Telephone interexchange carrier selection

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the terminal link is followed by the steps of: examining contents of a second memory to determine whether they identify a carrier designated to carry calls for which no other carrier is identified, when the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier; and connecting the call to the identified carrier when a carrier is determined to be identified by the second memory contents.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 wherein the step of examining contents of a second memory is preceded by the further step of determining that the call may be connected to a carrier identified by the second memory when the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of examining received signals is preceded by the step of: storing in the memory associated with the terminal link information identifying a carrier predesignated by a subscriber associated with the terminal link to carry calls made over the terminal link.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of examining received signals is accompanied by the step of: examining the received signals to determine whether the call requires selection of a carrier.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: requesting over the terminal link that an appropriate carrier be identified over the terminal link when an appropriate carrier is determined not to be identified by the received digits and by the memory contents.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining received digits is accompanied by the step of: examining the received digits to determine whether the call is of a type requiring selection of a carrier.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the terminal link comprises the steps of: examining contents of the memory that are exclusively associated with the terminal link to determine whether they identify a carrier when the received digits are determined not to identify a carrier; and examining contents of the memory that are associated with a terminal link group of which the terminal link is a member to determine whether they identify a carrier when the memory contents that are exclusively associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier.

Claim 14

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the terminal link is followed by the step of: examining contents of a memory associated with the switching office to determine whether they identify a default carrier when the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the switching office is preceded by the step of: examining the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link to determine whether the call may be connected to a carrier identified by the contents of the memory associated with the switching office when the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier.

Claim 16

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining received digits is preceded by the step of: storing in the memory associated with the terminal link information identifying a carrier predesignated to carry calls that originate on the terminal link and are to be carried by a carrier.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the switching office is preceded by the step of: storing in the memory associated with the switching office information identifying at least one default carrier designated to carry calls incoming to the switching office over originating terminal links and required to be carried by a carrier and for which a carrier is determined not to be identified.

Claim 18

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining received digits comprises the step of: examining the received digits, comprising digits dialed to make the call, to determine whether they include at least two digits that identify a carrier for the call and precede digits of a called number.

Claim 19

The method of claim 7 wherein the step of examining received digits comprises the step of: examining the received digits, comprising digits dialed to make the call, to determine whether they include digits one plus zero followed by at least two digits that identify a carrier for the call and precede digits of a called number.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of: examining the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link to determine whether the call may be connected to a default carrier when the contents of the memory associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify an appropriate carrier for the call; examining contents of a memory associated with the switching office to determine whether they identify a default carrier when it is determined that the call may be connected to a default carrier; and examining the contents of the memory associated with the switching office to determine whether the identified default carrier is an appropriate default carrier for the call when a default carrier is determined to be identified.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17 wherein the step of examining contents of a memory associated with the terminal link comprises the steps of: examining contents of the memory that are exclusively associated with the terminal link to determine whether they identify a carrier designated to carry calls incoming from the terminal link, when the received digits are determined not to include digits that identify a carrier for the call; and examining contents of the memory that are associated with a terminal link group of which the terminal link is a member to determine whether they identify a carrier designated to carry calls incoming from terminal links of the terminal group, when the memory contents that are exclusively associated with the terminal link are determined not to identify a carrier.

Claim 24

A switching system for selecting a carrier for a telephone call being made over an originating terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving signals over the originating terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining signals associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include signals other than call destination-identifying signals that identify a particular one of a plurality of carriers to carry the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier predesignated to carry calls made over the originating terminal link, when the third means determine that the received signals do not include the signals that identify a carrier to carry the call; and fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for connecting the call to the identified carrier when the third means or the fourth means determine that a carrier to carry the call is identified.

Claim 25

A switching system for selecting a carrier for a telephone call being made over an originating terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving signals over the originating terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining signals associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include signals other than call destination-identifying signals that identify a particular one of a plurality of carriers to carry the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier predesignated to carry calls made over the originating terminal link, when the third means determine that the received signals do not include the signals that identify a carrier to carry the call; and fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for connecting the call to the identified carrier when the third means or the fourth means determine that a carrier to carry the call is identified.

Claim 26

A switching system for selecting a carrier for a telephone call being made over an originating terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving signals over the originating terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining signals associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include signals that identify a carrier for the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the third means determine that the received signals do not include signals that identify a carrier for the call; fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for connecting the call to the identified carrier when the third means or the fourth means determine that a carrier is identified; and sixth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for requesting over the originating terminal link that a carrier for the call be identified when the third and the fourth means determine that a carrier is not identified.

Claim 27

A switching system for selecting a carrier for a telephone call being made over an originating terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving signals over the originating terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining signals associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include signals that identify a carrier for the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the third means determine that the received signals do not include signals that identify a carrier for the call; fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for connecting the call to the identified carrier when the third means or the fourth means determine that a carrier is identified; and sixth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for requesting over the originating terminal link that a carrier for the call be identified when the third and the fourth means determine that a carrier is not identified.

