Patent ID: 8548152

Claim:
A system for processing toll free telephone calls by a telecommunications service provider, said system comprising: a local switch operated by the telecommunications service provider, and configured to receive a telephone call request by a customer in a local service area serviced by the telecommunications service provider; a signaling transfer point (STP) in communication with said local switch, and configured to, in response to receiving information associated with the telephone call request from said local switch, determine that the telephone call is being placed to a toll free telephone number; an internal service control point (SCP) in communication with said STP and configured to: in response to receiving the information associated with the telephone call request, determine whether the telephone call is being placed to a toll free telephone number that is operated by the telecommunications service provider; and if so, then communicate routing instructions to said STP; and a soft switch in communication with said local switch, and configured to: receive the routing instructions and telephone call request from the SCP via the STP; and connect the telephone call to a toll free telephone that is operated by the telecommunications service provider.