Patent ID: 6999575
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of routing a call from a calling party to a called party over a communication network comprising the steps of: receiving the call at a switch located in a network associated with a first area code of the calling party, the switch operated by a service provider that provides telecommunications services to the called party, the service provider not operating equipment directly connected to a line of the calling party, the received call resulting from the calling party dialing a number within the first area code; recognizing that the dialed number associated with the received call is a special number; sending a query to a database for routing instructions; receiving a routable number associated with the called party's telephone line, the routable number comprising a second area code, the second area code associated with said called party's telephone line and not associated with a local service area of the calling party; routing the call to called party's telephone line over a communication network operated by the service provider; and creating a billing record for the call in which an indicator is provided that indicates that the call should be billed at a special billing rate to the calling or called party.