Abstract:
An approach for processing a call over a telecommunications system is disclosed. A call processor (e.g., a Service Control Point (SCP)) communicates with a switch to provide an alternative route for a call, received by the switch, that is determined to be a local portability number (LNP). A database coupled to the call processor stores the alternative routes associated with the LNP call; at least one of the alternative routes specifies a route that bypasses a local exchange network capable of terminating the call, whereby local access charges are avoided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a communications system, and is more particularly related to routing of calls.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Among the many types of telecommunication services, a common carrier (e.g., interexchange carrier) can supply toll services (i.e., “long distance” services), whereby a call is transported over the network of the carrier generally from one Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) to another. Currently, most Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) type phone calls traversing the carrier&#39;s long-distance network are terminated via a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC), such as the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), or other local exchange carriers (CLECs) in the United States or abroad. These Local Exchange Carriers terminate the calls transported by the carriers. For use or access to their networks, the LECs charge termination access fees (i.e., egress charge). Given the volume of the calls carried by the long distance carriers, these access fees constitute a significant expense for these carriers. The intense competition among common carriers provides a continual drive to seek more cost effective approaches to providing telecommunication services.  
         [0003]     As mandated by law (Telecommunications Act of 1996), Local Number Portability (LNP) has been introduced to further open up competition in the common carrier market. LNP is the ability of users of telecommunications services to retain, at the same location, existing telecommunications numbers without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when switching from one telecommunications carrier to another. Conventionally, LNP calls are processed using Local Routing Numbers (LRNs). LNP and LRNs are supervised by the Number Portability Administration Center under the auspices of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). When a customer changes their local service provider, the Number Portability Administration Center assigns a new LRN to the telephone number that is being ported. The new LRN is obtained by the common carrier when a call is placed to the ported number to properly route the call. During processing of a LNP call, the LRN associated with the customer is obtained using a Service Control Point (SCP) to properly route the call over the network of the new local service provider. Thus, if the customer changes to yet another local exchange carrier, only the LRN changes. LNP processing in this manner is industry mandated.  
         [0004]     Given the traditional approach for supporting LNP, local access fees are incurred by a long distance service provider (or interexchange carrier) when the calls are terminated to the LECs. That is, terminating Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) calls within a LEC network entails a charge to the long distance service provider. These access charges represent the single largest expense for the interexchange carrier, and have a direct impact on profitability. Moreover, the customers pay for circuits to the LECs, depending on the amount of incoming traffic received from the particular LEC.  
         [0005]     Therefore, there is a need for an approach to provide alternate terminations of PSTN type calls to more efficiently utilize the resources of the network, while reducing operational costs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     These and other needs are addressed by the present invention in which an approach is provided for directly terminating local portability number (LNP) calls. It is recognized that many carrier networks support direct termination of calls to their customers using Dedicated Access Lines (DALs). However, only a fraction of the traffic originating from DALs terminate down DALs, in that a dial plan needs to be set up for the call originator. Further, conventionally, there exists no mechanism for routing Local Number Portability (LNP) calls, which constitute a large volume of calls placed by customers, using these DAL services; this is so because LNP to DAL translation does not exist. It is recognized that service providers (e.g., interexchange carriers) conventionally utilize standardized Local Routing Number (LRN) processing to route LNP calls, which strictly terminate over a local exchange carrier (LEC) network. Rather than route traffic through the LEC, an approach is provided to utilize a call processor (e.g., service control point (SCP)) for performing LNP translations to direct a switch to route such calls directly from the switch to the termination—for customers that have direct access to the interexchange carrier (“long-distance”) network. If the direct termination (e.g., Dedicated Access Line (DAL), a wireless communication channel, an Internet Protocol (IP) connection—e.g., a Voice over IP session, or a cable communication channel) is unavailable, then the call processor can instruct the switch to perform overflow routing of the call to the LEC, as is the result of the standard LRN processing. It is noted that the alternative routes can be iteratively attempted, resulting in the overflow route to the LEC if these alternative routes are unavailable. The above approach advantageously reduces or eliminates local access fees. Also, the number of circuits to the LEC could be reduced if more of the traffic were routed from the long-distance switch directly to the customer, resulting in cost savings for the customer and greater efficiency for the service provider. In addition, the network can better utilize the existing DALs.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query from a switch for an instruction for terminating the call. The method also includes determining whether the call is a local portability number (LNP) call. The method further includes, if the call is a LNP call, selectively instructing, in response to the query, the switch to terminate the call without incurring a local access charge for the call assessable by a local carrier capable of terminating the call.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for processing a call is disclosed. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions include instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of receiving a query from a switch for an instruction for terminating the call. Another step includes determining whether the call is a local portability number (LNP) call. A further step includes, if the call is a LNP call, selectively instructing, in response to the query, the switch to terminate the call without incurring a local access charge for the call assessable by a local carrier capable of terminating the call.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the present invention, a method for routing a call over an interexchange carrier network is disclosed. The method includes receiving the call destined for a station directly reachable by the interexchange carrier network. The method also includes transmitting a query to a call processor configured to provide service intelligence relating to the call, the query requesting information for routing the call to the station, wherein the call processor determines that the call is a local portability number (LNP) call. Further, the method includes receiving a response to the query from the call processor, the response containing the routing information for selectively bypassing a local exchange carrier network serving the station.  
