Inter-exchange carrier access

Abstract

This Inter-Exchange Carrier Access arrangement uses the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) capability of the central switching office to eliminate the need for the customer to dial an authorization code when accessing an inter-exchange carrier via a facilities reseller telephone communication system. The central switching office transmits the calling party identification (ANI) digits to the facilities reseller telephone communication system when the customer dials the remote access code for the facilities reseller telephone communication system. These received ANI digits are compared by the facilities reseller telephone communication system with a list of authorized customers stored in memory. If a match occurs, the identity of the inter-exchange carrier preselected by the customer is retrieved from memory and the telephone communication system automatically outpulses the inter-exchange carrier access code to the central switching office. Once connected to the selected inter-exchange carrier, the telephone communication system completes the call by transmitting both the called number and the customer's personal identification code to the inter-exchange carrier. The customer thereby has 'dial 1' access through the facilities reseller telephone communication system to this inter-exchange carrier.