Routing of toll-free numbers and text messages using a toll-free exchange

Abstract

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 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for routing a call directed to a toll-free number, comprising:
 registering a plurality of originating responsible organizations (RESPORG) and a plurality of terminating RESPORG at a toll-free exchange;   receiving, at the toll-free exchange, a request associated with the call having an indication of the toll-free number from one of the plurality of originating RESPORG;   identifying that the toll-free number is associated with one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG;   determining, via the toll-free exchange, a RESPORG ID associated with the one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG; and   based on the determined RESPORG ID associated with the one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG, routing the call from the one of the plurality of originating RESPORG to the toll-free exchange, and from the toll-free exchange to the one of the plurality of terminating RESPORG.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the toll-free exchange, a second request associated with a second call directed to a second toll-free number;   determining whether a terminating RESPORG for the second call is registered with the toll-free exchange; and   when the terminating RESPORG is not registered with the toll-free exchange, generating a response to the second request indicating that the second toll-free number is not registered and routing the second call, via the toll-free exchange, over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the toll-free number is associated with an IP address, the method further comprising:
 generating a routing path for the toll-free number based at least in part on the IP address.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving, via an enrollment website, enrollment information for the toll-free number that indicates the IP address.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein registering the plurality of originating and terminating RESPORG comprises registering payment information for the plurality of originating and terminating RESPORG. 
     
     
         26 . A method for routing a call directed to a toll-free number to be routed, comprising:
 receiving, at a toll-free exchange, registration information for a plurality of originating responsible organizations (RESPORG) and a plurality of terminating RESPORG;   receiving a request associated with the call having an indication of a toll-free number;   identifying that the toll-free number is associated with a RESPORG ID of one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG; and   in response to the received request, determining, via the toll-free exchange, a routing path that includes a path from the originating RESPORG to the toll-free exchange, and from the toll-free exchange to the terminating RESPORG;   wherein the determined routing path is different from a public switched telephone network (PSTN).   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request associated with a second call directed to a second toll-free number;   determining that no RESPORG ID of the plurality of terminating RESPORG is associated with the second toll-free number;   generating a response to the second request indicating that the second toll-free number is not registered; and   routing, via the toll-free exchange, the second call to the terminating RESPORG by the PSTN.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein receiving the registration information for the plurality of originating RESPORG and the plurality of terminating RESPORG comprises receiving payment information for the plurality of originating and terminating RESPORG. 
     
     
         29 . A system for routing a call directed to a toll-free number, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising:
 registering a plurality of originating responsible organizations (RESPORG) and a plurality of terminating RESPORG at a toll-free exchange; 
 receiving, at the toll-free exchange, a request associated with the call having an indication of the toll-free number from one of the plurality of originating RESPORG; 
 identifying that the toll-free number is associated with one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG; 
 determining, via the toll-free exchange, a RESPORG ID associated with the one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG; and 
 based on the determined RESPORG ID associated with the one of the plurality of registered terminating RESPORG, routing the call from the one of the plurality of originating RESPORG to the toll-free exchange, and from the toll-free exchange to the one of the plurality of terminating RESPORG. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the set of operations further comprises:
 receiving, at the toll-free exchange, a second request associated with a second call directed to a second toll-free number;   determining whether a terminating RESPORG for the second call is registered with the toll-free exchange; and   when the terminating RESPORG is not registered with the toll-free exchange, generating a response to the second request indicating that the second toll-free number is not registered and routing the second call, via the toll-free exchange, over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the toll-free number is associated with an IP address, and the set of operations further comprises:
 generating a routing path for the toll-free number based at least in part on the IP address.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the set of operations further comprises:
 receiving, via an enrollment website, enrollment information for the toll-free number that indicates the IP address.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein registering the plurality of originating and terminating RESPORG comprises registering payment information for the plurality of originating and terminating RESPORG. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the IP address comprises a network address and a host address. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the IP address comprises the network address and a host address. 
     
     
         36 . A system for routing a call directed to a toll-free number via a toll-free exchange, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising:
 receiving a request associated with the call having an indication of the toll-free number from an originating responsible organization (RESPORG) at the toll-free exchange; 
 at a policy router of the toll-free exchange, identifying an entry in a database that associates the toll-free number with a terminating RESPORG; 
 based on the entry in a database, determining whether a RESPORG identification number (RESPORG ID) identifies the terminating RESPORG as a participating RESPORG; 
 based, at least in part, on the RESPORG ID, identifying the terminating RESPORG as a participating RESPORG, routing the call from the originating RESPORG to the terminating RESPORG via the toll-free exchange using one or more network devices different from a public switched telephone network (PSTN); 
 based, at least in part, on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is not a participating RESPORG, routing the call via a second routing path different from the routing path, the second routing path including the PSTN. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the set of operations further comprises determining, at the policy router, whether an IP address associated with the request is associated with an authorized entity. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the set of operations further comprises identifying the entry in the database and determining the REPORG ID identifying the terminating RESPORG are based, at least in part, on whether the IP address associated with the request is associated with an authorized entity. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein routing the call from the originating RESPORG to the terminating RESPORG is performed without requiring a lookup of a carrier identification code (CIC) of the toll-free number. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the request includes metadata defining an identifier of the originating RESPORG and an identifier of an originating caller. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the routing path bypasses one or more service providers included within the second routing path including the PSTN. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the set of operations further includes associating the call with a predetermined rate based on the routing of the call through the toll-free exchange. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the predetermined rate is a rate associated with the terminating RESPORG and is independent of rates charged by the one or more service providers. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the routing path bypasses one or more responsible organizations other than the originating RESPORG and the terminating RESPORG, the one or more responsible organizations being included within the second routing path. 
     
     
         45 . A method for routing a calls directed to a toll-free number via a toll-free exchange, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request associated with a call having an indication of the toll-free number from an originating responsible organization (RESPORG) at a toll-free exchange;   at a policy router of the toll-free exchange, identifying an entry in a database that associates the toll-free number with a terminating responsible organization (RESPORG);   based on the entry in the database, determining a RESPORG identification number (RESPORG ID) identifying the terminating RESPORG as being among one or more participating RESPORGs;   based, at least in part, on the RESPORG ID being among the one or more participating RESPORGs, routing the call from the originating RESPORG to the terminating RESPORG through the toll-free exchange using one or more network devices different from a public switched telephone network (PSTN);   receiving a second request associated with a second call having an indication of a second toll-free number from the originating RESPORG at the toll-free exchange;   at the policy router, accessing the database to determine a second RESPORG ID associated with the second toll-free number;   identifying whether the second RESPORG ID identifies a second terminating RESPORG among the one or more participating RESPORGs;   based, at least in part, on a determination that the second terminating RESPORG is not among the one or more participating RESPORGs, routing the call via a second routing path different from the routing path, the second routing path including the PSTN.   
     
     
         46 . A system for routing a call directed to a toll-free number via a toll-free exchange, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory, operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising:
 receiving a request associated with the call having an indication of the toll-free number from an originating responsible organization (RESPORG) at a toll-free exchange; 
 at a policy router of the toll-free exchange, identifying an entry in a database that associates the toll-free number with a terminating responsible organization (RESPORG); 
 based on the entry in a database, determining a RESPORG identification number (RESPORG ID) identifying the terminating RESPORG as a participating RESPORG; 
 based, at least in part, on the RESPORG ID, routing the call directly from the originating RESPORG to the terminating RESPORG through the toll-free exchange using one or more network devices different from a public switched telephone network (PSTN); 
 based, at least in part, on a determination that the terminating RESPORG is not a participating RESPORG, rejecting the call.