Routing of toll-free numbers and text messages using a toll-free exchange
View Patent ↗Aspects of this disclosure are directed to a method of routing text messages to subscribers of toll-free numbers using the toll-free exchange. Typically, an originating texter will draft a text message, using, for example, an SMS component of a cellular phone to a toll-free subscriber. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the text message is sent to the originating texter's service provider, which then routes the text message to the toll-free exchange. The toll-free exchange looks up the RESPORG ID associated with the ten-digit toll-free number, and the RESPORG ID is used for text message routing.
1. A method for routing a text message to a toll-free number through a toll-free exchange, the method, performed by one or more computing devices operating as the toll-free exchange, the method comprising:
receiving, from an originating responsible organization (RESPORG), a text message, wherein the text message is directed to a toll-free subscriber that is served by a terminating RESPORG;
querying a database to determine a RESPORG identification associated with the terminating RESPORG, wherein the database is associated with the toll-free exchange and stores the RESPORG identification associated with the terminating RESPORG; and
routing, to the terminating RESPORG, the text message based in part on the RESPORG identification.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the originating RESPORG and the terminating RESPORG are enrolled in the toll-free exchange.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RESPORG identification is obtained by a service control point.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a text message detail record including at least one of: an identification of the originating RESPORG and the terminating RESPORG, buy-rate of the terminating RESPORG, a floor rate of the originating RESPORG, and a cost associated with the text message.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein routing to the terminating RESPORG further comprises:
determining that the floor rate of the originating RESPORG is less than the buy rate of the terminating RESPORG.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the terminating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange;
based on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is not enrolled with the exchange, rejecting the text message; and
based on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange, sending the text message to the terminating RESPORG.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text message comprises an image.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text message comprises a video.
9. Amended) A method for routing text messages to a toll-free subscriber, the method comprising:
receiving, from an originating responsible organization (RESPORG), a text message, wherein the text message is directed to a toll-free subscriber that is served by a terminating RESPORG;
querying a database to determine a RESPORG identification associated with the terminating RESPORG, wherein the database is associated with the toll-free exchange and stores the RESPORG identification associated with the terminating RESPORG; and
routing, to the terminating RESPORG, the text message through a network, based in part on the RESPORG identification.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining whether the terminating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange;
based on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is not enrolled with the exchange, rejecting the text message; and
based on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is enrolled with the exchange, routing the text message to the terminating RESPORG.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating a text message detail record including at least one of: an identification of the originating RESPORG and the terminating RESPORG, buy-rate of the terminating RESPORG, a floor rate of the originating RESPORG, and a cost associated with the text message.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein routing, to the terminating RESPORG, the text message, further comprises:
determining that the floor rate of the originating RESPORG is less than the buy rate of the terminating RESPORG.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the text message comprises text.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the text message comprises an image.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the text message comprises a video.
16. A system for routing a text message to a toll-free subscriber using a toll-free exchange, the system comprising:
at least one session border controller for routing a data portion of the text message within the toll-free exchange;
a policy router for determining, based at least on data included within the data portion, a responsible organization (RESPORG) identification (ID) associated with a terminating RESPORG;
a service control point for storing the RESPORG ID of the terminating RESPORG;
a database for storing enrollment information associated with the terminating RESPORG; and
a media gateway server farm having one or more server computing devices for routing a media portion of the text message based in part on the RESPORG ID of the terminating RESPORG.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the database stores at least one of:
enrollment status information of one or more enrolled RESPORGs;
payment information of each of the one or more enrolled RESPORGs, comprising:
a buy rate; and
a floor rate; and
identification information of each of the one or more enrolled RESPORGs; and
an access control list for listing each enrolled RESPORG.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the toll-free exchange generates a text message detail record including at least one of: an identification of the originating RESPORG and the terminating RESPORG, buy-rate of the terminating RESPORG, a floor rate of the originating RESPORG, and a cost associated with the text message.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the text message comprises text.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the text message comprises at least one of a video and an image.