Call treatment in portable number networks
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, at least one local number portability (LNP) database accessible by at least some of said switches and signaling links interconnecting entities in said network, said network selectively connecting calls to subscribers subject to any applicable call treatment, said calls being identified by a dialed number (DN), said LNP database storing location routing number (LRN) information for ported subscriber numbers, a method for selectively routing and applying said call treatment to a call being processed at a present network entity, said method comprising the steps ofreceiving at said present network entity signals identifying at least one set of one or more controlled numbers and at least one set of call treatment conditions for respective ones of said controlled numbers,when said DN is a controlled number and at least one set of call treatment conditions associated with said DN are met at said present network entity, routing said call based on said DN without accessing said local number portability database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for implementing call-gapping controls in a telecommunications system supporting ported directory numbers comprises receiving control messages at switches and other network elements, which messages include information relating to the type of controls and parameter information for one or more options permitting present or downstream local number portability (LNP) queries. Based on such received control information, a switch or other network entity seeks to process the call toward completion using dialed number and/or corresponding LNP information, or cancel the call in the interest of overall network efficiency. Use of traffic information allows system operators and network databases to impose policies and practices such as use of dialed number for routing notwithstanding the availability of location routing number information.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, at least one local number portability (LNP) database accessible by at least some of said switches and signaling links interconnecting entities in said network, said network selectively connecting calls to subscribers subject to any applicable call treatment, said calls being identified by a dialed number (DN), said LNP database storing location routing number (LRN) information for ported subscriber numbers, a method for selectively routing and applying said call treatment to a call being processed at a present network entity, said method comprising the steps of
receiving at said present network entity signals identifying at least one set of one or more controlled numbers and at least one set of call treatment conditions for respective ones of said controlled numbers, when said DN is a controlled number and at least one set of call treatment conditions associated with said DN are met at said present network entity, routing said call based on said DN without accessing said local number portability database.
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21. In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, at least one local number portability (LNP) database accessible by at least some of said switches and signaling links interconnecting entities in said network, said network selectively connecting calls to subscribers subject to any applicable call treatment, said calls being identified by a dialed number (DN), said LNP database storing location routing number (LRN) information for ported subscriber numbers, a method for selectively routing and applying said call treatment to a call being processed at a present network entity, said method comprising the steps of
receiving at said present network entity signals identifying at least one set of one or more controlled numbers and at least one set of call treatment conditions for respective ones of said controlled numbers, when said DN is not a controlled number, an LRN associated with said DN is available to said present network entity, said LRN is a controlled number and call control conditions associated with said LRN are met, routing said call based on said DN notwithstanding the availability of said LRN.
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33. In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of switches, at least one local number portability (LNP) database accessible by at least some of said switches and signaling links interconnecting entities in said network, said network selectively connecting calls to subscribers subject to any applicable call treatment, said calls being identified by a dialed number (DN), said LNP database storing location routing number (LRN) information for ported subscriber numbers, a method for selectively routing and applying said call treatment to a call being processed at a present network entity, said method comprising the steps of
receiving at said present network entity signals identifying at least one set of one or more controlled numbers and at least one set of call treatment conditions for respective ones of said controlled numbers, when said DN is not a controlled number, and an LRN associated with said DN is not available to said present network entity, routing said call based on said DN, and signaling a value for a parameter to network entities handling said call subsequent to said present network entity, said parameter relating to access to said LNP database in connection with further processing of said call.
Specification