System and computer program for routing a dedicated number through alternate telephone carriers

• US 6,526,136 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tamasi, Mark, Simino, John, Nance, Bruce A., Hickman, David, Coranado, M. Lourdes, Culli, Laura, Plunkett, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/922,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 379/115.01, 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.05, 379/221.06, 379/221.08, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 379/221.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors

Abstract

A system and computer program for routing a call to a dedicated number through an AIN-based network. The system improves the probability that a call based on a dialed dedicated number will be routed through a node to one of a plurality of interexchange carriers, said node having a predetermined sequence of preferred carriers assigned thereto. The system of the present invention includes a system for recognizing said dedicated number, a system for assigning primary, alternate and secondary interexchange carriers responsive to said system for recognizing. Also provided is a system for sequentially routing said dedicated number from said node to said interexchange carrier corresponding to said primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established.

Claims

1. A system for improving the probability that a call based on a dialed dedicated number will be routed through a node to one of a plurality of interexchange carriers, said node having a predetermined sequence of preferred carriers assigned thereto, comprising:

a system for recognizing said dedicated number;

a system for assigning primary, alternate and secondary interexchange carriers responsive to said system for recognizing; and

a system for sequentially routing said dedicated number from said node to said interexchange carrier corresponding to said primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system for assigning classification data based on at least one of a code input with said dedicated number and the assigned primary, alternate, and secondary carriers, said classification data designated for use with at least one of statistical analysis and billing.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an advanced intelligent network, wherein:

said node is an end office of said network; and

said dedicated number is entered at a device connected to said end office.

4. A computer program for routing a call based on a dialed number from a location to one of a plurality of interexchange carriers, said location having a predetermined sequence of ranked preferred interexchange carriers assigned thereto, the program stored in a computer-readable medium and comprising:

setting a primary carrier to one of an authorized Primary Interexchange Carrier and a first ranked carrier of said predetermined sequence of ranked preferred carriers for said location;

selecting at least one alternate carrier sequentially from a highest remaining ranked carrier in said predetermined sequence of ranked preferred carriers; and

sequentially routing said call to said primary carrier and said at least one alternate carrier until a connection is established.

5. The computer program of claim 4, wherein said primary carrier is configured to be set to said first ranked carrier when said Primary Interexchange Carrier is not an authorized carrier.

6. The computer program of claim 4, further comprising providing at least one of a service code and a peg count code based upon at least one of said dialed number, said predetermined sequence of ranked preferred interexchange carriers, and a sequence formed by said primary carrier and said at least one alternate carrier.

7. The computer program of claim 6, further comprising recording said at least one of said service code and said peg count code for later retrieval and statistical analysis.

8. The computer program of claim 7, wherein said recording includes recording data regarding said dialed number, said data including at least one of call time, call date, originating number, originating city, originating state, call duration, call disposition, an interexchange carrier, an interexchange carrier selection sequence, trunk group used, dialed digits and destination number.

9. The computer program of claim 7, wherein said recording includes recording said codes for later retrieval and billing.

10. The computer program of claim 4, wherein said location has a calling party number, the computer program further comprising selectively overriding said calling party number with a dedicated number.

11. The computer program of claim 4, further comprising storing said predetermined sequence of ranked preferred carriers in a look up table, wherein said selecting includes consulting said look up table to locate said highest remaining ranked carrier.