Telecommunications network routing

Claim 1

A telecommunications network comprising: a means for receiving information associated with an identification of a point-of-sale communication device; a means for accessing data comprising at least one destination number, wherein said data has been previously stored in association with the information received relating to the identification of said point-of-sale communication device; and means for establishing communications between said point-of-sale communication device and said destination using said destination number.

Claim 7

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communication device and a destination by way of a telecommunications network, the network comprising a first network and a second network, wherein the first network establishes communications between the communications device and the second network, said method comprising the steps of; configuring the device for transmitting a predetermined string of digits associated with said second network in response to activation; activating the device to transmit said predetermined string of digits to the first network; establishing communication between the device and the second network in response to transmission of the predetermined string of digits, the communication being established by the first network without using a dedicated line; receiving information associated with an identity of the device into said second network from said first network, and responding to receipt of the information by retrieving data comprising a destination number stored in association with said identity information and comprising delay information associated with said device; and establishing communication initiated in the second network so as to complete said telecommunications from the device to the destination in accordance with said retrieved destination number and said delay information.

Claim 8

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communication device and a destination by way of a telecommunications network, the network comprising a first network and a second network, wherein the first network establishes communications between the communications device and the second network, said method comprising the steps of; configuring the device for transmitting a predetermined string of digits associated with said second network in response to activation; activating the device to transmit said predetermined string of digits to the first network; establishing communication between the device and the second network in response to transmission of the predetermined string of digits, the communication being established by the first network without using a dedicated line; receiving information associated with an identity of the device into said second network from said first network, and responding to receipt of the information by retrieving data comprising a destination number stored in association with said identity information and comprising delay information associated with said device; and establishing communication initiated in the second network so as to complete said telecommunications from the device to the destination in accordance with said retrieved destination number and said delay information.

Claim 11

A method of establishing telecommunications between a transaction card terminal communication device and a destination by way of a telecommunications network, the network comprising a first network and a second network, wherein the first network establishes communications between the transaction card terminal communications device and the second network, said method comprising the steps of; configuring the transaction card terminal communications device for transmitting a predetermined string of digits associated with said second network in response to activation; activating the transaction card terminal communications device to transmit said predetermined string of digits to the first network wherein said activation is in connection with a transaction involving use of a transaction card; establishing communication between the transaction card terminal communications device and the second network in response to transmission of the predetermined string of digits, the communication being established by the first network without using a dedicated line; receiving information associated with an identity of the transaction card terminal communications device into said second network from said first network, and responding to receipt of the information by retrieving data comprising a destination number stored in association with said identity information; and establishing communication initiated in the second network so as to complete said telecommunications from the transaction card terminal communications device to the destination in accordance with said retrieved destination number.

Claim 12

A method of establishing telecommunications between a transaction card terminal communication device and a destination by way of a telecommunications network, the network comprising a first network and a second network, wherein the first network establishes communications between the transaction card terminal communications device and the second network, said method comprising the steps of; configuring the transaction card terminal communications device for transmitting a predetermined string of digits associated with said second network in response to activation; activating the transaction card terminal communications device to transmit said predetermined string of digits to the first network wherein said activation is in connection with a transaction involving use of a transaction card; establishing communication between the transaction card terminal communications device and the second network in response to transmission of the predetermined string of digits, the communication being established by the first network without using a dedicated line; receiving information associated with an identity of the transaction card terminal communications device into said second network from said first network, and responding to receipt of the information by retrieving data comprising a destination number stored in association with said identity information; and establishing communication initiated in the second network so as to complete said telecommunications from the transaction card terminal communications device to the destination in accordance with said retrieved destination number.

Claim 15

A method of establishing telecommunications between one of at least two communications devices and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the devices have at least one associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: connecting at least two of the devices so that they share the same telephone number; configuring the devices to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; activating a particular one of the devices and transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the particular device to the second network using the predetermined number transmitted by the particular device; receiving the telephone number in the second network from the first network; retrieving a destination number associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network unless the destination number has been provided by the particular device; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the particular device to the destination.

Claim 16

A method of establishing telecommunications between one of at least two communications devices and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the devices have at least one associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: connecting at least two of the devices so that they share the same telephone number; configuring the devices to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; activating a particular one of the devices and transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the particular device to the second network using the predetermined number transmitted by the particular device; receiving the telephone number in the second network from the first network; retrieving a destination number associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network unless the destination number has been provided by the particular device; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the particular device to the destination.

Claim 17

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the device has an associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the device to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; activating the device and transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the device to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the device; receiving the telephone number associated with the device in the second network from the first network; retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; transmitting a user defined destination number from the device if the destination number is defined by a user of the device; retrieving the destination number associated with the telephone number from the database in the second network if a time delay specified in the delay information expires before the user defined destination number is transmitted from the device; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the device to the destination.

