Method for routing a call

US6009160A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Edward Sonnenberg · Coral Springs, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 1997
• Grant date: Dec 28, 1999
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M3/42297
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical 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 a 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 route…