Apparatus and method for local number portability using nongeographic subscriber numbers

• US 5,764,745 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Giordano, Arthur A., Yu, I-Hsiang, Chan, May Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/573,271
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/213, 379/216, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/221.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for telecommunications network local number portability supports service provider portability, location portability, and service portability. A subscriber is assigned a nongeographic subscriber number that is uniquely mapped to a location-based geographic terminal location number. Different embodiments of the apparatus query different combinations of databases to obtain the nongeographic subscriber number to geographic terminal location number mapping that allows a call to a nongeographic subscriber number to be routed and delivered using existing network routing mechanisms. The originating switch determines whether a received called number is a geographic terminal location number or a nongeographic subscriber number that will require the originating switch to query a database to request that the number be mapped to a geographic terminal location number. The queried database can contain the information for mapping a nongeographic subscriber number to a geographic terminal location number, either for all valid nongeographic subscriber numbers or for only the nongeographic subscriber numbers of a specific service provider, can contain information for mapping all valid nongeographic subscriber numbers to service provider identification codes containing either network routing information or the address of another database, or a combination of both. If the queried database is able to map the called number to a geographic terminal location number, it returns that number to the originating switch for call routing. If the database is unable to map the nongeographic subscriber number to a geographic terminal location number, it can either query a second database for a service provider identification code or itself return a service provider identification code to the originating switch. The first database then uses the received service provider identification code to identify another database to query for the geographic terminal location number, forwards the code to the originating switch which then makes the query, or uses the network routing information to route the call for further handling using existing network routing mechanisms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for local number portability comprising, in combination:

local number portability database means for associating a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal, and wherein said local number portability database means includes means for associating at least some of said nongeographic subscriber numbers with a respective one of a plurality of service provider identifications; and

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for directly routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said called number if said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

means for querying said local number portability database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number; and

means for routing said associated call in response to receiving one of said respective service provider identifications from said local number portability database means.

2. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 1, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

3. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 2, wherein said local number portability database means is a combined service provider/global local number portability database means.

4. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 1, wherein:

said local number portability database means comprises service provider database means for one-to-one associating at least some of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers and global local number portability database means for associating the remaining ones of said nongeographic subscriber numbers with said respective ones of said service provider identifications; and

said service provider database means further includes means for querying said global local number portability database means for one of said service provider identifications if said service provider database means is unable to directly associate said nongeographic subscriber number with one of said geographic terminal location numbers.

5. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 4, wherein:

said service provider database means comprises at least two distinct service provider databases; and

each of said distinct service provider databases includes means for querying a second one of said distinct service provider databases for one of said geographic terminal location numbers in response to receiving the respective one of said service provider identifications which uniquely identifies said second service provider database as a query response from said global local number portability database means.

6. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 5, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

7. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 4, wherein:

said service provider database means comprises at least two distinct service provider databases; and

said originating switch means further includes means for querying a second one of said distinct service provider databases for one of said geographic terminal location numbers in response to receiving the respective one of said service provider identifications which uniquely identifies said second service provider database as a query response from a first one of said service provider databases.

8. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 7, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

9. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 1, wherein:

said local number portability database means comprises at least two distinct local number portability databases; and

each of said distinct local number portability databases further includes means for querying for said geographic terminal location number a second one of said local number portability databases which is uniquely identified by said respective one of said service provider identifications which is associated with said received nongeographic subscriber number.

10. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 9, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

11. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 9, wherein at least one of said distinct local number portability databases is a combined service provider/global local number portability database.

12. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 11, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

13. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 1, wherein:

said local number portability database means comprises at least two distinct local number portability databases; and

said originating switch means includes means for querying for one of said geographic terminal location numbers a second one of said distinct local number portability databases which is uniquely identified by said respective one of said service provider identifications which is associated with said received nongeographic subscriber number.

14. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 13, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

15. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 13, wherein at least one of said distinct local number portability databases is a combined service provider/global local number portability database.

16. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 15, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

17. An apparatus for telecommunications network local number portability comprising, in combination:

global local number portability database means for one-to-one associating a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of service provider identification codes, wherein each of said nongeographic subscriber numbers is uniquely distinguishable by content from each of a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, and wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal;

first service provider database means for one-to-one associating at least some of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, comprising, in combination;

means for querying said global local number portability database means if said first service provider database means is unable to directly associate said nongeographic subscriber number to one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

means for receiving one of said service provider identification codes from said global local number portability database means;

means for identifying whether said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction or an address uniquely identifying one of a plurality of second service provider database means; and

means for querying one of said second service provider database means for said geographic terminal location number after receiving as a response from said global database means one of said service provider identification codes which uniquely identifies one of said second service provider database means;

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for determining whether said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers or one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for querying said first service provider database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number; and

means for routing said associated call according to a received one of said service provider identification codes if said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction; and

destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

18. A method for telecommunications network local number portability, comprising, in combination, the steps of:

receiving with an originating switch means a called number with an associated call from a calling telecommunications terminal;

identifying whether said received called number is one of a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers which are one-to-one associated with a plurality of telecommunications terminals or one of a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers which are one-to-one associated with said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers;

directly routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said called number if said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

querying a service provider database means for said geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

mapping, utilizing said service provider database means, at least some of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers to at least some of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers;

querying a global database means if said service provider database means is unable to directly map said nongeographic subscriber number to one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

mapping, utilizing said global database means, said nongeographic subscriber number to one of plurality of service provider identification codes or to one of said geographic terminal location numbers if said service provider database means is unable to directly map said nongeographic subscriber number to one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

receiving with said originating switch means one of said geographic terminal location numbers or one of said service provider identification codes as a response from said service provider database means;

routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number if said response from said service provider database means is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

routing said associated call according to said service provider identification code if said service provider identification code does not uniquely identify a second service provider database means;

querying said second service provider database means for said geographic terminal location number if said received service provider identification code uniquely identifies said second service provider database means; and

receiving returned geographic terminal location number from said second service provider database and routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

19. The method of claim 18, further including, in combination, the steps of:

receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means at an intermediate switch means; and

routing said associated call from said intermediate switch means to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

20. The method of claim 18, further including, in combination, the steps of:

receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means at an intermediate switch means;

routing said associated call from said intermediate switch means to a destination switch means;

receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said intermediate switch means at said destination switch means; and

routing said associated call from said destination switch means to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

21. The method for telecommunications network local number portability of claim 18, further including, in combination, the steps of:

receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means at a destination switch means; and

routing said associated call from said destination switch means to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

22. An apparatus for telecommunications network local number portability comprising, in combination:

global local number portability database means for one-to-one associating a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of service provider identification codes, wherein each of said nongeographic subscriber numbers is uniquely distinguishable by content from each of a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, and wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal;

first service provider database means for one-to-one associating at least some of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, comprising, in combination;

means for querying said global local number portability database means if said first service provider database means is unable to directly associate said nongeographic subscriber number to one of said geographic terminal location numbers; and

means for receiving one of said service provider identification codes from said global local number portability database means;

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for directly routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said called number if said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

means for querying said first service provider database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for receiving from said first service provider database one of said geographic terminal location numbers or one of said service provider identification codes;

means for identifying whether said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction or an address uniquely identifying one of a plurality of second service provider database means;

means for querying one of said second service provider database means for said geographic terminal location number after receiving as a response from said global database means one of said service provider identification codes which uniquely identifies one of said second service provider database means;

