Method for routing telephone calls to subscribers of different service providers within a common numbering plan area

• US 5,987,114 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Sonnenberg, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/892,296
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/265, 379/229, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/127, 379/242, 379/243
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• 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 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• 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 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within common a 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.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a plurality of service providers to route calls through a telephone network to called subscribers within a first predetermined area, one of the called subscribers being served by one of the service providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers, said one of the service providers also serving subscribers within a second predetermined area, comprising the step of

assigning a first service provider code to said one of the service providers assigned to said one of the called subcribers for routing a call through the network to said one of the called subscribers, the network routing the call in response to a dialed number of said one of the called subscribers and the first service provider code, the first service provider code being determined in the network and identifying said one of the service providers within the first predetermined area, said first service provider code being different from a second service provider code identifying said one of the service providers within the second predetermined area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second predetermined areas are first and second Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of service providers includes a plurality of Local Service Providers.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of Local Service Providers serve subscribers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

5. A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers to route calls to called subscribers, each one of the Local Service Providers having a set of call routing switches, the call routing switches being part of a network, one of the called subscribers being served by one of the switches in the set of switches of one of the Local Service Providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers, comprising the step of

assigning a service provider code to said one of the Local Service Providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers for prefixing a dialed number of said one of the called subscribers, in whole or in part, to provide a call routing number and for routing a call through said one of the switches to said one of the called subscribers, in response to the call routing number, such code being determined in the network and identifying the set of switches of said one of the Local Service Providers.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the Local Service Providers serve subscribers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

7. A method for enabling Local Service Providers to serve directory numbers within contiguous Numbering Plan Areas comprising the step of

assigning a plurality of Service Provider Area (SPA) codes to the Local Service Providers, where each SPA code identifies one of the Local Service Providers serving directory numbers in one of the contiguous Numbering Plan Areas, one of the Local Service Providers being assigned one of the SPA codes in one of the contiguous Numbering Plan Areas and a different one of the SPA codes in a different one of the contiguous Numbering Plan Areas.

8. A method for enabling a plurality of service providers to route calls to called subscribers, each one of the service providers having a set of call routing switches, the call routing switches being part of a network, one of the called subscribers being served by one of the switches in the set of switches of one of the service providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers, comprising the step of

assigning a service provider code to said one of the service providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers for prefixing a dialed number of said one of the called subscribers, in whole or in part, to provide a call routing number and for routing a call through said one of the switches to said one of the called subscribers, in response to the call routing number, such code being determined in the network and identifying the set of switches of said one of the service providers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of service providers serve subscribers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of service providers includes a plurality of Local Service Providers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of Local Service Providers serve subscribers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

12. A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers to route calls to called subscribers, each one of the Local Service Providers having a set of call routing switches, the call routing switches being part of a network, one of the called subscribers being served by one of the switches in the set of switches of one of the Local Service Providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers, comprising the step of

assigning a Service Provider Area (SPA) code to said one of the Local Service Providers assigned to said one of the called subscribers for prefixing a dialed number of said one of the called subscribers, in whole or in part, to provide a call routing number SPA-NXX-XXXX and for routing a call through said one of said switches to said one of the called subscribers, in response to the call routing number, such code being determined in said network and identifying the set of switches of said one of the Local Service Providers.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the Local Service Providers serve subscribers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA).

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second NPAs are contiguous.