A "hybrid intelligent network (IN)" solution for local number portability (LNP) (or how you can take it with you)

Market research indicates that a major hurdle to successfully entering the local exchange business today is the lack of number portability, i.e., the subscriber's existing telephone number is tied to a specific central office switch and cannot be ported to a different service provider's switch. Therefore, competition in the local loop is inextricably linked to the ability to retain one's telephone number when switching service providers, especially in the case of business customers. Thus, the concept of local number portability (LNP) is gaining momentum in the industry. The article first defines the various flavors of LNP and the current focus of the industry. The network implications of LNP are then described. Using this as background, the objectives for a generic and flexible LNP solution that minimizes network impacts are formulated. A "hybrid IN" solution that meets the objectives is then developed. The solution is hybrid in the sense that it uses AIN 0.1 triggers and messages for providing the basic call processing while using an AIN 0.0 Enhanced 800-like (E800-like) query/response messaging technique for proper feature operations. Various call scenarios are presented to show how calls involving LNP subscribers are processed using this solution. An interaction scenario for the CLASS Automatic Callback/Automatic Recall feature is shown to demonstrate the use of the generic E800-like messaging technique in providing correct feature operations. Possible evolutions of the solution are noted.