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said received geographic terminal location number; and

means for routing said associated call according to a received one of said service provider identification codes if said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction; and

destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

23. An apparatus for telecommunications network local number portability comprising, in combination:

first combined service provider/global local number portability database means for one-to-one associating at least some of a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal and wherein each of said nongeographic subscriber numbers is uniquely distinguishable by content from each of said geographic terminal location numbers, said first combined service provider/global local number portability database means further comprising, in combination;

means for one-to-one associating the remaining ones of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of service provider identification codes;

means for identifying whether said service provider identification code is a network routing instruction or an address uniquely identifying one of a plurality of second combined service provider/global local number portability database means; and

means for querying one of said second combined service provider/global local number portability database means for said geographic terminal location number after mapping said received nongeographic subscriber number to one of said service provider identification codes which uniquely identifies one of said second combined service provider/global local number portability database means;

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for directly routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said called number if said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

means for querying said first combined service provider/global local number portability database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said received geographic terminal location number; and

means for routing said associated call according to a received one of said service provider identification codes if said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction; and

destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

24. An apparatus for telecommunications network local number portability comprising, in combination:

first combined service provider/global local number portability database means for one-to-one associating at least some of a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal and wherein each of said nongeographic subscriber numbers is uniquely distinguishable by content from each of said geographic terminal location numbers, said first combined service provider/global local number portability database means further comprising means for one-to-one associating the remaining ones of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of service provider identification codes;

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for directly routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said called number if said called number is one of said geographic terminal location numbers;

means for querying said first combined service provider/global local number portability database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said received geographic terminal location number;

means for identifying whether a received one of said service provider identification code is a network routing instruction or an address uniquely identifying one of a plurality of second combined service provider/global local number portability database means;

means for querying one of said second combined service provider/global local number portability database means for said geographic terminal location number after receiving one of said service provider identification codes which uniquely identifies one of said second combined service provider/global local number portability database means; and

means for routing said associated call according to a received one of said service provider identification codes if said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction; and

destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said originating switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

25. An apparatus for telecommunications network local number portability comprising, in combination:

global local number portability database means for one-to-one associating a plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with a plurality of service provider identification codes or a plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, wherein each of said nongeographic subscriber numbers is uniquely distinguishable by content from each of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, and wherein each of said geographic terminal location numbers is further associated with a specific telecommunications terminal;

at least one service provider database means for one-to-one associating at least some of said plurality of nongeographic subscriber numbers with at least some of said plurality of geographic terminal location numbers, each of said service provider database means being uniquely associated with one of said service provider identification codes;

intermediate switch means, comprising, in combination;

means for querying one of said service provider database means identified by a received one of said service provider identification codes for said geographic terminal location number associated with a received one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers; and

means for routing a received call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number;

originating switch means for receiving from a calling telecommunications terminal a called number with an associated call and for appropriately routing said associated call, comprising, in combination;

means for querying said global local number portability database means for said associated geographic terminal location number if said called number is one of said nongeographic subscriber numbers;

means for receiving from said global local number portability database means one of said geographic terminal location numbers or one of said service provider identification codes;

means for identifying whether said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction or an address uniquely identifying one of said service provider database means;

means for routing said associated call according to a received one of said service provider identification codes if said received service provider identification code is a network routing instruction;

means for routing said associated call and said nongeographic subscriber number to said intermediate switch after receiving as a response from said global database means one of said service provider identification codes which uniquely identifies one of said service provider database means; and

means for routing said associated call to the telecommunications terminal associated with said received geographic terminal location number.

26. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 25, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said intermediate switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.

27. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 25, wherein said global local number portability database means comprises a distinct service provider database means and a distinct global local number portability database means, said originating switch means first queries said distinct service provider database means for said associated geographic terminal location number, and said distinct service provider database means queries said distinct global local number portability database means for said associated geographic terminal location number or said service provider identification code if said distinct service provider database means is unable to directly associate said nongeographic subscriber number with said associated geographic terminal location number or one of said service provider identification codes.

28. The apparatus for local number portability of claim 27, further including destination switch means for receiving said geographic terminal location number and said associated call from said intermediate switch means and for routing said associated call to said telecommunications terminal associated with said geographic terminal location number.