Geographically mapped telephone routing method and system

• US 5,805,689 A
• Filed: 09/05/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 800 Adept Incorporated
• Original Assignee: 800 Adept Incorporated
• Inventors: Neville, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/709,475
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/212, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13512 800 - freefone
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A method and system for direct routing of telephone calls made by a caller originating from within specific calling areas to one of a plurality of locations of a second party according to certain criteria established by the second party. This routing is accomplished based on the assignment of latitude and longitude coordinates to a potential caller'"'"'s location. Once these coordinates are assigned to each of the potential callers, the second party'"'"'s criteria is applied to assign the potential caller to a second party. Such criteria could be existence within a previously-defined geographic area, a custom defined geographic area, or through calculations such as the shortest distance between coordinate points. Once all such assignments have been made, a database is assembled to be used by a long distance carrier for direct routing of telephone calls from callers to an assigned second party.

Claims

1. In a telephone system, a method of constructing a database wherein said database is used by a telephone service provider for direct routing a telephone call from a first party who dials one of an 800-type, 900-type or other special access code telephone number assigned to a second party, who has determined specific locations to receive calls originating from within pre-determined geographic areas, thereby allowing the first party to reach one of a plurality of locations of the second party based on geographic location of the first party from within one of a plurality of geographic areas, said method comprising the steps of:

a. assigning individual latitude and longitude coordinates to each telephone number of all potential first parties;

b. defining the boundaries of one or more geographic areas which can be of any size and shape according to pre-determined criteria;

c. assigning to the telephone number of each potential first party a telephone number of a specific location of the second party that will receive calls originating from within a geographic area of each first party;

d. determining in which geographic area a potential call might originate for each potential first party in the area encompassed by all geographic areas; and

e. assigning the specific location of the second party to all potential first parties within the boundaries of each geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step a. further comprises the steps of:

a. determining the address of each potential first party;

b. determining the latitude and longitude coordinates of the address of each potential first party; and

c. correlating the latitude and longitude coordinates of each address to the telephone number of each potential first party.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step a. further comprises the steps of:

a. determining a ZIP+4 code of the address of each potential first party;

b. determining the latitude and longitude coordinates of said ZIP+4 code; and

c. correlating the latitude and longitude coordinates of each ZIP+4 code to the telephone number of each potential first party.

4. The method of claim 1 whereby the pre-determined criteria of step b. precisely defines a geographic area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said criteria may comprise any criteria selected by the second party.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step d. further comprises the steps of:

a. assigning the latitude and longitude coordinates for each point along the boundary of each geographic area;

b. determining if the latitude and longitude coordinates of a potential first party are interior to the geographical area formed by the latitude and longitude coordinates for each point along the boundary of the geographic area; and

c. repeating steps a. and b. until all potential first parties have been assigned to respective geographic areas.