Network based determination of cost effective access
First Claim
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1. A system for routing a call requesting access to a service provider based on the location of the caller, comprising:
- at least one switching system having network interfaces within a telecommunications network for receiving a call having a prespecified dialed number and service provider code and for launching a query, in response to the call, that includes the service provider code and a number identifying the network interface through which the call was received; and
a database within the telecommunications network including at least one routing number associated with each of a plurality of service providers, wherein the database determines a routing number, in response to the query, for least cost access to a service provider corresponding to the service provider code, and returns the routing number to the switching system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to access an information or electronic service uses a single access telephone number. The telephone number is used to access a particular service provider no matter where the subscriber is located, and may be, for example, 950-DATA, 1-800-ATT-DATA, or 1-500-EASY-DATA. The system and method are particularly well suited to internet access through internet service providers (ISPs).
104 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for routing a call requesting access to a service provider based on the location of the caller, comprising:
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at least one switching system having network interfaces within a telecommunications network for receiving a call having a prespecified dialed number and service provider code and for launching a query, in response to the call, that includes the service provider code and a number identifying the network interface through which the call was received; and a database within the telecommunications network including at least one routing number associated with each of a plurality of service providers, wherein the database determines a routing number, in response to the query, for least cost access to a service provider corresponding to the service provider code, and returns the routing number to the switching system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for routing a call requesting access to a service provider based on the location of the caller, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a query from a caller through a telecommunications network, the query including a service provider code and a number associated with a network interface through which the call originated; accessing a database including at least one service provider, each service provider having at least one corresponding routing number; determining a routing number to access a service provider corresponding to the service provider code in a least cost manner, based on the network interface originating the call; and returning the routing number to the telephone network in response to the query. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein, wherein the computer program logic comprises; receiving means for enabling a computer to receive a query from a telecommunications network including a service provider code and a location of a network interface of a call; accessing means for enabling the computer to access a service provider database including at least one routing number corresponding to each service provider in the database; determining means for enabling the computer to determine a routing number for least cost access to a service provider corresponding to the service provider code; and returning means for enabling the computer to return the routing number to the telecommunications network in response to the query. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification