Method and apparatus for resolving an entity identifier into an internet address using a domain name system (DNS) server and an entity identifier portability database

A method for determining an Internet address corresponding to a entity with which a communication session is to be established, comprising:

• entering at a mobile node a telephone number of the entity;
• the mobile node converting the telephone number into a telephone number (ENUM) query;
• the mobile node sending the ENUM query over a radio interface to be provided to a first server requesting resolution of the telephone number to a corresponding Internet address;
• the first server analyzing the message, accessing a telephone number portability database, and retrieving therefrom a network identifier for a network associated with the entity;
• the first server then sending the message to a second server associated with the identified network requesting resolution of the telephone number to return corresponding Internet address information;
• and
• the second server providing the corresponding Internet information to the first server.

A server for assisting in determining an Internet address for an entity in response to a request that an identifier associated with the entity be resolved into an Internet address corresponding to the entity, comprising:

• a resolution processor for handling the request;
• a memory, coupled to the resolution processor, for storing information related to resolving an identifier into an Internet address;
• and
• an identifier portability controller for consulting an entity identifier portability database with the identifier and obtaining from the entity identifier portability database a network identifier corresponding to a network operator associated with the entity,
• wherein the resolution processor is configured to use the network identifier in a process of resolving the identifier into the corresponding Internet address.

A computer-readable product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein including:
• code to receive an identifier associated with an entity to be contacted over the Internet and a request that the identifier be resolved into an Internet address corresponding to the entity;
• code to consult an entity identifier portability database with the identifier;
• code to obtain from the entity identifier portability database a network identifier corresponding to network operator associated with the entity;
• and
• code to provide the network identifier for use in resolving the identifier into the corresponding Internet address.

A system for resolving a telephone number corresponding to a called entity into an Internet address, comprising:

• user equipment for generating a message including the telephone number;
• a first domain naming system (DNS) server for receiving the message and for generating a database query using the telephone number;
• and
• a telephone number portability database for receiving the database query and for providing to the DNS server information regarding the telephone number,
• wherein the first DNS server is configured to use the information to facilitate resolution of the telephone number into a corresponding Internet address.

A method for determining a type of DNS query for an entity resolution process, comprising:

• receiving an identifier corresponding to an entity in a first DNS query;
• consulting a entity identifier portability database using the identifier to determine a network operator associated with the entity;
• providing from the entity identifier portability database a network identifier corresponding to the network operator associated with the entity;
• and
• using the network identifier in a process of generating a second DNS query for resolving the identifier into a corresponding Internet address.