# US 6,343,123 B1 · Method of establishing a toll-free communication connection, as well as a service unit, an exchange and a communications network

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- Number: US 6,343,123 B1
- Document ID: US6343123B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/099,896
- Filed: 1998-06-18
- Granted: 2002-01-29
- Earliest claimed: 1998-06-18
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6343123B1

## CPC

- H04M 15/08: Metering calls to called party {, i.e. B-party charged for the communication}
- H04M 15/00: Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP}
- H04Q 3/0029: {Provisions for intelligent networking}
- H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing
- H04M 2215/2026: Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
- H04M 2215/32: Involving wireless systems
- H04M 2215/62: Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
- H04Q 2213/13512: 800 - freefone
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

To establish a toll-free communication connection between a calling terminal (TE21) which is connected to a first communications network (KN1), and a called terminal, a connection request with a toll-free universal call number (IFN) is transmitted as a called number to the first communications network (KN1). In this case the toll-free universal call number (IFN) is provided by a service unit (SERV) of a second communications network (KN2). The first communications network (KN1) recognizes the connection request as one with a toll-free universal call number and an inquiry is then sent by the first communications network (KN1) to this service unit (SERV) of the second communications network (KN2). From the toll-free universal call number this service unit (SERV) then determines a toll-free local call number (LFN) of the first communications network (KN1), and returns same to the first communications network (KN1). The first communications network (KN1) subsequently establishes the requested connection in accordance with this determined toll-free local call number (LFN).