Method for updating a local switch internal database in a system having different service providers within a common numbering plan area
First Claim
1. A method for updating database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
- providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a Subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with a second Local Service Provider;
determining, from the database of the local switch, whether an incoming call to the local switch is directed to a called subscriber of the local switch, and if not, determining from the External Local Number Portability Database, the Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the SPA code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber determined from the External Local Number Portability Database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA) to serve Subscribers of the plurality of 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 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.
66 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method for updating database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a Subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with a second Local Service Provider; determining, from the database of the local switch, whether an incoming call to the local switch is directed to a called subscriber of the local switch, and if not, determining from the External Local Number Portability Database, the Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the SPA code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber determined from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a Subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX where; the SPA code is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of the Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the Local Service Providers being assigned a different Local Service Provider area (SPA) code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); and
,NXX is a three digit designation code representative of a local exchange area within the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); determining, from the database of the local switch, whether an incoming call to the local switch is directed to a called subscriber of the local switch, and if not, determining from the External Local Number Portability Database, the Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX, assigned to the called subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the SPA code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX, assigned to the called subscriber determined from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a Subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and routing information to a second Local Service Provider; determining, from the database of the local switch, whether an incoming call to the local switch is directed to a called subscriber of the local switch, and if not, accessing the External Local Number Portability Database, to obtain routing information to the second local service provider; and
,populating the database of the local switch with such routing information obtained from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a Subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and routing information to a switch of a second Local Service Provider, such switch currently serving the subscriber; and updating the database of the local switch with routing information retrieved from the External Local Number Portability Database, when the External Local Number Portability Database is accessed by the local switch, wherein the routing information to the switch of the second Local Service Provider includes information identifying the second Local Service Provider. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and routing information for routing calls to a second Local Service Provider; determining whether routing information for routing calls to the second Local Service Provider is populated in the database of the local switch, and if not, accessing the External Local Number Portability Database, to obtain routing information for routing calls to the second Local Service Provider; and
,populating the database of the local switch with such routing information obtained from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to a called subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and routing information for routing a call to the called subscriber, wherein the routing information includes routing information for routing calls to a second Local Service Provider; and updating the database of the local switch with the routing information retrieved from the External Local Number Portability Database, when the External Local Number Portability Database is accessed by the local switch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to a subscriber and first routing information for routing calls to the subscriber; determining, from the database of the local switch, whether an incoming call to the local switch is directed to a subscriber of the local switch, and if not, accessing the External Local Number Portability Database, to obtain the first routing information for routing calls to the subscriber; populating the database of the local switch with such routing information obtained from the External Local Number Portability Database; updating the External Local Number Portability Database with second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber; attempting to route to the subscriber a subsequent incoming call to the local switch using the populated first routing information; providing an indication to the local switch whether, using the populated first routing information, the subsequent incoming call is successfully routed to the subscriber; accessing the External Local Number Portability Database to obtain the second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber, if the subsequent incoming call is not successfully routed to the subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the obtained second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to a called subscriber and first routing information for routing a call to the called subscriber; populating the database of the local switch with the first routing information retrieved from the External Local Number Portability Database, when the External Local Number Portability Database is accessed by the local switch; updating the External Local Number Portability Database with second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber; attempting to route to the subscriber an incoming call to the local switch using the populated first routing information; providing an indication to the local switch whether, using the populated first routing information, the call is successfully routed to the subscriber; accessing the External Local Number Portability Database to obtain the second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber, if the call is not successfully routed to the subscriber; and
,updating the database of the local switch with the obtained second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a called subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with a second Local Service Provider; determining whether the SPA code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber is populated in the database of the local switch, and if not, determining from the External Local Number Portability Database the SPA code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the SPA code associated with the second Local Service Provider assigned to the called subscriber determined from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number previously assigned to a called subscriber by a first Local Service Provider and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX where; the SPA code is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of the Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA), each one of the Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code in the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); and
,NXX is a three digit designation code representative of a local exchange area within the common Numbering Plan Area (NPA); determining whether the SPA code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX, assigned to the called subscriber is populated in the database of the local switch, and if not, determining from the External Local Number Portability Database, the SPA code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX, assigned to the called subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the SPA code associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX, assigned to the called subscriber determined from the External Local Number Portability Database. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A method for updating a database of a local switch comprising the steps of:
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storing, in a database of the local switch, a relationship between an NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to a subscriber and first routing information for routing calls to a subscriber; providing an External Local Number Portability Database, such Database storing a relationship between the NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the subscriber and second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber; attempting to route to the subscriber an incoming call to the local switch using the populated first routing information; providing an indication to the local switch whether, using the populated first routing information, the incoming call is successfully routed to the subscriber; accessing the External Local Number Portability Database to obtain the second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber, if the incoming call is not successfully routed to the subscriber; and
,populating the database of the local switch with the obtained second routing information for routing calls to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification