Patent ID: 7068776
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for automatically routing calls through a discount telephone service, comprising: initiating a dialing process on a callers dialing device; routing an outgoing call through a discount routing device located at the site of the caller's dialing device; wherein said discount routing device operates by passing a first dialed digit of an outgoing call to a communication network to signal that an outgoing call is being be made; halting all incoming calls to the dialing device by establishing a busy status between the dialing device and the communication network with the passage of the first dialed digit to said communication network; if said first dialed digit is indicative of a non-long distance call, the discount routing device does not effect routing of the outgoing call; if said first dialed digit is indicative of a long distance call, the discount routing device will isolate the communication network from the dialing device; said discount routing device monitoring the dialing of the outgoing phone number to determine what course of action is to be taken by said discount dialing device with said dialed phone number; said discount routing device determining if a dialed phone number is long distance by looking for a predetermined number of digits in a predetermined sequence; said discount routing device monitoring the isolated communication network to determine the status and ability of said network to process the call that that is being placed by the user of the dialing device; said discount routing device notifying the caller of any problems with the communication system while a dialed long distance call is in the process of being routed to a discount service provider; said discount routing device utilizing a listing of area codes to exclude an outgoing phone number from being considered a discountable long distance call; accessing a discount telephone service by merging said first dialed digit of said outgoing call with the access number for the discount telephone service provider; and dialing the remaining digits of the outgoing call.