Claim 28

The system of claim 20 further comprising: sixth operational means, for storing information; and seventh operational means, responsive to the fourth means and cooperative with the sixth means, for examining contents of the sixth means to determine whether they identify a carrier designated to carry calls for which no other carrier is identified, when the fourth means determine that a carrier is not identified; and wherein the fifth means are further responsive to the seventh means and cooperative with the sixth means for connecting the call to the identified carrier when the seventh means determine that a carrier is identified.

Claim 29

The system of claim 22 wherein the seventh means include: eighth operational means, responsive to the third means, for determining whether the call may be connected to a carrier whose identity may be stored by the sixth means, when the fourth means determine that a carrier is not identified; and ninth operational means, responsive to the eighth means and cooperative with the sixth means, for examining contents of the sixth means to determine whether they identify a carrier when the eighth means determine that the call may be connected to that carrier.

Claim 30

The system of claim 20 further comprising: sixth operational means, cooperative with the first means, for storing in the first means information identifying a carrier predesignated by a subscriber associated with the terminal link to carry calls made over the terminal link.

Claim 31

The system of claim 20 further comprising sixth operational means, responsive to the second means, for examining signals received by the second means to determine whether the call requires selection of a carrier; and wherein the third means include seventh operational means, responsive to the sixth means and cooperative with the second means, for examining signals received by the second means to determine whether they identify a carrier when the sixth means determine that carrier selection is required for the call.

Claim 32

A switching system for automatically selecting an interexchange carrier for a telephone call incoming over a terminal link to the switching system, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving digits sent over the terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining digits associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include digits that identify a carrier for the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the third means determine that the received digits do not include digits that identify a carrier for the call; fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for determining whether the identified carrier is appropriate for a call type that includes the call, when a carrier for the call is determined to be identified; and sixth operational means, responsive to the fifth means, for connecting the call from the switching system to the identified carrier, when the identified carrier is determined to be appropriate for the call type.

Claim 33

A switching system for automatically selecting an interexchange carrier for a telephone call incoming over a terminal link to the switching system, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; second operational means, for receiving digits sent over the terminal link; third operational means, cooperative with the second means, for examining digits associated with the call and received by the second means to determine whether they include digits that identify a carrier for the call; fourth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the third means determine that the received digits do not include digits that identify a carrier for the call; fifth operational means, responsive to the third and the fourth means, for determining whether the identified carrier is appropriate for a call type that includes the call, when a carrier for the call is determined to be identified; and sixth operational means, responsive to the fifth means, for connecting the call from the switching system to the identified carrier, when the identified carrier is determined to be appropriate for the call type.

Claim 34

The system of claim 26 further comprising: means, responsive to the fourth and the fifth means, for requesting over the terminal link that an appropriate carrier be identified over the terminal link, when the fourth means or the fifth means determine that an appropriate carrier is not identified.

Claim 35

The system of claim 26 further comprising seventh operational means, responsive to the second means, for examining digits received by the second means to determine whether the call is of a type requiring selection of a carrier; and wherein the third means include eighth operational means, responsive to the seventh means, for examining digits received by the second means to determine whether they include digits that identify a carrier, when the seventh means determine that selection of a carrier is required.

Claim 36

The system of claim 26 wherein the first means include seventh operational means, for storing information exclusively associated with the terminal link, and eighth operational means, for storing information associated with a terminal link group of which the terminal link is a member; and wherein the fourth means include ninth operational means, responsive to the third means and cooperative with the seventh means, for examining contents of the seventh means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the third means determine that the received digits do not include digits that identify a carrier for the call, and tenth operational means, responsive to the ninth means and cooperative with the eighth means, for examining contents of the eighth means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the ninth means determine that the contents of the seventh means do not identify a carrier for the call.

Claim 37

The system of claim 26 further comprising: seventh operational means, for storing information associated with the switching system; and eighth operational means, responsive to the fourth means and cooperative with the seventh means, for examining contents of the seventh means to determine whether they identify a default carrier for the call, when the fourth means determine that the contents of the third means do not identify a carrier for the call.

Claim 38

The system of claim 30 wherein the eighth means comprise: ninth operational means, responsive to the fourth means and cooperative with the first means, for examining the contents of the first means to determine whether the call may be connected to a carrier whose identity may be stored in the seventh means, when the fourth means determine that the contents of the third means do not identify a carrier for the call; and tenth operational means, responsive to the ninth means and cooperative with the seventh means, for examining contents of the seventh means to determine whether they identify a default carrier for the call, when the ninth means determine that the call may be connected to that carrier.

