Importance

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Abstract

A method and system 11 for quickly changing a subscriber's long distance or local carrier while allowing the subscriber to maintain the same directory number. A preferred carrier code is entered into an interim carrier database 42, 43, and an indicator is activated for communications originating on the subscriber's line 14a. When a communication originating on the subscriber's line 14a is subsequently received, the carrier-of-record code is retrieved from a subscriber database 44, and the preferred carrier code is retrieved from the interim carrier database 42, 43. The preferred carrier code is compared to the carrier-of-record code. If the preferred carrier code is different than the carrier-of-record code, the preferred carrier code is used to assign the communication to the preferred carrier. At a later time, the carrier-of-record code in the subscriber database 44 is updated with the subscriber's preferred carrier code. When it is determined that the subscriber's carrier-of-record code is the same as the preferred carrier code, the indicator for the subscriber's line is removed. Once the indicator is removed, the interim carrier database 42, 43 is no longer referenced in the course of routing communications originating on the subscriber's line 14a, and the subscriber's preferred carrier code may be deleted from the interim carrier database 42, 43.

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First Claim