Method and system for processing call setup messages using call attributes

1. A method for processing calls based on call attributes, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a call screening processor, signaling messages related to a call setup message transmitted by an originating switch, the signaling messages including at least basic network information comprising at least a number dialed and information relating to the originating switch;

identifying, by the call screening processor, call attributes of the call setup message based on the basic network information and information stored in a database;

determining, by the call screening processor, a rule applicable to the call attributes of the call setup message; and

processing the call setup message according to the rule determined to be applicable to the call attributes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule includes identifying a service required by the call attributes of the call setup message and said step of processing comprises appending a service identification of the identified service to the call setup message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule includes determining an available route to the destination if the route requested by the call setup message is unavailable and said step of processing comprises altering the call setup message for the available route based on network availability.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rule includes determining existing bearer channels or data paths for the call setup message and said step of processing comprises altering the call setup message to use the existing bearer channels or data paths.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the originating switch is arranged in a first network group, a destination node is arranged in a destination network group, and the existing bearer channels or data paths route the call through a third network group.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the call attributes of the call setup message comprise at least one of market or call domain, originating operator account, originating caller account, service required, and translated number/terminating operator domain.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the call attributes comprise at least one of trunk ID, member ID, and destination.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said call screening processor is connected to a signal transfer point of a signaling network, said call screening processor receiving the signaling messages related to the call setup message from the signal transfer point.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said signaling network is a SS7 network.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the originating switch is arranged in a first network group and a destination node is arranged in a destination network group, wherein and operator of the call screening processor operator is the operator of one of the first network group and the destination network group.

11. A system for processing calls based on call attributes, comprising:

a call screening processor arranged for receiving a call setup message from an originating switch requesting resources for placing a call between the originating switch and a dialed number, the call setup message containing basic network information including at least the number dialed and information related to the originating switch; and

a database connected to said call screening processor comprising data, said call screening processor being arranged and dimensioned for matching the basic network information with said data in said database in response to receiving a call setup message for identifying call attributes of the call setup message based on the data matched to basic network information and processing the call setup message in accordance with the call attributes.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said call screening processor is arranged and dimensioned for receiving call setup messages from a signaling transfer point of a signaling network and transmitting the processed call setup message back to the signaling transfer point.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the signaling transfer point is part of a SS7 network.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein said call attributes comprise at least one of trunk ID, member ID, and destination.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein said call attributes of the call setup message comprise at least one of market or call domain, originating operator account, originating caller account, service required, and translated number/terminating operator domain.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein said call screening processor is arranged and dimensioned for determining a specific service based on the call attributes and appending a service ID to the call setup message, such that the call setup message is routed directly to the specific service.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein said database includes data related to availability of network elements in a network group, said call screening processor is arranged and dimensioned to determine whether the route requested by the call setup message is unavailable based on the data in said database, determining an available route to the destination if the requested route is unavailable, and altering the call setup request to request the available route.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the database includes information related to existing bearer channels and data paths, said call screening processor is arranged and dimensioned for determining whether existing bearer channels or data paths are available for routing the call, and altering the call setup request to request a route using the existing bearer channels or data paths.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the originating switch is arranged in a first network group, a destination node is arranged in a destination network group, and the existing bearer channels or data paths route the call through a third network group.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the database includes an ENUM database.