Method of and apparatus for numbering and routing calls through a communication network

• US 5,226,075 A
• Filed: 01/22/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: McGuigan, David F., Lawson, Sue A., Funk, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US07/826,205
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 379/221, 379/201, 379/243, 379/207, 379/289
• US Class Current: 379/243
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A communication network uses a network switch number (NSN) and a class-of-service classification (COS) code to route calls through the network. When a call is received at an originating switch of the network, the dialed number is used to select the NSN which identifies a network terminating switch which connects to the called party. The network uses received call signaling information and stored trunk information and possibly network database information to determine the COS code. The COS code is also used at the terminating switch to identify the type of service trunk to connect to the called party. In another feature, only the network switch number is used to route the call over the network. In accordance with yet another feature, the COS code may be used to select specific network trunks without requiring the specification of the NSN.

Claims

1. A method of routing calls through a communication network including a plurality of interconnected switch nodes, comprising the steps of

receiving, at an originating switch node, a dialed number from a calling party desiring to establish a call to a called party location, said dialed number being used to select a network switch number (NSN) which is selected independent of a calling party number, and which identifies a terminating switch node which connects to said called party location, the value of said network switch number (NSN) not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number,

routing said call over said network to said terminating switch node using the selected network switch number, and not said dialed number.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code being used to select facilities over which the call is routed over said network.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code also being used to effect the selection of the network switch number.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code being used together with said selected network switch number by said routing step to route said call over said network and

at said terminating switch node, using the service code to select a facility to connect to said called party location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the service code includes one or more values selected from a group of values including a service identification value, a circuit selection value which is indicative of the specification of circuit characteristics required for said call, and a grade-of-service value, all said values determined from said one or more call characteristics.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more call characteristics includes signaling information received from the calling party and stored information associated with an incoming facility over which the call is received.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said determining step is performed at an originating switch node that receives the call from the calling party.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said network switch number and said service code are sent over the same network facilities.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein said network switch number and service code are sent over separate network facilities.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said dialed number is translated into a network address using one of a plurality of predetermined network address numbering plans of said network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of network address numbering plans includes one or more of numbering plans selected from a group including a North American plan, an international plan, and an action point plan.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more call characteristics is selected from a group including the dialed number, the calling party number, a billing number provided by the calling party, a facility used to connect the calling party to the network, and the type of apparatus used by the calling party.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said dialed number is part of numbering plan which is one of a group of numbering plans including a public dialing plan, a service-specific dialing plan, and a private dialing plan.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said dialed number is used to determine a network address for the call and wherein said network address is used to select the network switch numbers.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the dialed number is a private party number, wherein the network address is determined from said dialed number using a dialed number mapping means, and wherein said mapping means and other call routing information is specified by said private party.

16. A method of operating an originating switch node of a communication network comprising the steps of

receiving a dialed number over a trunk connected to said originating switch node for establishing a call to a called party location, said dialed number being used to select a network switch number (NSN) which is selected independent of a calling party number and which identifies a terminating switch node of said network which connects to said called party location, the value of said network switch number (NSN) not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and

transmitting said network switch number over a second trunk to another switch node of said network when the selected network switch number is not the same as the network switch number associated with originating switch node.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of

determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics and also using said service code to effect the selection of the network switch number.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of

determining a class-of-service code derived from one or more call characteristics and sending the service code over said second trunk.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of

using the service code to select a facility to connect to said called party location when the selected network switch number is the same as the network switch number of the originating switch node.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said second trunk is selected from a plurality of trunks which provide different egress facilities from said network.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said second trunk is selected using one or more information types selected from a group including, a network address, a class-of-service code, and a network switch number.

