Automatic telecommunications provider selection system
US6263057A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/745
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides methods and apparatuses for the automatic selection of a telecommunications service provider, for example, an inter-exchange or intra-exchange service provider, from a number of available telecommunications service providers, for a call from a calling station to a called station so that the toll charge for the call is minimized. Specifically, the selection of the least-cost telecommunications service provider is based on an analysis of (a) the estimated duration of the call which is determined in a variety of ways, including using historical call data of the calling station, and (b) telecommunications service provider toll rates and, in particular, current telecommunications service provider discount calling plans. Based on the result of the analysis, the calling station is connected to the selected least-cost telecommunications service provider network so that the toll charge for the particular call is minimized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.