Local routing system and method

• US 6,795,539 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nance, Bruce A., Hanrahan, Michael, Fleischer, Harold C. III, Coronado, M. Lourdes, Culli, Laura, Simino, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/462,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 379/120, 379/121.01, 379/125, 379/126, 379/127.01, 379/130, 379/133, 379/134, 379/140, 379/154, 379/207.15, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.09, 379/221.12, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/121.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/304 Route determination for signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• 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 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 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13144 Searching path through number of switching stages or nodes, e.g. revertive blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13251 : Restricted service, class of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors

Abstract

A telecommunications system determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party. A switch in the telecommunications system includes a signal generator that generates a signal in response to receiving the telephone call. The signal includes a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier. The service variable indicates a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with the calling party or the called party. The signal is used to determine the routing preference at a service control point in the telecommunications system. The service control point receives the signal from the switch and determines the routing preference. The routing preference is forwarded to the switch. The switch receives the routing preference and routes the telephone call according to the routing preference.

Claims

1. A telecommunications switch that determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party, the switch comprising:

a signal generator that generates a signal in response to receiving the telephone call, the signal including a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier, the service variable indicating a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with one of the calling party and the called party, the signal being used to determine the routing preference at a service control point, the switch receiving the determined routing preference and routing the telephone call according to the determined routing preference.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the service variable further indicates whether the telephone number is associated with a resale services subscriber or an unbundled services subscriber.

3. The switch of claim 1, wherein the signal further includes a calling scope variable that is used to determine which of a plurality of local database dialing plans should be used to determine whether the telephone call is local.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein the switch is associated with a memory that stores information that associates the routing preference of the telecommunications service provider with the telecommunications service provider identifier.

5. A telecommunications service control point that determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party, the service control point comprising:

a receiver that receives a signal generated in response to the telephone call being received at a switch, the signal including a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier, the service variable indicating a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with one of the calling party and the called party, the signal being used to determine the routing preference at the service control point.

6. The service control point of claim 5, wherein the service variable further indicates whether the telephone number is associated with a resale services subscriber or an unbundled services subscriber.

7. The service control point of claim 5, wherein the signal further includes a calling scope variable that is used to determine which of a plurality of local database dialing plans should be used to determine whether the telephone call is local.

8. The service control point of claim 5, wherein the service control point is associated with a memory that stores information that associates the routing preference of the telecommunications service provider with the telecommunications service provider identifier.

9. A method for determining a routing preference for a telecommunications switch that routes a telephone call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

generating a signal in response to receiving the telephone call at the switch, the signal including a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier, the service variable indicating a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with one of the calling party and the called party; and

forwarding the signal from the switch, the signal being used to determine the routing preference at a service control point.

10. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 9, wherein the service variable indicates whether the telephone number is associated with a resale services subscriber or an unbundled services subscriber.

11. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 9, wherein the signal further includes a calling scope variable that is used to determine which of a plurality of local database dialing plans should be used to determine whether the telephone call is local.

12. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 9, further comprising storing information in a memory that associates the routing preference of the telecommunications service provider with the telecommunications service provider identifier.

13. A method for determining a routing preference using a telecommunications service control point determines the routing preference for routing a telephone call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

receiving a signal at the service control point, the signal being generated in response to the telephone call being received at a switch, the signal including a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier, the service variable indicating a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with one of the calling party and the called party; and

determining the routing preference using the signal.

14. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 13, wherein the service variable indicates whether the telephone number is associated with a resale services subscriber or an unbundled services subscriber.

15. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 13, wherein the signal further includes a calling scope variable that is used to determine which of a plurality of local database dialing plans should be used to determine whether the telephone call is local.

16. The method for determining a routing preference of claim 13, further comprising storing information in a memory that associates the routing preference of the telecommunications service provider with the telecommunications service provider identifier.

17. A computer readable medium for storing a computer program that determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

a signal generating source code sequence that generates a signal at a telecommunications switch, the signal including a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier, the service variable indicating a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with one of the calling party and the called party;

a signal forwarding source code sequence that forwards the signal from the switch, a routing preference determining source code segment determining the routing preference at a telecommunications service control point based on the signal; and

a signal receiving source code sequence that receives the determined routing preference.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the service variable indicates whether the telephone number is associated with a resale services subscriber or an unbundled services subscriber.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the signal further includes a calling scope variable that is used to determine which of a plurality of local database dialing plans should be used to determine whether the telephone call is local.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising an information storing sequence that stores information that associates the routing preference of the telecommunications service provider with the telecommunications service provider identifier.