Temporary ENUM gateway

• US 7,852,834 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US11/400,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.01, 379/219, 379/211.01, 379 45- 46, 37920101-20102, 379/201.12, 379/218.01, 37922106-22107, 379/221.13, 379/258, 370/259, 370351-356, 370/395.5, 370/395.54, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/461, 709201-203, 709242-244
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A temporary ENUM architecture assigns a temporary ENUM at call time. For an originated communication requiring routing to a party which needs a particular callback format not supported, the TempENUM provides consistency with the specific format required by the receiving party. The TempENUM is assigned for the duration of the call or communication, or for a given amount of time thereafter. The TempENUM service gateway includes a TempENUM database, a module that assigns a suitable TempENUM at the time of call routing, and a module that handles a lookup in the TempENUM database, and maps the assigned TempENUM to a calling party identifier (CgPID). The TempENUM database stores a TempENUM from a coordinator system and relates the actual calling party identifier (CgPID) for use in callback attempts. Either during the initial call or communication, or shortly thereafter, the receiving party uses the TempENUM number to return communication the initial caller.

Claims

1. An electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway, comprising:

an ENUM receiving module to receive a call directed to an ENUM receiving entity and associated with non-ENUM conforming caller identity information, said ENUM receiving entity mapping an ENUM with external resources associated with said ENUM;

a temporary ENUM database to associate a temporary conforming ENUM with said non-ENUM conforming caller identity information;

a module to assign said temporary conforming ENUM at a time of routing of a given communication, said temporary conforming ENUM being an entry in said temporary ENUM database; and

a module to lookup said temporary conforming ENUM in said temporary ENUM database and retrieve said associated caller identity information.

2. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein:

said entry in said temporary ENUM database is a temporary entry that expires after a given amount of time after termination of said given communication.

3. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein said caller identity information comprises:

a phone number of a user initiating said given communication.

4. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 3, wherein:

said phone number does not conform to a 10-digit North American Numbering Plan phone number.

5. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 3, wherein:

said phone number includes a country code.

6. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein said caller identity information comprises:

an email address of a user initiating said given communication.

7. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein said caller identity information comprises:

an instant messaging address of a user initiating said given communication.

8. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein said caller identity information comprises:

a vehicle ID.

9. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein said caller identity information comprises:

a mobile directory number (MDN).

10. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein:

said temporary ENUM gateway forms a temporary ENUM service.

11. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to requirements of a called party relating to calling party identification information.

12. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 11, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to 10-digit North American Numbering Plan requirements.

13. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein:

said given communication is an instant message.

14. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 1, wherein:

said given communication is a phone call.

15. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 14, wherein:

said phone call is a wireless phone call.

16. The electronic numbering (ENUM) gateway according to claim 14, wherein:

said phone call is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call.

17. A method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication, comprising:

receiving a call directed to an ENUM receiving entity and associated with non-ENUM conforming caller identity information, said ENUM receiving entity mapping an ENUM with external resources associated with said ENUM;

receiving a request for a temporary conforming ENUM relating to said non-ENUM conforming caller identity information;

associating said temporary conforming ENUM with said non-ENUM conforming caller identity information; and

storing said associated temporary conforming ENUM as an entry in a temporary ENUM database.

18. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to lookup said temporary conforming ENUM; and

retrieving from said temporary ENUM database said given temporary conforming ENUM associated with said non-conforming caller identity information.

19. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 17, further comprising:

routing a return communication from said called party back to said caller.

20. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 17, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to requirements of a called party relating to calling party identification information.

21. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 20, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to 10-digit North American Numbering Plan requirements.

22. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 17, wherein:

said received request includes calling party information.

23. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 22, wherein said calling party information includes:

a phone number.

24. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 22, wherein said calling party information includes:

an instant message IP address.

25. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 22, wherein said calling party information includes:

a mobile directory number (MDN).

26. The method of temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 22, wherein said calling party information includes:

an email address.

27. Apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication, comprising:

means for receiving a call directed to an ENUM receiving entity and associated with non-ENUM conforming caller identity information, said ENUM receiving entity mapping an ENUM with external resources associated with said ENUM;

means for receiving a request for a temporary conforming ENUM relating to said non-ENUM conforming caller identity information;

means for associating said temporary conforming ENUM with said non-conforming caller identity information; and

means for storing said associated temporary conforming ENUM as an entry in a temporary ENUM database.

28. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving a request to lookup said temporary conforming ENUM; and

means for retrieving from said temporary ENUM database said given temporary conforming ENUM associated with said non-conforming caller identity information.

29. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for routing a return communication from said called party back to said caller.

30. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 27, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to requirements of a called party relating to calling party identification information.

31. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 30, wherein:

said temporary conforming ENUM conforms to 10-digit North American Numbering Plan requirements.

32. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 27, wherein:

said received request includes calling party information.

33. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 32, wherein said calling party information includes:

a phone number.

34. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 32, wherein said calling party information includes:

an instant message IP address.

35. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 32, wherein said calling party information includes:

a mobile directory number (MDN).

36. The apparatus for temporarily associating an electronic number (ENUM) to a given communication for a short period of time contemporaneous with transmission of said given communication according to claim 32, wherein said calling party information includes:

an email address.