Method and apparatus for routing telephone calls between alternate telephone service providers
First Claim
1. An apparatus located at the premises of a user'"'"'s telephone instrument for automatically routing a telephone call placed by a user employing the telephone instrument, through a selected one telephone service among a plurality of telephone services available to the user, said apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a series of dialed digits of a telephone number entered by the user making the telephone call using the telephone instrument;
means for analyzing said dialed digits so as to determine type of call being placed by the user;
means for simulating an off hook condition of the telephone to said one selected telephone service;
means for detecting a dial tone from said one selected telephone service;
means for transmitting a trunk busy signal to the telephone instrument absent detection of said dial tone by said dial tone detection means;
means for selecting one telephone service of said plural telephone services as a function of the determined call type and for connecting said telephone instrument to said one selected telephone service;
means for preventing said selecting means from connecting said telephone instrument to said one selected telephone service absent detection of said dial tone by said dial tone detection means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for selectively routing calls between alternate available telephone service providers. The inventive device is operatively connected between a user'"'"'s telephone instrument and the telephone lines of the various alternate service providers. As the user enters or dials the number representing the intended remote connection, the inventive device analyzes the entered digits. After a sufficient number of digits have been dialed and analyzed, the device automatically chooses the appropriate telephone line over which to send the call, transmits the dialed digits over that line, and connects the telephone instrument to the chosen telephone line.
76 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus located at the premises of a user'"'"'s telephone instrument for automatically routing a telephone call placed by a user employing the telephone instrument, through a selected one telephone service among a plurality of telephone services available to the user, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a series of dialed digits of a telephone number entered by the user making the telephone call using the telephone instrument; means for analyzing said dialed digits so as to determine type of call being placed by the user; means for simulating an off hook condition of the telephone to said one selected telephone service; means for detecting a dial tone from said one selected telephone service; means for transmitting a trunk busy signal to the telephone instrument absent detection of said dial tone by said dial tone detection means; means for selecting one telephone service of said plural telephone services as a function of the determined call type and for connecting said telephone instrument to said one selected telephone service; means for preventing said selecting means from connecting said telephone instrument to said one selected telephone service absent detection of said dial tone by said dial tone detection means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of automatically routing an outgoing telephone call among a plurality of alternate telephone services connected to an automated controller in communication with and located at the premises of a user'"'"'s telephone, comprising the steps of:
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storing a successive plurality of dialed digits for a telephone number entered by a user to place the telephone call through a telephone instrument; analyzing in the automated controller the dialed digits to determine type a of call being placed; simulating an off hook condition of the telephone instrument to a selected one of the plural alternate telephone services; detecting a dial tone on said one selected telephone service; preventing routing of the outgoing call to said one selected telephone service absent detection of dial tone on said one selected telephone service during said dial tone detecting step; transmitting a trunk busy signal to the telephone instrument absent detecting of dial tone during said dial tone detecting step; routing, through automated operation of the controller, the telephone call to said one selected telephone service based upon the determined call type; and connecting, through automated operation of the controller, the telephone instrument to said one selected telephone service. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification