Abstract: A method of providing local number portability capability includes the steps of capturing all initial address message transmitted on at least one predetermined SS7 link set to a signal transfer point, where each initial address message has a called party number parameter containing a dialed telephone number. A determination is made as to whether a predetermined FCI bit is set to one or zero and in response to the predetermined FCI bit being set to zero, the following steps are performed. A local number portability database lookup is done using the dialed telephone number to obtain a corresponding local routing number. The local routing number is then inserted into the called party number parameter of the initial address message, and the dialed telephone number is inserted into a generic address parameter of the initial address message. The predetermined FCI bit is then set to one. The initial address message is then sent to a destination specified by the called party number parameter.

Abstract: A method for selecting one link out of M outbound links in a linkset (10) coupling a first component and a second component is provided. The first component includes N devices coupled to the M links. The method includes the steps of first providing an X-bit code having 2.sup.x possible code combinations used for link selection, and assigning a predetermined number of code combinations for each device where the assigned code combinations for a device is a function of an unique device number associated with each device. The outbound link is then selected for transmitting outbound data based on the code combination assignment.