TELEPHONE NUMBER SIMPLIFICATION FOR VOIP NETWORKS

• US 20170070540A1
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Katrina D., Johnston, Dana A., Combellas, Claudia M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications

Abstract

A telecommunications network includes a network service computing device and a host routing device. The host routing device includes a switch. The host routing device is coupled with a remote network and a PSTN. The remote network is coupled to a plurality of communication devices. The network service computing device is in communication with a database. The database includes a plurality of tags associated with VoIP lines. The tags identify the physical location where a plurality of VoIP lines are being operated. The tags determine routing and billing of calls made from each of the VoIP lines. Using a tag as a main routing identifier, instead of just an actual phone number, increases the probability that calls made from the VoIP line are properly routed and correctly billed through the telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A method of call routing for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, comprising:

utilizing a network service computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to perform the operations of;

receiving a first location associated with a first VoIP line, the first VoIP line including a telephone number associated with the first VoIP line;

creating a first tag associated with the first location, the first tag including geographical information associated with the first location to facilitate routing functionality for calls made from the first VoIP by the geographic information instead of routing calls from the first VoIP line by the telephone number;

receiving a request to facilitate a VoIP call between the first VoIP line and a second VoIP line; and

routing the VoIP call using the first tag by a host routing device coupled to the network service computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a first billing number associated with the first tag to specify accurate billing of calls made from the first VoIP line.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the first location to be a known valid address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first location via a portal, web interface, mobile application, instant messaging application, or Application Programming Interface (API).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is associated with a first local access and transport area (LATA).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to update the geographical information associated with the first VoIP line and the first tag.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a second location associated with a second local access and transport area (LATA).

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising coupling a second tag to the first VoIP line based upon the second location such that calls are routed from the first VoIP line utilizing the second tag.

9. A telecommunications routing system for routing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls over a host network, comprising:

a host routing device; and

a network service computing device coupled to the host routing device, the network service computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to;

receive a first location associated with a first VoIP line; and

create a first tag for the first VoIP line based upon the first location;

wherein the host routing device routes calls from the first VoIP line based upon the first tag.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the host routing device includes at least one switch.

11. The system of claim 9, further including a remote network communicably coupled to the host network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first VoIP line is associated with a first communication device of the remote network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first location includes a postal address where the first VoIP line is being utilized.

14. A method of call routing for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, comprising:

utilizing a network service computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to perform the operations of;

receiving a first location associated with a first VoIP line; and

generating a first tag associated with the first location to specify routing functionality for calls made from the first VoIP line.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a telephone number associated with the first VoIP line is ignored with respect to the routing functionality because of the first tag.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising assigning a billing number to the first VoIP line based on the first tag.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a second location associated with the first VoIP line; and

updating the first tag with a second tag associated with the second location for purposes of call routing from the first VoIP line.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a request to facilitate a VoIP call between the first VoIP line and a second VoIP line; and

routing the VoIP call using the first tag.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the location from a customer of the telecommunications network via a portal, web interface, mobile application, instant messaging application, or Application Programming Interface (API).

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a telephone number associated with the first VoIP line is associated with a local calling area that is different from a second local calling area associated with the location.