Method and system for utilizing an information delivery service in a local number portability environment

• US 5,854,836 A
• Filed: 10/25/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nimmagadda, Prasad V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/738,009
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/207, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/220, 379/221, 379/243
• US Class Current: 379/221.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

A method and system for delivering information obtained from an information delivery service database with a location routing number obtained from a local number portability database. A communication is received from an originating user number and directed to an end user number, and a determination may be made as to whether the end user number is a portable number. If the end user number is portable, then the end user number is compared to a plurality of ported numbers in the local number portability database for a match to one of the plurality of ported numbers. If the end user number matches one of the plurality of ported numbers in the local number portability database, then a location routing number is obtained corresponding to one of the ported numbers. In addition, information corresponding to the originating user number is obtained from the information delivery service database. Next, a signaling message is populated with the information. Finally, the signaling message with respect to the routing of the communication based on the location routing number is transmitted. The signaling message includes the information obtained from the information delivery service database. The information may comprise an originating user number, a name, or a combination of the originating user number and the name. Therefore, the task of obtaining the information corresponding to the originating user number from the information delivery service database may further comprise obtaining the originating user number and name.

Claims

1. In an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and with respect to receiving an incoming call at an origination switch, a method for delivering, to a destination switch, information obtained from an information delivery service database with a location routing number obtained from a local number portability database, the information delivery service database and the local number portability database located remotely from the origination switch, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, at the origination switch, the incoming call from an originating user number and directed to an end user number, the end user number having a portable NPA-NXX;

(b) at the origination switch, provisioning a trigger with respect to the portable NPA-NXX;

(c) in response to the trigger,

i. sending a query to the remote local number portability database,

ii. obtaining a location routing number corresponding to the end user number from the remote local number portability database,

iii. consulting the remote information delivery service database, and

iv. obtaining a name corresponding to the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

(d) populating alpha-numeric fields in a signaling message with the location routing number corresponding to the end user number and the name corresponding to the originating user number; and

(e) based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the name in the signaling message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in response to consulting the remote information delivery service database, obtaining the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

populating the alpha-numeric fields in the signaling message with the originating user number; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the originating user number in the signaling message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in response to consulting the remote information delivery service database, obtaining the zip code corresponding to the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

populating the alpha-numeric fields in the signaling message with the zip code; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the zip code in the signaling message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in response to consulting the remote information delivery service database, obtaining the social security number corresponding to the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

populating the alpha-numeric fields in the signaling message with the social security number; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the social security number in the signaling message.

5. In an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and with respect to an incoming call received at an origination switch, a method for delivering, to a destination switch, information obtained from an information delivery service database in a local number portability environment, the information delivery service database located remotely from the origination switch, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, at the origination switch, the incoming call from an originating user number and directed to an end user number;

(b) at the origination switch, determining whether the end user number is portable;

(c) if the end user number is portable, then obtaining a location routing number corresponding to the end user number from a local number portability database located remotely from the origination switch;

(d) determining whether the location routing number is associated with a destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with a specific service feature;

(e) if the location routing number is associated with the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, then obtaining the originating user information associated with the specific service feature from the remote information delivery service database;

(f) at the origination switch, populating the originating user information associated with the specific service feature and the location routing number corresponding to the end user number in a signaling message; and

(g) based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, the signaling message including the originating user information associated with the specific service feature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (e) through step (g) comprise the steps of:

if the location routing number is associated with the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, then obtaining an originating user name from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating the originating user name and the location routing number corresponding to the end user number in a signaling message; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, the signaling message including the originating user name.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (e) through step (g) comprise the steps of:

if the location routing number is associated with the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, then obtaining an originating user name and the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating the originating user name, the originating user number, and the location routing number corresponding to the end user number in a signaling message; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, the signaling message including the originating user name and the originating user number.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein steps (e) through step (g) comprise the steps of:

if the location routing number is associated with the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, then obtaining an originating user zip code from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating the originating user zip code and the location routing number corresponding to the end user number in a signaling message; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, the signaling message including the originating user zip code.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein steps (e) through step (g) comprise the steps of:

if the location routing number is associated with the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, then obtaining an originating user name and an originating user social security number from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating the originating user name, the originating user social security number, and the location routing number corresponding to the end user number in a signaling message; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch designated to receive originating user information associated with the specific service feature, the signaling message including the originating user name and the originating user social security number.

