WO2009155985A1

WO2009155985A1 - Number portability method and computer program product therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2009155985A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/058214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rajesh Agrawal
Original assignee: Alcatel Lucent
Priority date: 2008-06-26
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2009-12-30

Abstract

Number Porting method, comprising the steps of triggering the porting by an INVITE message from a media gateway controller MGC, finding out the terminating routing number and operator in a data base, receiving the 'trunk group code' from the gateway controller, checking whether the call is allowed from originating operator, if the terminating routing number is found and if the call is allowed, then generating a SIP 301 response message containing the values of routing number and national significant number, if the call is not allowed, then generating a 403 response.

Description

NUMBER PORTABILITY METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT THEREFOR

FI ELD OF TH E I NVENTION

The invention relates on number portability techniques.

Number portability (N P) is defined as the set of regulatory and technical measures that enable an end - user to retain the provision of a telephony- based service after some change to a service attribute such as: change of the user' s physical location , change of the type of service or change of the service provider.

The invention relates on the service provider aspect of portability, which refers to the ability of an end -user to retain his/ her number after changing to a different supplier for the same or similar service.

BACKG ROUN D OF TH E I NVENTION

N P with respect to service provider change can be subdivided into three main categories: fixed N P when the number can be moved between fixed operators, mobile (or wireless) N P when the number can be moved between mobile operators and fixed to mobile when a number that belongs to a fixed operator can be moved to a mobile operator thus becoming a mobile number (available in the US as of 2004) . Mobile N P may include local N P (changing mobile operators within the same metropolitan area only) and nation-wide N P (changing mobile operators irrespective of end- user location ) .

Various methods have been proposed for mobile N P, see for instance document EP 1855490 and US 2007/0042799. As disclosed in FR 2826817, for mobile N P, both signalling relay function MN P - SRF and intelligent network MN P- RI processes have been proposed . A presentation of the causes and effects of mobile number portability in Europe can be found in Buehler et al, Telecommunications Policy 30, 2006, pp. 685-399. A study of mobile number portability effects in the Unites States can be found in Shin, Telematics and Informatics 24, 2006, pp. 1 -4. The invention relates more particularly on fixed N P.

Current fixed telephone networks use numbering systems in which the subscriber' s Directory Number ( DN ) is directly related to the geographic and physical port location of the switching equipment from which the subscriber receives service. Fixed N P is sub-divided between geographic N P and non- geographic N P (for geographic and non-geographic numbers, respectively) . Finally geographic N P may concern the porting of geographic numbers within the same area only or porting of numbers irrespectively of area . I n this case, the notion of area concerns either a single local switching center or the area covered by a single telephone code spanning many local switching centers.

The invention relates on the porting of numbers irrespectively or area. More precisely, for the present invention , fixed number portability refers to the subscriber's ability to retain existing DNs when changing his permanent location , or service provider. To change DNs is extremely inconvenient for a subscriber and could be quite costly in terms of changes to a company' s letterhead, business cards, and advertising, resulting in lost business.

N P entered the European Union regulatory space with the introduction of the 97/ 33 / EC directive on interconnection in telecommunications (Official Journal L, 199, 0032-0052 ) . I n the 98 /61 / EC directive (Official Journal L, 268, 0037-0038) , a distinction was made between portability of geographic and non - geographic numbers in fixed networks. Following the adoption of the so-called " Framework Directive" 2002 /21 / EC (Official Journal L, 108, 0033-0050), NP is mentioned once more in the subsequent 2002/22/ EC directive (Official Journal L, 108, 0051- 0077) on universal service and end-user rights (Article 30). Under the new Framework, mobile NP became obligatory (par.1 , Article 30) and it was mandated that retail prices should not discourage end-users from porting their numbers (par.2, Article 30). The above directives oblige member states to instate NP within their respective markets. All member states have implemented NP (9th report on the implementation of the EU Electronic Communications Regulatory Package. 19/ 1 1 /2003) .

I n the majority of cases, N P for both mobile and fixed networks involves the following actors: a) the original owner network, in other words the network to which the number was originally allocated according to the national numbering plan ; b) the donor network, i . e. the network from which the number has been ported (coincides with the original owner when no porting has taken place) . If a number has been ported several times then many networks have been donor networks for that number; c) the recipient network, i . e. the network to which the number has been ported . This is also the network to which the call terminates, also known as the serving network.

There are several architectures for implementing fixed and mobile N P.

According to mutually dependent architecture (which is also known as onward routing), the original owner network, the donor network(s) and the recipient network are mutually responsible for the correct routing of a call to a ported number. I n order for such a call to be setup, signalling information has to traverse all the networks that have been donors for that number in order to reach the called party. I n this case, call set-up times are subject to a significant increase, and the call set- up procedure becomes more error-prone depending on the number of operators involved in setting up a call. The situation becomes even more complicated for calls originating on the fixed side of the network given the fact that most fixed networks in markets undergoing liberalization are not interconnected and instead use the services of a transit network instead .

