Patent ID: 6411699
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for routing an originating call to a subscriber location within a local communications network, said network comprising a two-way communications network interconnecting a plurality of service switching points and a plurality of dispersed network locations, said service switching points selectively establishing a communications 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 a service control point comprising subscriber service logic, said method comprising:identifying a subscriber's service logic at a service switching point serving the input telephone number based on the local call request from the calling party to establish a communications 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 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 at least one predetermined list of zip code designations corresponding to geographic areas, each predetermined list of zip code designations corresponding to at least one 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 first comparing the ascertained geographic location to a first predetermined list of post office zip code designations, each zip code designation of the first predetermined list comprising the same number of numerals, wherein if no matches are found again comparing the ascertained geographic location to a second predetermined list of post office zip code designations, the number of numerals of each zip code designation of the second predetermined list being less than the number of numerals of each zip code designation of the first predetermined list, 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.