System and method for sharing cellular communication services among mobile stations of different networks

• US 20030186676A1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellcom Israel Limited
• Original Assignee: Cellcom Israel Limited
• Inventors: Josua, Giora, Nurel, Alon, Steinmetz, Arza, Rokach, Haim, Ogman, Lipa, Gitlin, Dmitry
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

A system and method for configuring two different wireless multi-protocol communication networks so that a common telephone number may be shared between telephones communicating over the different networks. Telephone number transparency is provided so that at the subscriber level, both telephones appear to have the same number and can access common subscriber services associated with that number in a substantially identical fashion. An incoming call is first directed to the telephone designated as the “primary telephone”, and then to the telephone designated as the “secondary telephone” if the telephone is not answered. Although the telephones are associated with the same number, they are able to simultaneously conduct independent communications and may establish a communication link between each other. This arrangement may be put to advantage by a service provider who wishes to migrate a subscriber base from one network technology to another, such as from a TDMA network to a GSM network.

Claims

1. A first single-protocol mobile station operating over a first wireless single-protocol network and having a configuration comprising a Calling Line Identity, wherein said Calling Line Identity is associated with a second single-protocol mobile station, and wherein said second single-protocol mobile station operates over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first wireless single-protocol network.

2. A single-protocol GSM mobile station operating over a single-protocol GSM network and having a configuration comprising a Calling Line Identity, wherein said Calling Line Identity is associated with a single-protocol TDMA mobile station operating over a single-protocol TDMA network.

3. A first single-protocol mobile station operating over a first wireless single-protocol network and having a configuration comprising a telephone number, wherein said telephone number is associated with a second single-protocol mobile station, and wherein said second single-protocol mobile station operates over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first wireless single-protocol network.

5. The first single protocol mobile station of claim 3, further configured to have a Calling Line Identity associated with said second single-protocol mobile station.

4. A single-protocol GSM mobile station operating over a single-protocol GSM network and having a configuration comprising a telephone number, wherein said telephone number is associated with a single-protocol TDMA mobile station operating over a single-protocol TDMA network.

6. A first single-protocol mobile station operating over a first wireless single-protocol network and having a configuration for accessing a common subscriber service, wherein said common subscriber service is accessible by a second single-protocol mobile station operating over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first wireless single-protocol network.

8. The first single-protocol mobile station of claim 6, further having a configuration comprising a telephone number, wherein said telephone number is associated with said second single-protocol mobile station.

9. The first single-protocol mobile station of claim 6, further having a configuration comprising a Calling Line Identity, wherein said Calling Line Identity is associated with said second single-protocol mobile station.

10. The first single-protocol mobile station of claim 6, wherein said common subscriber service is selected from a group containing voice mail, voice mail notifications, e-mail, Internet access, caller ID, unified billing, voice-activated dialing, and virtual private network.

7. A single-protocol GSM mobile station operating over a single-protocol GSM network and having a configuration for accessing a common subscriber service, wherein said common subscriber service is accessible by a single-protocol TDMA mobile station operating over a single-protocol TDMA network.

11. A method for wireless multi-protocol communication, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first single-protocol mobile station operating over a first wireless single-protocol network;

(b) configuring said first mobile station for accessing a common subscriber service; and

(c) configuring a second single-protocol mobile station to be operable over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first wireless single-protocol network and to access said common subscriber service.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first single-protocol mobile station is associated with a telephone number, and wherein said second single-protocol mobile station is also associated with said telephone number.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said common subscriber service is selected from a group containing voice mail, voice mail notifications, e-mail, Internet access, caller ID, unified billing, voice-activated dialing, and virtual private network.

13. The method of clam 11, wherein said first single-protocol mobile station is associated with a Calling Line Identity, and wherein said second single-protocol mobile station is also associated with said Calling Line Identity.

15. A wireless multi-protocol communications system for use by a subscriber, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;

(b) a plurality of single-protocol mobile stations, such that for each of said wireless single-protocol networks there is at least one of said single-protocol mobile stations operative to communicating thereover; and

(c) a common telephone number which is shared among at least two of said mobile stations which are operative to communicating over incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;

wherein the subscriber can utilize any of said at least two mobile stations to conduct communications according to said common telephone number in a substantially identical fashion.

16. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 15.

17. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 15, further comprising:

(d) at least one common subscriber service which is shared among at least two of said mobile stations which are operative to communicating over incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;

wherein the subscriber can utilize any of said at least two mobile stations to access said at least one common subscriber service in a substantially identical fashion.

18. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 17.

19. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 15, wherein one mobile station of said plurality of mobile stations is a primary telephone, and wherein, upon receiving an incoming call, the communications system initiates a first page for said primary telephone before initiating a page for any other telephone.

20. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 19.

21. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 15, wherein one mobile station is a primary telephone, wherein another mobile station is a secondary telephone, and wherein, upon receiving an incoming call, the communications system initiates a first page for said primary telephone and simultaneously initiates a second page for said secondary telephone.

22. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 21.

23. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 19, wherein one mobile station is a secondary telephone, wherein said secondary telephone is distinct from said primary telephone, and wherein upon receiving an incoming call, the communications system initiates a second page for said secondary telephone only upon failure of said first page.

24. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 23.

25. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 15, wherein at least two mobile stations are operative to conducting simultaneous independent communications.

26. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 25.

27. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 15, wherein two mobile stations are operative to intercommunicating with one another.

28. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 27.

29. A wireless multi-protocol communications system for use by a subscriber, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;

(b) a plurality of single-protocol mobile stations, such that for each of said wireless single-protocol networks there is at least one of said single-protocol mobile stations operative to communicating thereover; and

(c) a common subscriber service which is shared among at least two of said mobile stations which are operative to communicating over incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;

wherein the subscriber can utilize any of said at least two mobile stations to access said common subscriber service in a substantially identical fashion.

30. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 29.

31. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 29, wherein said common subscriber service is selected from a group containing voice mail, voice mail notifications, e-mail, Internet access, caller ID, unified billing, voice-activated dialing, and virtual private network.

32. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 31.

33. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 29, wherein said at least one common subscriber service includes at least one service that is not available on all networks of said plurality of incompatible single-protocol networks.

34. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 33.

35. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 29, wherein said mobile stations are operative to conducing simultaneous independent communications.

36. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 35.

37. The wireless multi-protocol communications system of claim 29, wherein said mobile stations are operative to intercommunicating with one another.

38. A computer program operative to effecting the system of claim 37.

39. A method for terminating an incoming call to a common telephone number shared between a prima single-protocol mobile station and a second single-protocol mobile station;

wherein the pi mobile station communicates over a first single-protocol network having a fist gateway and a first switching center connected to a mobile number portability platform;

wherein the secondary mobile station communicates over a second single-protocol network having a second gateway and a second switching center;

wherein the primary mobile station has a first inherent telephone number and the secondary mobile station has a second inherent telephone number; and

wherein a first call forwarding to the second inherent telephone number is associated with the primary mobile station;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) upon receiving the incoming call to the common telephone number, directing said incoming call to the second gateway;

(b) constructing a derivative telephone number which is an unambiguous function of the common telephone number;

(c) issuing a call delivery to the first gateway using said derivative telephone number;

(d) obtaining the recovered inherent telephone number of the primary mobile station from said derivative telephone number;

(e) issuing a call delivery to the first switching center using said recovered inherent telephone number of the primary mobile station;

(f) issuing a first page to the primary mobile station;

(g) upon failure of said first page, performing said fit call forward to the second inherent telephone number via the mobile number portability platform;

(h) upon response from the mobile number portability platform that the second inherent telephone number does not exist within the first network, issuing a call delivery to the second gateway; and

(i) issuing a second page to the secondary mobile station.

40. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 39.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the common telephone number is the first inherent telephone number.

42. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 41.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said constructing a derivative telephone number affixes a prefix, and wherein said obtaining the recovered inherent telephone removes said prefix.

44. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 43.

45. A method for registering a single-protocol mobile station having an inherent telephone number with a single-protocol network;

wherein the network has a switching center with a visitor location register;

wherein the network has a home location register, and wherein the registering associates a common telephone number with the mobile station distinct from the inherent telephone number;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) issuing a registration of the mobile station with the visitor location register, using the inherent telephone number,

(b) sending a Registration Notification to the home location register, using the inherent telephone number; and

(c) retaining a Registration Notification response to the visitor location register using the common telephone number.

46. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 45.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the mobile station is a secondary mobile station.

48. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 47.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the common telephone number is associated with a primary single-protocol mobile station that is incompatible with the single-protocol network.

50. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 49.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the mobile station is a primary mobile station.

52. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 51.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the common telephone number is associated with a secondary single-protocol mobile station that is incompatible with the network.

54. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 53.

55. A method for accessing common subscriber services associated with a common telephone number from a single-protocol mobile station communicating over a single-protocol network having a mobile switching center with a visitor location register;

wherein the mobile station has an inherent telephone number distinct from the common telephone number; and

wherein the network is operative to accessing a server providing such common subscriber services;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) requesting access of common subscriber services and identifying the mobile station to the visitor location register according to the inherent telephone number;

(b) relating the inherent telephone number to the common telephone number;

(c) sending the common telephone number to the switching center; and

(d) issuing a call delivery for the requested common subscriber services to the server.

56. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 55.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the mobile station is a secondary mobile station.

58. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 57.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the common telephone number is associated with a primary single-protocol mobile station that is incompatible with the single-protocol network.

60. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 59.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the mobile station is a primary mobile station.

62. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 61.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the common telephone number is associated with a secondary single-protocol mobile station that is incompatible with the single-protocol network.

64. A computer program operative to performing the method of claim 63.