System and method for caching toll free number information

• US 7,079,530 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gregory Dean, Torrey, Jason P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferris, Derrick
• Application Number:
  US09/794,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 370/357, 370/360, 370/428, 370/429, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.13, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 370/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A system and method for caching N00 information comprises an N00 cache that can be located in a signaling processor. The N00 cache is a memory cache that contains the N00 information, such as the N00 number and a destination number. The signaling processor receives and processes call signaling. The signaling processor accesses the N00 cache to determine if the destination number for the N00 number exists. The N00 cache returns the destination number if a match is found for the N00 number. If a match is not found, the signaling processor can be configured to query an N00 service control point (SCP).

Claims

1. A system for connecting a call having call signaling and user communications, the system comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive the call signaling, to process the call signaling to determine if a search is required and to determine if a search criteria matches an N00 information element, to select the search criteria for the search, to select a connection for the user communications, and to transmit a control message identifying the selected connection;

a N00 cache having N00 information comprising an entry with a N00 number and a corresponding entry with a destination number and configured to be searched using the search criteria to determine if the N00 information element exists in the N00 information, the search having a result; and

a connection system adapted to receive the user communications and the control message and in response to the control message, to connect the user communications over the designated connection. 3

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the N00 cache is configured to have a flag for the N00 number that identifies whether a query to a N00 service control point for N00 information is required.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the flag for the N00 number and to generate and transmit the query to the N00 service control point based on the flag.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the signaling processor is configured to process the call signaling and the result to select the connection.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a N00 service control point having other N00 information and configured to receive a query from the signaling processor, to process the query to determine if the N00 information element exists in the other N00 information, and to transmit a response containing a query result.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the response comprises update N00 information;

the signaling processor is further configured to receive the response and to provide the update N00 information to the N00 cache; and

the N00 cache is further configured to update the N00 information with the update N00 information.