22. A method of operating an intermediate switch node of a communication network including at least three switch nodes, one of the switch nodes being an originating switch node which receives a dialed number from a calling party, said method comprising the steps of

receiving, over an incoming trunk, said intermediate switch node call routing information including a network switch number (NSN) which is selected independent of a calling party number, whose value is not a subset of said dialed number and is not a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and which identifies a terminating switch node,

selecting an outgoing trunk to another switch node using said network switch number, and

transmitting said network switch number over said selected outgoing trunk.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said receiving step receives a class of service code, said selecting step using said service code in the process of selecting said outgoing trunk, and said transmitting step transmits said service code over said outgoing trunk.

24. A method of operating a terminating switch node of a communication network including a plurality of switch nodes, one of said plurality of switch nodes being an originating switch node which receives a dialed number from a calling party, said method comprising the steps of

receiving, over an incoming trunk, call routing information associated with a call received by said terminating switch node, said call routing information including a class-of-service code, and a network switch number which is selected independent of a calling party number and which identifies said terminating switch node, the value of said network switch number (NSN) not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and

using the service code to select a facility to connect said call to a called party location.

25. A communication network including a plurality of interconnected switches, said network comprising

originating switch including

means for receiving a dialed number from a calling party desiring to establish a call to a called party location, said dialed number being used to select a network switch number (NSN) which is selected independent of a calling party number and which identifies a terminating switch which connects to said called party location, the value of said network switch number not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and

means for routing said call over said network to said terminating switch using the selected network switch number, and not said dialed number.

26. The network of claim 25 further comprising

at said originating switch, means for determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code being used together with said selected network switch number by said routing means to route said call over said network and

at said terminating switch, means for selecting a facility to connect to said called party location using said service code.

27. The network of claim 26 wherein the service code includes a service identification, a circuit selection, and a grade-of-service value determined from said one or more call characteristics.

28. The network of claim 27 wherein said one or more call characteristics includes signaling information received from one or more sources including calling party, stored information associated with an incoming facility over which the call is received, and a network database.

29. An originating switch for use in a communication network comprising

means for receiving a dialed number over a trunk connected to said originating switch for establishing a call to a called party location,

means for selecting a network switch number (NSN), which is selected independent of a calling party number, using said dialed number to identify a terminating switch of said network which connects to said called party location, the value of said network switch number not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and

means for transmitting said network switch number over a second trunk to another switch of said network when the selected network switch number is not the same as the network switch number associated with originating switch.

30. The originating switch of claim 29 further comprising

means for determining a class-of-service code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code being used to select said second trunk.

31. The originating switch of claim 29 further comprising

means for determining a class-of-service (COS) code derived from one or more call characteristics, said service code also being used to effect the selection of the network switch number.

32. The originating switch of claim 29 further comprising

means for connecting to said called party location when the selected network switch number is the same as the network switch number of the originating switch.

33. An intermediate switch for use in a communication network including at least three switches, one of the switch nodes being an originating switch node which receives a dialed number from a calling party, said intermediate switch comprising

means for receiving, over an incoming trunk, call routing information including a network switch number (NSN), which is selected independent of a calling party number, whose value is not a subset of said dailed number and is not a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and which identifies a terminating switch node,

means for selecting an outgoing trunk to another switch using said network switch number, and

means for transmitting said network switch number over said selected outgoing trunk.

34. The intermediate switch of claim 33 wherein said call routing information includes a class-of-service code, said selecting means using said service code in the process of selecting said selected outgoing trunk, and said transmitting means transmitting said service code over said selected outgoing trunk.

35. A terminating switch for use in a communication network including a plurality of switches, one of said plurality of switch nodes being an originating switch which receives a dialed number from a calling party, said terminating switch comprising

means for receiving, over an incoming trunk, call routing information associated with a call received by said terminating switch, said call routing information including a class-of-service code and a network switch number (NSN) which is selected independent of a calling party number and which identifies said terminating switch, the value of said network switch number not being a subset of said dialed number and not being a subset of any telephone number translated from said dialed number, and

means for selecting, using said service code, a facility to connect said call to a called party location.