Least cost routing system

• US 6,078,652 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Call Manage Limited
• Original Assignee: Call Manage Limited
• Inventors: Barak, Gideon
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US08/993,496
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112-115, 379/130-132, 379/221, 379/354, 379/355, 379/356
• US Class Current: 379/114.02
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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: H04M 2215/92 Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13138 Least cost routing, LCR
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13534 Internet - WWW, HTML, browsers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A least cost routing system is disclosed. The routing system includes at least one telephone dialing unit, at least one least cost router and a database updating unit. The telephone dialing unit dials a telephone number to place a telephone call. Each least cost router has a corresponding routing database of tariffs of telephone service providers and determines, from information in its corresponding routing database, which telephone service provider or providers to utilize to execute the telephone call. The database updating unit electronically updates tariff information into each of the routing databases shortly after updated tariff information is entered therein.

Claims

1. A least cost routing device for determining and establishing an optimum route for a telephone call made by a user, said device comprising:

interception means for intercepting digits input by the user;

a storage unit for storing tariff and telephone call related information;

a least cost router for determining said optimum route for the telephone call and caller utilizing said tariff and telephone call related information and expected call cost, said least cost router operative to generate a dialing signal corresponding to a carrier selected for said optimum route; and

communication means, responsive to the combination of said dialing signal and said digits input by the user for accessing said carrier to route said telephone call.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a data server for maintain a database containing tariff related information on local and long distance carriers said data server operative to periodically update said tariff data held in said storage unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said least cost router comprises means for generating call history information.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said least cost router comprises means for determining whether or not a volume discount or special discount applies to the telephone call.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said least cost router comprises means for utilizing said call history information to determine statistics of phone calls, including call duration, to be utilized in determining expected call cost.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said communication means is formed as part of any one of the following:

a centrex exchange (CTX), a private branch exchange (PBX), a cellular telephone and a personal computer.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said least cost router comprises means for determining whether or not a volume discount applies to the telephone call.

8. A method for determining and establishing an optimum route for a telephone call by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

storing tariff and telephone call related information within a database;

obtaining from the user, digits making up a telephone number for said telephone call;

determining said optimum route for the telephone call utilizing said tariff and telephone call and caller related information and expected call cost;

generating a dialing signal corresponding to a carrier selected for said optimum route; and

accessing said carrier selected for said optimum route by use of a combination of said dialing signal and said telephone number input by the user to enable completion of said telephone call.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said determining step employs call history information to derive expected call cost.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said determining step determines whether or not a volume discount or a special discount applies to the telephone, call to derive expected call cost.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said determining step utilizes said call history information to determine statistics of phone calls including call duration to be utilized in determining expected call cost.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said determining step determines whether or not a volume or volume aggregation discount applies to the telephone call in determining expected call cost.