Importance

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Abstract

A call management system is disclosed for choosing the optimum telecommunications carrier for telephone calls made by a user. The system can interface with an existing PBX or with ordinary analog telephone lines. The system intercepts digits dialed by the caller or user and determines an optimum route for the call based on a plurality of parameters. The optimum route includes a particular carrier through which the call is to be placed. The system then dials the prefix for the carrier and subsequently places the destination digits originally dialed by the user onto the telephone line. A data server constructs a carrier selection table optimized for a user's location, calling habits, preferences, personal data, etc. The carrier selection table is downloaded via a communications network to a local computer. In one embodiment, the local computer receives call progress signals and the user's dialed digits from one or more line units. The local computer determines the optimum route utilizing the carrier selection database and passes the calling prefix and destination string to the line unit. In another embodiment, the local computer also performs the functions of the line unit via an attached modem. The local computer, using the modem, intercepts dialing digits, determines the optimum route, places the call, monitors the line for call progress signals and records call start and end times. In the event the modem cannot detect call progress signals, the local computer uses digital signal processing techniques to detect the tones.

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First Claim