Sbc Technology Resources, Inc.

At&t Labs, Inc.

Michael Hanrahan

John E Simino

Laura Kay Culli

Bruce Allen Nance

M Lourdes Coronado

Harold C Fleischer, Iii

Earold C Fleischer, Iii

A communication network element determines a service provider's routing preference for routing communications and routes these communications from an originating connection address to a destination connection address over a network. The communication network element includes a receiver configured to receive a signal, which comprises the originating connection address and the destination connection address. The communication network element also includes a processor that determines the service provider associated with at least one of the originating connection address and the destination connection address of the received signal. The processor also determines the routing preference associated with the service provider using routing data.

Local routing system and method

A telecommunications system determines a telecommunications service provider's routing preference for routing a call for a subscriber. The telecommunications system includes a storage that stores call routing data and a call routing service application for determining the routing preference using the call routing data. The call routing data includes an indicator that indicates when the subscriber subscribes to resold local switching services and when the subscriber subscribes to unbundled local switching services. The telecommunications system also includes a processor that executes the call routing service application, and that generates call routing instructions for routing the call according to the determined routing preference.

A telecommunications billing system generates a bill for a local service provider when a call is routed for a subscriber of the local service provider by an incumbent telecommunications service provider. The system includes a billing generator that generates a billing record in response to receiving the call. The billing generator generates a terminating access billing record when the call is an unbundled local switching call to the subscriber of the local service provider. Alternatively, the billing generator generates an originating access billing record when the call is an unbundled local switching call from the subscriber of the local service provider.

A telecommunications system determines a routing preference of a telecommunications service provider for a telephone call from a calling party to a called party. A switch in the telecommunications system includes a signal generator that generates a signal in response to receiving the telephone call. The signal includes a service variable and a telecommunications service provider identifier. The service variable indicates a subscription-type for a telephone number associated with the calling party or the called party. The signal is used to determine the routing preference at a service control point in the telecommunications system. The service control point receives the signal from the switch and determines the routing preference. The routing preference is forwarded to the switch. The switch receives the routing preference and routes the telephone call according to the routing preference.

A telecommunications method and routing system determines a routing preference and routing of a call from a calling party to a called party for a local service provider. The system includes a service control point that receives a signal from a switch. The switch recognizes at least one of a calling party number and a dialed number that indicates a type of service. The service control point determines the routing preference of the local service provider for the call based upon the type of service and a local service provider identifier associated with one of the recognized calling party number and dialed number.

A local routing system is provided for selectively routing traffic in a telecommunications network according to a local service provider's preferences. The local service provider provides service for telephone lines acquired from a local exchange carrier. The telecommunications network supports an originator subscribing to the local service provider. The originator initiates a trigger when originating a call to a destination by dialing a number. The local routing system includes a classifier, a determiner, and a router. The classifier analyzes the dialed number and categorizes the call into one of several predetermined classes of traffic. The determiner determines whether the local service provider has a routing preference for the class of traffic into which the classifier has placed the call. The router routes the traffic to the destination according to the local service provider's routing preference if a routing preference exists for the class of traffic into which the classifier placed the call, and generates billing if appropriate. The predetermined traffic can be operator assistance traffic, directory assistance traffic, and local traffic.

A local routing system is provided for selectively routing traffic in a telecommunications network according to a local service provider's preferences. The local service provider provides service for telephone lines acquired from a local exchange carrier. The telecommunications network supports an originator subscribing to the local service provider. The originator initiates a trigger when originating a call to a destination by dialing a number. The local routing system includes a classifier, a detenniner, and a router. The classifier analyzes the dialed number and categorizes the call into one of several predetermined classes of traffic. The determiner determines whether the local service provider has a routing preference for the class of traffic into which the classifier has placed the call. The router routes the traffic to the destination according to the local service provider's routing preference if a routing preference exists for the class of traffic into which the classifier placed the call, and generates billing if appropriate. The predetermined traffic can be operator assistance traffic, directory assistance traffic, and local traffic.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Michael Hanrahan