Network element routing service

• US 7,620,168 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ekstrom, Gayle R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/986,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.08, 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/229, 379/230, 379/219, 379/207.02, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/545 with loop avoiding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a call to a telephone number are disclosed. Generally a first network element is queried regarding treatment of a call. A telephone number is associated with a second network element, and the call is routed to the telephone number when the first network element determines the call has been previously treated at the second network element based on an originating telephone number of the call.

Claims

1. A method of providing a call to a telephone number, the method comprising:

querying a first network element regarding treatment of the call;

associating the telephone number with a second network element;

routing the call to the telephone number when the first network element determines the call has been previously treated at the second network element based on an originating telephone number of the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element is a service control point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network element is a services node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein querying the first network element comprises:

associating a Called Party Telephone Number with a terminating telephone number of the second network element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein querying the first network element comprises:

comparing a Calling Party Telephone Number with an originating telephone number of a network element to determine if the telephone call was originated from the network element.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

treating the call at the second network element; and

identifying the telephone number where the call will be completed by a personal access service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

treating the call at the second network element, wherein the treatment comprises playing a message to callers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message comprises a menu of choices for callers to select.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the time of the day.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the day of the week.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the Calling Party Telephone Number.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding of the telephone call is based on the station type of the calling party.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for providing a call to a telephone number, the set of instructions to direct a processor to perform acts of:

querying a first network element regarding treatment of the call;

associating the telephone number with a second network element;

routing the call to the telephone number when the first network element determines the call has been previously treated at the second network element based on an originating telephone number of the call.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first network element is a service control point.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the second network element is a services node.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein querying the first network element comprises at least one of:

associating a Called Party Telephone Number with a terminating telephone number of the second network element;

or

comparing a Calling Party Telephone Number with an originating telephone number of a network element to determine if the telephone call was originated from the network element.

17. A system for providing a call to a destination address, the system comprising:

a network element operative to send a query regarding treatment of the call, to associate a destination address with a second network element; and

to route the call to the destination address when it is determined that the call has been previously treated at the second network element based on an originating address of the call.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the network element is further operative to forward the call to the second network element for treatment.