Mnemonic and synonymic addressing in a telecommunications system

Symbol sequences of varying lengths and having logical meanings other than as network addresses (e.g., subscriber names), are assigned and used as actual telecommunications network addresses, without imposition of predefined fixed lengths, formats, or orderings on their constituent segments (e.g., given name, surname), in a call-processing arrangement (200) that uses stored definitions of syntax (320, 350) and grammar (400, 410) of the network numbering plan. The syntax definitions include definitions (312) of individual address segments, called symbol strings, which have logical meanings. Each string's definition includes a string length range (332), a string type (331), and an indicator (VNI 334) of the string's influence on call treatment (e.g., route) selection. The grammar definitions include a matrix (400) that defines permissible sequences of string types, including string types (256) which cannot be dialed by users but only result from receipt of permissible sequences of strings of user-dialable types, and a matrix (410) that defines which string types' influences on call treatment selection may be combined to select a treatment for a call. A network digit analysis function (210) parses a received call-control symbol sequence by using the stored syntax and grammar definitions to select a treatment for the call.