Fully flexible routing service for an advanced intelligent network

• US 6,075,854 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kohli, Pardeep, Brown, Jr., Marcus V., Whited, John, Copley, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/208,192
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211, 379/201, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/408 Customer-specific call routing plans
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/42 Circuit arrangements for indirect selecting controlled by common circuits, e.g. register controller, marker

Abstract

A method of routing a call includes receiving a number of dialed digits entered by a caller, the dialed digits including a called party number, recognizing the called party number as a subscriber to a fully flexible routing service, obtaining a call plan having at least one predetermined routing feature for the subscriber, process the call according to the at least one predetermined routing feature in the call plan, determining a destination number according to the at least one routing features in the call plan, and routing the call to the destination number.

Claims

1. A method of routing a call, comprising:

receiving a number of dialed digits entered by a caller, the dialed digits including a called party number;

recognizing the called party number as a subscriber to a fully flexible routing service;

obtaining a call plan having at least one predetermined routing feature for the subscriber;

obtaining a primary rate interface for the subscriber;

processing the call according to the at least one predetermined routing feature in the call plan;

obtaining a destination number identification service in response to processing the call;

determining whether to overlay the primary interface with the destination number identification service;

determining a destination number according to the primary rate interface alone or with the destination number identification service if so determined; and

routing the call to the destination number.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises obtaining a feature index to a first data structure having data for a first routing feature.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises obtaining a feature index to a next data structure having data for a next routing feature.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises obtaining a route index uniquely identifying the call plan.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein processing the call comprises:

identifying a first routing feature of the call plan;

accessing a first table having a plurality of entries defining the first routing feature;

determining a tentative destination number;

identifying a next routing feature of the call plan;

overwriting or maintaining the tentative destination number according to the next routing feature; and

repeatedly processing the call with the next routing feature until the call plan is completed.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises:

identifying a route index specifying a particular call plan;

identifying a feature index specifying a particular entry in a feature table; and

identifying a feature type specifying a first routing feature.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein routing the call comprises:

obtaining a destination number translated from the dialed digits; and

obtaining a switch and a trunk group for routing the call to the destination number.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a time dependent routing feature.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a time of day routing feature.

10. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a day of week routing feature.

11. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a day of year routing feature.

12. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a geographic dependent routing feature.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a predetermined distribution feature.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a sequential quota routing feature.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a round robin quota routing feature.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a percent allocation routing feature.

17. A fully flexible method of routing a call to a service subscriber, comprising:

obtaining a call plan having a plurality of routing features designed for the subscriber, wherein the plurality of routing features includes one of a time dependent, time of day, day of week, day of year, geographic dependent, predetermined distribution, sequential quota, round robin quota, or percent allocation routing feature;

obtaining a PRI for the subscriber;

process the call according to the plurality of routing features in the call plan and obtaining a DNIS; and

routing the call to a destination number in response to the PRI and DNIS.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises:

obtaining a feature index to a first data structure having data for a first routing feature; and

obtaining a feature index to a next data structure having data for a next routing feature.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises obtaining a route index uniquely identifying the call plan.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein processing the call comprises:

identifying a first routing feature of the call plan;

accessing a first table having a plurality of entries defining the first routing feature;

determining a tentative destination number;

identifying a next routing feature of the call plan;

overwriting or maintaining the tentative destination number according to the next routing feature; and

repeatedly processing the call with the next routing feature until the call plan is completed.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein obtaining the call plan comprises:

identifying a route index specifying a particular call plan;

identifying a feature index specifying a particular entry in a feature table; and

identifying a feature type specifying a first routing feature.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising obtaining a DNIS which may be used to overlay the destination number.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein routing the call comprises:

obtaining a destination number translated from the dialed digits; and

obtaining a switch and a trunk group for routing the call to the destination number.

24. A fully flexible method of routing a call to a service subscriber, comprising:

obtaining a call plan having a plurality of routing features designed for the subscriber;

obtaining a PRI for the subscriber;

process the call according to the plurality of routing features in the call plan and obtaining a DNIS; and

routing the call to a destination number in response to the PRI and DNIS, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan comprising a time dependent routing feature.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a time of day routing feature.

26. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a day of week routing feature.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a day of year routing feature.

28. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a geographic dependent routing feature.

29. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a predetermined distribution feature.

30. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a sequential quota routing feature.

31. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a round robin quota routing feature.

32. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein obtaining a call plan comprises obtaining a call plan alternatively comprising a percent allocation routing feature.

33. A fully flexible method of routing a call to a service subscriber, comprising:

obtaining a call plan having a plurality of routing features designed for the subscriber;

obtaining a PRI for the subscriber;

process the call according to the plurality of routing features in the call plan and obtaining a DNIS, the call plan comprising;

determining a tentative DNIS in response to the time of the call;

determining a tentative DNIS in response to the geographic location of the caller; and

determining a tentative DNIS in response to a predetermined call distribution scheme; and

routing the call to a destination number in response to the PRI and tentative DNIS.