Telephone connection to a nearby dealer

• US 5,136,636 A
• Filed: 02/07/1991
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Wegrzynowicz, Carol A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/652,162
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 379/97, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/127, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13512 800 - freefone
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

This invention relates to an arrangement for selecting a local dealer out of a large group of dealers for completion of an 800 number. The caller is first connected to a toll switching system. That system sends a query to a first database using the 800 number and the caller'"'"'s Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code. The first database responds with a routing number which is used to route a second query to one of a plurality of second databases. The second query uses the routing number and the caller'"'"'s NPA plus office code to access the second database and to obtain the telephone number of a local dealer. The telephone number is returned to the toll system for completing the call. Advantageously, a caller can use a number advertised on national television to access a local dealer.

Claims

1. A method of routing a call from a caller to a selected destination, wherein said destination is one of a plurality of destinations of one customer identified by a common telephone number, comprising:

responsive to receipt of said common telephone number from said caller accessing a first database using said common telephone number and area information for said caller to obtain a routing key; and

accessing a second database, out of a plurality of second databases for serving said one customer, to select a number for directing said call to said selected destination, said accessing performed using said routing key and at least a portion of a telephone number of said caller, said second database selected using said routing key.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second databases comprises an essentially disjunct set of translation data of said customer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second database is populated to select a destination nearby to said caller.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said area information comprises a numbering plan area code of said caller.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of a telephone number comprises a numbering plan area code and an office code of said caller.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein, for at least one instance of an area code plus an office code, said second database selects a number of one of at least two destinations.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second database selects among said at least two destinations by allocating a percentage of traffic to each of said at least two destinations.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said second database selects among said at least two destinations by selecting an alternate destination if a first choice destination is busy or unavailable.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least a portion of a telephone number comprises a complete telephone number of said caller.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said second database is accessed via a data network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said data network comprises a signaling network comprising a signal transfer point.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said signal transfer point uses said routing key to route a query message toward said second database for accessing data therein.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

accessing one of said plurality of second databases from a terminal of said customer for reading or modifying data for said customer in said one database.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said accessing comprises:

dialing an INWATS telephone number;

specifying a numbering plan area for which said customer'"'"'s data is to be accessed; and

based on said INWATS number and said numbering plan area, routing said terminal to said one second database.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein ones of said plurality of second databases serve a plurality of customers.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said common telephone number is an INWATS telephone number and said first database is an INWATS database.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

prior to accessing said first database, routing said call to a switching system for accessing said first and second databases.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

further routing said call received in said switching system from said switching system toward said selected destination.

19. A method of routing a call from a caller to a selected destination, wherein said destination is one of a plurality of destinations of one customer identified by a common telephone number, comprising:

responsive to receipt of said common telephone numbers from said caller accessing a first database using said common telephone number and a first portion of a telephone number for said caller to obtain a routine key; and

accessing a second database, out of a plurality of second databases for serving said one customer, to select a number for directing said call to said selected destination, said accessing performed using said routing key and at least a second portion of said telephone number of said caller, said second database selected using said routing key.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said customer has data in a group of first databases and a group of pluralities of second databases, each first database and each plurality of second databases for serving a different area or group of areas.