Method for providing location/geographic portability in a system having different service providers within a common numbering plan area
US5970131A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13547
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA) to serve Subscribers of the plurality of Local Service Providers. The method includes the step of assigning to each Subscriber of a Local Service Provider within the common NPA a unique three digit code, hereinafter referred to as an SPA code. The service provider area (SPA) code is used by the telephone system in the same manner presently used for routing calls made when a calling Subscriber dials the NPA code of the called party. Here, however, the SPA code is not dialed by the calling Subscriber. The dialed directory number, NXX-XXXX, of a called Subscriber subscribed to a different Local Service Provider, is sent to a database. The database maintains a record of the relationships between the directory numbers of Subscribers and the SPA codes of the Subscribers. The database retrieves the SPA code associated with the dialed directory number presently serving the called Subscriber. The call is routed as SPA-NXX-XXXX. Because the ten digit format, SPA-NXX-XXXX, is the same as the present NPA-NXX-XXXX, ten digit format, existing signaling and routing mechanisms may be used to rout…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.