Method and system for determining a least cost path for routing international communications traffic

• US 7,570,749 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cocherl, Terry Lee, Mordini, Gregory Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/947,495
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/9, 379/14.01, 379/10.01, 379/12, 379/15.01, 379/16, 379/22, 379/114.02, 379/114.06, 379/114.07, 379/114.08, 379/121.01, 379/1.04, 379/115.01, 379/221.01
• US Class Current: 379/114.02
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and medium for determining a least-cost, international-routing path to communicate data across a telecommunications network are provided. The path implementation variables can be presented on a user interface or used to automatically generate a switch update transaction that implements the path. The method includes identifying variables that affect the determination of a least-cost path, receiving data values that correspond to the variables, and presenting the data values so that the path can be determined in response to observing the variables. Confidence and route testing can be conducted using the present invention.

Claims

1. Computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to perform a method for conducting route testing, comprising:

at the computing device, receiving a request to test routes and trunks;

identifying carrier costs for the requested routes;

processing the carrier costs to identify alternate routes for the requested routes;

checking the requested routes and alternate routes to locate the requested trunks; and

testing the requested trunks when the trunks are located.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the tested routes are available if the located trunks pass the test.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the tested routes are unavailable if the requested trunks are not located.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the test comprises transmission quality tests and communication tests.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein troubleshooting occurs if the located trunks fail the test.

6. Computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to perform a method for conducting route testing, the method comprising:

receiving a request to test routes and trunks;

identifying carrier costs for the requested routes;

processing the carrier costs to identify alternate routes for the requested routes;

checking the requested routes and alternate routes to locate the requested trunks; and

testing the requested trunks when the trunks are located.

7. The media of claim 6, wherein the tested routes are available if the located trunks pass the test.

8. The media of claim 6, wherein the tested routes are unavailable if the requested trunks are not located.

9. The media of claim 6, wherein the test comprises transmission quality tests and communication tests.

10. The media of claim 6, wherein troubleshooting occurs if the located trunks fail the test.

11. One or more computer-storage media storing instructions that cause one or more processors to perform a method to conduct route testing, the method comprising:

receiving a request to test routes and trunks;

identifying carrier costs for the requested routes;

by way of the one or more processors, processing the carrier costs to identify alternate routes for the requested routes;

checking the requested routes and alternate routes to locate the requested trunks; and

testing the requested trunks when the trunks are located.

12. The method media of claim 11, wherein the tested routes are available if the located trunks pass the test.

13. The method media of claim 11, wherein the tested routes are unavailable if the requested trunks are not located.

14. The method media of claim 11, wherein the test comprises transmission quality tests and communication tests.

15. The method media of claim 11, wherein troubleshooting occurs if the located trunks fail the test.