System and method for providing advanced wireless telephony services using a wireline telephone number

• US 20040203798A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing advanced telephony services to telephone numbers served by telecommunications networks lacking the infrastructure to provide these advanced services directly are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a service-providing network, which has the capability of providing advanced telephony services to a service subscriber for calls that traverse it, provides advanced telephony services to calls directed to a telephony device on a native transport network. The native transport network is a network that naturally carries a subscriber'"'"'s calls but does not have the capabilities required to provide advanced services. In one embodiment, the system switch provisioning and trunking configurations to provide the advanced telephony services.

Claims

1. A method for providing a service to a telephony device, comprising:

Providing a telephone number in a wireline service-providing network, wherein said telephone number utilizes a telecommunications service provided by a first element of said wireline service-providing network;

associating a wireless telephony device with said telephone number;

receiving a call directed to said telephone number;

providing said telecommunications service to said call; and

routing said call to a wireless native transport network in communication with said wireless telephony device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said telecommunications service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of a call delivery service, a call forwarding service, a call rescue service, a custom ring-pattern service, a call logging service, a call reporting service, a voice mail service, a custom messaging service, a message waiting indicator service, a message notification service, a caller identification (caller ID) service, a privacy director service, an anonymous call rejection service, and a personal identification number (PIN) override service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating said telephony device with said telephone number comprises configuring a switch in said wireline service-providing network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating said telephony device with said telephone number comprises configuring a service control point in said wireline service-providing network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a preference associated with said telecommunications service.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising modifying said telecommunications service based upon said preference.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a telecommunications provider of said wireless native transport network for provision of said telecommunications service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a subscriber for provision of said telecommunications service.

9. A system for providing a service to a wireless device, comprising:

a wireless telephony device;

a wireless native transport network in communication with said wireless telephony device;

a wireline service-providing network in communication with said native transport network;

a telephone number associated with said wireline service-providing network and with said wireless telephony device;

a first element in said wireline service-providing network, wherein said first element is operable for providing a telecommunications service to a call directed to said wireless telephony device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said telecommunications service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of a call delivery service, a call forwarding service, a call rescue service, a custom ring-pattern service, a call logging service, a call reporting service, a voice mail service, a custom messaging service, a message waiting indicator service, a message notification service, a caller identification (caller ID) service, a privacy director service, an anonymous call rejection service, and a personal identification number (PIN) override service.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said wireline service-providing network comprises an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN).

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said service-providing network comprises a packet-switching network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said first element comprises a service switching point (SSP).

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said first element comprises a service control point (SCP).

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said first element comprises a media gateway controller.