Methods and apparatus for local number portability in telecommunication systems

Apparatus for telecommunication call processing comprising:

• a local number portability switch;
• and
• a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch including means responsive to initiation of a call to a portable geographic number for querying said local number portability database using the portable geographic number, said portable geographic number representing a subscriber number that is portable to different geographic locations, said local number portability database comprising a global database configured to selectively translate said portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number or service provider identifier (ID) for completing the call to a called station identified by the portable geographic number, and means for returning the corresponding routing number or service provider ID to the local number portability switch, said local number portability switch including means responsive to the corresponding routing number or service provider ID for routing the call to the called station independent of geographic location of the called station.

A method for telecommunication call processing, comprising:

• a) providing a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch, said local number portability database comprising a global database configured to selectively translate a portable geographic number to a corresponding routing number or service provider identifier (ID) for completing a call to a called station identified by the portable geographic number;
• and
• b) in response to initiation of a call to the portable geographic number, said local number portability switch using the portable geographic number to obtain routing information from the local number portability database and routing the call to the called station using the routing information.