Number portability for an IMS network

• US 20070258575A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ghosh, Subhashish, Douglas, John, Van Leeuwen, Martin, Kolka, Vickie
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for number portability for an IMS network. In one example the method may have the steps of: processing all calls with E.164 numbers in a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function); executing digit analysis on a respective E.164 number in the BGCF; and querying, by the BGCF, a NPDB (portable number database) to retrieve a routing number if the respective E.164 number is ported.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function) in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network;

portability number query module in the BGCF;

a portable range table operatively coupled to the portability number query module;

a NPDB (Number Portability Database) operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF; and

an ENUM DB (ENUM Database) operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

match provisioned numbers module operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF; and

a next hop list operatively coupled to the match provisioned numbers module.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein portability number query module in the BGCF has an input on which it received calls with E.164 numbers.

4. A system, comprising:

an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network having a P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function), the P-CSCF having an input for receiving an E.164 number;

a S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function) operatively coupled to the P-CSCF;

a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function) in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network;

portability number query module in the BGCF;

a portable range table operatively coupled to the portability number query module;

a NPDB (Number Portability Database) operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF;

an ENUM DB (ENUM Database) operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF; and

a MGCF (Media Gateway Control Function) operatively coupled to the BGCF.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

match provisioned numbers module operatively coupled to the portability number query module in the BGCF; and

a next hop list operatively coupled to the match provisioned numbers module.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein portability number query module in the BGCF has an input on which it received calls with E.164 numbers.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein a PDN (Packet Data Network) is operatively coupled to the BGCF.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)/PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) is operatively coupled to the MGCF.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein an I-CSCF (Interrogating Call Session Control Function) is operatively coupled to the BGCF, and wherein an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) is operatively coupled to the I-CSCF.

10. A method, comprising:

in a call origination scenario a call coming in to a P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function) with an E.164 number;

finding, via a S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function), a called party that has the E.164 number and immediately routing the call to a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function);

checking, via the BGCF, for digits in a Portable Range Table and if successful, querying the NPDB;

querying, via the BGCF, an ENUM DB (TElephone NUmber Mapping Database) to determine if the call is routeable to an end-point in an IP network;

routing, in ENUM DB results are positive, the call over the IP network; and

routing, if the ENUM query results are negative, the call to an MGCF (Media Gateway Control Function) based on provisioning.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the incoming call with the E.164 number is from a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phone.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the BGCF is in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.

13. A method, comprising:

in a call termination scenario a call coming into a MGCF (Media Gateway Control Function) from a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network);

routing, via the MGCF, the call to an I-CSCF (Interrogating Call Session Control Function);

querying, via the I-CSCF, an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) for information regarding a subscriber associated with the call;

routing, if HSS results are positive, the call to an identified S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function) based on the information;

routing, if the HSS results are negative, via the I-CSCF, the call to a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function);

querying, via the BGCF, the NPDB (portable number database) to check for portability information; and

routing, via the BGCF, the call based on one of the portable information and provisioning.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the BGCF is in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network. 15. A method, comprising:

for a call coming into a switch from a network, the call coming in to an MGCF (Media Gateway Control Function) from a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network);

routing, via the MGCF, the call to a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function) in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network;

querying, via the BGCF, a NPDB (portable number database);

routing, via the BGCF, the call to an I-CSCF (Interrogating Call Session Control Function) if the call is in the IMS network; and

routing, via the BGCF, the call to a network different from the IMS network.

15. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

querying, via the BGCF, the NPDB to check for portability information; and

routing, via the BGCF, the call based on one of the portable information and provisioning.

16. A method, comprising:

processing all calls with E.164 numbers in a BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function);

executing digit analysis on a respective E.164 number in the BGCF; and

querying, by the BGCF, a NPDB (portable number database) to retrieve a routing number if the respective E.164 number is ported.

17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises routing, via the BGCF, the call to an IP network after making an ENUM (TElephone NUmber Mapping) query, if the routing number is for a VoIP (Voice over IP) endpoint.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises routing, via the BGCF, the call to an MGCF (Media Gateway Control Function), if the routing number is for a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)/PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network).

19. The method according to claim 19, wherein the BGCF is in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network.