Communication system and method of routing calls to an end point

Abstract

A method of routing a call includes sending a second query when a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database does not identify an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a called number in response to a first query. The second query is directed to a local number portability (LNP) database to determine whether the called number includes a ported number having an associated local routing number (LRN).

1 . A method of routing a call, the method comprising:
 when a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database does not identify an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a called number in response to a first query, sending a second query, the second query directed to a local number portability (LNP) database to determine whether the called number comprises a ported number having a local routing number (LRN).   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the LRN in response to the second query and issuing a response to the first query, the response comprising the LRN. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the response is issued to a node of a service provider network. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the LRN enables routing of the call to uniquely identified switching node of a circuit switched network. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising issuing a response to the first query, the response comprising an indication that there is no LRN associated with the called number in the LNP database. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the indication comprises the called number. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising issuing a response to the first query, wherein the response comprises the IP address. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a service provider node to send a first query to a service provider resource, the first query associated with a called number, wherein the service provider resource comprises a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database coupled to a local number portability (LNP) database; and   when an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the called number is not provided by the service provider resource in response to the first query, the service provider node is to receive the response from the service provider resource after a second query, wherein the second query is sent from the ENUM database to the LNP database.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein when the IP address associated with the called number is not provided by the service provider resource in response to the first query, the response comprises one of a local routing number (LRN) associated with the called number and an indication that the LRN is not available from the LNP database. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the indication comprises a return of the called number. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein when the response includes the return of the called number, the called number is used to route the call to a called party. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the called number is a ten digit number. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein when the response identifies the IP address, the service provider node is to route the call using a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) connection to a terminating IP network node identified by the IP address. 
   
   
       14 . A service provider apparatus comprising:
 a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database, the ENUM database configured to:
 provide an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a called number when the IP address is stored at the ENUM database in response to a first query; and 
 when the IP address is not stored at the ENUM database, request a local routing number (LRN) associated with the called number via a second query sent from the ENUM database to a local number portability (LNP) database. 
   
   
   
       15 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first query is received from a service provider node. 
   
   
       16 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first query includes the called number. 
   
   
       17 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the ENUM database includes logic to initiate the second query to the LNP database. 
   
   
       18 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the service provider apparatus is further to provide, in response to the first query, the LRN associated with the called number or an indication of an absence of the LRN at the LNP database. 
   
   
       19 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein when the LRN is provided, the called number comprises a ported number in a public switch telephone network (PSTN). 
   
   
       20 . The service provider apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein when the LRN is not provided, the indication comprises the called number.