System and computer program for routing a dedicated number through alternate telephone carriers

摘要

A system and computer program for routing a call to a dedicated number through an AIN-based network. The system improves the probability that a call based on a dialed dedicated number will be routed through a node to one of a plurality of interexchange carriers, said node having a predetermined sequence of preferred carriers assigned thereto. The system of the present invention ncludes a system for recognizing said dedicated number, a system for assigning primary, alternate and secondary interexchange carriers responsive to said system for recognizing. Also provided is a system for sequentially routing said dedicated number from said node to said interexchange carrier corresponding to said primary, alternate, and secondary carriers until a connection is established. The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunications and to an apparatus and method for managing telephony-based services, such as routing and translations services. More particularly, the present invention relates to an intelligent or advanced application, such as an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) application, for routing a special or dedicated telephone number through multiple paths out of an AIN end office to a dedicated or special purpose telecommunications system, such as the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS). Acronyms The written description provided herein contains acronyms which refer to various communication services and system components. Although known, use of several of these acronyms is not strictly standardized in the art. For purposes of the written description herein, acronyms will be defined as follows: 10D-10 Digit Trigger AIN-Advanced Intelligent Network ACR-Alternate Carrier Routing CCIS-Common Channel Interoffice Signaling CCS-Common Channel Signaling CO-Central Office CIC-Carrier Identification Code CPR-Call Processing Record CPN-Calling Party Number DID-Direct Inward Dialing DLN-Dialed Line Number DRS-Data and Reports System EO-End Office FIM-Feature Interaction Manager ISCP-Integrated Service Control Point ISUP-ISDN User Part IXC-Interexchange Carrier LATA-Local Access and Transport Area MF-Multi-Frequency NANP-North American Numbering Plan NPA-Numbering Plan Area NXX-Central Office Code PIC-Primary Interexchange Carrier PRI-Primary Rate Interface PSTN-Public Switched Telephone Network SCE-Service Creation Environment SCP-Service Control Point SMS-Service Management System SRAS-Special Routing Access Service SS7-Signaling System 7 SSP-Service Switching Point STP-Signaling Transfer Point TAT-Termination Attempt Trigger TCAP-Transaction Capabilities Applications Part TG-Trunk Group TN-Telephone Number BACKGROUND INFORMATION (a) Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) GETS is a telecommunications system maintained by GTE and the federal government for use during emergencies. Specifically, the Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code of 710 was established for the special federal government telephone number 710-NCS-GETS (i.e., 710-627-4387). In the prior art, this telephone number was routed to GETS either through the Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) of the calling location for offices with a GETS service, or through AT&T for a calling location that has contracted with AT&T for Special Routing Access Service (SRAS). A drawback of the above arrangement is that only a single telephone carrier is available for connecting any one node/office to GETS. However, during an emergency, the particu