Circuit switched cellular network to internet calling with internet antennas

• US 20030224795A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carter, Thomas A., Wilhoite, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/38 adapting due to varying relative distances between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A call routing system for use with a wireless telephone systems is disclosed. The system, which monitors the subscriber'"'"'s current physical location, determines the device to which a call should be terminated, and routes the call. The device can be any IP telephone, including a cable television system adapted to IP telephony. The system routes calls without direct subscriber actions, without a second telephone number, regardless of the time of day and day of week. Various options can also apply to a call, determined by subscriber-established preferences, when specified criteria are met, or calls can be limited to/from specified telephone numbers. The system and method uses signalling techniques that will allow routing of the call, along with any authorization or restrictions, to be done remotely from the actual switching of the call. Call events are transmitted to the call routing system while the communications path of the call is held at the switching system awaiting call routing information. The identity of the subscriber is established using existing means that are used to authenticate the user. The wireless phone user does not have to enter any additional codes or identification to obtain access to the call routing system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling telephone calls in a wireless communications network having a switch in communication with a plurality of wireless devices, wherein one or more of said wireless devices are associated with a subscriber account, wherein said switch determines where said wireless devices receive calls and said switch connects said devices to calling parties, said method comprising the steps of:

determining if said wireless devices is located within a private IP network;

notifying a service control point device to route telephone calls to said private IP network;

monitoring said wireless communications network to determine the destination of the telephone call, wherein voice communications for said call are routed through an IP Gateway device;

connecting said call to an IP-capable device within said private IP network;

re-routing said call when said wireless device exits said private IP network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step further comprises:

signaling said service control point device using ANSI-41 triggers.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

coupling a Bluetooth or 802.11 device to said wireless device, wherein said Bluetooth or 802.11 device can detect the presence of said wireless device with said private IP network

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying step further comprises the step of:

registering the IP address of an IP-capable device within said private IP network with said service control point device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said connecting step further comprises the step of:

mapping the identification of said wireless device to an IP address within said private IP network.

8. A method for controlling telephone usage in a subscriber account monitoring system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call termination command from a wireless communications network, said termination command associated with a call between another party and a wireless communication device, wherein said call termination command identifies said wireless communication device associated with said call;

determining the current location of said wireless communication device;

sending a command to said wireless communication network to route said call to a temporary local directory number associated with said IP Gateway;

mapping said call to current IP address of said IP-capable device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a no answer command from said IP-capable device; and

re-directing said call to the wireless communications network.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a call disconnect command from the switch; and

stopping the step of mapping said call to said private IP network.

11. A call routing system for monitoring the physical location of said wireless device, determining the device to which a call should be terminated, and routing the call, said call routing system comprising:

a switch for routing calls to and from wireless communications devices;

an IP Gateway for routing calls between the wireless communications network and private IP networks;

a service control point device, wherein the location of said wireless device is monitored;

an IP-capable communications device located within said private IP network;

a signaling network connecting said switch, IP Gateway, service control point and IP-capable communications device.

6. The method of claim 11, wherein said re-routing further comprises the steps of:

determining when said wireless device exits said private IP network,

redirecting said call from said IP-capable device on said private IP network to said wireless device on said wireless communications network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

playing a message to a subscriber if said wireless device exits said private IP network.

12. The call routing system of claim 11 further comprising:

a database including a subscriber profile of preferences associated with each of said subscribers;

means for communicating registration events between said IP-capable devices and said database.

13. The call routing system of claim 11, wherein said IP Gateway includes:

means to convert circuit-switched data received from said wireless communications network to packet-switched data;

means for communicating with said IP-capable devices for purposes of call delivery.

14. The call routing system for claim 11, wherein, said IP-capable communications device includes:

means for determing when said wireless communication device enters said private IP network;

means for determing when said wireless communication device exits said private IP network;

means for communicating registration and de-registration events to said database; and

means for communicating with said IP Gateway for purposes of call setup.