Telephone call routing and charging system
AssigneeUnited Networks, Inc.
InventorsAlfred M. Hestad, Harry O. Hansen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telephone call routing and charging system using processor circuitry can automatically select the most economical route for individual telephone calls. The system includes a signal direction detector for automatically determining the time span of a call for charge purposes from the time the call is answered to the time the call is terminated.
Claims25
A telephone least cost routing and charging arrangement for enabling private branch systems to route calls from a calling station to a distant called station so as to obtain the least charge for the call, said arrangement comprising:
- a calling station,
- dial means at said calling station for generating control signals indicative of the called station,
- computer means including stored information for selecting the least cost route responsive to said control signals in said stored information,
- means for connecting the calling station to the called station over said selected route,
- means for detecting data signals from one of said stations,
- means for distinguishing between data signals originating at the called station and at the calling station, and
- means for automatically timing the duration of the call for charge purposes from the time a data signal from said called station is detected until the termination of the call independently of telephone answer supervision.
A telephone call cost determining arrangement for calculating the cost of each call without relying on central office information, said arrangement comprising:
- means for connecting said arrangement to a telephone system,
- calling station means in said arrangement,
- means in said telephone system for connecting said calling station means to a desired called station responsive to the receipt of dial information from said calling station,
- means for detecting a data signal from said called station, said detecting means including means for distinguishing data signals originating at the called station and at the calling station, and
- means for automatically timing the duration of the call between said connected calling and called station for charge purposes from the time said data signal from said called station is detected until the termination of the call.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.