Methods and apparatus for local number portability in telecommunication systems

• US 6,445,785 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Yu, I-Hsiang, Maring, Blayne E., Wang, David Chin-Che, Chan, May Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/573,080
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/202, 379/207, 379/201, 379/220, 379/221, 379/230, 379/112, 379/114, 379/213, 379/201.01, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 379/201.12, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/207.12, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.08, 379/221.13, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 379/221.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A telecommunication system supports local number portability. The system includes a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch. The local number portability database contains a table for translating geographic numbers to routing information. The local number portability switch queries the local number portability database using a dialed geographic number in response to initiation of a call. The local number portability database translates the dialed geographic number to corresponding routing information and returns the corresponding routing information to the local number portability switch. The local number portability switch uses the corresponding routing information to route the call.

Claims

1. A method for telecommunication call processing, comprising:

a) providing a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch, said local number portability database comprising a global database configured to selectively translate a portable geographic number, which represents a subscriber number that is portable to different geographic locations, to a routing number or a service provider identifier (ID) for completing a call to a called station identified by the portable geographic number independent of geographic location of the called station;

b) in response to initiation of a call to the portable geographic number, said local number portability switch querying the local number portability database using said portable geographic number;

c) said local number portability database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number or service provider ID and returning the corresponding routing number or service provider ID to the local number portability switch; and

d) said local number portability switch using the corresponding routing number or service provider ID to route the call to the called station independent of geographic location of the called station.

2. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises said global database querying a service provider database identified by said service provider ID, said service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a routing number and returning the routing number to the global database, and said global database returning the routing number to said local number portability switch.

3. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises said global database returning a corresponding service provider ID to said local number portability switch, said local number portability switch querying a service provider database identified by the service provider ID, said service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the local number portability switch.

4. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability database comprises a single table for translating said portable geographic number to said routing number or said service provider ID.

5. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first table for translating the portable geographic number to said routing number and a second table for translating the portable geographic number to said service provider ID.

6. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending a first information packet comprising said routing number or said portable geographic number and a second information packet comprising said portable geographic number to a second switch, said routing number comprising a destination switch identification.

7. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 6 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending said first and second information packets to said second switch on a first trunk when said first information packet contains said routing number and sending said first and second information packets to said second switch on a second trunk when said first information packet contains said portable geographic number.

8. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 6 wherein step d) further comprises said local number portability switch sending to said second switch an indication whether said first information packet contains said routing number or said portable geographic number.

9. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 6 wherein said routing number and said portable geographic number have different numbers of digits, wherein the number of digits in said first information packet indicates whether said first information packet contains said routing number or said portable geographic number.

10. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability database comprises a database for mapping the portable geographic number to a carrier identification code (CIC), a trunk group identification (TGID) or an intermediate switch address (ISA), wherein step c) includes said global database returning the CIC, TGID or ISA to the local number portability switch and wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch directing the portable geographic number to a switch identified by the CIC, TGID or ISA.

11. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first service provider database for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number for subscribers of the first service provider and for mapping the geographic number to a service provider ID for subscribers of other service providers, said method further comprising the steps of said service provider database returning said service provider ID to the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch querying a second service provider database identified by the service provider ID using said portable geographic number, said second service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the local number portability switch.

12. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first service provider database for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number for subscribers of the first service provider and for mapping the portable geographic number to a service provider ID for subscribers of other service providers, said method further including the steps of said service provider database querying a second service provider database identified by the service provider ID using said portable geographic number, said second service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the first service provider database, said first service provider database returning the routing number to the local number portability switch.

13. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending an information packet comprising said routing number or said portable geographic number to a second switch, said routing number comprising a destination switch identification and a subscriber identification.

14. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 13 wherein step d) further comprises said local number portability switch sending said portable geographic number to said second switch.

15. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 13 wherein step d) further includes said local number portability switch sending to said second switch an indication whether said information packet contains said routing number or said portable geographic number.

16. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 13 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending said information packet to said second switch on a first trunk when said information packet contains said routing number and sending said information packet to said second switch on a second trunk when said information packet contains said portable geographic number.

17. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending said routing number and said portable geographic number to a destination switch, said routing number comprising a destination switch identification.

18. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein step d) comprises said local number portability switch sending said routing number to a destination switch, said routing number comprising a destination switch identification and a subscriber identification.

19. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said routing number returned to the local number portability switch comprises final routing information.

20. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said local number portability switch comprises an originating switch connected to a calling station.

21. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said portable geographic number comprises a North American Numbering Plan (NANP) number.

22. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 1 wherein said routing number returned to the local number portability switch comprises intermediate routing information used for accessing final routing information.

23. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing comprising:

a local number portability switch; and

a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch including means responsive to initiation of a call to a portable geographic number for querying said local number portability database using the portable geographic number, said portable geographic number representing a subscriber number that is portable to different geographic locations, said local number portability database comprising a global database configured to selectively translate said portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number or service provider identifier (ID) for completing the call to a called station identified by the portable geographic number, and means for returning the corresponding routing number or service provider ID to the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch including means responsive to the corresponding routing number or service provider ID for routing the call to the called station independent of geographic location of the called station.

24. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability database comprises a service provider database identified by said service provider ID for translating the portable geographic number to a routing number.

25. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said routing number includes a destination switch identification.

26. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said routing number includes a destination switch identification and a subscriber identification.

27. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability database comprises a database for mapping the portable geographic number to a carrier identification code (CIC), a trunk group identification (TGID) or an intermediate switch address (ISA) and a service provider database identified by the CIC, TGID or ISA for translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number.

28. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first service provider database for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number for subscribers of the first service provider and for mapping the portable geographic number to a service provider ID for subscribers of other service providers, and a second service provider database identified by the service provider ID for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number.

29. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said portable geographic number comprises a North American Numbering Plan (NANP) number.

30. Apparatus for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability switch comprises an originating switch connected to a calling station.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability switch comprises a service switching point (SSP) and a service control point (SCP) operatively connected to said SSP, and wherein said local number portability database comprises a database within said SCP.

32. Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said local number portability switch comprises a service switching point (SSP) and a service control point (SCP) operatively connected to said SSP, and wherein said local number portability database comprises a database that is accessible by said SCP.

33. A method for telecommunication call processing, comprising:

a) providing a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch, said local number portability database comprising a global database configured to selectively translate a portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number or service provider identifier (ID) for completing a call to a called station identified by the portable geographic number; and

b) in response to initiation of a call to the portable geographic number, said local number portability switch using the portable geographic number to obtain routing information from the local number portability database and routing the call to the called station using the routing information.

34. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 33 wherein said method further comprises said global database querying a service provider database identified by said service provider ID, said service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a routing number and returning the routing number to the global database, and said global database returning the routing number to said local number portability switch.

35. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 33 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first service provider database for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number for subscribers of the first service provider and for mapping the geographic number to a service provider ID for subscribers of other service providers, said method further comprising said service provider database returning said service provider ID to the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch querying a second service provider database identified by the service provider ID using said portable geographic number, said second service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding a routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the local number portability switch.

36. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 33 wherein said method further comprises said global database returning a corresponding service provider ID to said local number portability switch, said local number portability switch querying a service provider database identified by the service provider ID, said service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the local number portability switch.

37. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claims 33 wherein said local number portability database comprises a first service provider database for mapping the portable geographic number to a routing number for subscribers of the first service provider and for mapping the portable geographic number to a service provider ID for subscribers of other service providers, said method further comprising said service provider database querying a second service provider database identified by the service provider ID using said portable geographic number, said second service provider database translating the portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number and returning the corresponding routing number to the first service provider database, said first service provider database returning the routing number to the local number portability switch.

38. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 33 wherein step b) comprises said local number portability switch sending a first information packet comprising said routing information or said portable geographic number and a second information packet comprising said portable geographic number to a second switch, said routing information comprising a destination switch identification.

39. A method for telecommunication call processing as defined in claim 33 wherein step b) comprises said local number portability switch sending an information packet comprising said routing information or said portable geographic number to a second switch, said routing information comprising a destination switch identification and a subscriber identification.