         [0010]     In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for routing a call over an interexchange carrier network is disclosed. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions include instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of receiving the call destined for a station directly reachable by the interexchange carrier network. Another step includes transmitting a query to a call processor configured to provide service intelligence relating to the call, the query requesting information for routing the call to the station, wherein the call processor determines that the call is a local portability number (LNP) call. A further step includes receiving a response to the query from the call processor, the response containing the routing information for selectively bypassing a local exchange carrier network serving the station.  
         [0011]     In another aspect of the present invention, a system for call processing is disclosed. The system includes a call processor communicating with a switch and being configured to provide an alternative route for a call, received by the switch, that is determined to be a local portability number (LNP). The system also includes a database coupled to the call processor for storing the alternative route among a plurality of alternative routes associated with the LNP call, the alternative route specifying bypass of a local exchange network capable of terminating the call.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the present invention, a system for processing a call is disclosed. The system includes means for communicating with a switch and being configured to provide an alternative route for a call, received by the switch, that is determined to be a local portability number (LNP). The system also includes means for storing the alternative route among a plurality of alternative routes associated with the LNP call, the alternative route specifying bypass of a local exchange network capable of terminating the call.  
         [0013]     Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a communication system capable of providing alternate routing of calls via a Service Control Point (SCP), according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a process for terminating local number portability (LNP) calls using alternate routes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a process for overflow routing of LNP calls, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a computer system that can be used to implement an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     A system, method, and software for routing a Local Number Portability (LNP) call over an interexchange carrier network to minimize access charges assessable by local exchange carriers are described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.  
         [0020]     In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.  
         [0021]     Although the present invention is explained with respect to Dedicated Access Lines as a termination method, other direct termination methods (e.g., wireless, Voice over IP (Internet Protocol), cable, etc.) can be employed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a communication system capable of providing alternate routing of calls via a Service Control Point (SCP), according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the purposes of explanation, the present invention is described in the context of toll (or long distance) services. In an exemplary embodiment, an interexchange carrier network  100  is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN), which is an open standard architecture that separates signaling traffic from call traffic. This decoupling provides great flexibility in terms of equipment deployment and service development. Developed by Bell Communications Research, the AIN standards and concepts have also been adopted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in a form referred to as Capability Set  1  (CS-1), for example.  
         [0023]     The interexchange carrier network  100 , in an exemplary embodiment, includes a long distance ( 1 D) switch  101  for receiving calls originating directly from a telephone system or station  103  or through a local switch  105  by the telephone station  103 . The network  100  also includes a Service Control Point (SCP)  107  in communication with the LD switch  101  for providing routing instructions for calls received by the LD switch  101 ; the signaling between the SCP  107  and the LD switch  101  conforms, for example, with the Signaling System 7 (SS7) or other protocols such as Application Data Field (ADF), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and X.25. The SCP  107  may support other services, such toll-free services, card services, private dialing, and etc. As the service logic, the SCP  107  provides translation and routing functions.  
         [0024]     In this example, LD switch  109  is an egress switch, which accesses a local switch  111  of a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) network  113 . The LD switch  109  of the interexchange carrier can terminate directly via a communication path  117  to a station  115  or via the LEC  113 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the path  117  represents a private tie trunk or switch and trunk termination, such as a Dedicated Access Line (DAL). Alternatively, the path  117  can be implemented as a wireless communication channel, an Internet Protocol (IP) connection (e.g., a VoIP session), or a communication channel supported by a cable network, or other communication mechanisms.  
         [0025]     It is noted that the station  115  can be behind a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) (not shown). Although the station  115  is shown as an individual telephone station, it is contemplated that the station  115  can be any telephony capable device (e.g., VoIP computer or device).  
         [0026]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the network  100  provides alternate terminations as a part of SCP processing of the industry mandated LNP, to terminate calls in the most efficient/least cost manner, using dedicated access links, as well as other forms of termination processing.  
         [0027]     The SCP  107 , in an exemplary embodiment, employs LNP processing to return alternate terminations other than an LRN. Theses alternate terminations, which are stored within a database of the SCP  107 , can be used to bypass the LEC  113  to avoid termination access fees, or be used for other purposes. If the alternate routing fails, the use of overflow (Network Call Redirect) to route traffic via DDD/PSTN using standard LRN.  