10. In an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and with respect to an incoming call received at a first switch, a system for delivering, to a second switch, information obtained from an information delivery service database in a local number portability environment, the information delivery service database located remotely from the first switch, comprising:

a first switch operative to receive the incoming call from an originating user number and directed to an end user number and operative to determine whether the end user number is portable;

a local number portability database remotely connected to the first switch, the local number portability database being operative to compare the end user number to a plurality of ported numbers for a match to one of the plurality of ported numbers, and if the end user number matches the one of the plurality of ported numbers, then the local number portability database being further operative to obtain a location routing number identifying a second switch and corresponding to the one of the ported numbers;

an information delivery service database located remotely from the first switch and functionally connected through an interface between the local number portability database and the information delivery service database;

the local number portability database being further operative to obtain a name corresponding to the originating user number from the information delivery service database;

the local number portability database being further operative to provide the location routing number identifying the second switch and the name corresponding to the originating user number to the first switch; and

the first switch being further operative to populate the location routing number identifying the second switch and the name corresponding to the originating user number in a signaling message, and based on the location routing number identifying the second switch, to transmit the name corresponding to the originating user number in the signaling message to the second switch for completing the incoming call.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising the second switch being operative to transmit the name corresponding to the originating user number to an end user station associated with the end user number.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

(a) the local number portability database being further operative to;

i. obtain a social security number corresponding to the originating user number from the information delivery service database, and

ii. provide the social security number corresponding to the originating user number to the first switch; and

(b) the first switch being further operative to;

i. populate the social security number corresponding to the originating user number in the signaling message, and

ii. based on the location routing number identifying the second switch, transmit the social security number corresponding to the originating user number in the signaling message to the second switch.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

(a) the local number portability database being further operative to;

i. obtain the originating user number from the information delivery service database, and

ii. provide the originating user number to the first switch; and

(b) the first switch being further operative to;

i. populate the originating user number in the signaling message, and

ii. based on the location routing number identifying the second switch, transmit the originating user number in the signaling message to the second switch.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

(a) the local number portability database being further operative to;

i. obtain a zip code corresponding to the originating user number from the information delivery service database, and

ii. provide the zip code corresponding to the originating user number to the first switch; and

(b) the first switch being further operative to;

i. populate the zip code corresponding to the originating user number in the signaling message, and

ii. based on the location routing number identifying the second switch, transmit the zip code corresponding to the originating user number in the signaling message to the second switch.

15. In an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and with respect to receiving an incoming call at an origination switch, a method for delivering, to a destination switch, information pertaining to a service feature obtained from an information delivery service database with a location routing number obtained from a local number portability database, the information delivery service database and the local number portability database located remotely from the origination switch, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, at the origination switch, the incoming call from an originating user number and directed to an end user number, the end user number having a portable NPA-NXX;

(b) at the origination switch, provisioning a trigger with respect to the portable NPA-NXX;

(c) in response to the trigger,

i. sending a query to the remote local number portability database,

ii. obtaining a location routing number corresponding to the end user number from the remote local number portability database,

iii. determining whether the service feature is associated with the location routing number, and

iv. if the service feature is associated with the location routing number, then consulting the remote information delivery service database, and obtaining originating user information pertaining to the service feature from the remote information delivery service database;

(d) at the origination switch, populating alpha-numeric fields located in a signaling message with the location routing number and the originating user information pertaining to the service feature; and

(e) based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the signaling message including the originating user information pertaining to the service feature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein steps (c) iv through step (e) comprise the steps of:

if the service feature is associated with the location routing number associated with the specific service feature, then consulting the remote information delivery service database, and obtaining an originating user name from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating alpha-numeric fields located in the signaling message with the location routing number and the originating user name; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the signaling message including the originating user name.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein steps (c) iv through step (e) comprise the steps of:

if the service feature is associated with the location routing number associated with the specific service feature, then consulting the remote information delivery service database, and obtaining an originating user name and the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating alpha-numeric fields located in the signaling message with the location routing number, the originating user name, and the originating user number; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the signaling message including the originating user name and the originating user number.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein steps (c) iv through step (e) comprise the steps of:

if the service feature is associated with the location routing number associated with the specific service feature, then consulting the remote information delivery service database, and obtaining a zip code corresponding to the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating alpha-numeric fields located in the signaling message with the location routing number and the zip code corresponding to the originating user number; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the signaling message including the zip code corresponding to the originating user number.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein steps (c) iv through step (e) comprise the steps of:

if the service feature is associated with the location routing number associated with the specific service feature, then consulting the remote information delivery service database, and obtaining a social security number corresponding to the originating user number from the remote information delivery service database;

at the origination switch, populating alpha-numeric fields located in the signaling message with the location routing number and the social security number corresponding to the originating user number; and

based on the location routing number, transmitting, from the origination switch to the destination switch, the signaling message including the social security number corresponding to the originating user number.