METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING TELEPHONE CALLS VIA A REMOTE TIE-LINE

• US 20070291921A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Labs Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stroud, Kenneth, Simino, John, Fleischer, Harold
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/35 virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0096 Trunk circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13395 Permanent channel, leased line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/76 : Translation from the called subscriber's number to the outgoing or incoming control information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 : Virtual networks or virtual private networks

Abstract

A method and system include routing telephone calls from multiple private networks via public lines and trunks in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a host switch, at which the connections would begin to run parallel. The host switch routes the telephone calls via a private trunk group to a private facility, such as an electronic tandem network (ETN) node or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch. If the private trunk group is full or unavailable, the host switch routes the telephone calls over alternate private or public trunk groups and selected carriers.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call to a called party number, comprising:

determining that the call is subject to a predetermined type of routing, based on an origination identifier; and

based on the determination, transmitting instructions to route the call to a designated switch at which call traffic is aggregated and routed over a private trunk group.

2. The method for routing the call according to claim 1, wherein the designated switch routes calls based on automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) routing.

3. The method for routing the call according to claim 1, further comprising:

changing a called party identifier from a first number, corresponding to the called party number, to a second number, corresponding to an identifier of the designated switch.

4. The method for routing the call according to claim 3, further comprising:

setting a redirecting number as the first number when the called party identifier is changed from the first number to the second number.

5. The method for routing the call according to claim 4, further comprising:

changing the called party identifier back to the first number by referencing the redirecting number.

6. The method for routing the call according to claim 1, wherein the designated switch is associated with a private network associated with the called party number.

7. The method for routing the call according to claim 6, wherein the origination identifier is associated with the private network, and the call is routed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) prior to determining that the call is subject to the predetermined type of routing.

13. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the designated switch is associated with a private network associated with the called party number.

14. The network device according to claim 13, wherein the origination identifier is associated with the private network, and the call is routed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) prior to determining that the call is subject to the predetermined type of routing.

8. A network device that provides instructions for routing a call to a called party number, wherein the network device

determines that the call is subject to a predetermined type of routing, based on an origination identifier, and

based on the determination, the network device transmits instructions to route the call to a designated switch at which call traffic is aggregated and routed over a private trunk group.

9. The network device according to claim 8, wherein the designated switch routes calls based on automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) routing.

10. The network device according to claim 8, wherein the network device changes a called party identifier from a first number, corresponding to the called party number, to a second number, corresponding to an identifier of the designated switch.

11. The network device according to claim 10, wherein the network device sets a redirecting number as the first number when the called party identifier is changed from the first number to the second number.

12. The network device according to claim 11, wherein the network device changes the called party identifier back to the first number by referencing the redirecting number.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising a program for routing a call to a called party number, the program comprising:

routing determination code that determines that the call is subject to a predetermined type of routing, based on an origination identifier; and

instruction transmission code that, based on the determination, transmits instructions to route the call to a designated switch at which call traffic is aggregated and routed over a private trunk group.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the designated switch routes calls based on automatic selection of facilities-remote tie-line (ASF-RTL) routing.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the program further comprises:

code that changes a called party identifier from a first number, corresponding to the called party number, to a second number, corresponding to an identifier of the designated switch.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the program further comprises:

code that sets a redirecting number as the first number when the called party identifier is changed from the first number to the second number.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the program further comprises:

code that changes the called party identifier back to the first number by referencing the redirecting number.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the designated switch is associated with a private network associated with the called party number.