System for handling large blocks of special number calls in a telecommunications network

• US 6,215,866 B1
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Salisbury, Bruce Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US08/948,438
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/220, 379/221, 379/245, 379/289, 379/233, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/221.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/00 Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

When telephone calls are placed by dialing a special number such as an “800” number, the dialed number is converted to a specially configured translation number that includes a destination output set of digits which are preferably the last four digits of the dialed number. This translation number is transported over the network from an originating switch to a terminating switch which then outputs the output set to the destination. Advantageously, the terminating switch also replaces the prefix portion of the translation number with an output prefix consisting of at least the NXX portion of the dialed number and outputs this prefix along with the output set to the destination for use in call tracking.

Claims

1. A method for operating a communication network including a destination switch to provide an NXX-XXXX from a dialed number to a destination wherein the communication network is configured with a translation number that comprises a destination code and the XXXX and the destination switch is configured with the NXX, the method comprising:

receiving a call to the dialed number and translating the dialed number into the translation number;

using the translation number to route the call and the translation number over the communication network to the destination switch;

using the XXXX from the translation number to obtain the NXX in the destination switch; and

outputting the NXX-XXXX from the destination switch to the destination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the destination switch is further configured with an NPA from the dialed number and further comprising using the XXXX from the translation number to obtain the NPA in the destination switch and outputting NPA-NXX-XXXX from the destination switch to the destination.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dialed number is an 800 number.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dialed number is a 900 number.