According to another architecture, the originating network is responsible for routing the call. During the set- up of each call, the originating network determines the current routing information for the called number by querying a local database about routing info. The query returns a pair of identifiers denoting the called number' s serving network and the respective service network exchange (e. g. local, regional) . Every operator maintains such a database, which is updated from a central database on regular basis. The central database or National Reference DataBase for Portability (N RDBP) is administered either by an independent entity (a State body or the regulator) or by representatives of the telecom operators. The applicant has several experiences as provider for N P solutions to several operators worldwide. The N P services operated for instance on the Alcatel open service platform A8690 OSP. For example, in the North America, number portability is managed by Neustar which administrate the number porting process from current service provider to new service provider. The N P consists of SOA hierarchy of initiating number port change order and service management system hierarchy for auditing and updating the change.

SUMMARY OF THE I NVENTION In view of the above mentioned conventional systems and methods, it is one object of the present invention to provide a new en efficient NP solution.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a very simple and a cost-effective way of implementing Number Portability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a NP application that can be deployed over a generic service delivery platform in a NGN (Next Generation Network) environment. A first aspect of the present invention is a Number Porting method comprising the steps of

- triggering the porting by an INVITE message from a media gateway controller MGC,

- finding out the terminating routing number and operator in a data base,

- receiving the "trunk group code" from the gateway controller,

- checking whether the call is allowed from originating operator,

- if the terminating routing number is found and if the call is allowed, then generating a SI P 301 response message containing the values of routing number and national significant number,

- if the call is not allowed, then generating a 403 response.

A second object of the present invention is a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein, said control logic comprising: - first computer readable program code for finding out the terminating routing number and operator in a database, from an INVITE message,

- if the terminating routing number is found, generating a SI P 301 response message containing the values of routing number and national significant number,

- if the call is not allowed, generating a 403 response. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments, considered in conj unction with the accompanying drawings.

BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF TH E DRAWI NGS

Figure 1 is a diagram showing one possible N P technique. Figure 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a N P system according to the present invention

DESCRI PTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As presented in figure 1 , one of the ways to provide N P is to have a SI P (Session I nitiation Protocol) B2B UA, that would receive the invite message from MGC (Media Gateway Controller) . It would then do a database lookup and then send an I NVITE on its own to the correct destination . More precisely, referring to figure 1 , after reception of the invite message from MGC, an error during logic execution would imply a 404 response. If RN is found and if the call is not allowed, a 403 response would be send to the MGC. If RN is found and if the call is allowed, then an I NVITE "RN + NSN@domain" will be send to the MGC.

One of the drawback of this solution is that the IN (Intelligent Network) remains in call context. Moreover, a lot more messages are handled at the IN level. This increases the load on the server.

As presented in figure 2, according to the present invention, a number portability service is triggered by the MGC based on SIP protocol and acts in a SIP redirect server mode. More precisely, the service is triggered by I NVITE from MGC.

Service does the database lookups to find out the terminating routing number and operator. The service receives the trunk group code from INVITE message from MGC, and find originating operator.

If the originating operator is not found in the database, the service tries to get the originator from the calling party or diverting party if present.

The service also checks if the call is allowed from originating operator.

If the terminating RN is found and the call is allowed, then a SI P 301 response message is generated. This response message contains the value RN + NSN in the contact header.

If the call is not allowed, then a 403 response is generated.

In case of an error, a 404 response is generated.

The system according to the present invention has many advantages. First of all, the hardware software requirements are cost effective, e. g. a softswicth (5020 MGC) and a SUN T2000 platform . Thus, operators can provide Number Portability in a hassle free way.

Moreover, the application can be deployed as IN service causing a minimal impact on the existing network.

As the application behaves in a SI P redirect server mode, it does not remain in the call context for the entire duration of the call. This reduces the load on the IN by a significant amount

The system can be deployed as a separate service or this functionality can be added to an existing IN service.

Claims

1 . Number Porting method, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - triggering the porting by an INVITE message from a media gateway controller MGC,

- finding out the terminating routing number and operator in a data base,

- receiving the "trunk group code" from the gateway controller, - checking whether the call is allowed from originating operator,

- if the call is not allowed, then generating a 403 response.

2. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein, said control logic comprising:

- first computer readable program code for finding out the terminating routing number and operator in a database, from an

INVITE message,

- if the terminating routing number is found, generating a SI P 301 response message containing the values of routing number and national significant number, - if the call is not allowed, generating a 403 response.