Network element control for a communication system coupled to a mobile network

1. A method of operating a communication system that is coupled to a communication network that includes a home Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a Home Location Register (HLR) for the home MSC, a visiting MSC, and a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for the visiting MSC, the method comprising:

in a route manager, generating route control information by querying a first network element to identify egress network elements connected to the first network element;

receiving a call to a telephone number into the first network element, and in response, transferring the telephone number from the first network element to the route manager;

in the route manager, processing the telephone number to select a second network element using the route control information, and indicating to the first network element that the second network element is an egress network element, wherein the first network element transfers the call to the second network element and the second network element queries the route manager in response to the call;

transferring a first query from the route manager to the HLR to determine if the home MSC is serving the telephone number and receiving a first response from the HLR into the route manager;

in the route manager, if the first response indicates that the home MSC is serving the telephone number, then selecting a first egress route from the second network element to the home MSC and indicating the first egress route to the second network element;

if the first response indicates that the home MSC is not serving the telephone number, then transferring a second query from the route manager to the VLR to determine if the visiting MSC is serving the telephone number and receiving a second response from the VLR into the route manager;

if the second response indicates that the visiting MSC is serving the telephone number, then selecting a second egress route from the second network element to the visiting MSC and indicating the second egress route to the second network element;

routing the call from the first network element to the second network element and routing the call from the second network element over the selected one of the first and second egress routes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network element comprises a software access tandem.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein indicating the first egress route to the second network element comprises the route manager indicating the first egress route to the first network element and the first network element indicating the selected first egress route to the second network element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein indicating the second egress route to the second network element comprises the route manager indicating the second egress route to the first network element and the first network element indicating the second egress route to the second network element.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring a message from the second network element to the route manager in response to receiving the call, and wherein the route manager transfers the first query in response to the message.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein indicating the first egress route to the second network element comprises the route manager indicating the first egress route to the second network element.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein indicating the second egress route to the second network element comprises the route manager indicating the second egress route to the second network element.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone number is for a mobile telephone.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising querying the second network element to identify the first egress route coupled to the home MSC and to identify the second egress route coupled to the visiting MSC.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating the telephone number with the second network element.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the route manager is configured to query the second network element to identify the first egress route coupled to the home MSC and to identify the second egress route coupled to the visiting MSC.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the route manager is configured to associate the telephone number with the second network element.

13. A communication system that is coupled to a communication network that includes a home Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a Home Location Register (HLR) for the home MSC, a visiting MSC, and a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for the visiting MSC, the communication system comprising:

a route manager configured to generate route control information by querying a first network element to identify egress network elements connected to the first network element;

the first network element configured to receive a call to a telephone number, and in response, transfer the telephone number;

the route manager configured to receive and process the telephone number to select a second network element using the route control information, and indicate to the first network element that the second network element is an egress network element, wherein the first network element transfers the call to the second network element and the second network element queries the route manager in response to the call;

the route manager is configured to transfer a first query to the HLR to determine if the home MSC is serving the telephone number and receive a first response from the HLR;

the route manager is configured, if the first response indicates that the home MSC is serving the telephone number, to select a first egress route from the second network element to the home MSC and to indicate the first egress route to the second network element;

the route manager is configured, if the first response indicates that the home MSC is not serving the telephone number, to transfer a second query to the VLR to determine if the visiting MSC is serving the telephone number and receive a second response from the VLR;

the route manager is configured, if the second response indicates that the visiting MSC is serving the telephone number, to select a second egress route from the second network element to the visiting MSC and indicate the second egress route to the second network element;

the first network element is configured to route the call to the second network element, and the second network element is configured to route the call over the selected one of the first and second egress routes.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the second network element comprises a software access tandem.

15. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the route manager is configured to indicate the first egress route to the second network element by indicating the first egress route to the first network element, wherein the first network element is configured to indicate the first egress route to the second network element.

16. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the route manager is configured to indicate the second egress route to the second network element by indicating the second egress route to the first network element, wherein the first network element is configured to indicate the second egress route to the second network element.

17. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the second network element is configured to transfer a message to the route manager in response to receiving the call, and wherein the route manager is configured to transfer the first query in response to the message.

18. The communication system of claim 17 wherein the route manager is configured to indicate the first egress route to the second network element.

19. The communication system of claim 17 wherein the route manager is configured to indicate the second egress route to the second network element.

20. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the telephone number is for a mobile telephone.