Methods and systems for routing signaling messages associated with ported subscribers in a communications network
First Claim
1. A triggerless number portability routing node, the routing node comprising:
- (a) a communication module for receiving a first call setup message from a first end office associated with a calling party over a first communications network, the first call setup message including a first called party address and a ported number translation indicator;
(b) a stop action process for examining the ported number translation indicator to determine whether number portability processing is required and, in response to determining that number portability processing is required, encapsulating the first call setup message in a first packet;
(c) a number portability database containing packet routing instruction records associated with ported subscribers; and
(d) a number portability process for receiving the first packet, extracting the first called party address from the first packet, performing a lookup in the number portability database using the first called party address to obtain a second called party address associated with a second end office, and modifying the first call signaling message to include the second called party address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A routing node for translating and re-directing Signaling System 7 (SS7) messages associated with ported subscribers in a communications network is disclosed. Re-direction or re-routing of signaling message packets is accomplished without the need for explicit local number portability (LNP) type triggers or queries, and as such the routing node of the present invention is considered to implement a triggerless LNP routing solution. Upon entering the routing node, SS7 ISDN User Part (ISUP) type signaling messages that require LNP translation service are encapsulated in an SS7 Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) message packet and internally routed within the switch to an LNP translation subsystem. The LNP translation subsystem can be integrated within the routing node or a portion of the LNP translation subsystem can be located on an external database server platform. LNP translation involves the lookup of a called party address in an LNP database, and the return of a Location Routing Number (LRN). The returned LRN, which is representative of the End Office (EO) currently servicing the called party, is inserted into the original ISUP message and the resulting modified message is then routed from the switch.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A triggerless number portability routing node, the routing node comprising:
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(a) a communication module for receiving a first call setup message from a first end office associated with a calling party over a first communications network, the first call setup message including a first called party address and a ported number translation indicator;
(b) a stop action process for examining the ported number translation indicator to determine whether number portability processing is required and, in response to determining that number portability processing is required, encapsulating the first call setup message in a first packet;
(c) a number portability database containing packet routing instruction records associated with ported subscribers; and
(d) a number portability process for receiving the first packet, extracting the first called party address from the first packet, performing a lookup in the number portability database using the first called party address to obtain a second called party address associated with a second end office, and modifying the first call signaling message to include the second called party address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for routing a data packet associated with a ported subscriber in a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a data packet from a communication network;
(b) determining whether the data packet contains a call setup message;
(c) in response to determining that the data packet includes a call setup message, performing a lookup in a number portability database using key information contained in the data packet;
(d) modifying contents of the data packet to incorporate one or more number portability routing instructions returned by the number portability database lookup; and
(e) transmitting the modified data packet into the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:
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(a) receiving a call setup message from a communications network, the call setup message including a first called party address value associated with a first end office;
(b) performing a lookup in a number portability database based on the first called party address value to obtain a second called party address value associated with a second end office; and
(c) replacing the first called party address value in the call setup message with the second called party address value. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification