| 摘要 |
<p>Telephone calls originating from terminals having respective routing apparatus (3) are transmitted via a common local network (4) and then via a subsequent network route which is determined by predetermined routing data stored in the routing apparatus (3). The stored information in a look-up table in each of the respective routing apparatus (3) is periodically updated by means of a multipoint broadcast via the common local network (4). The common local network (4) may be a cable network (4) carrying television transmissions so that the updating information may be encoded in a vertical blanking interval portion of the television broadcast signal. The preferred route information is prepared by a remote control centre (7) which also administers billing for calls routed in accordance with the routing information.</p> |
