At+t Corp.

Joseph C Kohler

Craig L DeCaluwe

Robert G Demmert

Hossein Eslambolchi

Nicholas D De Trana

Joseph H McCarthy

Joseph H Mc Carthy

Patricia A Litzo

Patrick H Fischer

A method of providing for customer selection of a circuit selection algorithm for use in a public network comprises the steps of storing a plurality of circuit selection algorithms in public network memory, translating a routing number for a call into customer data, matching the customer data with a trunk block circuit selection algorithm and controlling the delivery of calls to a customer in accordance with the trunk block circuit selection algorithm. The customer may also custom design their own circuit selection algorithm and input their custom designed algorithm into public network memory along with others for selection in accordance with their customer criteria, for example, time of day or day of week, low traffic period, high traffic period or other criteria. Apparatus for providing for customer selection of a circuit selection algorithm for use in a public network comprises a public network memory for storing a plurality of circuit selection algorithms and a controller for translating a routing number for a call into customer data, matching the customer data with a circuit selection algorithm and controlling the delivery of calls to a customer in accordance with the circuit selection algorithm. The apparatus preferably comprises a switching center for toll or local call switching.

Method and apparatus for providing telecommunications trunk group selection for use in a public network in accordance with customer preference

A method of detecting and recovering from an out-of-band signaling failure in a telecommunications network involves the reprogramming of switching centers to utilize existent inband signaling capabilities to temporarily replace the failed out-of-band capability. A processor of an originating switching center recognizes the loss of out-of-band signaling capability, determines impacted trunks and switches to in-band signaling from out-of-band signaling. In an alternative embodiment, the switch may use maintenance data bits of impacted trunks to initiate a call. The terminating switching center is programmed to receive and recognize the change in bit value of the signaling data and initiates well known processes to seize the trunk in memory, check continuity and receive dialed number data, preferably in the form of tones, over the seized trunk. The terminal switching center for the trunk then attempts to complete the call in accordance with the received dialed number data. Preferably, the in-band signaling system reverted to comprises multi-frequency (MF) address and E and M wink start supervisory signaling. At the conclusion of the out-of-band outage, the signaling characteristic is restored to out-of-band from in-band.

Method and apparatus for providing back-up, in-band signaling in a communications network

In a large switching system, a complete record of a call through a network can be collected by having each switch that processes the call, record pertinent data and return the collected data to a particular switch where the collected data is stored. A complete call history simplifies network maintenance and permits precise identification of calling and called parties on a call-by-call basis.

Method to trap a called number in a telecommunications network

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Woodridge, IL, United States of America

Joseph C Kohler