System and methods for managing tandem switch information
View Patent ↗A system and associated methods for automation and management of trunk routing among switches in a telecommunications network between carriers connected to a third party tandem services provider or manager (a “neutral tandem network.”) The system and methodology can be used to, among other things, effectuate a business model for providing preferred rates, or other preferences, to a defined group of members or subscribers by managing and directing subscriber-associated call traffic from subscriber-owned switches to one or more tandem switches owned by a third-party tandem managing entity other than a LEC or ILEC.
1. A tandem management system for use in connection with managing a plurality of subscriber-assigned telephone numbers amongst a plurality of telecommunications networks, the system comprising:
a tandem manager computer within a first network of the plurality of telecommunications networks; and
a tandem manager database in communication with the tandem manager computer, the tandem manager database having stored therein subscriber data comprising identification of one or more switches associated with the assigned telephone numbers amongst the plurality of telecommunications networks;
wherein the tandem manager computer facilitates entry of the subscriber data; stores the subscriber data within the tandem manager database; creates a report for each participating network, the report comprising the subscriber data, wherein the subscriber data is customized for each network having specific requirements; and facilitates broadcasting of the reports for use amongst the plurality of telecommunications networks by delivering each of the reports to the appropriate participating networks for use in routing of telephone calls to at least one tandem switch based on the association of the at least one tandem switch with at least one of the assigned telephone numbers associated with each of the telephone calls, the association derived from the subscriber data.
2. The system of claim 1 , the subscriber data comprising a Number Plan Area—Central Office (NPA-NXX) code.
3. A method for managing a plurality of subscriber-assigned telephone numbers amongst a plurality of carrier networks, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining, by a tandem manager computer, subscriber data associated with one or more switches each owned by one of a plurality of carriers associated with one or more of the plurality of carrier networks;
updating a tandem manager database associated with the tandem manager computer with the subscriber data;
creating a report, by the tandem manager computer, for each of the plurality of carriers, the report comprising the subscriber data, wherein the report for each of the plurality of carriers that have carrier-specific requirements is customized accordingly; and
broadcasting the reports, by the tandem manager computer, to the plurality of carriers by sending the respective reports to each of the plurality of carriers so that each carrier can direct telephone calls to at least one tandem switch based on the association of the at least one tandem switch with at least one of the assigned telephone numbers associated with each of the telephone calls, the association derived from the subscriber data.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the subscriber data comprises an NPA-NXX code.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of reporting call traffic associated with the plurality of carriers that is switched by the at least one tandem switch.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of billing each of the plurality of carriers based on its respective directed telephone calls.