Method and apparatus for solving number portability in origin
First Claim
1. A method in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system comprising at least a call originating network and at least a call destination classical network with ported subscribers, the method providing a number portability service in origin for calls to ported subscribers at the destination classical network, beginning with the step of:
- a) Issuing a DNS-query from the call control entity of the call originating network toward a hierarchical DNS structure in order to resolve addressing for the ported called subscriber, the method characterized in that it further comprises the steps of;
b) Receiving at said call control entity from the hierarchical DNS structure addressing data including;
an indicator of inter-working with a external database containing ported called subscriber data;
a first parameter indicating the Global Title address of the external database that must be further inquired; and
a second parameter indicating the protocol required for accessing said external database;
c) Inquiring said external database about routing data for the ported called subscriber, said external database being addressed by the Global Title indicated in said first parameter at step (b), and said external database being accessed by the protocol indicated in said second parameter at step (b), both first and second parameters included in previous DNS answer; and
d) Mapping the ported called subscriber routing data received from the external database to an appropriate DNS answer indicating routing of an originating call, for further determining the appropriate gateway to proceed with the call toward the called subscriber at a classical network.
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Abstract
This invention provides a method intended to solve Number Portability in origin for calls to ported subscribers at a destination classical network, an inter-working function intended to provide the means to support said method, and a hierarchical DNS structure able to provide a new URI indicating interworking with an external database where routing data for said ported subscribers reside. This new URI specifies the Global Title address of the external database and the access protocol to said external database. The NAPTR resolution for that URI implies the use of an Inter-working Feature (IWF) placed in the DNS-resolver part of an S-CSCF, or in a close association, in the originating network. This IWF comprises a Protocol Translator and Controller adapting between DNS format and the external database access protocol format, at least one of a plurality of Application Protocol Handling Modules, and an SS7 Protocol Stack.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system comprising at least a call originating network and at least a call destination classical network with ported subscribers, the method providing a number portability service in origin for calls to ported subscribers at the destination classical network, beginning with the step of:
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a) Issuing a DNS-query from the call control entity of the call originating network toward a hierarchical DNS structure in order to resolve addressing for the ported called subscriber, the method characterized in that it further comprises the steps of;
b) Receiving at said call control entity from the hierarchical DNS structure addressing data including;
an indicator of inter-working with a external database containing ported called subscriber data;
a first parameter indicating the Global Title address of the external database that must be further inquired; and
a second parameter indicating the protocol required for accessing said external database;
c) Inquiring said external database about routing data for the ported called subscriber, said external database being addressed by the Global Title indicated in said first parameter at step (b), and said external database being accessed by the protocol indicated in said second parameter at step (b), both first and second parameters included in previous DNS answer; and
d) Mapping the ported called subscriber routing data received from the external database to an appropriate DNS answer indicating routing of an originating call, for further determining the appropriate gateway to proceed with the call toward the called subscriber at a classical network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An Inter-Working Function in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system comprising at least a call originating network and at least a call destination classical network with ported subscribers, the call originating network having a number portability service in origin for calls to ported subscribers at classical networks, the Inter-Working function comprising at least one of a plurality of Application Protocol Handling Modules and an SS7 Protocol Stack, characterized in that it further comprises a Protocol Translator and Controller having:
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a) Means for receiving from the DNS-resolver part at a call control entity an indicator of inter-working with an external database, a first parameter indicating the Global Title address of the external database that must be further inquired, and a second parameter indicating the protocol required for accessing said external database;
b) Means for inquiring said external database about routing data for a called subscriber ported from a “
donor”
to a “
recipient”
classical network, said external database being addressed by the Global Title indicated in said first parameter at step (a), and said external database being accessed by the protocol indicated in said second parameter at step (a), both first and second parameters included in previous DNS answer; and
c) Means for mapping the called subscriber routing data, received from the external database via the SS7-SP and the corresponding Application Protocol Handling Module, to an appropriate DNS answer indicating routing of an originating call, said DNS answer being processed at the call control entity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A Domain Name Server in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system comprising at least a call originating network and at least a call destination classical network with ported subscribers, the call originating network having a number portability service in origin for calls to ported subscribers at classical networks, the Domain Name Server of the call originating network having NAPTR Resource Records which are used by the addressing resolution process, characterized in that said NAPTR Resource Records implement a new URI indicating the need for requesting data stored in an external database containing ported called subscriber data, said new URI associated to the address and protocol for accessing said external database.
Specification