Claim 39

The system of claim 26 further comprising: means, cooperative with the first means, for storing in the first means information identifying a carrier predesignated to carry calls that originate on the terminal link and are to be carried by a carrier.

Claim 40

The system of claim 30 further comprising: means, cooperative with the seventh means, for storing in the seventh means information identifying at least one default carrier designated to carry calls that are to be carried by a carrier for which a carrier is determined not to be identified.

Claim 41

The system of claim 26 wherein the second means include seventh operational means, for receiving at least two digits that identify a carrier for the call and that precede digits of a called number.

Claim 42

The system of claim 26 wherein the second means include seventh operational means for receiving digits dialed to make the call and including digits one plus zero followed by at least two digits that identify a carrier for the call and precede digits of a called number.

Claim 43

A switching system for automatically selecting an interexchange carrier at the switching system for a telephone call incoming thereto over a terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with at least some received digits dialed to make the call and with a class-of-service of the terminal link; second operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; third operational means, for receiving the digits dialed to make the call over the terminal link; fourth operational means, cooperative with the third means, for examining the digits received by the third means to determine whether the call is of a type requiring selection of a carrier; fifth operational means, responsive to the fourth means and cooperative with the third means, for examining the digits received by the third means to determine whether they include digits that identify a carrier for the call, when the fourth means determine that carrier selection is required; sixth operational means, responsive to the fifth means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the fifth means determine that the received digits do not identify a carrier for the call; seventh operational means, responsive to the sixth means and cooperative with the second means, for examining contents of the second means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the sixth means determine that the contents of the first means do not identify a carrier for the call; eighth operational means, responsive to the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh means, for determining whether the identified carrier is appropriate for a call type that includes the call, when a carrier for the call is determined to be identified; ninth operational means, responsive to the eighth means, for connecting the call from the switching system to the identified carrier, when the identified carrier is determined to be appropriate for the call type; and tenth operational means, responsive to the eighth means, for requesting over the terminal link that an appropriate carrier for the call be identified over the terminal link, when an appropriate carrier is determined not to be identified.

Claim 44

A switching system for automatically selecting an interexchange carrier at the switching system for a telephone call incoming thereto over a terminal link, comprising: first operational means, for storing information associated with at least some received digits dialed to make the call and with a class-of-service of the terminal link; second operational means, for storing information associated with the terminal link; third operational means, for receiving the digits dialed to make the call over the terminal link; fourth operational means, cooperative with the third means, for examining the digits received by the third means to determine whether the call is of a type requiring selection of a carrier; fifth operational means, responsive to the fourth means and cooperative with the third means, for examining the digits received by the third means to determine whether they include digits that identify a carrier for the call, when the fourth means determine that carrier selection is required; sixth operational means, responsive to the fifth means and cooperative with the first means, for examining contents of the first means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the fifth means determine that the received digits do not identify a carrier for the call; seventh operational means, responsive to the sixth means and cooperative with the second means, for examining contents of the second means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the sixth means determine that the contents of the first means do not identify a carrier for the call; eighth operational means, responsive to the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh means, for determining whether the identified carrier is appropriate for a call type that includes the call, when a carrier for the call is determined to be identified; ninth operational means, responsive to the eighth means, for connecting the call from the switching system to the identified carrier, when the identified carrier is determined to be appropriate for the call type; and tenth operational means, responsive to the eighth means, for requesting over the terminal link that an appropriate carrier for the call be identified over the terminal link, when an appropriate carrier is determined not to be identified.

Claim 45

The system of claim 36 further comprising: eleventh operational means, for storing information associated with the switching system; twelfth operational means, responsive to the seventh means and cooperative with the second means, for examining contents of the second means to determine whether the call may be connected to a default carrier, when the seventh means determine that the contents of the second means do not identify a carrier for the call; thirteenth operational means, responsive to the twelfth means and cooperative with the eleventh means, for examining contents of the eleventh means to determine whether they identify a default carrier, when the twelfth means determine that the call may be connected to a default carrier; and fourteenth operational means, responsive to the thirteenth means and cooperative with the eleventh means, for examining the contents of the eleventh means to determine whether the identified default carrier is an appropriate default carrier for the call, when a default carrier for the call is determined by the thirteenth means to be identified.

Claim 46

The system of claim 36 wherein the second means comprise eleventh operational means, for storing information exclusively associated with the terminal link, and twelfth operational means, for storing information associated with a terminal link group of which the terminal link is a member; and wherein the sixth means comprise thirteenth operational means, responsive to the fifth means and cooperative with the eleventh means, for examining contents of the eleventh means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the fifth means determine that the received digits do not identify a carrier for the call; and fourteenth operational means, responsive to the thirteenth means and cooperative with the twelfth means, for examining contents of the twelfth means to determine whether they identify a carrier for the call, when the thirteenth means determine that the contents of the eleventh means do not identify a carrier for the call.