Flexible service access code (SAC)
First Claim
1. In a telephone communications system having a switch for receiving a call and an originating trunk line for routing the call from an originating caller to the switch, a method for providing flexibility to accept and route flexible service access codes not restricted to a pre-determined three-digit extension that are dialed by an originating caller for special service calls, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining whether the switch receiving a call supports processing of flexible service access codes;
(b) if it is determined that the switch receiving the call supports flexible service access codes, then determining whether the originating trunk group over which the call was routed supports flexible service access codes and processing the call as a flexible service access code special service call;
(c) if it is determined that the switch receiving the call does not support flexible service access codes, then processing the call as a common telephone call by routing the call to a destination caller and building a call record for the call.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible service access code (FLEX SAC) permits originating callers to dial up to a fifteen-digit extension in place of a traditional service access code (SAC), such as for example a "700", "800", and "900" extension followed by a seven-digit extension. In addition to providing the originating caller, the destination caller, and the long distance carrier greater flexibility in the digits dialed for a SAC call, FLEX SAC permits routing on private trunks and remote access trunks, as well as the shared access trunks conventionally used for SAC calls. If the switch supports FLEX SAC calls, a FLEX SAC table (pertaining to the originating trunk group over which the call was routed) is parsed to find the called number. If the called number is found in the FLEX SAC table, additional fields indicating ANI screening, OLI screening, external routing, and the transaction group are parsed in the relevant FLEX SAC table. If either the OLI or the ANI fields indicate that OLI or ANI screening is to be performed, respectively, then an OLI or an ANI table for the switch is parsed to determine whether the call should be blocked, because a call from the originating caller is not supported by the switch. If the external routing field indicates an external routing table must be used to route the call, the external routing table is queried using the called number and the value of the transaction group field, which defines the call type to the external routing table. If the called number is not found in the FLEX SAC table, or external routing is not supported for the call, or a response is not received from the external routing table, then the call is routed using an in-switch translation table.
17 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a telephone communications system having a switch for receiving a call and an originating trunk line for routing the call from an originating caller to the switch, a method for providing flexibility to accept and route flexible service access codes not restricted to a pre-determined three-digit extension that are dialed by an originating caller for special service calls, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining whether the switch receiving a call supports processing of flexible service access codes; (b) if it is determined that the switch receiving the call supports flexible service access codes, then determining whether the originating trunk group over which the call was routed supports flexible service access codes and processing the call as a flexible service access code special service call; (c) if it is determined that the switch receiving the call does not support flexible service access codes, then processing the call as a common telephone call by routing the call to a destination caller and building a call record for the call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing flexibility to accept and route flexible service access codes not restricted to a pre-determined three-digit extension that are dialed by an originating caller for special service calls, comprising:
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a switch for receiving a call; an originating trunk line for routing the call from an originating caller to said switch; means for determining whether the switch receiving a call supports processing of flexible service access codes; means for determining whether the originating trunk group over which the call was routed supports flexible service access codes; means for processing the call as a flexible service access code special service call, if it is determined that the switch receiving the call supports flexible service access codes and it is determined that the originating trunk group over which the call was routed supports flexible service access codes; and means for processing the call as a common telephone call by routing the call to a destination caller and for building a call record for the call, if it is determined that the switch receiving the call does not support flexible service access codes or it is determined that the originating trunk group over which the call was routed does not support flexible service access codes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification