Interworking Gateway for Number Portability Routing and Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current number portability solutions fail to accurately handle routing, charging, and accounting across application layers and the Internet, leading to incomplete interworking and inefficient service delivery.
Innovation Solution
An interconnecting and interworking gateway that receives request messages, queries a number portability database for routing information, and performs operations based on a service level agreement to ensure accurate routing, charging, and accounting between third-party service providers and network operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional number portability solutions (MNP-SRF, IN, call transfer, ENUM/DNS) are implemented in the core network, then mobile number portability capability is achieved with minimum alteration to network elements, but the application layer and Internet cannot perform correct interworking, routing, charging or accounting without NP data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an NP gateway as an intermediary component between the core network and the application layer/Internet. This gateway receives service request messages from the application layer, queries the number portability database, and returns routing information to enable correct interworking. The NP gateway acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between core network NP solutions and application layer requirements, allowing both to coexist without direct modification to either side.
2Ease of manufacture
If NP data is not provided to the application layer, then core network NP solutions can be implemented with minimal changes, but the application layer cannot perform correct routing, charging or accounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the number portability functionality into distinct components: the core network retains its existing NP database and signaling mechanisms, while a separate NP gateway component is introduced to handle application layer queries. This segmentation allows the core network to maintain its simple implementation while the gateway provides the necessary NP data to the application layer through standardized interfaces.
3Measurement precision
If the application layer is screened from NP influence, then accurate charging and routing can be performed, but additional gateway components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The NP gateway is designed as a universal component that handles multiple functions: querying the number portability database, determining routing information, enabling accurate charging, and supporting various application layer protocols. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional gateway, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a number portability realization method and an interconnecting and interworking gateway. The number portability realization method includes: receiving a request message sent by a calling user; obtaining routing information of a called user; according to an NP SLA and the routing information of the called user, performing at least one of the following operations: performing routing on the called user, performing charging on the calling user or the called user, and generating an accounting bill between at least two of a third-party service provider, a present-network operator and an external-network operator. The present invention can screen an application layer network and the Internet from the influence of the NP, and implement accurate charging, routing or accounting on services.