Method of using dynamic database to improve telephone number portability
First Claim
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1. A method of providing telephone number portability within a structurally distributed telephone system having a plurality of local exchange carriers (LECs), comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an address capture database (ACDB) for at least one of said LECs;
(b) storing a new number (NN) in said ACDB if;
(I) said NN is a physical address served by said at least one of said LECs; and
(ii) said NN is a new physical address for a dialed directory number (DN) ported into or located within said at least one of said LECs;
(c) storing a correspondence between said NN and said DN in said ACDB, in response to a Signaling System 7 (SS7) Release message indicating that said DN is vacant;
(d) checking said ACDB for a match between said DN and said NN every time said DN is dialed; and
(e) establishing a connection with said NN upon finding said match.
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Abstract
A system for providing telephone number portability within a structurally distributed telephone system by providing an address capture database (ACDB) for local exchange carriers (LECs) wherein a new number (NN) is stored in the ACDB if the NN is a physical address served by a LEC and the NN corresponds to a dialled directory number (DN) ported into or located within the LEC.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of providing telephone number portability within a structurally distributed telephone system having a plurality of local exchange carriers (LECs), comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an address capture database (ACDB) for at least one of said LECs; (b) storing a new number (NN) in said ACDB if; (I) said NN is a physical address served by said at least one of said LECs; and (ii) said NN is a new physical address for a dialed directory number (DN) ported into or located within said at least one of said LECs; (c) storing a correspondence between said NN and said DN in said ACDB, in response to a Signaling System 7 (SS7) Release message indicating that said DN is vacant; (d) checking said ACDB for a match between said DN and said NN every time said DN is dialed; and (e) establishing a connection with said NN upon finding said match.
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2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed only in response to a telephone call having been delivered to said NN.
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3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said LECs serves at least one of:
- a competitive access provider (CAP);
a cable company;
a cellular carrier and a personal communication service (PCS) operator.
- a competitive access provider (CAP);
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4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said ACDB is provided for access by at least one of:
- a CAP;
a cable company;
a cellular carrier; and
PCS operator.
- a CAP;
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5. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said ACDB is provided for access by a tandem switching office serving said least one of said LECs.
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6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein step (b) is performed only in response to a telephone call having been delivered to said NN.
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7. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of said tandem switching office accessing a remote database other than said ACDB.
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8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein step (b) is performed only in response to a telephone call having been delivered to said NN.
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9. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of broadcasting said correspondence to switching offices within said structurally distributed telephone system.
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10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of broadcasting is performed by a (donor) switch from which said DN was ported.
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11. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said SS7 Release message is processed by said tandem switching office.
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12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said SS7 Release message includes routing information for forwarding calls to said NN.
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13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein step (b) is performed only in response to a telephone call having been delivered to said NN.
Specification