Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently utilizing resources for accessing a service resource in a switched telephone network are described. The service resource is accessed by a calling party who interacts with the service resource, the interaction results in routing information for completing a call. The apparatus includes a call control node that is a virtual switching node in a switching plane of the network and a physical node in a signaling plane of the network. The call control node may be a logical node in a trunk group used to access the service resource. The call control node receives control messages related to calls completed to the service resource. In accordance with the method, the service resource passes routing information to the call control node. The call control node initiates actions to release the facilities used to access the service resource, and to establish a new call connection using the routing information without disconnecting the calling party.

Abstract: A method and system for using TCAP signaling for improved call setup from a virtual switching point are disclosed. In accordance with the method, TCAP signaling is used to enhance call setup from virtual switching points which receive call request messages from calling parties using a facility on a data network such as the Internet. TCAP signaling is used when necessary to determine the availability of the called party telephone. The system includes a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in a switched telephone network having a connection to a data network such as the Internet. Call requests are received by the VSP from the data network and processed by the VSP to establish a voice connection between the calling party which initiates the call request and a called party number indicated in the call request message. The use of TCAP signaling from the VSP to Switching Points (SPs) which serve the calling party and/or the called party improves efficiency and minimizes common channel signaling.

Abstract: A method and a system for completing a voice connection between a first and second voice terminal in a switched telephone network (STN) are disclosed. The system includes a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in a switched telephone network having a connection to a data network such as the Internet. Call requests are received by the VSP from the data network and processed by the VSP to establish a voice connection between a calling party which initiates the call requests and a called party number indicated in each call request message. The call request message may include a plurality of called party numbers and the VSP completes calls to each number in sequence without terminating the voice connection with the calling party, until an attempt to connect with each of the called numbers has been made or a call control option is exercised by the calling party. The call connections are established and controlled by the VSP using common channel signaling (CCS) messages.