Resolution of IP addresses associated with a telephone number utilizing query flags

• US 20070116250A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stafford, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/355.90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

Queries for IP addresses associated with a telephone number are conducted in accordance with query flags contained with an ENUM record. A query flag indicates the type of query to be initiated against the DNS databases. The query flag provides a means for interpreting the domain name portion of the URI contained in the ENUM record. Query flags provide an explicit indication as to the type of query to be performed against the DNS and provide an explicit indication as to how the domain name portion of a URI in an ENUM record should be interpreted. Query flags also provide guidance pertaining to subsequent actions to be performed. The use of query flags eliminates ambiguities associated with making assumptions about the domain name contained in an ENUM record. Thus, the use of query flags can reduce latency, reduce the load on transmission links, and reduce processing load on network elements.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a telephone number, said method comprising:

creating an Electronic Number (ENUM) record comprising;

a first portion indicative of said telephone number;

a second portion indicative of a domain name associated with said telephone number; and

a query flag indicative of a query type to be initiated against a domain name system (DNS); and

querying said DNS with said ENUM record to obtain at least one IP address associated with said telephone number.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said query type to be initiated comprises at least one of:

a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query for server resource records.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a query flag having a value of “

m”

is indicative of initiating a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query flag having a value of “

g”

is indicative of initiating a query for server resource records.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining said at least one IP address via a wireless communications network.

5. An system for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a telephone number, said system comprising:

a first processor for;

receiving said telephone number;

creating a query for a domain name associated with said telephone number, wherein said query comprises an indication of said telephone number; and

providing said query to a second processor;

said second processor for;

creating an Electronic Number (ENUM) record in response to receiving said query, said ENUM record comprising;

a first portion indicative of said telephone number;

a second portion indicative of a domain name associated with said telephone number; and

a query flag indicative of a query type to be initiated against a domain name system (DNS).

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said query type to be initiated comprises at least one of:

a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query for server resource records.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

a query flag having a value of “

m”

is indicative of initiating a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query flag having a value of “

g”

is indicative of initiating a query for server resource records.

8. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said system is part of a wireless communications network.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, said data structure comprising:

an Electronic Number (ENUM) record comprising;

a first portion indicative of said telephone number;

a second portion indicative of a domain name associated with said telephone number; and

a query flag indicative of a query type to be initiated against a domain name system (DNS)

10. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein said query type to be initiated comprises at least one of:

a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query for server resource records.

11. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

a query flag having a value of “

m”

is indicative of initiating a query for mail exchange resource records; and

a query flag having a value of “

g”

is indicative of initiating a query for server resource records.

12. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9, said computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the acts of:

creating said ENUM record; and

querying said DNS with said ENUM record to obtain at least one IP address associated with said telephone number.

13. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 12, said computer-readable medium further having computer-executable instructions for obtaining said at least one IP address via a wireless communications network.