Patent ID: 6091809
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A method of establishing a connection wherein a calling subscriber (A) requests a connection to a called subscriber (B) who is assigned to a geographic area (LOC2) whose number range is shared by a plurality of competing subscriber access networks (LN21 to LN23) of different network operators (OP21 to OP23), and wherein to establish a requested connection, a connection request is routed through one or more communications networks (LN1, TN2) to the subscriber access network (LN23) of the called subscriber (B),comprising the steps of:transmitting from a calling subscriber's exchange, as part of said connection request, in addition to a directory number (N) which designates the called subscriber (B) within the number range of the geographical area (LOC2), a separate operator code (KOP23) which specifies the particular network operator (OP23) of the subscriber access network (LN23) of the called subscriber (B), andevaluating the directory number (N) and the operator code (KOP23) to select a subscriber line associated with the called subscriber (B).