Method and apparatus for determining the carrier used for an AIN call

• US 7,076,047 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude (L'Air Liquide SA), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, Stephen Paul, Bradford, James Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US09/654,444
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.01, 379/221.05, 379/243, 379/219
• US Class Current: 379/219
• 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 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for determining the carrier that should be used for a particular AIN call. The following information is derived for each call: the originating calling party number, the terminating called party number, the originating LATA, the terminating LATA. Using these components, pre-defined tables are accessed that contain local calling plan information. These tables contain rate center and dial plan information that provides the local calling scope that is available to the originator of the call. Based on the information contained in the tables, the appropriate type of carrier for the call is selected and the call is routed using this carrier.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a carrier type for routing a call for AIN-based customers of the LEC, said method comprising the following steps in the order given:

determining whether a called party is inside a local calling scope of a calling party;

responsive to a determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party, selecting a first carrier as said carrier type; and

,

responsive to a determination that said called party is outside said local calling scope of said calling party, selecting a second carrier as said carrier type if an originating LATA of said calling party and a terminating LATA of said called party are the same and selecting a third carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA and said terminating LATA are different.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining whether a called party is inside said local calling scope of a calling party comprises:

determining an originating rate center and a terminating rate center by performing a lookup in a LATA table using a calling party number and a called party number; and

searching for said terminating rate center in an originating rate center table.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if said terminating rate center is found in said originating rate center table and an extended dial plan entry in said table is null for said terminating rate center, said called party is inside said local calling scope.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein if said terminating rate center is found in said originating rate center table and said extended dial plan entry in said table indicates that an extended dial plan is required for said terminating rate center, said called party is inside said local calling scope only if either said called party or said calling party subscribes to said extended dial plan.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said lookup is performed using a key chosen from the group consisting of a NPA-NXX-X combination and a NPA-NXX combination.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said lookup of said originating rate center is performed using said calling party number and wherein said lookup of said terminating rate center is performed using said called party number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party is made when said terminating rate center is found in an originating rate center table for said originating rate center.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party is made when said terminating rate center is found in an originating rate center table for said originating rate center and an extended dial plan requirement indicated in said originating rate center table for said terminating rate center is satisfied.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said originating LATA and said terminating LATA are the same when a lookup in a LATA table using a calling party number and a called party number indicates that an originating LATA key and a terminating LATA key are equal.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing an originating NPA-NXX to a terminating NPA-NXX prior to determining whether a called party is inside a local calling scope of a calling party; and

responsive to a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are the same, selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type.

11. A method for determining a carrier type for routing a call for AIN-based customers of the LEC, said method comprising the following steps in the order given:

comparing an originating NPA-NXX to a terminating NPA-NXX;

responsive to a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are the same, selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type;

responsive to a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are different, determining an originating rate center for a calling party and a terminating rate center for a called party;

responsive to a determination that said terminating rate center and said originating rate center are the same, selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type;

responsive to a determination that said terminating rate center and said originating rate center are different, searching an originating rate center table for said terminating rate center;

responsive to finding said terminating rate center in said originating rate center table, determining whether said terminating rate center requires an extended dial plan to make a local call from said originating rate center to said terminating rate center;

responsive to a determination that said extended dial plan is required, selecting said local exchange carrier as said carrier type if either said calling party or said called party subscribe to said dial plan, and if neither said calling party nor said called party subscribe to said dial plan, selecting an IntraLATA carrier as said carrier type if an originating LATA is the same as a terminating LATA and selecting an InterLATA carrier if said originating LATA is different from said terminating LATA;

responsive to a determination that said extended dial plan is not required, selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type; and

responsive to not finding said terminating rate center in said originating rate center table, selecting said IntraLATA carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA is the same as said terminating LATA and selecting said InterLATA carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA is different from said terminating LATA.

12. A data processing system for selecting a carrier type for routing a call for AIN-based customers of the LEC comprising:

means for determining whether a called party is inside a local calling scope of a calling party;

means, responsive to operation of said determining means providing a determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party, for selecting a first carrier as said carrier type; and

means, responsive to operation of said determining means providing a determination that said called party is outside said local calling scope of said calling party, for selecting a second carrier as said carrier type if an originating LATA of said calling party and a terminating LATA of said called party are the same and selecting a third carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA and said terminating LATA are different.

13. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said means for determining whether a called party is inside said local calling scope of a calling party comprises:

means for determining an originating rate center and a terminating rate center by performing a lookup in a LATA table using a calling party number and a called party number; and

means for searching for said terminating rate center in an originating rate center table.

14. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein if said terminating rate center is found in said originating rate center table and an extended dial plan entry in said table is null for said terminating rate center, said called party is inside said local calling scope.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein if said terminating rate center is found in said originating rate center table and said extended dial plan entry in said table indicates that an extended dial plan is required for said terminating rate center, said called party is inside said local calling scope only if either said called party or said calling party subscribes to said extended dial plan.

16. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein said lookup is performed using a key chosen from the group consisting of a NPA-NXX-X combination and a NPA-NXX combination.

17. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein said lookup of said originating rate center is performed using said calling party number and wherein said lookup of said terminating rate center is performed using said called party number.

18. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party is made when said terminating rate center is found in an originating rate center table for said originating rate center.

19. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party is made when said terminating rate center is found in an originating rate center table for said originating rate center and an extended dial plan requirement indicated in said originating rate center table for said terminating rate center is satisfied.

20. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said originating LATA and said terminating LATA are the same when a lookup in a LATA table using a calling party number and a called party number indicates that an originating LATA key and a terminating LATA key are equal.

21. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising:

means for comparing an originating NPA-NXX to a terminating NPA-NXX prior to determining whether a called party is inside a local calling scope of a calling party; and

means, responsive to a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are the same, for selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for selecting a carrier type for routing a call for AIN-based customers of the LEC, said computer program product comprising:

first instructions for determining whether a called party is inside a local calling scope of a calling party;

second instructions, responsive to said first instructions providing a determination that said called party is inside said local calling scope of said calling party, for selecting a first carrier as said carrier type; and

,

third instructions, responsive to said first instructions providing a determination that said called party is outside said local calling scope of said calling party, for selecting a second carrier as said carrier type if an originating LATA of said calling party and a terminating LATA of said called party are the same and selecting a third carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA and said terminating LATA are different.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said first instructions comprises:

instructions for determining an originating rate center and a terminating rate center by performing a lookup in a LATA table using a calling party number and a called party number; and

instructions for searching for said terminating rate center in an originating rate center table.

24. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for determining a carrier type for routing a call for AIN-based customers of the LEC, said computer program product comprising:

first instructions for comparing an originating NPA-NXX to a terminating NPA-NXX;

second instructions, responsive to said first instructions providing a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are the same, for selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type;

third instructions, responsive to said first instructions providing a determination that said originating NPA-NXX and said terminating NPA-NXX are different, for determining an originating rate center for a calling party and a terminating rate center for a called party;

fourth instructions, responsive to a determination that said terminating rate center and said originating rate center are the same, for selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type;

fifth instructions, responsive to a determination that said terminating rate center and said originating rate center are different, for searching an originating rate center table for said terminating rate center;

sixth instructions, responsive to finding said terminating rate center in said originating rate center table, for determining whether said terminating rate center requires an extended dial plan to make a local call from said originating rate center to said terminating rate center;

seventh instructions, responsive to a determination that said extended dial plan is required, for selecting said local exchange carrier as said carrier type if either said calling party or said called party subscribe to said dial plan, and if neither said calling party nor said called party subscribe to said dial plan, selecting an IntraLATA carrier as said carrier type if an originating LATA is the same as a terminating LATA and selecting an InterLATA carrier if said originating LATA is different from said terminating LATA;

eighth instructions, responsive to a determination that said extended dial plan is not required, for selecting a local exchange carrier as said carrier type; and

ninth instructions, responsive to not finding said terminating rate center in said originating rate center table, for selecting said IntraLATA carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA is the same as said terminating LATA and selecting said InterLATA carrier as said carrier type if said originating LATA is different from said terminating LATA.