Automatic Route Selection (ARS) simplifies local and long distance dialing by automatically selecting the most convenient and cost-effective route, and by inserting and/or deleting digits for proper routing.
When a route that is not the least expensive is selected, you hear ARS Expensive Route Warning Tone. When you hear the tone, you can either proceed with the call, camp on to the least expensive route, request a Callback from the least expensive route, or abandon the call.
Automatic Route Selection (ARS) is a standard feature which routes trunk calls based upon:
route availability, where a route is defined as a collection of similar trunks within a trunk group
cost, when more than one route exists
toll restriction, that is whether the caller is allowed to make such a call, and if so, on what facility.
Automatic Route Selection functions without input from the user. ARS is not dependent on a fixed numbering plan.
Advanced Automatic Route Selection is an optional feature that provides automatic selection of routes based on the time of day/week (least cost routing).
Automatic Route Selection is compatible with any numbering plan employed by any public network. To take full advantage of the toll control application of ARS, however, you must understand the numbering plan used by the public network.
ARS digits can be specified with leading digits as well as dialed digits. These digits can be listed explicitly, or you can use "wildcards" to specify predefined variables for a given ARS digit:
N or n specifies a digit between 2 and 9 inclusive.
X or x specifies a digit between 0 and 9 inclusive.
Y or y specifies a digit between 0 and # inclusive.
To view examples of ARS entries, refer to ARS Programming example.
North American Numbering Plan
The North American numbering plan enables any subscriber in a public network to connect to any other subscriber in the network. The North American numbering plan assigns each subscriber a unique digit string of a maximum of 10 digits:
The area code defines a geographic telephone area. The office code identifies a central office (CO) within the area. And the subscriber number identifies a subscriber of the CO.
Local calls are generally placed by dialing the office code and the subscriber number - for example, 555-2122. In some areas, however, local calls are placed by dialing the area code, office code, and subscriber number - for example 613-555-2122.
Tolls calls are generally placed by dialing the prefix digit 1, the area code, office code, and subscriber number - for example, 1-613-555-2122. In some areas, however, toll calls between two subscribers within the same area code are placed by dialing the prefix digit 1, the office code, and the subscriber number - for example, 1-555-2122.
Some telephone numbers are reserved for services - for example, 411 for directory assistance. These service numbers do not conflict with area or office codes.
Finally, a subscriber can dial the digit 0 to call the operator.
ARS adheres to the assigned Class of Restriction ( COR) values.
You cannot Camp on to or request a Callback from the ARS least expensive route:
if the trunk in question is programmed for Overlap Outpulsing
if all of the least expensive route trunks are out of service.
All devices
To respond to ARS Expensive Route Warning Tone:
Do one of the following:
To proceed with the call, wait two seconds.
To camp on to the least expensive route, press Campon, or I Will Wait within two seconds.
To request a Callback from the least expensive route, press Callback or Call Me Back and hang up.
To abandon the call, hang up within two seconds.
To respond to ARS Expensive Route Warning tone:
Do one of the following:
To proceed with the call, wait two seconds.
To camp on to the least expensive route, dial the Camp on Feature Access code within two seconds.
To request a Callback from the least expensive route, dial the Callback Feature Access Code within two seconds.
To abandon the call, hang up within two seconds.