Number Portability Determination in Variable Numbering Plan

A system configured for determining if a telephony network number is ported, comprising:

• a first network node configured to receive a number message comprising at least a first part of a dialed number identifying a called party;
• and
• a number portability database, containing routing numbers associated with entries in the database;
• the first network node being configured to compare the number message with entries in the database, and the first network node being configured such that:
• if the number message or a first part of the number message uniquely matches with the whole of an entry in the database and does not match with part of another entry in the database, the first network node determines that a best match has been found and routes a call to a second network node identified by the routing number associated with said entry,
• if the number message matches with at least part of at least one entry in the database, the first network node determines that at least one partial match has been found, retrieves a further part of the dialed number and repeats said comparison based on a new number message comprising said first part of the dialed number and said further part of the dialed number, and
• if at least a first part of the number message cannot be matched to the whole of any entry in the database, the first network node determines that no match has been found and routes a call to a second network node identified by the dialed number.

A method of determining if a telephony network number is ported, comprising:

• receiving, in a first network node, a number message comprising at least a first part of a dialed number identifying a called party;
• comparing the number message with entries in a number portability database, the database containing routing numbers associated with the entries;
• if the number message or a first part of the number message uniquely matches with the whole of an entry in the database and does not match with part of another entry in the database, determining that a best match has been found and routing a call to a second network node identified by the routing number associated with said entry;
• if the number message matches with at least part of at least one entry in the database, determining that at least one partial match has been found, retrieving a further part of the dialed number and repeating said comparing based on a new number message comprising said first part of the dialed number and said further part of the dialed number;
• and
• if at least a first part of the number message cannot be matched to the whole of any entry in the database, determining that no match has been found and routing a call to a second network node identified by the dialed number.

A method for use in a network node of determining if a telephony network number is ported, comprising:

• receiving a number message comprising at least a first part of a dialed number identifying a called party;
• comparing the number message with entries in a number portability database, the database containing routing numbers associated with the entries;
• if the number message or a first part of the number message uniquely matches with the whole of an entry in the database and does not match with part of another entry in the database, determining that a best match has been found and routing a call based on the routing number associated with said entry;
• if the number message matches with at least part of at least one entry in the database, determining that at least one partial match has been found, retrieving a further part of the dialed number and repeating said comparing based on a new number message comprising said first part of the dialed number and said further part of the dialed number;
• and
• if at least a first part of the number message cannot be matched to the whole of any entry in the database, determining that no match has been found and routing a call based on the dialed number.

A network node configured for determining if a telephony network number is ported, comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for receiving a number message comprising at least a first part of a dialed number identifying a called party;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• compare the number message with entries in a number portability database, the database containing routing numbers associated with the entries;
• if the number message or a first part of the number message uniquely matches with the whole of an entry in the database and does not match with part of another entry in the database, determine that a best match has been found and route a call based on the routing number associated with said entry;
• if the number message matches with at least part of at least one entry in the database, determine that at least one partial match has been found, retrieve a further part of the dialed number and repeat said comparing based on a new number message comprising said first part of the dialed number and said further part of the dialed number;
• and
• if at least a first part of the number message cannot be matched to the whole of any entry in the database, determine that no match has been found and route a call based on the dialed number.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program containing computer instructions that, when executed on processing circuitry of a network node, cause the network node to:

• receive a number message comprising at least a first part of a dialed number identifying a called party;
• compare the number message with entries in a number portability database, the database containing routing numbers associated with the entries;
• if the number message or a first part of the number message uniquely matches with the whole of an entry in the database and does not match with part of another entry in the database, determine that a best match has been found and route a call based on the routing number associated with said entry;
• if the number message matches with at least part of at least one entry in the database, determine that at least one partial match has been found retrieve a further part of the dialed number;
• and repeat said comparison based on a new number message comprising said first part of the dialed number and said further part of the dialed number;
• and
• if at least a first part of the number message cannot be matched to the whole of any entry in the database, determine that no match has been found and route a call based on the dialed number.