Method and network for routing a communication through an alternate carrier

• US 7,068,771 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SBC Laboratories Incorporated (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:
  US10/747,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 379/115.01, 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 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 method and system for routing a communication through an alternate carrier. The A method includes recognizing an input number upon which a call is based, assigning primary, alternate and secondary interexchange carriers responsive to the recognizing, and sequentially routing an input number from a node among primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established.

Claims

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

recognizing the input number;

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

sequentially routing the input number from the node among primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning classification data based on at least one of a code input with the input number and the assigned primary, alternate, and secondary carriers; and

using the classification data for at least one of statistical analysis and billing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the node is an end office of a network, the system further comprising entering the input number at a device connected to the end office.

4. A system for directing a communication from at least one location of a plurality of locations, through at least one carrier of a plurality of carriers, each of the plurality of locations including a ranking of interexchange carriers assigned thereto, the system comprising:

a setting processor configured to set, as a primary carrier for the at least one location, in order of preference, one of;

a manually-selected carrier, an interexchange carrier, and a first ranked interexchange carrier; and

a router configured to sequentially route the communication to interexchange carriers corresponding to the primary carrier and an alternate carrier, until a connection is established.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a processor configured to terminate a communication if a code for an unauthorized interexchange carrier is requested during the communication.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein each ranking of carriers for each of the plurality of locations includes, in order of preference, the first ranked carrier, and second and third carriers.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein each ranking of carriers for each of the plurality of locations includes three interexchange carriers.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising a memory configured to store data associated with the communication, including at least one of a communication time, a communication date, an originating number, an originating city, an originating state, an originating geographic location, a communication duration, a communication disposition, an interexchange carrier, an interexchange carrier selection sequence, a trunk group used, dialed digits, and a destination number.