System and method for real time carrier selection

• US 5,420,914 A
• Filed: 02/28/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US West Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Blumhardt, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/203,182
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 379/113, 379/114, 379/131, 379/140, 379/112
• US Class Current: 379/114.09
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCR
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13149 Change of provider, e.g. network or service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13352 Self-routing networks, real-time routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A method and system for real time selection of an inter-exchange telephone carrier for a telephone call. The system includes a processing, storage and routing equipment capable of performing the method steps of generating a call information signal, storing a carrier rate for each of the plurality of carriers, each carrier rate including a toll, calling day and calling time, processing the call information signal and the carrier rates to select the carrier having the least expensive toll for the day and time the call is placed, and routing the call through the carrier selected.

Claims

1. An automated method for real time selection of one of a plurality of telephone carriers for a telephone call, the method comprising:

generating a call information signal representing selected parameters of the call;

providing storage means for storing a carrier rate for each of the plurality of carriers, each carrier rate comprising a toll, calling day and calling time;

processing the call information signal and the carrier rates to select a carrier having the least expensive toll for the day and time the call is placed, processing the call information signal and the carrier rates including;

determining the destination local area telephone access (LATA) of the call from the call information signal;

comparing the destination LATA to a predetermined LATA;

selecting a default carrier of the destination LATA and the predetermined LATA match; and

determining the day and time of the call from the call information signal;

comparing the calling day and calling time of each carrier rate to the day and time of the call;

selecting each carrier rate whose calling day and calling time match the day and time of the call;

setting a minimum toll to a predetermined value;

comparing the minimum toll to the toll of one of the plurality of carrier rates;

setting the minimum toll to the toll of the carrier rate when the minimum toll exceeds the toll of the carrier rate;

repeating the comparing and setting the minimum toll to the carrier rate toll steps for each remaining one of the plurality of carrier rates;

selecting the carrier whose toll equals the minimum rate;

routing the call through the carrier selected;

wherein generating, providing, processing and routing are performed via components of an advanced intelligent network.

2. An automated system for real time selection of one of a plurality of telephone carriers for a telephone call, the system comprising:

means for generating a call information signal representing selected parameters of the call;

means for providing storage means for storing a carrier rate for each of the plurality of carriers, each carrier rate comprising a toll, calling day and calling time;

means for processing the call information signal and the carrier rates to select a carrier having the least expensive toll for the day and time the call is placed, the means for processing the call information signal and the carrier rates including;

means for determining the destination local area telephone access (LATA) of the call from the call information signal;

means for comparing the destination LATA to a predetermined LATA;

means or selecting a default carrier if the destination LATA and the predetermined LATA match; and

means for determining the day and time of the call from the call information signal;

means for comparing the calling day and calling time of each carrier rate to the day and time of the call;

means for selecting each carrier rate whose calling day and calling time match the day and time of the call;

means for setting a minimum toll to a predetermined value;

means for comparing the minimum toll to the toll of one of the plurality of carrier rates;

means for setting the minimum toll to the toll of the carrier rate when the minimum toll exceeds the toll of the carrier rate;

means for repeating the comparing and setting the minimum toll to the carrier rate toll steps for each remaining one of the plurality of carrier rates;

means for selecting the carrier whose toll equals the minimum rate;

means for routing the call through the carrier selected;

wherein the means for generating, means for providing, means for processing and means for routing include components of an advanced intelligent network.