Least cost routing system
First Claim
1. A least cost routing device for determining and establishing an optimum route for a telephone call made by a user, said device comprising:
- interception means for intercepting digits input by the user;
a storage unit for storing tariff and telephone call related information;
a least cost router for determining said optimum route for the telephone call and caller utilizing said tariff and telephone call related information and expected call cost, said least cost router operative to generate a dialing signal corresponding to a carrier selected for said optimum route; and
communication means, responsive to the combination of said dialing signal and said digits input by the user for accessing said carrier to route said telephone call.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A least cost routing system is disclosed. The routing system includes at least one telephone dialing unit, at least one least cost router and a database updating unit. The telephone dialing unit dials a telephone number to place a telephone call. Each least cost router has a corresponding routing database of tariffs of telephone service providers and determines, from information in its corresponding routing database, which telephone service provider or providers to utilize to execute the telephone call. The database updating unit electronically updates tariff information into each of the routing databases shortly after updated tariff information is entered therein.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A least cost routing device for determining and establishing an optimum route for a telephone call made by a user, said device comprising:
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interception means for intercepting digits input by the user; a storage unit for storing tariff and telephone call related information; a least cost router for determining said optimum route for the telephone call and caller utilizing said tariff and telephone call related information and expected call cost, said least cost router operative to generate a dialing signal corresponding to a carrier selected for said optimum route; and communication means, responsive to the combination of said dialing signal and said digits input by the user for accessing said carrier to route said telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining and establishing an optimum route for a telephone call by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing tariff and telephone call related information within a database; obtaining from the user, digits making up a telephone number for said telephone call; determining said optimum route for the telephone call utilizing said tariff and telephone call and caller related information and expected call cost; generating a dialing signal corresponding to a carrier selected for said optimum route; and accessing said carrier selected for said optimum route by use of a combination of said dialing signal and said telephone number input by the user to enable completion of said telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification