Methods, systems, and computer program products for using a location routing number based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover

• US 8,073,127 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/731,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.13, 379/327, 379/219, 379/221.14
• US Class Current: 379/221.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method for using an LRN based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover includes receiving an LRN based response message including a communications service subscriber identifier. The method further includes determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier. The method further includes inserting the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and routing the LRN based response message.

Claims

1. A method for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the method comprising:

at a first network node separate from a second network node that originates an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising a destination for the LRN based response message;

(a) receiving the LRN based response message including a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(c) inserting the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and routing the response message to the third network node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the number portability response message includes intercepting the number portability response message, wherein the first network node comprises a routing node located, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes searching a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes:

(a) determining whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, searching the second database for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein inserting the cutover switch LRN includes replacing an LRN in the number portability response message with the cutover switch LRN.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein routing the message includes routing the message to an originator of a number portability query message associated with the number portability response message.

9. The method of claim 2 comprising determining whether an LRN in the number portability response message is associated with an in-network node, and wherein determining a cutover switch LRN includes determining the cutover switch LRN in response to determining that the LRN in the number portability response message is associated with an in-network node.

10. A method for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the method comprising:

at a first network node separate from a second network node comprising an originator of an LRN based query message;

(a) receiving the LRN based query message including a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the cutover switch LRN comprises an LRN associated with a third network node placed into service to increase end office processing capacity in the same service provider'"'"'s network to which the service subscriber identifier is currently assigned; and

(c) in response to determining the cutover switch LRN, generating an LRN based response message associated with the LRN based query message and including the cutover switch LRN.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the second network node comprises a switching office and wherein the query message is addressed to a number portability database and is intercepted by the first network node.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes searching a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes:

(a) determining whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, searching the second database for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the first network node comprises a routing node.

16. The method of claim 11 comprising routing the generated number portability response message.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein routing the generated number portability response message includes routing the number portability response message to the originator of the number portability query message.

18. The method of claim 11 comprising:

(a) failing to determine a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(b) in response to failing to determine a cutover switch LRN, forwarding the number portability query message to a number portability translation system.

19. A method for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the method comprising:

at a first network node that is separate from a second network node comprising an originator of an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising a destination for the LRN based response message;

(a) receiving an LRN based query message including transaction identification information and a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) associating an LRN based response message with the LRN based query message based on the transaction identification information;

(c) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(d) inserting the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and routing the message to the third network node.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving the number portability response message includes intercepting the number portability response message at the first network node, wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein associating the number portability response message with the number portability query message includes comparing the transaction identification information of the number portability query message transaction identification information of the number portability response message.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes searching a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier includes:

(a) determining whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, searching the second database for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein inserting the cutover switch LRN includes replacing an LRN in the number portability response message with the cutover switch LRN.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein routing the message includes routing the message to the originator of the number portability query message associated with the number portability response message.

28. The method of claim 19 comprising temporarily storing the transaction identification information and the communications service subscriber identifier.

29. A system for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the system comprising:

a first network node that is separate from a second network node that originates an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising destination for the LRN based response message, the first network node including;

(a) a communications module located within the first network node and configured to receive the LRN based response message including a communications service subscriber identifier; and

(b) a subscriber cutover function located within the first network node and configured to determine a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier, configured to insert the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message, and configured to route the LRN based response message to the third network node.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the communications module is adapted to intercept the number portability response message, wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to search a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to:

(a) determine whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) search the second database, in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to replace an LRN in the number portability response message with the cutover switch LRN.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the third network node comprises an originator of a number portability query message associated with the number portability response message.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to determine whether an LRN in the number portability response message is associated with an in-network node, and wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to determine the cutover switch LRN in response to determining that the LRN in the number portability response message is associated with an in-network node.

37. A system for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the system comprising:

a first network node separate from a second network node that originates an LRN based query message, the first network node including;

(a) a communications module located within the first network node and configured to receive the LRN based query message including a communications service subscriber identifier; and

(b) a subscriber cutover function located within the first network node and configured to;

(i) determine a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the cutover switch LRN comprises an LRN associated with a third network node placed into service to increase end office processing capacity in the same service provider'"'"'s network to which the service subscriber identifier is currently assigned; and

(ii) generate an LRN based response message associated with the LRN based query message and including the cutover switch LRN in response to determining the cutover switch LRN.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the communications module is adapted to intercept the number portability response message addressed to a number portability database, wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the second network node comprises a switching office.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to search a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

41. The system of claim 37 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to:

(a) determine whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, search the second database for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to route the generated number portability response message.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to route the number portability response message to the second network node.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to:

(a) fail to determine a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(b) in response to failing to determine a cutover switch LRN, forward an LRN based query message to a number portability translation system.

45. A system for a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect subscriber cutover, the system comprising:

a first network node that is separate from a second network node comprising an originator of an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising a destination for the LRN based response message, the first network node including;

(a) a communications module located within the first network node and configured to receive an LRN based query message including transaction identification information and a communications service subscriber identifier; and

(b) a subscriber cutover function located within the first network node and configured to;

(i) associate the LRN based response message with the LRN based query message based on the transaction identification information;

(ii) determine a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(ii) insert the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and route the LRN based response message to the third network node.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the communications module is configured to intercept the number portability response message, wherein the first network node comprises a routing node, wherein the third network node comprises a switching office and wherein the second network node comprises a number portability database.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to compare the transaction identification information of the number portability query message transaction identification information of the number portability response message.

49. The system of claim 45 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to search a database for an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the entry includes the cutover switch LRN.

50. The system of claim 45 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to:

(a) determine whether an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is located in a first database comprising entries including a plurality of communications service subscriber identifiers and a plurality of associated cutover switch LRNs, wherein the first database includes communications service subscriber identifier exceptions to ranges of communications service subscriber identifiers in a second database; and

(b) in response to determining that an entry including the communications service subscriber identifier is not located in the first database, search the second database for an entry including a range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein entry including the range of communications service subscriber identifiers with the communications service subscriber identifier includes the cutover switch LRN.

51. The system of claim 46 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to replace an LRN in the number portability response message with the cutover switch LRN.

52. The system of claim 46 wherein the wherein the third network node comprises an originator of the number portability query message associated with the number portability response message.

53. The system of claim 45 wherein the subscriber cutover function is configured to temporarily store the transaction identification information and the communications service subscriber identifier.

54. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at a first network node that is separate from a second network node that originates an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising a destination for the LRN based response message;

(a) receiving the location routing number (LRN) based response message including a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(c) inserting the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and routing the LRN based response message to the third network node.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message.

56. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at a first network node separate from a second node that originates an LRN based query message;

(a) receiving the location routing number (LRN) based query message including a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier, wherein the cutover switch LRN comprises an LRN associated with a third network node placed into service to increase end office processing capacity in the same service provider'"'"'s network to which the service subscriber identifier is currently assigned; and

(c) in response to determining the cutover switch LRN, generating a LRN based response message associated with the LRN based query message and including the cutover switch LRN.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.

58. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at a first network node that is separate from a second network node comprising an originator of an LRN based response message and a third network node comprising a destination for the LRN based response message;

(a) receiving a location routing number (LRN) based query message including transaction identification information and a communications service subscriber identifier;

(b) associating the LRN based response message with the LRN based query message based on the transaction identification information;

(c) determining a cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier; and

(d) inserting the cutover switch LRN associated with the communications service subscriber identifier into the LRN based response message and routing the message to the third network node.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein the LRN based response message comprises a number portability response message and the LRN based query message comprises a number portability query message.