Patent ID: 6687365
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for signaling telephone numbers within, into, and out of an overlay area of a switched telephone network, from a calling telephone device to a receiving telephone device, said overlay area comprising a parent area code and at least one child area code, using a computerized device, comprising the steps of:associating a single-digit parent overlay selector code with said parent area code of said overlay area; associating a different single-digit child overlay selector code different from said parent overlay selector code, with each of said at least one child area codes; signaling a call from said calling telephone device located within said overlay area, using a 7-digit telephone number and an area code associated with an overlay selector code, to said receiving telephone device located within said overlay area and within said parent area code, by detecting the dialing of a 7-digit telephone number of said receiving telephone device, detecting the dialing of said parent overlay selector code, and setting said overlay selector code to be said parent overlay selector code; signaling a call from said calling telephone device located within said overlay area, using said 7-digit telephone number and said area code associated with said overlay selector code, to said receiving telephone device located within said overlay area and within one of said at least one child area codes, by detecting the dialing of said 7-digit telephone number of said receiving telephone device, detecting the dialing of said child overlay selector code, and setting said overlay selector code to be said child overlay selector code; if an initial dialed digit is detected to be a digit â€œ1â€ , then regarding first, second and third digits following said initial dialed digit to be a three-digit area code, and signaling a call to a receiving telephone device at a three-digit area code represented by said first, second and third detected digits following said initial dialed digit, and at a 7-digit telephone number represented by fourth through tenth detected digits following said initial dialed digit; and if said initial dialed digit is detected to be a digit â€œ2â€  through â€œ9â€  inclusive, then: detecting first and second digits following said initial dialed digit; determining whether said initial dialed digit combined with said first and second digits following, comprise a locally-defined three-digit area code; if said initial dialed digit combined with said first and second digits following are determined to comprise a locally-defined three-digit area code, signaling a call to said receiving telephone device at a three-digit area code represented by said initial dialed digit combined with said first and second digits following, and at a 7-digit telephone number represented by third through ninth detected digits following said initial dialed digit; if said initial dialed digit combined with said first and second digits following are determined to not comprise a locally-defined three-digit area code, then regarding said initial dialed digit combined with said first and second digits following to comprise a central office code, regarding said central office code combined with third through sixth detected digits following said initial dialed digit to be said 7-digit telephone number of said receiving telephone device, and setting a seventh detected digit following said initial dialed digit to be said overlay selector code.