Method and system for regulating incoming calls from multiple points of origination

For use in a communications network having at least one service provider with at least one call response center, and at least one switching center serving at least one calling party, a method of regulating the flow of telephone calls, the method comprising:

• assigning at least one calling area to each switching center;
• providing call regulating functionality in communication with each call response center of each service provider, the call regulating functionality including a set of parameters assigned to each calling area served by the call response center, and a corresponding call regulating algorithm for the assigned calling areas;
• detecting a call from a calling party to a call response center;
• determining the assigned calling area of the calling party for the service provider;
• determining based on the calling area of the calling party, the call response center for the calling party and the service provider, and the switching center serving the call response center;
• determining the current number of communication lines available for use from the switching center serving the call response center;
• determining the current values of the assigned parameters for the calling areas assigned to the call response center;
• and
• determining, based on the current number of communication lines available for use from the switching center serving the call response center, the current values of the assigned parameters, and the call regulating algorithm, whether to proceed with the call to the call response center.

For use in a communication network, a system for regulating the flow of calls to a service provider, the system comprising:

• at least one switching center serving at least one calling party;
• at least one call response center, each call response center having at least one calling area assigned thereto;
• and
• a call regulator provided in communication with each call response center, the call regulator including a set of parameters assigned to each calling area served by the call response center, and a corresponding call regulating algorithm for the assigned calling areas, whereby the call regulator is operative to detect a call from a calling party to a call response center, determine based on the calling area of the calling party the call response center, determine the current values of the assigned parameters for the calling areas assigned to the call response center, and determine based on the current values of the assigned parameters, and the call regulating algorithm, whether to proceed with the call to the call response center.

For use in a communications network having at least one service provider with at least one call response center, and at least one switching center serving at least one calling party, a method of regulating the flow of calls, the method comprising:

• providing call regulating functionality in communication with each call response center of each service provider, the call regulating functionality including a set of parameters assigned to each calling area served by the call response center, and a corresponding call regulating algorithm for the assigned calling areas;
• detecting a call from a calling party to a service provider;
• determining the call response center for the calling party and the service provider;
• determining the current values of the assigned parameters for the calling areas assigned to the call response center;
• and,
• determining based on the current values of the assigned parameters, and the call regulating algorithm, whether to proceed with the call to the call response center.