Method of aggregating a plurality of network traffic

• US 5,987,111 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Donoso, Carlos Hernan, Moss, John Wesley, Ebel, Richard John, Madoch, Pitsa, Steffgen, Gerald Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/766,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 379/219, 379/221, 379/207, 379/229, 379/230, 379/113, 379/154, 379/201, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A method of aggregating calls includes receiving a group of dialed digits at a service switching point (52). The service switching point (52) determines if an access code is present. When the access code is present, the service switching (52) transmits an information analyzed query (54) to a switching control point (56). The service switching point (52) then receives an analyze route message (60) from the switching control point (56). The service switching point (52) then routes a call to a hub service switching point (58).

Claims

1. A method of aggregating a plurality of network traffic, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a network traffic access request at one of a plurality of central office switches;

(b) sending a query to a switching control point;

(c) determining if a network traffic access request is an interLATA network traffic request;

(d) when the network traffic access request is the interLATA network traffic request, transmitting a routing instruction to the one of the plurality of central office switches; and

(e) routing a network traffic to a hub central office.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

(f) combining the network traffic with a plurality of other network traffic.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

(g) routing the network traffic to a point of presence associated with one of a plurality of inter-exchange carrier selections.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further includes the step of transmitting a billing information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further includes the step of receiving a destination number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

(a1) determining if the network traffic access request is from a defined group of originating numbers;

(a2) when the network traffic access request is from the defined group of originating numbers, proceeding to step (b).

7. A method of aggregating calls, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a plurality of dialed digits at a service switching point;

(b) determining if an access code is present;

(c) when the access code is present, transmitting an information analyzed query to a switching control point;

(d) receiving an analyze route message; and

(e) routing a call to a hub service switching point.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the steps of:

(f) receiving an initial address message at the hub service switching point;

(g)transmitting a second information analyzed query to the switching control point;

(h) receiving a second analyze route message; and

(i) routing the call to an inter-exchange carrier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (a) further includes the steps of:

(a1) receiving an off-hook signal;

(a2) transmitting a dial tone.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) further includes transmitting the plurality of dialed digits as part of the information analyzed query.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein step (d) further includes the steps of:

(d1) determining if the call is restricted;

(d2) when the call is not restricted, determining if the plurality of dialed digits form a direct dial interLata call;

(d3) when the plurality of dialed digits form the direct dial interLata call, proceeding to step (e).

12. The method of claim 8, wherein step (f) further includes the step of:

(f1) triggering on a called number in the initial address message.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein step (h) further includes the step of:

(h1) receiving a primary trunk group as part of the second analyze route message.

14. A method of aggregating calls, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a plurality of originating phone numbers for an aggregation service;

(b) receiving a plurality of dialed digits from one of the plurality of originating phone numbers at a service switching point;

(c) when the service switching point is not a hub service switching point, transmitting a query to a switching control point;

(d) receiving a routing message from the switching control point; and

(e) routing a call to the hub service switching point.

15. The method of claim 14, further including the step of:

(f) when the service switching point is the hub service switching point, routing the call using a centrex translation to an inter-exchange carrier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (f) further includes the step of:

(f1) restricting the call when the plurality of dialed digits meet a predefined criteria, using the centrex translation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein step (a) further includes the step of:

(a1) selecting a plurality of lines to be restricted.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:

(a2) restricting each of the plurality of lines from making international calls.

19. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:

(a2) restricting each of the plurality of lines from placing a call to a selected group of numbers.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a1) further includes the step of entering, by an administrator, the plurality of lines through a terminal.

21. The method of claim 14, further including the steps of:

(f) receiving an initial address message containing a called number at the hub service switching point;

(g) transmitting a second query to the switching control point;

(h) receiving a second routing message;

(i) routing the call to an inter-exchange carrier.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (h) further includes the step of:

(h1) receiving a primary trunk group as part of the second analyze route message.

23. A method of aggregating calls, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a query from a service switching point;

(b) determining which of a plurality of hub service switching points are to receive the next call; and

(c) transmitting a response to the service switching point including a routing instruction to a next hub service switching point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (c) further includes the step of:

(c1) determining if a destination number is restricted;

(c2) when the destination number is restricted, sending a call cannot be completed message to the service switching point.