Methods and systems for call processing
Systems and methods are described for processing calls. A call is received at a softswitch or other call processing system from a caller intended for a first subscriber. The first call is associated with signaling information, the signaling information including a phone number associated with the caller. A determination is made as to whether the first subscriber has previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch. If the first subscriber has not previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch, a first message is played to the caller. An indication that the first message was played to the caller is stored in association with an account record associated with the first subscriber.
1. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:
receiving at a call processing system, the call processing system including at least one processing device, a first call from a caller intended for a first user, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with the caller;
accessing, by the call processing system, call history information associated with the caller;
based at least in part on the call history information, determining, by at least one processing system, if a first offer message is to be played to the caller; and
at least partly in response to determining that the first offer message is to be played:
playing by the call processing system at least a portion of the first offer message to the caller,
storing in association with an identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive an earned credit.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving at the call processing system a second call from the caller intended for a second user, wherein signaling information associated with the second call includes identification information associated with the caller;
accessing the call history information associated with the caller;
based at least in part on the call history information associated with the caller, determining if a second offer message is to be played to the caller;
at least partly in response to determining that the second offer message is to be played to the caller:
playing at least a portion of the second offer message to the caller,
storing in association with an identifier associated with the second user an indication that the second user is to receive an earned credit.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the second offer message comprises a plurality of message offers.
4. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the second user comprises a plurality of users.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising transmitting a notification in substantially real time to the first user if the first user received the earned credit for the call.
6. The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:
placing an outcall from the call processing system to a destination associated with the first user; and
bridging the first call and the outcall.
7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller via the call processing system.
8. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the call history includes an indication as to whether the first user previously received a call from the caller within a designated period of time.
9. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing, by the call processing system, a time parameter; and
based at least in part on the time parameter, determining if the first offer message is to be played to the caller.
10. A method of processing calls of a communication service, the method comprising:
receiving at a first system, including at least one processing device, a first call from a caller intended for a first user of the communication service, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with:
the caller,
a communication device from which the first call is placed, or
the caller and the communication device from which the first call is placed;
determining by the first system if a first offer is to be played to the caller; and
at least partly in response to determining that the first offer to the caller is to be played:
playing the first offer to the caller, and
discounting a fee associated with a communication service to the first user.
11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the identification information associated with the caller is a phone address associated with the communication device from which the first call is placed.
12. The method as defined in claim 10 , the method further comprising:
placing an outcall from the first system to a destination associated with the first user; and
bridging the first call and the outcall.
13. The method as defined in claim 10 , further comprising:
accessing, by the call processing system, a time parameter; and
based at least in part on the time parameter, determining by the first system if the first offer is to be played to the caller.
14. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the discount entitles the first user to the communication service free of a charge.
15. The method as defined in claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving at the first system, including at least one processing device, a second call from a caller intended for a second user of the communication service, wherein signaling information associated with the second call includes identification information associated with:
the caller,
a communication device from which the second call is placed, or
the caller and the communication device from which the second call is placed;
determining by the first system if a second offer is to be played to the caller;
if a determination is made that the second offer to the caller is to be played, playing the second offer to the caller, and
discounting a fee associated with the communication service to the second user.
16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the second offer is a plurality of offers.
17. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the second user is a plurality of users.
18. A method of processing calls of a communication service, the method comprising:
receiving at a first system, including at least one processing device, a first call from a caller intended for a first user, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with:
the caller,
a communication device from which the first call is placed, or
the caller and the communication device from which the first call is placed;
determining by the first system an offer message to be played to the caller;
playing the offer message to the caller, and
discounting a communication service to the first user.
19. The method as defined in claim 18 , wherein the discount entitles the first user to the communication service free of a charge.
20. The method as defined in claim 18 , the method further comprising:
placing an outcall from the first system to a destination associated with the first user; and
bridging the first call and the outcall.
21. A call processing system, comprising:
a telephony interface;
a computer system comprising hardware;
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the computer system cause the call processing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via the telephony interface, a first call from a caller intended for a first user, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with the caller;
accessing call history information associated with the caller;
based at least in part on the call history information, determining if a first offer message is to be played to the caller; and
at least partly in response to determining that the first offer message is to be played:
playing at least a portion of the first offer message to the caller,
storing in association with an identifier associated with the first user an indication that the first user is to receive an earned credit.
22. A call processing system, comprising:
a telephony interface;
a computer system comprising hardware;
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the computer system cause the call processing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via the telephony interface, a first call from a caller intended for a first user of the communication service, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with:
the caller,
a communication device from which the first call is placed, or
the caller and the communication device from which the first call is placed;
determining if a first offer is to be played to the caller; and
at least partly in response to determining that the first offer to the caller is to be played:
playing the first offer to the caller, and
discounting a fee associated with a communication service to the first user.
23. A call processing system, comprising:
a telephony interface;
a computer system comprising hardware;
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the computer system cause the call processing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via the telephony interface, a first call from a caller intended for a first user, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes identification information associated with:
the caller,
a communication device from which the first call is placed, or
the caller and the communication device from which the first call is placed;
determining an offer message to be played to the caller;
playing the offer message to the caller, and
discounting a communication service to the first user.