         [0028]     Because the SCP  107  largely directs the switch  101  to terminate more calls down DALs  117  (except in the case of overflow processing, as discussed in  FIG. 3  below), access charge fees for the interexchange carrier of the network  100  are minimized.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a process for terminating local number portability (LNP) calls using alternate routes, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step  201 , the LD switch  101  receives a call from the station  103  over a DAL, through the local switch  105 , or other access methods. The LD switch  101 , as in step  203 , sends the call to the SCP  107  for LNP processing. In step  205 , the SCP  107  recognizes the destination number in its database, which stores alternate routes, such as direct termination to the destination station  115 . In response to the query from the switch  101 , the SCP  107  sends routing instructions to the switch  101  on how to terminate the call (per step  207 ). The LD switch  101  then routes the call to the destination (or egress) switch  109 , according to the specified routing method, as in step  209 . In step  211 , the call is routed according to the selected direct access method (e.g., DAL) designated by the SCP  107  to reach the station  115 . Next, the LD switch  101  determines whether the termination method is successful—e.g., the DAL is available, per step  213 . If the termination is successful, then the call is completed. However, if the call cannot be terminated (e.g., DAL is busy), then the LD switch  101  returns to the SCP  107  for overflow instructions (as in step  215 ). The overflow routing process is detailed below with respect to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a process for overflow routing of LNP calls, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step  301 , the SCP  107  returns instructions to route to another destination or to route the call as traditionally performed for LNP. That is, the SCP  107  checks for LRN to route the call to the LEC network  113  via the local switch  111 . In step  303 , the call is routed to the destination (or egress) switch  109 , which forwards the call to the local switch  111  of the LEC network  113  (per step  305 ). Finally, the call is routed to the destination station  115 , per step  307 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a computer system  400  upon which an embodiment according to the present invention can be implemented. The computer system  400  includes a bus  401  or other communication mechanism for communicating information and a processor  403  coupled to the bus  401  for processing information. The computer system  400  also includes main memory  405 , such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus  401  for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor  403 . Main memory  405  can also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor  403 . The computer system  400  may further include a read only memory (ROM)  407  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  401  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  403 . A storage device  409 , such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is coupled to the bus  401  for persistently storing information and instructions.  
         [0032]     The computer system  400  may be coupled via the bus  401  to a display  411 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display, active matrix display, or plasma display, for displaying information to a computer user. An input device  413 , such as a keyboard including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus  401  for communicating information and command selections to the processor  403 . Another type of user input device is a cursor control  415 , such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys, for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor  403  and for controlling cursor movement on the display  411 .  
         [0033]     According to one embodiment of the invention, the processes of  FIGS. 2 and 3  are provided by the computer system  400  in response to the processor  403  executing an arrangement of instructions contained in main memory  405 . Such instructions can be read into main memory  405  from another computer-readable medium, such as the storage device  409 . Execution of the arrangement of instructions contained in main memory  405  causes the processor  403  to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the instructions contained in main memory  405 . In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the embodiment of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.  
         [0034]     The computer system  400  also includes a communication interface  417  coupled to bus  401 . The communication interface  417  provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link  419  connected to a local network  421 . For example, the communication interface  417  may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, a telephone modem, or any other communication interface to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of communication line. As another example, communication interface  417  may be a local area network (LAN) card (e.g. for Ethernet™ or an Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) network) to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links can also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface  417  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Further, the communication interface  417  can include peripheral interface devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) interface, etc. Although a single communication interface  417  is depicted in  FIG. 4 , multiple communication interfaces can also be employed.  
         [0035]     The network link  419  typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, the network link  419  may provide a connection through local network  421  to a host computer  423 , which has connectivity to a network  425  (e.g. a wide area network (WAN) or the global packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet”) or to data equipment operated by a service provider. The local network  421  and network  425  both use electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals to convey information and instructions. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link  419  and through communication interface  417 , which communicate digital data with computer system  400 , are exemplary forms of carrier waves bearing the information and instructions.  
         [0036]     The computer system  400  can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link  419 , and communication interface  417 . In the Internet example, a server (not shown) might transmit requested code belonging an application program for implementing an embodiment of the present invention through the network  425 , local network  421  and communication interface  417 . The processor  403  may execute the transmitted code while being received and/or store the code in storage device  49 , or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer system  400  may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.  
         [0037]     The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to the processor  403  for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device  409 . Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as main memory  405 . Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus  401 . Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic, optical, or electromagnetic waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read.  
         [0038]     Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in providing instructions to a processor for execution. For example, the instructions for carrying out at least part of the present invention may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. In such a scenario, the remote computer loads the instructions into main memory and sends the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem of a local computer system receives the data on the telephone line and uses an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal and transmit the infrared signal to a portable computing device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop. An infrared detector on the portable computing device receives the information and instructions borne by the infrared signal and places the data on a bus. The bus conveys the data to main memory, from which a processor retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory can optionally be stored on storage device either before or after execution by processor.  
         [0039]     Accordingly, the present invention provides an approach for directly terminating LNP calls to facilities operated by an interexchange carrier using a Service Control Point (SCP), thereby advantageously better utilizing the interexchange carrier network and reducing local access fees. The SCP provides numerous alternative routes other than termination at a local exchange carrier network; these alternative routes can include DALs, wireless connections, cable connections, etc. The above approach advantageously enhances network efficiency, while reducing operational costs.  
         [0040]     While the present invention has been described in connection with a number of embodiments and implementations, the present invention is not so limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims.