A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING LONG DISTANCE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS USING THE INTERNET

摘要

An apparatus and a method for completing long distance telephone calls over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using an automated Internet Operato r are disclosed. The apparatus includes a long distance service provider node connected to the Internet and a call connection control computer connected to the Internet an d interfaced to a toll switch connected to the PSTN. The method permits a calling party to request the automated Internet Operator to complete long distance call connections by connecting to the long distance service provider node and identifying himself. The caller completes a call request form which is uploaded to the long distance service provider no de and passed to the call connection control computer for processing. The call connection control computer instructs the toll switch to dial the calling party, dial the calle d party and conference the two lines. The call connection control computer preferably us es a least cost routing algorithm to select an interexchange carrier for each call, dependin g on the origination and termination location of the call. The advantage is a flexibl e long distance service that is not interexchange carrier dependent for the best long distan ce rates.