Methods and systems for billing and routing local toll-free communications
US7443969B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/7471
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system routes local toll-free communications to a toll-free communications address via local switches and/or local network onto interconnecting local providers with local access settlement rates, thereby allowing a local rather than toll cost structure of the communication. When an originating communications address is identified as an LCA, intraLATA, or otherwise local communications address, the system routes the local toll-free call from the network to participating local switches that service the subscriber's terminating communications. According to exemplary embodiments, the originating communications are separated between the LCA and the rest of the LATA based upon the NPA-NXXs that are considered local to the subscriber's terminating number. The system also provides for communicating and routing local toll free communications and for reporting each local toll free communication to the subscriber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.