Advanced Call Routing for Ported Numbers in Mass Telephony
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mass telephony conference calls, existing call routing systems struggle to determine the least expensive carrier for calls, especially with the increasing number of ported phone numbers, which complicates the routing process due to number portability, impacting the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of voice-over-IP and internet telephony.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for advanced call routing that checks a conferee list to identify ported numbers, creates a list of carriers ordered by cost, and places calls starting with the least expensive carrier, with the ability to switch to the next carrier if the initial choice is unavailable, utilizing real-time access to national databases for pricing information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional least-cost-routing (LCR) is used for call routing, then call routing is simplified, but it cannot accurately determine the least expensive carrier for ported phone numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by checking whether a telephone number is ported before routing the call. This advance check allows the system to determine the correct carrier network and select the least expensive carrier in advance, rather than using traditional LCR methods that assume non-ported numbers. The preliminary identification of ported numbers enables accurate cost determination while maintaining manageable system complexity through a structured decision process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (ported number checking system) between the traditional LCR and the call routing process. This intermediary layer checks the porting status of telephone numbers and provides accurate routing information to the carrier selection process, enabling precise cost determination without overwhelming system complexity.
2Loss of energy
If the system checks porting status for all numbers and creates ordered carrier lists, then call costs are optimized, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by checking the porting status selectively for each telephone number based on its specific characteristics, rather than applying a uniform complex routing process to all numbers. This allows the system to optimize carrier selection for ported numbers while using simpler routing for non-ported numbers, reducing overall processing time while still achieving cost optimization where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks to identify ported numbers and determine the appropriate carrier network before the actual call routing. This advance preparation allows for optimized carrier selection without significantly increasing overall processing time, as the porting status check and carrier list creation are performed efficiently in advance of the actual call connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers are considered and ordered by cost, then call routing flexibility increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the carrier selection process into distinct steps: first checking if the number is ported, then identifying the appropriate carrier network, then creating an ordered list of carriers for that network. This segmentation makes the complex process of considering multiple carriers more manageable and less overwhelming, while still providing the flexibility to select the least expensive carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the carrier selection process based on the porting status of each telephone number. For ported numbers, it creates a dynamic ordered list of carriers specific to that number's current network. This dynamic approach provides adaptability and flexibility in carrier selection while keeping the system complexity manageable through conditional logic rather than exhaustive analysis of all possible carriers for all numbers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to performing advanced call routing in a mass telephone conference call, including: checking a conferee list to determine whether a telephone number is a ported number; creating a list of carriers for each ported number on the conferee list, which provides a list of the carriers for each ported number; arranging the list of the carriers in order based upon cost, from least expensive to most expensive, for the call; placing the call to each conferee based upon the ordered list of the carriers, starting with the least expensive to the most expensive of the carriers for each ported number; and wherein when the least expensive of the carriers is unavailable, placing the telephone call to a next one of the carriers on the ordered list, from the least expensive to the most expensive of the carriers.