Methods and systems for determining the classification of a call

• US 5,917,902 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saucier, Jerry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,488
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/133, 379/201, 379/207, 379/242, 379/245
• US Class Current: 379/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54533 Configuration data, translation, passwords, databases

Abstract

Methods and systems to determine whether a directory number is classified as associated with other directory numbers or associated by local calling area. In a first method, a table of patterns is provided. Each pattern includes a terminating NPA-NXX designation that represents a directory number associated with a terminating device that may be dialed as a local call from an originating device having a local calling area pattern corresponding to the pattern to which this terminating NPA-NXX designation belongs. In response to receipt of an NPA-NXX portion, the pattern table is checked for a corresponding pattern and information is provided about the corresponding pattern. This information includes a terminating NPA-NXX designation. A determination may be made from the information as to what directory number may be dialed as a local call from the originating device having the NPA-NXX portion. In a second method, local calling area (LCA) pattern file including a plurality of LCA patterns is provided. Each LCA pattern includes a switch entry having a first part with a switch identifier and a second part with a directory number that is served by the switch and that is part of LCA pattern to which the switch entry belongs. In response to receipt of a directory number, the LCA pattern file is checked for a corresponding LCA pattern. Information is provided with respect to the corresponding LCA pattern.

Claims

1. A method for determining what directory number may be dialed as a local call from an originating device associated with a directory number having a particular NPA-NXX portion, comprising the steps of:

A. providing a local calling area (LCA) pattern file comprising a plurality of LCA patterns,

wherein each LCA pattern of said plurality of LCA patterns comprises a switch entry, and

wherein said switch entry comprises

a switch identifier identifying a switch, and either

a wildcard code or a terminating NPA-NXX designation,

wherein said wildcard code in said switch entry indicates that all directory numbers having NPA-NXX portions served by said switch identified by said switch identifier are included as terminating directory numbers in said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion, and

wherein said terminating NPA-NXX designation represents a terminating directory number associated with a terminating device that may be dialed as a local call from an originating device associated with an originating directory number having a particular NPA-NXX portion;

B. receiving said particular NPA-NXX portion;

C. checking said LCA pattern file for the LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion; and

D. providing information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion, said information comprising at least one switch entry, said at least one switch entry having said switch identifier and either said wildcard code or said terminating NPA-NXX designation, whereby a determination may be made from said information as to what other directory number may be dialed as said local call from said originating device associated with said directory number having said particular NPA-NXX portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion represents the local calling area for said particular NPA-NXX portion;

and

wherein said step D of providing said information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion further comprises providing said information with respect to said local calling area for said particular NPA-NXX portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion includes a plurality of switch entries, and

wherein said step D of providing said information further comprises providing said plurality of switch entries.

4. A method for determining whether a directory number is classified as associated with other directory numbers, comprising the steps of:

A. providing a local calling area (LCA) pattern file comprising a plurality of LCA patterns,

wherein each LCA pattern of said plurality of LCA patterns comprises a switch entry,

wherein said switch entry comprises a first part and a second part,

wherein said first part includes a switch identifier identifying a switch, and

wherein said second part represents at least one directory number that is served by said switch and that is part of said each LCA pattern;

B. receiving a particular directory number;

C. checking said LCA pattern file for the LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number; and

D. providing information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number, said information comprising at least one switch entry having said first part including said switch identifier and having said second part, whereby a determination may be made from said information as to whether said directory number is classified as associated with other directory numbers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number represents the local calling area for said particular directory number;

and

wherein said step D of providing said information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number further comprises providing said information with respect to said local calling area for said particular directory number.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number includes a plurality of switch entries, and

wherein said step D of providing said information further comprises providing said plurality of switch entries.

7. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for determining what directory number may be dialed as a local call from an originating device associated with a directory number having a particular NPA-NXX portion, said computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

A. providing a local calling area (LCA) pattern file comprising a plurality of LCA patterns,

wherein each LCA pattern of said plurality of LCA patterns comprises a switch entry, and

wherein said switch entry comprises

a switch identifier identifying a switch, and either

a wildcard code or a terminating NPA-NXX designation,

wherein said wildcard code in said switch entry indicates that all directory numbers having NPA-NXX portions served by said switch identified by said switch identifier are included as terminating directory numbers in said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion, and

wherein said terminating NPA-NXX designation represents a part of a terminating directory number associated with a terminating device that may be dialed as a local call from an originating device associated with an originating directory number having a particular NPA-NXX portion;

B. receiving said particular NPA-NXX portion;

C. checking said LCA pattern file for the LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion; and

D. providing information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion, said information comprising at least one switch entry, said at least one switch entry having said switch identifier and either said wildcard code or said terminating NPA-NXX designation.

8. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for determining whether a directory number is classified as associated with other directory numbers, said computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

A. providing a local calling area (LCA) pattern file comprising a plurality of LCA patterns,

wherein each LCA pattern of said plurality of LCA patterns comprises a switch entry,

wherein said switch entry comprises a first part and a second part,

wherein said first part includes a switch identifier identifying a switch, and

wherein said second part represents at least one directory number that is served by said switch and that is part of said each LCA pattern;

B. receiving a particular directory number;

C. checking said LCA pattern file for the LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number; and

D providing information with respect to said LCA pattern corresponding to said particular directory number, said information comprising at least one switch entry having said first part including said switch identifier and said second part.

9. A method for determining what directory number may be dialed as a local call from an originating device associated with an originating directory number having a particular NPA-NXX portion, comprising the steps of:

A. providing a pattern table comprising a plurality of patterns,

wherein each pattern of said plurality of patterns comprises a plurality of terminating NPA-NXX designations, and

wherein each terminating NPA-NXX designation of said plurality of terminating NPA-NXX designations represents a directory number associated with a terminating device that may be dialed as a local call from an originating device having a local calling area pattern corresponding to said each pattern;

B. receiving said particular NPA-NXX portion;

C. checking said pattern table for the pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion; and

D. providing information with respect to said pattern corresponding to said particular NPA-NXX portion, said information comprising at least one of said plurality of terminating NPA-NXX designations, whereby a determination may be made from said information as to what other directory number may be dialed as said local call from said originating device associated with said originating directory number having said particular NPA-NXX portion.