Local number portability database for on-net IP call

• US 6,678,265 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Jesse Eugene, Wang, Spencer C., Sankalia, Anish, Kung, Fen-Chung, Walker, Hopeton S
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Frank
• Application Number:
  US09/475,201
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254,351,352,353,355,360,362,395.2,395.3,395.31,395.32,403,420,422,902 379/209.01,221.01,221.02,221.08,221.1,221.12,221.13
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method for connecting a call in an IP telephony system is disclosed. A dialed unique identifier is routed to a network device. The network device determines whether the dialed unique identifier has been ported. If the dialed unique identifier has not been ported, the network device attempts to connect the call to the dialed unique identifier. If the dialed unique identifier has been ported, new routing information is sent from a database to the network device. The network device then attempts to connect the call using the new routing information.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a call in an IP telephony system having two or more call managers, each of said call managers operating as a centralized control center for the set-up and tear-down of calls to directory numbers served by said call managers, the method comprising

a) an individual one of said call managers

i) receiving a dialed directory number;

ii) sending a query to an IP local number portability database to determine if the received directory number has been ported; and

iii) attempting to connect the call using the received directory number if the received directory number has not been ported;

b) if said received directory has been ported, said individual one of said call managers

iv) receiving a new directory number from said database;

v) determining whether the new directory number is served by said individual one of said call managers or by another one of said call managers;

vi) attempting to connect the call using the new directory number if it is served by said individual one of said call managers; and

vii) transferring said new directory number to an other one of said call managers if said new directory number is served by said other one of said call managers;

c) said other one of said call managers receiving said transferred new directory number and performing at least said steps ii) and iii) using the transferred new directory number.

2. An internet protocol (IP) central station for use in a broadband network, said IP central station comprisinga plurality of gateways interfacing said IP central station to respective networks including the Internet, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), an SS7 signaling system, at least one wireless network and at least one packet network, said IP central station being configured to provide connectivity to said networks for customer premises equipment connected to said IP central station, said IP central station utilizing at least ones of said gateways to provide centralized system intelligence and control of voice and/or data IP packets communicated between said customer premises equipment and said networks, the gateways that interface said IP central station to the PSTN being operative to convert between IP-based voice packets and standard PSTN voice traffic, and between IP-based multimedia packets and standard PSTN traffic, a plurality of servers, including

a) a system management server configured to provide monitoring and administrative functions for devices within said broadband network including management of various database functions, memory buffer functions, and software utility functions within said broadband network,

b) a call manager providing centralized call control for

i) supporting the set-up and tear-down in said broadband network of calls, including voice-over-IP calls, to directory numbers served by said call manager,

ii) trunk and line information maintenance,

iii) call state maintenance for the duration of a call, and

iv) user service features execution, each said call manager being configured to respond to system events created by messages occurring during the processing of a call, said events including

(i) call state changes,

(ii) call feature changes,

(iii) call feature triggering events, and

(iv) changes in the status of lines and trunks and error conditions, each said call manager including

 

(i) an authentication server that provides authentication of devices, objects, packets and users so that a user may verify the identity of a called party,

 

(ii) a resources database that provides an identification of what resources are connected to the broadband network and their current state,

 

(iii) a trunk/gateway database that indicates which gateway serves what circuits in a trunk, and

 

(iv) a customer database which indicates whether a call is authorized, identifies what services a line supports and determines whether a telephone number communicates via IP,

c) an announcement service server that stores and send announcements to specified destinations via said gateways and also to said customer premises equipment, based on instructions received by said call manager server,

d) a dynamic host control protocol server,

e) a domain name service server operative in conjunction with said dynamic host control protocol server to dynamically assign IP addresses to devices in said customer premises equipment, and

3) a central router adapted to interconnect said servers and gateways utilizing high-speed, non-blocking IP and IP multicast Layer 3 switching and routing,

4) said call manager being adapted to

a) receive a dialed directory number;

b) send a query to an IP local number portability database to determine if the received directory number has been ported; and

c) attempt to connect the call using the received directory number if the received directory number has not been ported;

5) said call manager being further adapted to

a) receive a new directory number from said database if said received directory has been ported;

b) determine whether the new directory number is served by this call manager or by an other call manager within said IP telephony system;

c) attempt to connect the call using the new directory number if it is served by this call manager; and

d) transfer said new directory number to an other call manager within said IP telephony system if said new directory number is served by said other call manager;

6) said call manager being further adapted to

a) send a query to an IP local number portability database upon receipt of a transferred new directory number from another call manager within said IP telephony system to determine if the received directory number has been ported; and

b) attempt to connect the call using the transferred new directory number if the received directory number has not been ported.