Computer-controlled telecommunications system
First Claim
1. A method of causing the establishment of a communications link between a first party located in a first telecommunications charge zone and a second party located in a second telecommunications charge zone different than the first telecommunications charge zone, the method being performed through the use of a computer-controlled telecommunications system having a plurality of switches, each of the switches being capable of establishing a different communications link between the first party and the second party, and each of the switches being located in a different telecommunications charge zone, and each of the telecommunications charge zones having a charge associated with a particular call, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating a request at the first party for a communications link between the first and second parties;
determining the telecommunications charge zone for the second party;
determining which of the charges for the communications links is lowest at a selected time; and
generating and outputting a switch control command to the switch in the telecommunications charge zone for the communications link having the lowest charge at the selected time to establish a communications link between the first party and the second party.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing the lowest available telecommunications charge to a user is described. The lowest available charge is provided by locating switches in different telecommunications charge zones, determining which switch will provide the lowest available charge at a selected time, and using that switch to place calls to a transmitter device and a receiver device so that information signals can be transmitted between the devices.
77 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of causing the establishment of a communications link between a first party located in a first telecommunications charge zone and a second party located in a second telecommunications charge zone different than the first telecommunications charge zone, the method being performed through the use of a computer-controlled telecommunications system having a plurality of switches, each of the switches being capable of establishing a different communications link between the first party and the second party, and each of the switches being located in a different telecommunications charge zone, and each of the telecommunications charge zones having a charge associated with a particular call, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating a request at the first party for a communications link between the first and second parties; determining the telecommunications charge zone for the second party; determining which of the charges for the communications links is lowest at a selected time; and generating and outputting a switch control command to the switch in the telecommunications charge zone for the communications link having the lowest charge at the selected time to establish a communications link between the first party and the second party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of causing the establishment of a communications link between a first party located in a first telecommunications charge zone and a second party located in a second telecommunications charge zone different than the first telecommunications charge zone, the method being performed through the use of a computer-controlled telecommunications system having a plurality of switches, each of the switches being capable of establishing a different communications link between the first party and the second party, and each of the switches being located in a different telecommunications charge zone, and each of the telecommunications charge zones having a charge associated with a particular call, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at the switch in the telecommunications charge zone having the lowest charge for the communications link at a selected time, a switch control command to establish a communications link between the first party and the second party; and establishing a communications link between the first party and the second party in response to said switch control command. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification