System and method for routing both toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls to call service centers
First Claim
1. A system for routing both toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls comprising:
- a call service having at least two call service centers;
an interexchange network for handling toll-free telephone calls directed to the call service;
a local exchange network for handling caller-paid telephone calls directed to the call service; and
a call routing processor in communication with the call service centers, the interexchange network, and the local exchange network, wherein the call routing processor is configured to receive status messages from the call service centers and provide individual routing instructions to a respective one of the interexchange network and the local exchange network in response to a routing query to the call routing processor from the respective one of the interexchange network and local exchange network for each call directed to the call service, and wherein the toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls to the call service originating at the interexchange network and the local exchange network are routed to an appropriate service center.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of routing both caller-paid and toll-free telephone calls includes a local exchange network and an interexchange network in communication with a call routing processor. The call routing processor receives status information on at least two call service centers and provides routing instructions to both the interexchange and local exchange networks. The method includes the steps of a call controller in a local exchange network communicating with a call routing processor also in communication with an interexchange network, the call controller identifying calls to call service centers and requesting instructions from the call routing processor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for routing both toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls comprising:
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a call service having at least two call service centers; an interexchange network for handling toll-free telephone calls directed to the call service; a local exchange network for handling caller-paid telephone calls directed to the call service; and a call routing processor in communication with the call service centers, the interexchange network, and the local exchange network, wherein the call routing processor is configured to receive status messages from the call service centers and provide individual routing instructions to a respective one of the interexchange network and the local exchange network in response to a routing query to the call routing processor from the respective one of the interexchange network and local exchange network for each call directed to the call service, and wherein the toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls to the call service originating at the interexchange network and the local exchange network are routed to an appropriate service center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for routing both toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls, the system comprising:
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a call service having a plurality of call service centers an interexchange network for handling toll-free telephone calls directed to the call service; a local exchange network for handling caller-paid telephone calls directed to the call service, the local exchange network having a call controller; a call routing processor in communication with the call service centers, the interexchange network, and the local exchange network, the call routing processor configured to receive status messages from the call service centers and provide individual routing instructions to a respective one of the interexchange network and the local exchange network in response to a routing query to the call routing processor from the respective one of the interexchange network or local exchange network for each call directed to the call service, wherein the call controller comprises a call routing processor interface having communication logic for communicating with the call routing processor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of routing caller-paid and toll-free telephone calls directed to a call service in system for routing both toll-free and caller-paid telephone calls, the system comprising a call service having a plurality of call service centers, an interexchange network for handling toll-free telephone calls directed to the call service, a local exchange network for handling caller-paid telephone calls directed to the call service, the local exchange network having a call controller, and a call routing processor in communication with the call service centers, the interexchange network, and the local exchange network, the call routing processor configured to receive status messages from the call service centers and provide routing instructions to the interexchange network and the local exchange network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a caller-paid telephone call at a switch in the local exchange network; identifying that the caller-paid call is a call directed to a call service; requesting call routing instructions from the call routing processor; and routing the caller-paid telephone call according to the call routing instructions received from the call routing processor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification