MERLIN LEGEND Communications System Release 5.0
Feature Reference
555-650-110
Issue 1
June 1997
Features
Page 68
Automatic Route Selection
and the subpattern start time (if both subpatterns have 00:00 start time,
Subpattern A is selected). Each subpattern can contain up to six routes, listed in
order of preference or cost effectiveness.
In addition, each route has a Facility Restriction Level (FRL) associated with it.
The FRL is used to refine the route selection process further. Each extension or
remote access barrier code or remote access is assigned an FRL from 0
through 6. Each route is also assigned an FRL from 0 through 6. For extensions, 0
is the most restrictive and 6 is the least restrictive level. For lines/trunks, 6 is the
most restrictive and 0 is the least restrictive level. An extension can use a route
only if its FRL is greater than or equal to the route’s FRL.
Other digits or special characters may be required so the system can route a call
on a particular pool. For example, some companies use an alternate toll call
carrier that requires dialing the number with Pause characters and access codes.
Each ARS route may have up to 20 characters that are automatically prefixed
when a user dials a number. The allowed characters are the digits 0 through 9, *,
and Pause.
ARS also provides an absorb (ignore) digit capability for each route. For example,
if the CO does not require 1 before an area code, the system can be programmed
to ignore that first digit. Up to 11 characters can be automatically absorbed when
a user dials a number. For 10-digit toll calls, the prefix 1
must
be dialed to signal a
toll call to ARS. If the central office does not require the prefix 1 for toll calls, the
digit absorption feature may be used to eliminate the prefix as the number is
dialed. Initially, all 20 tables are available for the call.
Star Codes and Automatic Route Selection
2
In some instances, after a user dials a star code (a star character followed by a 2-
or 3-digit number) the central office provides a second dial tone as a prompt for
the dialer to enter more digits. Usually, this second dial tone is immediate.
However, in cases when the second dial tone is delayed, calls can be misrouted
or dishonest users may be able to circumvent communications system dialing
restrictions. (For more information about using Allowed and Disallowed Lists to
restrict star codes, see
‘‘Allowed/Disallowed Lists’’ on page 34
.)
In Release 3.1 and later systems, ARS processes star codes at the beginning of a
dialed number and sends the digits to the CO before any other digit analysis
occurs. Any programmed prepended digits are added after the star code and
before the rest of the telephone number.
Automatic Route Selection cannot route calls that consist only of a star code with
no additional digits (such as
*44
for voice-activated dialing) because the user has
not dialed any digits that the system can use to choose a route.
Dialing calls with star codes using ARS can cause dropped or misrouted calls
when prepended digits are used to select facilities other than regular central office
lines/trunks. It is recommended that ARS calls containing star codes not be used