Claim 18

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the device has an associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the device to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; activating the device and transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the device to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the device; receiving the telephone number associated with the device in the second network from the first network; retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; transmitting a user defined destination number from the device if the destination number is defined by a user of the device; retrieving the destination number associated with the telephone number from the database in the second network if a time delay specified in the delay information expires before the user defined destination number is transmitted from the device; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the device to the destination.

Claim 19

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the device has an associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: connecting the device with a telephone so that they share the telephone number; configuring the device to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; if the device is activated, then: (a) transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; (b) establishing a first connection in the first network from the device to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the device; (c) receiving the telephone number associated with the device in the second network from the first network; (d) retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; (e) retrieving the destination number associated with the telephone number from the database in the second network if a time delay specified in the delay information expires; and (f) establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the device to the destination; and if the telephone is activated using the pre-determined number, then: (a) transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; (b) establishing a first connection in the first network from the telephone to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the telephone; (c) receiving the telephone number associated with the telephone in the second network from the first network; (d) retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; (e) transmitting a user defined destination number from telephone if the destination number is defined by a user of the telephone; and (f) establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the telephone to the destination if a time delay specified in the delay information does not expire before the user defined destination number is transmitted from the telephone.

Claim 20

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the device has an associated telephone number and the second network has an associated pre-determined number, the method comprising the steps of: connecting the device with a telephone so that they share the telephone number; configuring the device to transmit the pre-determined number when activated; if the device is activated, then: (a) transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; (b) establishing a first connection in the first network from the device to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the device; (c) receiving the telephone number associated with the device in the second network from the first network; (d) retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; (e) retrieving the destination number associated with the telephone number from the database in the second network if a time delay specified in the delay information expires; and (f) establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the device to the destination; and if the telephone is activated using the pre-determined number, then: (a) transmitting the pre-determined number to the first network; (b) establishing a first connection in the first network from the telephone to the second network using the pre-determined number transmitted by the telephone; (c) receiving the telephone number associated with the telephone in the second network from the first network; (d) retrieving a set of delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; (e) transmitting a user defined destination number from telephone if the destination number is defined by a user of the telephone; and (f) establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the telephone to the destination if a time delay specified in the delay information does not expire before the user defined destination number is transmitted from the telephone.

Claim 21

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the communications device has an associated telephone number and the second network has a cut-through number that identifies the second network without requiring a database look-up, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the communications device to transmit the cut-through number when activated; activating the communications device and transmitting the cut-through number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the communications device to the second network using the cut-through number transmitted by the communications device; receiving the telephone number of the communications device in the second network from the first network; retrieving a destination number associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the communications device to the destination.

Claim 22

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the communications device has an associated telephone number and the second network has a cut-through number that identifies the second network without requiring a database look-up, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the communications device to transmit the cut-through number when activated; activating the communications device and transmitting the cut-through number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the communications device to the second network using the cut-through number transmitted by the communications device; receiving the telephone number of the communications device in the second network from the first network; retrieving a destination number associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using the destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the communications device to the destination.

Claim 24

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the communications device has an associated telephone number, and wherein the second network has a cut-through number that identifies second network without requiring a database look-up, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the communications device to transmit the cut-through number when activated; activating the communications device and transmitting the cut-through number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the communications device to the second network using the cut-through number transmitted by the communications device; receiving the telephone number of the communications device in the second network from the first network; retrieving delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using a destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the communications device to the destination, wherein the destination number is defined by the communication device if the communications device transmits the destination number to the second network before expiration of a delay indicated by the delay information, and the destination number is defined by the database in the second network using the telephone number if the communications device does not transmit the destination number to the second network before expiration of the delay indicated by the delay information.

Claim 25

A method of establishing telecommunications between a communications device and a destination by using a telecommunications network comprised of a first network and a second network, wherein the communications device has an associated telephone number, and wherein the second network has a cut-through number that identifies second network without requiring a database look-up, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the communications device to transmit the cut-through number when activated; activating the communications device and transmitting the cut-through number to the first network; establishing a first connection in the first network from the communications device to the second network using the cut-through number transmitted by the communications device; receiving the telephone number of the communications device in the second network from the first network; retrieving delay information associated with the telephone number from a database in the second network; and establishing a second connection initiated in the second network from the first network to the destination using a destination number so as to complete the telecommunications from the communications device to the destination, wherein the destination number is defined by the communication device if the communications device transmits the destination number to the second network before expiration of a delay indicated by the delay information, and the destination number is defined by the database in the second network using the telephone number if the communications device does not transmit the destination number to the second network before expiration of the delay indicated by the delay information.