Method of establishing a toll-free communication connection, as well as a service unit, an exchange and a communications network

US6343123B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ALCATEL · FR

Inventors

• Markus Lehmacher · Stuttgart, DE
• Stephan Rupp · Forchheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 18, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 29, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 18, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04Q2213/13512
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

To establish a toll-free communication connection between a calling terminal (TE21) which is connected to a first communications network (KN1), and a called terminal, a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) is transmitted as a called number to the first communications network (KN1). In this case the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is provided by a service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2). The first communications network (KN1) recognizes the connection request as one with a toll-free universal call number and an inquiry is then sent by the first communications network (KN1) to this service unit (SERV) of the second communications network (KN2). From the toll-free universal call number this service unit (SERV) then determines a toll-free local call number (LFN) of the first communications network (KN1), and returns same to the first communications network (KN1). The first communications network (KN1) subsequently establishes the requested connection in accordance with this determined toll-free local call number (LFN).