Method and system for selectively performing call information query

• US 6,055,304 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Brian Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/018,973
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/220, 379/221, 379/211
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A system and method for providing call information query stores modified call information associated with a telephone number within the local databases of a service provider'"'"'s local network. The modified call information enables a service provider to unilaterally alter how calls are routed and rated. The service switching points (SSPs) located within a same local network are equipped with modified intelligent network or advanced intelligent network software that enables the local SSPs to receive remote call information resulting from a remote query performed by a remote SSP. The local SSPs analyze the remote call information and generate queries to their local databases to obtain modified call information. New services requiring modified call information can then be implemented based upon the modified call information received as a result of the queries.

Claims

1. A method for selectively performing a database query comprising the steps of:

providing at least one database storing modified call information for at least one telephone number;

receiving remote call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number;

analyzing the remote call information;

performing a query to obtain the modified call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number, from the at least one database; and

regulating the number of queries that can be generated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the number of queries that can be generated further comprises the step of incrementing a counter circuit when the at least one database does not contain modified call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number.

3. A system for providing local number portability comprising:

at least one database storing current call information for at least one ported telephone number; and

a prior service switching point in communication with the at least one database, the prior service switching point comprising;

means for receiving prior call information, corresponding to the at least one ported telephone number, resulting from a remote query that is generated by a remote service switching point;

means for analyzing the prior call information;

means for generating a requery that is transmitted to the at least one database to obtain the current call information corresponding to the at least one ported telephone number.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the remote query is generated according to a service provider number portability protocol.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the prior call information includes a query indicator that can be analyzed by the prior service switching point.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the current call information comprises current call rating information.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the current call information comprises current call routing information and current call rating information.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the prior service switching point further comprises means for determining whether the at least one telephone number is unallocated and means for determining whether the at least one telephone number is open to porting.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one database is in communication with a regional service management system and the at least one database receives the current call information from the regional service management system.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the prior service switching point further comprises means for regulating the number of requeries that can be generated.

11. A method for providing local number portability comprising the steps of:

providing at least database storing current call information for at least one ported telephone number;

receiving prior call information corresponding to the at least one ported telephone number;

analyzing the prior call information;

generating a requery to obtain current call information associated with the at least one ported telephone number.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing the prior call information further comprises the step of analyzing a query indicator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing at least one database storing current call information further comprises the step of storing current call rating information in the at least one database.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing at least one database storing current call information further comprises the step of storing current call routing information and current call rating information in the at least one database.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing the prior call information further comprises the steps of determining whether the at least one telephone number is unallocated and determining whether the at least one ported telephone number is open to porting.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing at least one database storing current call information comprises storing the current call information within the at least one database via a regional service management system.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of regulating the number of requeries that can be generated.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of incrementing a counter circuit when the at least one database does not contain current call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of generating an error message when current call information cannot be found.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of routing a call from the prior service switching point to a current service switching point in accordance with the current call information received from the at least one database.

21. A computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for providing local number portability comprising:

computer readable program code means for receiving prior call information, corresponding to at least one ported telephone number, resulting from a remote query that is generated by a remote service switching point;

computer readable program code means for analyzing the prior call information;

computer readable program code means for generating a requery that is transmitted to at least one database to obtain the current call information corresponding to the at least one ported telephone number.

22. A system for selectively performing a database query comprising:

at least one database storing modified call routing information and modified call rating information for at least one telephone number;

a current service switching point in communication with the at least one database, the current service switching point comprising;

means for receiving remote call information, corresponding to the at least one telephone number, from a remote central office;

means for analyzing the remote call information; and

means for performing a query to the at least one database to obtain the modified call routing information and the modified call rating information for the at least one telephone number.

23. A system for selectively performing a database query comprising:

at least one database storing modified call information for at least one telephone number;

a current service switching point in communication with the at least one database, the current service switching point comprising;

means for receiving remote call information, corresponding to the at least one telephone number, from a remote central office;

means for analyzing the remote call information;

means for performing a query to the at least one database to obtain the modified call information for the at least one telephone number; and

means for regulating the number of queries that can be generated.

24. A method for selectively performing a database query comprising the steps of:

providing at least one database storing modified call routing information and modified call rating information for at least one telephone number;

receiving remote call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number;

analyzing the remote call information; and

performing a query to obtain the modified call routing information and the modified call rating information corresponding to the at least one telephone number, from the at least one database.

25. A method for selectively performing a database query comprising the steps of:

providing at least one database storing modified call information for at least one telephone number;

receiving remote call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number;

analyzing the remote call information;

performing a query to obtain the modified call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number, from the at least one database; and

generating an error message when modified call information corresponding to the at least one telephone number cannot be found.