US5883950A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method having a distributed external database
Assignee: Siemens Communications Inc
•
Filing: 1997-07-21
•
Granted: 1999-03-16
•
Expires: 2017-07-21
Abstract
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 the call. Thus, each one of the Subscribers of each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers is assigned a common SPA code, each one of the Local Service Providers having a different SPA code.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Sonnenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/64; H04Q3/66; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/005; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04M3/42297; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13107; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13149; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/13296; H04Q2213/13345; H04Q2213/13405; H04Q2213/13513; H04Q2213/13527; H04Q2213/13533; H04Q2213/13541; H04Q2213/13542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A system used in routing a call to a called subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider in a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) and having changed to a different Local Service Provider within the Numbering Plan Area, such system comprising: a plurality of databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs) and call routing identifiers, SPAs, used for routing calls to the called subscribers, where an SPA is associated with each directory number, where: SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code in each common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs); and, NXX is a three digit exchange code representative of a local exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A system used in routing a call to a called subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider in a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) and having changed to a different Local Service Provider within the Numbering Plan Area, such system comprising: a plurality of databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs) and call routing identifiers, SPAs, used for routing calls to the called subscribers, where an SPA is associated with each directory number, where: SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code in each common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs); and, NXX is a three digit exchange code representative of a local exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of databases is distributed among different local switches, all subscriber directory numbers having a common NPA-NXX being stored in one of the plurality of databases.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for routing a call to a called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA), comprising: (a) providing a plurality of databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called Subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), and call routing identifiers, SPAs, associated with the NXX-XXXX directory numbers, where: SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code in each common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs); and, NXX is a three digit exchange code representative of a local exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA); (b) retrieving from a corresponding one of the plurality of databases, an SPA call routing identifier associated with the directory number NXX-XXXX assigned to the called Subscriber, in response to a calling party dialing the directory number NXX-XXXX to place a call to the called subscriber; and (c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using the retrieved SPA call routing identifier prefixed to the last seven digits of the dialed number, SPA-NXX-XXXX.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for routing a call to a called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA), comprising: (a) providing a plurality of databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called Subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), and call routing identifiers, SPAs, associated with the NXX-XXXX directory numbers, where: SPA is a three digit designation code assigned to each one of a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), each one of the plurality of Local Service Providers being assigned a different Service Provider Area (SPA) code in each common one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs); and, NXX is a three digit exchange code representative of a local exchange area within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA); (b) retrieving from a corresponding one of the plurality of databases, an SPA call routing identifier associated with the directory number NXX-XXXX assigned to the called Subscriber, in response to a calling party dialing the directory number NXX-XXXX to place a call to the called subscriber; and (c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using the retrieved SPA call routing identifier prefixed to the last seven digits of the dialed number, SPA-NXX-XXXX.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method recited in claim 3 wherein the plurality of databases is distributed among different local switches, all Subscriber directory numbers having a common NPA-NXX being stored in one of the plurality of databases.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for routing a call to a called subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider in a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) and having changed to a different Local Service Provider within the Numbering Plan Area, such system comprising: a plurality of local switch internal databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called subscribers within a corresponding one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas and call routing identifiers associated with the directory numbers, used for routing calls to the called subscribers, wherein the call routing identifiers are assigned to the Local Service Providers; and, means for enabling the Local Service Providers to access the databases and retrieve a call routing identifier associated with the directory number, to route the call to the called subscriber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for routing a call to a called subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider in a Numbering Plan Area (NPA) and having changed to a different Local Service Provider within the Numbering Plan Area, such system comprising: a plurality of local switch internal databases, each one thereof storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called subscribers within a corresponding one of the plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas and call routing identifiers associated with the directory numbers, used for routing calls to the called subscribers, wherein the call routing identifiers are assigned to the Local Service Providers; and, means for enabling the Local Service Providers to access the databases and retrieve a call routing identifier associated with the directory number, to route the call to the called subscriber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system recited in claim 5 wherein all subscriber directory numbers having a common NPA-NXX are stored in one of the plurality of databases.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for routing a call to a called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA), comprising: (a) providing a plurality of local switch internal databases, each one thereof being accessible to at least one of the Local Service Providers and storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called Subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), and call routing identifiers, wherein the call routing identifiers are assigned to the Local Service Providers; (b) retrieving from a corresponding one of the plurality of databases, a call routing identifier associated with the directory number NXX-XXXX assigned to the called Subscriber, in response to a calling party dialing the directory number NXX-XXXX to place a call; and (c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using the retrieved call routing identifier.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for routing a call to a called Subscriber having been assigned a directory number NXX-XXXX by one Local Service Provider and having changed to a different Local Service Provider, both Local Service Providers providing service within a Numbering Plan Area (NPA), comprising: (a) providing a plurality of local switch internal databases, each one thereof being accessible to at least one of the Local Service Providers and storing relationships between NXX-XXXX directory numbers assigned to called Subscribers within a corresponding one of a plurality of different Numbering Plan Areas (NPAs), and call routing identifiers, wherein the call routing identifiers are assigned to the Local Service Providers; (b) retrieving from a corresponding one of the plurality of databases, a call routing identifier associated with the directory number NXX-XXXX assigned to the called Subscriber, in response to a calling party dialing the directory number NXX-XXXX to place a call; and (c) routing the call placed by the calling party to the called Subscriber using the retrieved call routing identifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method recited in claim 7 wherein all Subscriber directory numbers having a common NPA-NXX are stored in one of the plurality of databases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4162377A
Cited
US4191860A
Cited
US4348554A
Cited
US4442321A
Cited
US4577066A
Cited
US4565903A
Cited
US4555594A
Cited
US4611096A
Cited
US4754479A
Cited
US4827500A
Cited
US4751728A
Cited
US5270701A
Cited
US4964159A
Cited
US4866763A
Cited
US4924510A
Cited
US5023868A
Cited
US5033079A
Cited
US5452351A
Cited
US5440614A
Cited
US5142654A
Cited
US5243645A
Cited
US5255315A
Cited
US5333185A
Cited
US5237604A
Cited
US5222125A
Cited
US5311572A
Cited
US5259026A
Cited
US5206901A
Cited
US5375167A
Cited
US5247571A
Cited
US5422941A
Cited
US5333184A
Cited
US5329578A
Cited
US5386467A
Cited
US5509058A
Cited
US5341415A
Cited
US5553124A
Cited
US5651059A
Cited
US5473681A
Cited
US5550915A
Cited
US5553129A
Cited
US5377186A
Cited
US5481603A
Cited
US5491742A
Cited
US5416833A
Cited
US5454034A
Cited
US5473679A
Cited
US5563939A
Cited
US5475749A
Cited
US5550912A
Cited
US5515427A
Cited
US5550909A
Cited
US5661792A
Cited
US5717749A
Cited
US5550910A
Cited
US5559877A
Cited
US5570417A
Cited
US5640446A
Cited
US5598464A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |