Least-Cost PBX Routing for Wireless Roaming Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Global enterprises with PBX-equipped sites face high international roaming costs due to the lack of efficient call routing mechanisms that take into account the geo-location and identity changes of affiliated off-premises wireless terminals.
Innovation Solution
A system that tracks geo-location and identity changes of off-premises affiliated wireless terminals and automatically determines the 'closest' private branch exchange (PBX) for least-cost routing, updating call routes and mappings to reduce communication costs by routing calls through the most cost-effective PBX.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If calls from off-premises wireless terminals are routed through traditional telecommunications networks, then call connectivity is ensured, but international roaming costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cost-conscious routing system that acts as an intermediary between wireless terminals and telecommunications networks. This intermediary component analyzes routing options and selects cost-effective paths, thereby reducing international roaming costs while maintaining call connectivity through established network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing system enables off-premises terminals to automatically determine their own cost-effective routing paths based on their current geo-location and affiliated PBX information. This self-service approach allows terminals to dynamically select least-cost routes without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized control.
2Loss of energy
If the system tracks geo-location and identity changes of wireless terminals to optimize routing, then communication costs are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the routing system continuously monitors geo-location and identity changes of wireless terminals. This feedback information is used to dynamically update routing decisions, ensuring that calls are always routed through the most cost-effective PBX based on current terminal status and network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing mappings between off-premises terminal identities and affiliated PBXs before actual calls occur. This advance preparation allows the routing system to quickly determine cost-effective paths without complex real-time calculations during call setup, thereby reducing operational complexity.
3Loss of energy
If calls are routed through the closest PBX based on geo-location, then international roaming costs are minimized, but routing accuracy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in terminal parameters (geo-location and identity) to trigger routing optimization. When a terminal's geo-location or identity changes, the system automatically recalculates the most cost-effective routing path through affiliated PBXs, ensuring minimal roaming expenses without requiring continuous high-precision tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing wireless telecommunication costs for enterprises having a plurality of PBX-equipped sites, connected by either a public network (e.g., the PSTN, the Internet, etc.), a private network (e.g., leased lines, a virtual private network [VPN] over the Internet, etc.), or some combination of public and private networks. In particular, the illustrative embodiments of the present invention attempt to reduce telecommunication costs by advantageously routing calls from an off-premises wireless terminal belonging to the enterprise via one or more of the enterprise's private branch exchanges. The present invention is especially advantageous in that it can reduce telecommunication costs for calls from an off-premises wireless terminal to any type of destination: another cell phone, a wireline terminal, a private branch exchange, etc.