Network element routing service

• US 8,090,091 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• 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:
  US12/617,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100054438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.08, 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/207.02, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/229, 379/230
• 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 destination address are disclosed. Generally a first network element is queried regarding treatment of a call to a destination address. The call is then routed to the destination address when the first network element determines, based on an originating destination address associated with the call, that the call has been previously treated at a second network element.

Claims

1. A method for providing a call to a destination address, the method comprising:

querying a first network element regarding treatment of a call to a destination address; and

routing, via a processor, the call to the destination address when the first network element determines, based on an originating destination address associated with the call, that the call has been previously treated at a second network element.

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 a 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 routing of the telephone call is based on a time of the day.

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

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing of the telephone call is based on the originating destination address.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing of the telephone call is based on a station type of a calling party associated with the call.

13. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for providing a call to a destination address, the set of instructions to direct a processor to at least:

query a first network element regarding treatment of a call to a destination address; and

route the call to the destination address when the first network element determines, based on an originating destination address associated with the call, that the call has been previously treated at a second network element.

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; and

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 configured to;

send a query regarding treatment of a call to a destination address; and

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

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

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the destination address is a telephone number.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the network element is a service control point and the second network element is a service node.