Method and apparatus for providing enhanced services local routing

• US 9,246,807 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Canavan, Susan K., Holmgren, Christine, Jurczak, Andrew P., McGregor-Barnes, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mansoury, Nourali
• Application Number:
  US14/172,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20140153564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling a call originated in the VoIP network to be routed from the egress of the VoIP network to the terminating PSTN network using an egress route, such as an appropriate egress access trunk, that is in the same Local Calling Area (LCA) of the called party number are disclosed. This allows the call to be completed to the called party without paying access charge. For example, the method assigns a Billing Telephone Number (BTN) or a Charge Number (CgN) to an egress route between a communication network and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) network. The method then routes a call originating from the communication network and terminating to the PSTN network using the egress route without incurring an access charge.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call, comprising:

assigning, by a processor, a billing number to an access trunk of an egress route between a communication network and a public switched telephone network, wherein the egress route comprises the access trunk connecting between the communication network and the public switched telephone network, wherein the communication network is a packet communication network;

identifying, by the processor, all telephone numbers with numbering plan area and NXX codes that are in a same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk, wherein the access trunk comprises a signaling system 7 access trunk, wherein the access trunk interconnects an egress border element in the communication network and a public switched telephone network switch in the public switched telephone network, wherein the access trunk serves a called party in the same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk; and

routing, by the processor, the call originating from the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network using the access trunk without incurring an access charge, wherein the routing comprises routing the call having a called telephone number that is deemed local to the numbering plan area and the NXX codes that have been identified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing comprises:

receiving the call originating in the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network; and

identifying the egress route for completing the call using a numbering plan area code and an NXX code of the identified numbering plan area and NXX codes of the called telephone number using an established routing table.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for routing a call, the operations comprising:

assigning a billing number to an access trunk of an egress route between a communication network and a public switched telephone network, wherein the egress route comprises the access trunk connecting between the communication network and the public switched telephone network, wherein the communication network is a packet communication network;

identifying all telephone numbers with numbering plan area and NXX codes that are in a same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk, wherein the access trunk comprises a signaling system 7 access trunk, wherein the access trunk interconnects an egress border element in the communication network and a public switched telephone network switch in the public switched telephone network, wherein the access trunk serves a called party in the same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk; and

routing the call originating from the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network using the access trunk without incurring an access charge, wherein the routing comprises routing the call having a called telephone number that is deemed local to the numbering plan area and the NXX codes that have been identified.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the routing comprises:

receiving the call originating in the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network; and

identifying the egress route for completing the call using a numbering plan area code and an NXX code of the identified numbering plan area and NXX codes of the called telephone number using an established routing table.

7. An apparatus for routing a call, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

assigning a billing number to an access trunk of an egress route between a communication network and a public switched telephone network, wherein the egress route comprises the access trunk connecting between the communication network and the public switched telephone network, wherein the communication network is a packet communication network;

identifying all telephone numbers with numbering plan area and NXX codes that are in a same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk, wherein the access trunk comprises a signaling system 7 access trunk, wherein the access trunk interconnects an egress border element in the communication network and a public switched telephone network switch in the public switched telephone network, wherein the access trunk serves a called party in the same local calling area as the billing number of the access trunk; and

routing the call originating from the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network using the access trunk without incurring an access charge, wherein the routing comprises routing the call having a called telephone number that is deemed local to the numbering plan area and the NXX codes that have been identified.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the routing comprises:

receiving the call originating in the communication network and terminating to the public switched telephone network; and

identifying the egress route for completing the call using a numbering plan area code and an NXX code of the identified numbering plan area and NXX codes of the called telephone number using an established routing table.