Telecommunications system with active database

• US 5,515,425 A
• Filed: 01/19/1993
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belanger, David G., Penzias, Arno A., Young, Joel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/006,333
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/111, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/125, 379/128, 379/220, 379/221, 379/143, 379/144, 379/155, 379/207, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/114.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/34 Charging, billing or metering arrangements for private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCR
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13149 Change of provider, e.g. network or service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13503 object-oriented systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors

Abstract

Interexchange carriers make their rate information for long-distance service available in a database. PBXs and telephone central offices access that rate information using ISDN and/or SS7 signaling and use it as a basis for determining which carder to use at any given time in the routing of a call. Such accessing may be carried out on a call-by-call basis. Or a carrier'"'"'s schedule of rates can be stored locally in the PBX or local switching office, thereby obviating the need for a database query for every call.

Claims

1. A method, for use by a telecommunications carrier, which routes calls over a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of

storing, in a database, rate information defining the toll rates currently in effect for at least one class of calls routed over said telecommunications network, and

providing, to a source of said calls, via a telecommunications signaling path connected to said database, at least a portion of said rate information, said telecommunications signaling path including an SS7 signaling link,

said source of said calls being telecommunications switching equipment which receives said calls from originating telephone station equipment and routes said calls to said telecommunications network, and said toll rates being the toll rates that apply to calls made from said telephone station equipment to respective called destinations.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications signaling path includes a signal transfer point.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said database is an active database.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said portion of said rate information includes rate information applicable to calls which originate from said source of said calls.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein, in said providing step, said portion of said rate information is provided in response to a query requesting rate information applicable to calls which originate from said source of said calls.

6. The invention of claim 1 comprising the further step of

changing at least a portion of said stored rate information as a function of at least a first predetermined criterion.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said first predetermined criterion is a function of the operational status of at least one element of said telecommunications network.

7. A method for use by a telecommunications carrier which routes calls over a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of

storing, in a database, rate information defining the toll rates currently in effect for at least one class of calls routed over said telecommunications network,

changing at least a portion of said stored rate information as a function of at least a first predetermined criterion, and

providing, to a source of said calls, via a telecommunications signaling path connected to said database, at least a portion of said rate information, said telecommunications signaling path including an SS7 signaling link, said portion of said rate information is provided in response to the occurrence of said changing.

9. A method, for use by a telecommunications carrier, which routes calls over a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of

storing, in a database, rate information defining the toll rates currently in effect for at least one class of calls routed over said telecommunications network, and

providing at least a portion of said rate information to a source of said calls via a telecommunications signaling path connected to said database in response to the changing of at least a portion of said stored rate information, said telecommunications signaling path including an SS7 signaling link,

said source of said calls being telecommunications switching equipment which receives said calls from originating telephone station equipment and routes said calls to said telecommunications network, and said toll rates being the toll rates that apply to calls made from said telephone station equipment to respective called destinations.

10. A method, for use by a telecommunications carrier, which routes calls over a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of

storing, in a database, rate information defining the toll rates currently in effect for at least one class of calls routed over said telecommunications network,

changing at least a portion of said stored rate information as a function of the operational status of at least one element of said telecommunications network, and

providing at least a portion of said rate information to a source of said calls via a telecommunications signaling path connected to said database, said telecommunications signaling path including an SS7 signaling link,

said source of said calls being telecommunications switching equipment which receives said calls from originating telephone station equipment and routes said calls to said telecommunications network, and said toll rates being the toll rates that apply to calls made from said telephone station equipment to respective called destinations.