Methods and systems for routing messages associated with ported subscribers in a mobile communications network

A signal transfer point for routing messages between nodes in mobile communications network, the signal transfer point comprising:

• (a) a communication module in the signal transfer point for receiving a message relating to a call in a mobile communications network, the message including a called party identifier formerly associated with a subscriber record in a first HLR in a first service provider's network;
• (b) a first database located in the signal transfer point containing entries corresponding to called party identifiers, the entries each including information as to whether mobile number portability processing is required for call signaling messages and information as to whether the called party is a ported in subscriber;
• and
• (c) a database controller in the signal transfer point for determining, based on the information in the first database, whether mobile number portability processing is required for the message and whether the called party is a ported in subscriber, and, in response to determining that mobile number portability processing is required for the first message and that the called party is a ported in subscriber, relaying the message to a second HLR in a second service provider's network into which the subscriber has been ported, wherein the communication module includes a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP)—capable data communication module (DCM) for sending and receiving SS7 messages over an IP network.

A routing node for processing messages in mobile communications network, the routing node comprising:

• (a) a communication module for receiving a first message destined for a mobile services node and relating to a call in a mobile communications network, the first message including a called party identifier;
• (b) a first database containing entries corresponding to called party identifiers, the entries each including information as to whether number portability processing is required for call signaling messages and information as to whether a reply is required for the call signaling messages;
• and
• (c) a database controller for determining, based on the information in the first database, whether number portability processing is required for the first message, and, in response to determining that number portability processing is required for the first message, determining whether a reply is required for the first message, and in response to determining that a reply is required for the first message, formulating the reply, wherein first database comprises an exception-based database and each entry in the exception-based database is an exception to a set of default routing rules, and wherein the routing node further comprises a range-based database containing entries corresponding to ranges of called party identifiers, wherein each entry in the exception-based database contains a called party identifier or range of called party identifiers that do not fall within any of the called party identifier ranges in the range-based database, and wherein the database controller searches the exception-based database, and, in response to failing to locate an entry in the exception-based database, searches the range-based database.

A method for routing short message service messages directed to ported mobile subscribers, the method comprising:

• at a signaling message routing node capable of routing signaling messages between nodes in a mobile communications network:
• (a) receiving, from a mobile switching center, a short message service message including a receiving party identifier associated with a receiving party who has been ported out of a first service provider's network;
• (b) determining whether mobile number portability processing is required for the short message service message;
• (c) in response to determining that mobile number portability processing is required for the short message service message, performing a lookup in a mobile number portability database located in the signaling message routing node to determine routing information for the short message service message;
• and
• (d) relaying the short message service message to a second mobile switching center in a second service provider's network to which the receiving party has been ported based on the routing information, wherein performing steps (a)-(d) at a signaling message routing node includes performing steps (a)-(d) at a signal transfer point.