Least cost routing device for separate connection into phone line
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A device for routing telephone calls along a least cost route originating from a first telephone to a second telephone having an associated telephone number via a network having a plurality of alternate communication switch paths corresponding to different carriers which can be chosen to route the call and normallyproviding a current to said first telephone when said first telephone is in use, comprisinga housing forming an enclosure and comprising first jack means for connection to said first telephone and second jack means for connection to said networkswitch means operatively connected to said first jack means for disconnecting said first telephone from said network,means operatively connected to said switch means for generating a current through said switch means to the first telephone, corresponding to a current provided by said network,database means for storing billing rate parameters for determining a least cost communication path for call corresponding to said telephone number, means operatively connected to said switch means for detecting and storing said telephone number originating from the first telephone means for addresssing said database means for identifying a plurality of communication switch paths to to said second telephone and the cost rate of each path,means for comparing the cost rate of each path so as to determine a least cost route, andmeans operatively connected to said switch means and said second jack means for generating a number sequence corresponding to a desired carrier so that said call is routed through said second jack means to the selected communication path and carrier to establish a switched connection between said first telephone and said second telephone phone.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
A device interconnects within the phone line coming from a first phone and routes telephone calls along a least cost route originating from the first telephone to a second telephone via the network. A housing forms an enclosure and has a first jack for interconnection to the phone side of the phone line and a second jack for interconnection to the network side of the phone line. The housing forms an enclosure which includes a switch for disconnecting the first phone from the network. The device generates a source of current through the switch to the first phone corresponding to the amount of current provided by the phone network. A database stores billing rate parameters for determining various communication paths of different carriers based on parameters such as the time and date of the call. Phone calls from the first phone are detected and stored. The database is addressed and a plurality of communication switch paths are identified as well as the cost rate of each path. The cost rates for each identified path are compared to determine a least cost route for the call. The device generates a number sequence corresponding to a desired carrier so that the dialed call is routed through the second jack and phone line to the selected communication path and carrier so as to establish a switched connection between the first and second phones.
221 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A device for routing telephone calls along a least cost route originating from a first telephone to a second telephone having an associated telephone number via a network having a plurality of alternate communication switch paths corresponding to different carriers which can be chosen to route the call and normallyproviding a current to said first telephone when said first telephone is in use, comprising
a housing forming an enclosure and comprising first jack means for connection to said first telephone and second jack means for connection to said network switch means operatively connected to said first jack means for disconnecting said first telephone from said network, means operatively connected to said switch means for generating a current through said switch means to the first telephone, corresponding to a current provided by said network, database means for storing billing rate parameters for determining a least cost communication path for call corresponding to said telephone number, means operatively connected to said switch means for detecting and storing said telephone number originating from the first telephone means for addresssing said database means for identifying a plurality of communication switch paths to to said second telephone and the cost rate of each path, means for comparing the cost rate of each path so as to determine a least cost route, and means operatively connected to said switch means and said second jack means for generating a number sequence corresponding to a desired carrier so that said call is routed through said second jack means to the selected communication path and carrier to establish a switched connection between said first telephone and said second telephone phone.
-
14. A device for routing telephone calls along a least cost route originating from a first telephone to a second telephone having an associated telephone number via a network having a plurality of alternate communication switch paths corresponding to different carriers which can be chosen to route the call and normally providing a current to said first telephone when said first telephone is in use, comprising
a housing forming an enclosure and comprising first jack means for connection to said first telephone, and second jack means for connection to said network, means positioned on said housing for visibly displaying the time and date, switch means operatively connected to said first jack means for disconnecting said first telephone from said network, means operatively connected to said first jack means for disconnecting said first telephone from said network, means operatively connected to said switch means for generating a current through said switch means to said first telephone corresponding to said current provided by said network, means operatively connected to said time and date display means and said switch means for receiving a predetermined dial sequence from said first telephone corresponding to a predetermined date and time to be displayed and means for changing the displayed time and date based on the received signals, database means for storing billing rate parameters for determining a least cost communication path for a call corresponding to said telephone number, based on such factors as the time and date of the call, means operatively connected to said switch means for detecting and storing said telephone number originating from the first telephone, means for addressing said database means for identifying a plurality of communication switch paths to said second telephone and the cost rate of each path, means for comparing the cost rate of each path so as to determine a least cost route, and means operatively connected to said switch means and said second jack means for generating a number sequence corresponding to a desired carrier so that said call is routed through said second jack means to the selected communication path and carrier to establish a switched connection between said first telephone and said second telephone.
-
24. An apparatus for displaying a time quantity which can be initiated from a telephone of the type capable of generating dual tone multifrequency signals comprising
a housing forming an enclosure and comprising first jack means for interconnection to said telephone, and second jack means for connection to a telephone switching network, said network normally providing a current to said telephone when said telephone is in use, means positioned on said housing for visibly displaying a time quantity, switch means operatively connected to said first jack means for disconnecting said telephone from said network, means operatively connected to said switch means for generating a current through said switch means to said telephone corresponding to said current provided by said network, means operatively connected to said means for displaying a time quantity and said first jack means for receiving said dual tone multifrequency signals, from said telephone when said telephone is disconnected from said network, said signals corresponding to said time quantity and for changing the displayed time quantity based on signals from said telephone, and means responsive to a dialing sequence originating on said telephone and operatively connected to said switch means for connecting said telephone to said network.
Specification