Method and system for routing calls to a wireless telecommunications services platform

• US 6,356,756 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koster, Karl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Temica M.
• Application Number:
  US09/140,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/406, 455/407, 455/413, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/445, 455/461, 379/207, 379/220, 379/114, 379/221.13, 379/221.02, 379/211
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

A method and system for routing calls to a wireless platform uses local number portability searches to achieve advanced intelligent network capabilities. The method and system of the present invention “ports” wireless subscriber numbers to a number for a platform providing a specific service. When a caller dials the subscriber'"'"'s wireless number, a switch determines whether the number is portable. Since the number has been ported, the switch launches a query to a local number portability service control point to obtain additional routing instructions. The service control point accesses a local number portability database to determine the proper routing number. The new routing number allows calls to be routed to a service platform in the wireless network. The service control point transfers the routing number to the switch which then translates the routing number to a directory number for the platform. The call is then routed to the platform.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call directed to a wireless number to a service platform for delivering to the call, the method comprising:

causing the service platform to associate the wireless number with at least one service;

storing the wireless number in a local number portability database;

mapping the wireless number in the local number portability database to a number of the service platform;

querying the local number portability database when a call is made to the wireless number;

in response to the query to the local number portability database, retrieving the number of the service platform;

routing the call to the service platform using the number of the service platform;

causing the service platform to access a database to determine the at least one service associated with the wireless number; and

causing the service platform to deliver the at least one service associated with the wireless number to the call.

2. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

when the call is made to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless number, transmitting the call to a switch; and

prior to querying the local number portability database, querying the switch to determine the wireless number is ported.

3. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 1, wherein the service platform is coupled to an end office.

4. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 1, wherein the service platform is coupled to a mobile switching office.

5. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 1, wherein retrieving the number of the service platform comprises:

receiving a local routing number of the service platform; and

translating the local routing number into the number for the service platform.

6. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in the service platform, a service number for locating the subscriber; and

routing the call from the service platform to the subscriber using the service number.

7. A method for routing a call directed to a wireless number to a platform for delivering a service to the call, the method comprising:

causing the platform to associate the wireless number with at least one service;

determining the wireless number is ported;

querying a local number portability database for a ported number corresponding to the wireless number;

determining, in the local number portability database, that the ported number corresponding to the wireless number is a routing number for the platform;

translating the routing number to a platform number;

routing the call to the platform using the platform number; and

causing the platform to access a database to determine the at least one service associated with the wireless number so that the platform delivers the at least one service associated with the wireless number to the call.

8. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining, in the platform, a service number for locating the subscriber; and

routing the call to the subscriber using the service number.

9. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 7, wherein the platform is coupled to an end office.

10. The method for routing a call, as recited in claim 7, wherein the platform is coupled to a mobile switching office.

11. A system for providing a call directed to a wireless number with service, the system comprising:

a platform for providing the service to the call routed to the platform and for associating in a database the wireless number with at least one service;

a switch storing numbers which are ported, the numbers including a wireless number as ported, wherein the switch is in communication with the platform; and

a local number portability database storing the wireless number and a corresponding routing number for the platform as a ported number to which the wireless number is ported, the local number portability database being accessible by the switch,

whereby the switch is operative in response to a call to the wireless number to determine the wireless number is ported, the determination causes the switch to query the local number portability database for a corresponding ported number to the wireless number, the local number portability database returns to the switch the routing number for the platform as the ported number, the switch causing the routing number to be translated by the switch into a number for the platform, and the switch using the number for the platform to cause the call to be routed to the platform for the provision of a service of the at least one service associated with the wireless number.

12. The system for providing a wireless telecommunications service, as recited in claim 11, wherein the platform is coupled to an end office.

13. The system for providing a wireless telecommunications service, as recited in claim 11, wherein the platform is coupled to a mobile switching office.

14. The system for providing a service, as recited in claim 11, wherein, in response to routing of the call to the platform, the platform, determines a service number of a subscriber based upon information provided by the subscriber, and wherein the platform routes the call to the service number of the subscriber.

15. The system for providing a service, as recited in claim 11, wherein the service comprises a follow me service, a calling party pays service, or a pre-paid calling service.

16. A method for using elements of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) to route a call directed to a wireless number to a platform to provide a service to the call without having to include the AIN elements in a wireless system providing the service to the wireless number, the method comprising:

characterizing to the AIN the wireless number as ported to a number for the platform;

causing the platform to associate the wireless number with at least one service;

in response to receipt of the call directed to the wireless number, querying a local number portability (LNP) database of the AIN regarding the wireless number;

receiving the number for the platform in response to the query;

routing the call using the number for the platform so as to route the call to the platform; and

retrieving from a database the at least one service associated with the wireless number for provision by the platform the at least one service associated with the wireless number to the call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, prior to querying the LNP database, in response to the receipt of the call directed to the wireless number, the method comprises determining the wireless number is ported.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the number for the platform comprises receiving the number for the platform in response to the query based on the wireless number being ported to the number for the platform.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the number for the platform comprises a local routing number (LRN);

and

wherein routing the call using the number for the platform comprises routing the call using the LRN.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein routing the call using the LRN comprises translating the LRN into a number for the platform and routing the call using the number for the platform.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

after routing the call to the platform, providing the service to the call.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the service comprises providing a follow me service, a pre-paid calling service, or a calling party pays service.

23. A method to make use of elements of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) to route a call directed to a wireless number to a platform to provide a service to the call without having to include the AIN elements in a wireless system providing the service to the wireless number, comprising:

causing the platform to associate the wireless number with at least one service;

causing the wireless number to be characterized as ported to the elements of the AIN;

providing a ported number for the wireless number, the ported number corresponding to a number for the platform operative to provide the service to the call, so that the call is routed to the number for the platform; and

retrieving from a database the at least one service associated with the wireless number for provision of the at least one service associated with the wireless number rather than routing of the call to the wireless number.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the ported number comprises providing a number of the platform as the ported number for the wireless number.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

after the call is routed to the platform, providing the service to the call.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the service comprises providing a follow me service, a pre-paid calling service, or a calling party pays service.

27. A system for using elements of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) to route a call directed to a wireless number to a platform to provide a service to the call without having to include the AIN elements in a system providing the service to the wireless number, the system comprising:

a switch being operative, in response to receipt of the call directed to the wireless number, to query a local number portability (LNP) database in the AIN regarding the wireless number;

the platform being operative to associate the wireless number with at least one service in a database;

the LNP database including the wireless number as ported to a number of the platform, and the LNP database being operative to respond to the query with the number of the platform as the ported number for the wireless number; and

the switch being operative, in response to receipt of the number of the platform as the ported number for the wireless number, to route the call to the number of the platform for provision of a service of the at least one service associated with the wireless number.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the switch comprises including a characterization of the wireless number as ported;

and wherein the switch is operative, as a condition to querying the LNP database, to determine the wireless number is ported.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the number for the platform comprises a local routing number (LRN).

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the switch is operative to translate the LRN into a number for the platform and to route the call using the number.