RESOLUTION OF IP ADDRESSES ASSOCIATED WITH A TELEPHONE NUMBER UTILIZING QUERY FLAGS

Queries for IP addresses associated with a telephone number are conducted in accordance with query flags contained with an ENUM record. A query flag indicates the type of query to be initiated against the DNS databases. The query flag provides a means for interpreting the domain name portion of the URI contained in the ENUM record. Query flags provide an explicit indication as to the type of query to be performed against the DNS and provide an explicit indication as to how the domain name portion of a URI in an ENUM record should be interpreted. Query flags also provide guidance pertaining to subsequent actions to be performed. The use of query flags eliminates ambiguities associated with making assumptions about the domain name contained in an ENUM record. Thus, the use of query flags can reduce latency, reduce the load on transmission links, and reduce processing load on network elements.