is comprised of substeps: (A) traverse a table; and (B) if the time elapsed between the current system time and the time of the existing ANI record is greater than a preset Dialer Interval, then delete the record. 
     
     
       3. The telecommunications computer system of  claim 1 , wherein step (a)(vi) is comprised of substeps: (A) set a Dialer Condition to false; (B) attempt to insert the ANI into the table; and (C) if the ANI is already in the table, a Dialer Condition could exist. 
     
     
       4. The telecommunications system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein (1) if the originating RG or the ANI is in the White List, a Dialer Connection is not triggered and (2) otherwise, a Dialer Connection is triggered. 
     
     
       5. A telecommunications computer system comprised of one or more computers, each having a processor connected to memory and a graphical user interface, wherein the telecommunications computer is connected to one or more network lines or connections, which can be part of an Ethernet, wireless, cellular, direct cable, or similar link to other local computer systems, remote computer systems, or the Internet or other wide area communication network, comprising software instructions encoded to perform the following steps: (a) a call originates from a service provider's customer; (b) the service provider launches a query to the DDS platform using a protocol from the group comprising SIP, XML or a similar protocol; (c) the service provider receives a response indicating whether or not call has dialer characteristics; (d) and the service provider then: (i) terminates the call to a set of Least Cost Routing (LCR) carriers that are optimal for conversational traffic; (ii) terminates the call to a set of LCR carriers that are optimal for dialer traffic; or (iii) releases call back to SP's originating customer, thus ending the SP's interaction in the call flow.