System and method for processing ported calls

• US 20030133561A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wiley, William L., Torrey, Jason P., Boldt, Dean C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,836,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a call processes call signaling to determine if a call is a ported call or a non-ported call. A signaling processor determines if a ported number parameter (PNP), such as a forward call indicator (FCI) bit M and/or a ported number generic address parameter (GAP), is present. If the PNP is not present and the signaling processor determines the dialed number is a member of a portable number plan area and central office code combinations (NPA-NXX), the signaling processor queries a ported number database (PNDB). The PNDB responds with the called number dialed digits if the call is not a ported call or a location routing number (LRN) if the call is a ported call. The signaling processor appends a 1 to the nature of address (NOA) subfield of the called party number (CdPN) field if the call is a ported call. The signaling processor then partitions the call signaling parameters between ported or non-ported routing table translations, depending on whether the NOA is appended or not, to determine call routing connections and new call signaling. The appended 1 of the is appended NOA is removed prior to building an outgoing call signaling message.

Claims

1. A method for handling a call having call signaling and call communications with a called number, the method comprising:

receiving the call signaling into a signaling processor;

in the signaling processor, determining whether the called number has been ported based on the call signaling;

in the signaling processor, modifying a call signaling parameter of the call signaling with an indication of whether the called number has been ported to the call signaling;

processing the call signaling with the call signaling parameter to determine routing for the call;

generating and transmitting a control message from the signaling processor to a connection system based on the routing for the call;

receiving the call communications into the connection system; and

in the connection system, processing the call communications based on the control message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling comprises an initial address message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a called party number field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a nature of address field.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein modifying the call signaling parameter of the call signaling with the indication comprises setting the nature of address field to a designation of national.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a forward call indicator parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the call signaling parameter of the call signaling with the indication comprises appending a 1 to the call signaling parameter to indicate that the called number has been ported.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising removing the 1 from the call signaling parameter after processing the call signaling.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the call signaling parameter of the call signaling with the indication comprises appending a 0 to the call signaling parameter to indicate that the called number has not been ported.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a ported number processing parameter.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a ported number generic address parameter.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising partitioning the processing of the call signaling by the indication of the call signaling parameter of whether the called number has been ported to the call signaling.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the call signaling with the call signaling parameter to determine routing for the call uses routing logic and routing tables.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the call signaling with the call signaling parameter to determine routing for the call comprises generating and transmitting additional call signaling.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the call communications based on the control message comprises interworking the call communications.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the call communications based on the control message comprises switching the call communications between connections.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the call communications based on the control message comprises establishing a connection for the call communications.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating and transmitting a query to a ported number database for ported number information; and

receiving a response from the ported number database wherein the response indicates the ported number information.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the response comprises a location routing number.

20. A communication system for handling a call having call signaling and call communications with a called number, the communication system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive the call signaling, determine whether the called number has been ported based on the call signaling, modify a call signaling parameter of the call signaling with an indication of whether the called number has been ported to the call signaling, process the call signaling with the call signaling parameter to determine routing for the call, and generate and transmit a control message to a connection system based on the routing for the call; and

the connection system is configured to receive the call communications and process the call communications based on the control message.

21. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling comprises an initial address message.

22. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a called party number field.

23. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a nature of address field.

24. The communication system of claim 23 wherein the signaling processor is configured to set the nature of address field to a designation of national.

25. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a forward call indicator parameter.

26. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to append a 1 to the call signaling parameter to indicate that the called number has been ported.

27. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the signaling processor is configured to remove the 1 from the call signaling parameter after processing the call signaling.

28. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to append a 0 to the call signaling parameter to indicate that the called number has not been ported.

29. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a ported number processing parameter.

30. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the call signaling parameter comprises a ported number generic address parameter.

31. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to partition the processing of the call signaling by the indication of the call signaling parameter of whether the called number has been ported to the call signaling.

32. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the call signaling with the call signaling parameter to determine routing for the call using routing logic and routing tables.

33. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to generate and transmit additional call signaling.

34. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the connection system is configured to interwork the call communications.

35. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the connection system is configured to switch the call communications between connections.

36. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the connection system is configured to establish a connection for the call communications.

37. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the signaling processor is configured to generate and transmit a query to a ported number database for ported number information and receive a response from the ported number database wherein the response indicates the ported number information.

38. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the response comprises a location routing number.