Triggerless number portability system and method

• US 6,456,708 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Milne, Richard E., Copley, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/439,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02, 379/219, 379/201.01, 379/220.01, 379/221-8-2, 379/229, 379/230, 370/351, 370/386, 370/389, 370/410, 370/426
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method of providing local number portability capability includes the steps of capturing all initial address message transmitted on at least one predetermined SS7 link set to a signal transfer point, where each initial address message has a called party number parameter containing a dialed telephone number. A determination is made as to whether a predetermined FCI bit is set to one or zero and in response to the predetermined FCI bit being set to zero, the following steps are performed. A local number portability database lookup is done using the dialed telephone number to obtain a corresponding local routing number. The local routing number is then inserted into the called party number parameter of the initial address message, and the dialed telephone number is inserted into a generic address parameter of the initial address message. The predetermined FCI bit is then set to one. The initial address message is then sent to a destination specified by the called party number parameter.

Claims

1. A method of providing local number portability capability, comprising:

capturing all MTP level 3 messages transmitted on at least one predetermined SS7 link set to a signal transfer point, each MTP level 3 message includes a user part portion and a message type field;

determining if the user part portion of the captured MTP level 3 message is an integrated digital service network user part (ISUP);

if the determination is made that the user part portion of the captured MTP level 3 message is an ISL RP, then determining if the message type field of the captured MTP level 3 message is an initial address message (IAM), each IAM having a called party number parameter containing a dialed telephone number;

if the determination is made that the message type field of the captured MTP level 3 message is an IAM, then determining whether a predetermined Forward Call Indicator (FCI) bit is set to one or zero and in response to the predetermined FCI bit being set to zero;

performing a local number portability database lookup using the dialed telephone number and obtaining a corresponding local routing number therefor;

inserting the local routing number into the called party number parameter of the initial address message;

inserting the dialed telephone number into a generic address parameter of the initial address message; and

setting the predetermined FCI bit to one; and

sending the initial address message to a destination specified by the called party number parameter.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the dialed telephone number has a corresponding local routing number in the local number portability database; and

setting the predetermined FCI bit to one in response to the dialed number having a corresponding local routing number.

3. A computer-readable medium storing the method as set forth in claim 1.