Method for providing location/geographic portability in a system having different service providers within a common numbering plan area

• US 5,970,131 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Telecom Networks (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Sonnenberg, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/497,408
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221, 379/207, 379/201, 379/219, 379/220, 379/211, 379/210, 379/127, 379/265, 379/112, 379/114
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13149 Change of provider, e.g. network or service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13542 numbering plans, e.g. number re-allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

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 an 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.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call placed by a calling Party to a called Subscriber, the called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NPA-NXX-XXXX, and having moved to a different location served by a switch having a different exchange code, NYY, where NPA is a Numbering Plan Area, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database storing a relationship between the directory number assigned to the called Subscriber, the different exchange code NYY and a line code YYYY serving the called Subscriber, and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code identifying a Local Service Provider of the called Subscriber;

(b) converting, in the database, the called Subscriber'"'"'s directory number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, into SPA-NYY-YYYY; and

(c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using SPA-NYY-YYYY.

2. A method for routing a call placed by a calling party to a called Subscriber, the called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a common Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), and wherein the called Subscriber has moved to a different location served by a switch having a different exchange code, NYY, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database storing;

(i) a relationship between each NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to Subscribers within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) who have changed to a different Local Service Provider, and a call routing identifier, SPA, associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX;

(ii) a relationship between the NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the called Subscriber and the different exchange code NYY and a line code YYYY of the called Subscriber where;

the call routing identifier, SPA, is a three digit Service Provider Area (SPA) code assigned to each one of the Local Service Providers, each one of the Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code; and

,

NXX is a three digit designation code representative of an exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA);

(b) converting, in the database, the called Subscriber'"'"'s directory number, NXX-XXXX, into SPA-NYY-YYYY; and

(c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using the converted number, SPA-NYY-YYYY.

3. The method in claim 2 wherein each one of the Local Service Providers is assigned a different SPA code in a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

4. A method for routing a call placed by a calling party to a called Subscriber, the called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NPA-NXX-XXXX, and having moved to a different location served by a terminating switch having a different exchange code, NYY, where NPA is a Numbering Plan Area, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database storing a relationship between the directory number assigned to the called Subscriber, the different exchange code NYY and a line code YYYY of the called Subscriber, and a Service Provider Area (SPA) code identifying a Local Service Provider of the called Subscriber;

(b) converting, in the database, the called Subscriber'"'"'s directory number, NPA-NXX-XXXX, into SPA-NYY-YYYY;

(c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the terminating switch serving the called Subscriber using SPA-NYY-YYYY;

(d) reconverting, within the terminating switch serving the called Subscriber, the number SPA-NYY-YYYY to the number NXX-XXXX; and

,

(e) routing the call to the called Subscriber.

5. A method for routing a call placed by a calling party to a called Subscriber, the called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a common Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), and wherein the called Subscriber has moved to a different location served by a terminating switch having a different exchange code, NYY, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database storing;

(i) a relationship between each NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to Subscribers within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) who have changed to a different Local Service Provider and a call routing identifier, SPA, associated with the directory number, NXX-XXXX;

(ii) a relationship between the NXX-XXXX directory number assigned to the called Subscriber and the different exchange code NYY and a line code YYYY of the called Subscriber where;

the call routing identifier, SPA, is a three digit Service Provider Area (SPA) code assigned to each one of the Local Service Providers, each one of the Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code; and

,

NXX is a three digit designation code representative of an exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA);

(b) converting, in the database, the called Subscriber'"'"'s directory number NXX-XXXX, into SPA-NYY-YYYY; and

(c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the terminating switch serving the called Subscriber using the converted number, SPA-NYY-YYYY;

(d) reconverting, within the terminating switch serving the called Subscriber, the number SPA-NYY-YYYY to the number NXX-XXXX; and

,

(e) routing the call to the called Subscriber.

6. The method in claim 5 wherein each one of the Local Service Providers is assigned a different SPA code in a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).