Advanced intelligent single telephone number routing

Claim 1

A method for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said method comprising: identifying a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; ascertaining a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; and determining, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party, the determining including comparing the ascertained geographic location with a predefined list of geographic areas corresponding to post office zip code+4 designations and comprising a predefined subscriber service area, each subscriber service area being associated with a routing telephone number corresponding to one of the plurality of subscriber locations, the comparing comprising comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+4 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+3 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+2 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+1 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+0 designation of each listed geographic area, and wherein if no matches are found, the call request is forwarded to a predetermined default routing telephone number wherein, if a match is found the call request is forwarded to the associated routing telephone number.

Claim 2

A method for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said method comprising: identifying a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; ascertaining a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; and determining, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party, the determining including comparing the ascertained geographic location with a predefined list of geographic areas corresponding to post office zip code+4 designations and comprising a predefined subscriber service area, each subscriber service area being associated with a routing telephone number corresponding to one of the plurality of subscriber locations, the comparing comprising comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+4 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+3 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+2 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+1 designation of each listed geographic area, wherein if no matches are found, comparing the ascertained geographic location to the zip code+0 designation of each listed geographic area, and wherein if no matches are found, the call request is forwarded to a predetermined default routing telephone number wherein, if a match is found the call request is forwarded to the associated routing telephone number.

Claim 28

An apparatus for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said apparatus comprising: means for identifying a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; means for ascertaining a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; a system that recognizes an exception period, which corresponds to at least one alternate routing telephone number, before the ascertaining means ascertains the geographic location of the calling party; a forwarding system that forwards the call request to one of the at least one alternate routing telephone number when the recognizing system recognizes the exception period; means for determining, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party when outside the exception period; and means for routing the originating call to the determined closest subscriber location via a local exchange carrier when outside the exception period.

Claim 29

An apparatus for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said apparatus comprising: means for identifying a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; means for ascertaining a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; a system that recognizes an exception period, which corresponds to at least one alternate routing telephone number, before the ascertaining means ascertains the geographic location of the calling party; a forwarding system that forwards the call request to one of the at least one alternate routing telephone number when the recognizing system recognizes the exception period; means for determining, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party when outside the exception period; and means for routing the originating call to the determined closest subscriber location via a local exchange carrier when outside the exception period.

Claim 57

A system for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said system comprising: an identifying system that identifies a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; an ascertaining system that ascertains a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; a determining system that determines, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party; and a routing system that routes the originating call to the determined closest subscriber location via a local exchange carrier; wherein the ascertaining system comprises a querying system for querying a line information database, external to the integrated service control point, that includes a list of service provider customer telephone numbers and corresponding geographic information, the line information database comprising a receiver that receives service provider customer billing information for each associated customer telephone number, a stripper that strips off post office zip code+4 designations for each customer, and a storage that stores each customer zip code+4 designation according to the associated customer telephone number.

Claim 58

A system for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communication network, said network comprising a two-way communication network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communication connection between at least two of said network locations in response to a local call request from a calling party initiated by inputting a telephone number, said network locations including a plurality of subscriber locations, and an integrated service control point comprising a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said system comprising: an identifying system that identifies a subscriber's service at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communication connection with the subscriber; an ascertaining system that ascertains a geographic location of the calling party in accordance with the originating telephone number of the calling party; a determining system that determines, within the integrated service control point, which of the plurality of subscriber locations is closest to the geographic location of the calling party; and a routing system that routes the originating call to the determined closest subscriber location via a local exchange carrier; wherein the ascertaining system comprises a querying system for querying a line information database, external to the integrated service control point, that includes a list of service provider customer telephone numbers and corresponding geographic information, the line information database comprising a receiver that receives service provider customer billing information for each associated customer telephone number, a stripper that strips off post office zip code+4 designations for each customer, and a storage that stores each customer zip code+4 designation according to the associated customer telephone number.