System and method for determining tariffs for real-time calls involving ported directory numbers
First Claim
1. A method of determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless call made to or from a ported telephone number, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving by real-time service scripts in a Service Control Point (SCP), a call setup message containing a called party number, said call setup message being formatted in a first signaling protocol;
sending the called party number to a protocol converter in the SCP;
converting in the protocol converter, the first signaling protocol to a second signaling protocol compatible with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database;
sending a query containing the called party number from the protocol converter to the LNP database;
receiving a query result from the LNP database, said result containing a routing number if the called party number has been ported;
determining by the service scripts whether the routing number points to a particular network; and
rating the call with a first tariff if the routing number points to the particular network.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service such as a prepaid service (PPS) for a wireless telephone call. A Local Number Portability Point (LNPP) provides an interface between service scripts in a Service Control Point (SCP) or application server, and an LNP database. When an Initial Detection Point (IDP) message is received by the service scripts, a query is sent through the LNPP to the LNP database to determine whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number. If so, a routing number is returned. The scripts determine whether the routing number points to the network operator'"'"'s own network or another, and notify a Service Data Point (SDP). If the routing number points to the operator'"'"'s own network, the SDP applies a first tariff to the call. If the routing number points to another network, the SDP applies a second tariff.
18 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless call made to or from a ported telephone number, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving by real-time service scripts in a Service Control Point (SCP), a call setup message containing a called party number, said call setup message being formatted in a first signaling protocol; sending the called party number to a protocol converter in the SCP; converting in the protocol converter, the first signaling protocol to a second signaling protocol compatible with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database; sending a query containing the called party number from the protocol converter to the LNP database; receiving a query result from the LNP database, said result containing a routing number if the called party number has been ported; determining by the service scripts whether the routing number points to a particular network; and rating the call with a first tariff if the routing number points to the particular network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system in a radio telecommunications network for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless telephone call, said system comprising:
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a Service Control Point (SCP) for accessing a Local Number Portability (LNP) database during call setup to determine whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, said SCP including; service scripts that implement the real-time service; and a protocol converter that receives a retrieve-invoke message from the service scripts and converts the retrieve-invoke message to a query message compatible with the LNP database; means for determining whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network, in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number; and means for assigning a tariff to the call in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, and in response to a determination that the ported telephone number points to a particular network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system in a radio telecommunications network for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless telephone call, said system comprising:
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means for accessing a Local Number Portability (LNP) database during call setup to determine whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, said accessing means including a protocol converter located in a Service Control Point (SCP) that receives a retrieve-invoke message including a called party number, and converts the retrieve-invoke message to a query message compatible with the LNP database, said protocol converter receiving the retrieve-invoke message from service scripts within the SCP that implement the real-time service, wherein the protocol converter also receives a query result from the LNP database and converts the query result to a retrieve-result message compatible with the service scripts that implement the real-time service, wherein the query result includes a routing number if the called party number has been ported; means for determining whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network, in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, and means for assigning a tariff to the call in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, and in response to a determination that the ported telephone number points to a particular network.
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12. A service Control Point (SCP) in a telecommunications network comprising:
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service scripts that implement a real-time service, said scripts including; means for receiving a call setup message containing a called party number; and means for sending rated events to a Service Data Point (SDP) for assigning a tariff to a call; and an interface that receives the called party number in a signaling message from the service scripts, converts the signaling message to a query message compatible with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database, and sends the query message containing the called party number to the LNP database, said interface receiving a query result from the LNP database containing a routing number if the called party number is ported, and passing the routing number to the service scripts; wherein the means for sending rated events to the SDP sends an indication to the SDP of whether the called party number is ported-in or ported-out of a particular network. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification