# US 11,451,939 B2 · Routing of toll-free numbers and text messages using a toll-free exchange > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,939 B2 - Document ID: US11451939B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/012,757 - Filed: 2020-09-04 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26 - Assignees: Teliax Technology LLC - Applicants: David Aldworth - Inventors: David Aldworth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451939B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] - H04L 51/10: Multimedia information - H04L 51/214: using selective forwarding - H04M 15/09: {Third party charged communications} - H04M 15/8061: {Selecting least cost route depending on origin or type of service} - H04M 15/8221: {Message based} - H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Aspects of this disclosure are directed to a method of routing text messages to subscribers of toll-free numbers using the toll-free exchange. Typically, an originating texter will draft a text message, using, for example, an SMS component of a cellular phone to a toll-free subscriber. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the text message is sent to the originating texter's service provider, which then routes the text message to the toll-free exchange. The toll-free exchange looks up the RESPORG ID associated with the ten-digit toll-free number, and the RESPORG ID is used for text message routing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for routing calls, comprising: directly receiving a call from a service provider, the call being directed to a toll-free number that is served by a terminating responsible organization (RESPORG); receiving an identification of the terminating RESPORG, the identification being different from a carrier identification code (CIC); determining a network address for the terminating RESPORG based on the identification; and directly routing, based at least in part on the network address, the call to the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the received call is to be routed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and wherein routing the call to the terminating RESPORG comprises routing the call via a network different from the PSTN. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the terminating RESPORG is enrolled in a toll-free exchange by storing RESPORG information associated with the terminating RESPORG in a database, and wherein the stored RESPORG information has the network address that is associated with the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the RESPORG information associated with the terminating RESPORG is received via an enrollment website. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein determining the network address for the terminating RESPORG comprises accessing the network address from the RESPORG information in the database. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the call is received from an originating RESPORG and the method further comprises: determining whether the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange based on identifying RESPORG information for the originating RESPORG in a database; based on determining that the originating RESPORG is not enrolled with the exchange, rejecting the call; and based on determining that the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange, connecting the call to the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising routing a media portion of the call through a media server farm, wherein the media server farm configures the media portion of the call for routing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of routing calls of claim 1, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider comprises receiving the call from the service provider without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of routing calls of claim 1, wherein directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG comprises routing the call to the terminating RESPORG without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of routing calls of claim 1, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG are performed through a single media gateway server. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of routing calls of claim 1, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG are carried out on an internet network. ### Claim 12 A method for routing calls, comprising: directly receiving a call from a service provider, the call being directed to a toll-free number that is served by a terminating responsible organization (RESPORG); determining a network address for the terminating RESPORG from RESPORG information in a database; and directly routing, based at least in part on the network address, the call to the terminating RESPORG via a network different from a public switched telephone network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the RESPORG information associated with the terminating RESPORG is received via an enrollment website. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the call is received from an originating RESPORG and the method further comprises: determining whether the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange based on identifying RESPORG information for the originating RESPORG in the database; and based on determining that the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange, connecting the call to the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of routing calls of claim 12, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider comprises receiving the call from the service provider without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of routing calls of claim 12, wherein directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG comprises routing the call to the terminating RESPORG without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of routing calls of claim 12, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG are performed through a single media gateway server. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of routing calls of claim 12, wherein directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG are carried out on an internet network. ### Claim 19 A system comprising: at least one processor; and memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising: directly receiving a call from a service provider, the call being directed to a toll-free number that is served by a terminating responsible organization (RESPORG); receiving an identification of the terminating RESPORG, the identification being different from a carrier identification code (CIC); determining a network address for the terminating RESPORG based on the identification; and directly routing, based at least in part on the network address, the call to the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the received call is to be routed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and wherein routing the call to the terminating RESPORG comprises routing the call via a network different from the PSTN. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the terminating RESPORG is enrolled in a toll-free exchange by storing RESPORG information associated with the terminating RESPORG in a database, and wherein the stored RESPORG information has the network address that is associated with the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the RESPORG information associated with the terminating RESPORG is received via an enrollment website. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein determining the network address for the terminating RESPORG comprises accessing the network address from the RESPORG information in the database. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the call is received from an originating RESPORG and the set of operations further comprises: determining whether the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange based on identifying RESPORG information for the originating RESPORG in a database; based on determining that the originating RESPORG is not enrolled with the exchange, rejecting the call; and based on determining that the originating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange, connecting the call to the terminating RESPORG. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising routing a media portion of the call through a media server farm, wherein the media server farm configures the media portion of the call for routing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the set of operations comprises directly receiving the call from the service provider by receiving the call from the service provider without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the set of operations comprises directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG by routing the call to the terminating RESPORG without any other service provider therebetween. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein: the system further comprises a single media gateway server; and the set of operations comprises directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG through the single media gateway server. ### Claim 29 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the set of operations comprises directly receiving the call from the service provider and directly routing the call to the terminating RESPORG on an internet network.