Method for transferring a subscriber to a new local service provider
First Claim
1. A method for transferring a Subscriber of a current Local Service Provider to a future Local Service Provider comprising the steps of:
- providing an External Local Number Portability Database storing a relationship between an NPA-NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the Subscriber, a Service Provider Area (SPA) code, and a different exchange code NYY and line code YYYY of the Subscriber, such External Local Number Portability Database being adapted to convert therein the number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, dialed by a calling party into a converted number SPA-NYY-YYYY, where SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different SPA code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA);
marking an internal database of a switch of the current Local Service Provider with a LEAVING indication;
querying the External Local Number Portability Database from the current Local Service Provider'"'"'s switch when such LEAVING indication is marked to determine whether the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated with a Service Provider Area (SPA'"'"') code of the future Local Service Provider; and
if the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated, routing a call placed by the calling party to the Subscriber using the converted number SPA'"'"'-NYY-YYYY.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within common Numbering Plan Area (NPA) to serve Subscribers of the plurality Local Service Providers. The method includes the step of assigning to each Subscriber of a Local Service Provider within the common NPA a unique three digit code, hereinafter referred to as a SPA code. The service provider area (SPA) code is used by the telephone system in the same manner presently used for routing calls made when a calling Subscriber dials the NPA code of the called party. Here, however, the SPA code is not dialed by the calling Subscriber. The dialed directory number, NXX-XXXX, of a called Subscriber subscribed to a different Local Service Provider, is sent to a database. The database maintains a record of the relationships between the directory numbers of Subscribers and a the SPA codes of the Subscribers. The database retrieves the SPA code associated with the dialed directory number presently serving the called Subscriber. The call is routed as SPA-NXX-XXXX. Because the ten digit format, SPA-NXX-XXXX, is the same as the present NPA-NXX-XXXX, ten digit format, existing signaling and routing mechanisms may be used to route the call. Thus, each one of the Subscribers of each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers is assigned a common SPA code, each one of the Local Service Providers having a different SPA code.
63 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method for transferring a Subscriber of a current Local Service Provider to a future Local Service Provider comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database storing a relationship between an NPA-NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the Subscriber, a Service Provider Area (SPA) code, and a different exchange code NYY and line code YYYY of the Subscriber, such External Local Number Portability Database being adapted to convert therein the number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, dialed by a calling party into a converted number SPA-NYY-YYYY, where SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different SPA code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); marking an internal database of a switch of the current Local Service Provider with a LEAVING indication; querying the External Local Number Portability Database from the current Local Service Provider'"'"'s switch when such LEAVING indication is marked to determine whether the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated with a Service Provider Area (SPA'"'"') code of the future Local Service Provider; and if the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated, routing a call placed by the calling party to the Subscriber using the converted number SPA'"'"'-NYY-YYYY.
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2. A method for transferring a Subscriber of a current Local Service Provider to a future Local Service Provider comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database storing a relationship between an NPA-NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the Subscriber, a Service Provider Area (SPA) code, and a different exchange code NYY and line code YYYY of the Subscriber, such External Local Number Portability Database being adapted to convert therein the number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, dialed by a calling party into a converted number SPA-NYY-YYYY, where SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different SPA code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); marking an internal database of a switch of the current Local Service Provider with a LEAVING indication; querying the External Local Number Portability Database from the switch of the current Local Service Provider when such LEAVING indication is marked to determine whether the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated with a Service Provider Area (SPA'"'"') code of the future Local Service Provider; and
,if the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated, deleting call routing information from the switch of the current Local Service Provider and routing a call placed by the calling party to the Subscriber using the converted number SPA'"'"'-NYY-YYYY.
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3. A method for transferring a Subscriber of a current Local Service Provider to a future Local Service Provider comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database storing a relationship between an NPA-NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the Subscriber, a Service Provider Area (SPA) code, and a different exchange code NYY and line code YYYY of the Subscriber, such External Local Number Portability Database being adapted to convert therein the number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, dialed by a calling party into SPA-NYY-YYYY, where SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different SPA code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); marking an internal database of a switch of the future Local Service Provider with a COMING indication; querying the External Local Number Portability Database from the future Local Service Provider'"'"'s switch when such COMING indication is marked to determine whether the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated with the Service Provider Area (SPA) code of the future Local Service Provider; and if the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated, using the future Local Service Provider'"'"'s switch to route a call to the Subscriber.
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4. A method for transferring a Subscriber of a current Local Service Provider to a future Local Service Provider comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database storing a relationship between an NPA-NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the Subscriber, a Service Provider Area (SPA) code, and a different exchange code NYY and line code YYYY of the Subscriber, such External Local Number Portability Database being adapted to convert therein the number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, dialed by a calling party into SPA-NYY-YYYY, where SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different SPA code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); marking an internal database of a switch of the future Local Service Provider with a COMING indication; querying the External Local Number Portability Database from the switch of the future Local Service Provider when such COMING indication is marked to determine whether the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated with the Service Provider Area (SPA) code of the future Local Service Provider; and
,if the External Local Number Portability Database has been updated, deleting the COMING indication in the switch of the future Local Service Provider and using the switch of the future Local Service Provider to route a call to the Subscriber.
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Specification