Method and system for routing calling name queries

• US 6,748,069 B1
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nimmagadda, Prasad, Simpson, Anita H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/934,492
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.15, 379/217.01, 379/221.02, 379/93.23, 379/142.06, 379/120, 379/127.01, 379/354, 379/201.01, 379/211.01, 379/219-220, 379/229, 379/265, 379/242-243, 379/201.07, 455/566-567, 455/550, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/201.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method and system for routing Calling Name queries in a locally competitive environment includes the creation of a Calling Name query having both the calling party number and the called party number. The query is routed to a service control point of the local exchange carrier, where the called party number is extracted to determine the Calling Name service provider for the called party. The service control point accesses a series of databases to route the Calling Name query to the proper service provider/destination. The databases include a database storing a table of subscribers and their choice for Calling Name service, a database storing porting status of telephone numbers, and a database storing information about distribution of other local number portability databases.

Claims

1. A method for routing a TR-1188 Calling Name query to provide Calling Name information respecting a calling party to a called party, the method comprising:

receiving the TR-1188 Calling Name query including a calling party number and an identifier for the called party;

using the identifier to determine that an alternate service provider serves as a Calling Name service provider for the called party; and

causing the TR-1188 Calling Name query to be routed to the alternate service provider.

2. A method for routing a Calling Name query to provide Calling Name information respecting a calling party to a called party, the method comprising:

receiving the Calling Name query from a network element serving the called party with the Calling Name query including a calling party number and an identifier for the called party.

using the identifier to directly make a determination that a local service provider serves as a Calling Name service provider for the called party; and

in response to the determination, causing the Calling Name query to be routed to a database of the local service provider.

3. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, wherein making a finding that the calling party number is within a service region of the local service is a prerequisite to causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider.

4. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is not within a service region of the local service provider; and

based on the finding, instead of causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider, then causing the Calling Name query to be sent to an out-of-region (OOR) data file.

5. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is not within a service region of the local service provider; and

based on the finding, checking whether an out-of-region (OOR) data file is available; and

if the OOR data file is unavailable, then causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider.

6. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is within a service area of a service region of the local service provider; and

based on the finding, then causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider.

7. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, wherein the database of the local service provider serves a service area within a service region of the local service provider;

and further comprising;

making a finding that the calling party number is not within the service area of the service region of the local service provider; and

in response to the finding, then causing the Calling Name query to be sent to another database of the local service provider instead of the database.

8. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is within a service area of a service region of the local service provider; and

based on the finding, checking whether the calling party number is ported; and

if the calling party number is not ported, then causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider.

9. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is within a service area of a service region of the local service provider; and

based on the finding, checking whether the calling party number is ported; and

if the calling party number is ported, causing the Calling Name query to be sent to a service provider serving the calling party instead of causing the Calling Name query to be sent to the database of the local service provider.

10. The method for routing a Calling Name query, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

making a finding that the calling party number is ported; and

in response to the finding, sending the query to a service provider serving the calling party instead of sending the query to the database of the local service provider.

11. A system for routing a TR-1188 Calling Name query to provide Calling Name information respecting a calling party to a called party, the system comprising:

an intelligent device for receiving the TR-1188 Calling Name query, which includes a calling party number and an identifier for the called party;

the intelligent device operative to use the identifier to determine that an alternate service provider serves as a Calling Name service provider for the called party; and

the intelligent device operative to cause the TR-1188 Calling Name query to be sent to the alternate service provider.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the intelligent device comprises a service control point (SCP).

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the intelligent device comprises a network service.

14. A method for routing a Calling Name query, the method comprising:

receiving a Calling name query identifying a called number from a network element serving the called number;

determining a service provider that provides Calling Name service to the called number; and

routing the Calling Name query to the service provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the Calling Name query includes a calling number.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, as a prerequisite to the routing of the Calling Name query to the service provider, finding the calling number is served by the service provider.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein, prior to the routing of the Calling Name query to the service provider, finding that the calling number is not served by the service provider, and instead of routing the Calling Name query to the service provider, routing the Calling name query to an out-of-region (OOR) file.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein, prior to the routing of the Calling Name query to the service provider, finding that an out-of-region (OOR) file relating to the calling number is unavailable.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the service provider comprises a local service provider to the called number.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein, prior to the routing of the Calling Name query to the service provider, finding the calling number is not ported.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein, prior to the routing of the Calling Name query to the service provider, finding that the calling number is served by a service provider that provides the Calling Name service to the called number, and instead of routing the Calling Name query to the service provider, sending the Calling Name query to the different service provider.

22. A system for routing a TR-1188 Calling Name query, the system comprising:

an intelligent device for receiving the TR-1188 Calling Name query identifying the called party;

the intelligent device operative to determine a service provider providing Calling Name service to the called party and

the intelligent device operative to cause the TR-1188 Calling Name query to be sent the service provider.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the intelligent device comprises a service control point (SCP).

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the intelligent device comprises a service node.