Method and apparatus for updating information within a communication system

• US 20050261006A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Milton, Steven M., Abramson, Sandra R., Chavez, David, Hirsbrunner, Alex P., Belkin, Anatoly S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided to update information within a first network (103) via a second network (102) when communication no longer exists with the first network. During operation the first network is accessed via a PSTN (108) message that is never answered by the first network. Based on the called number and caller-identification information, the first network updates its system information.

Claims

1. A method for updating information within a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message on a first network, wherein the message is a message taken from the group consisting of a short message service (SMS) message, an email, an IP ping, a data call, a web request, a multimedia message, a push-to-talk call, and a call alert message;

determining identification information from the message;

associating the identification information with a particular mobile unit; and

updating location information for the particular mobile unit based on an address of the received message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the message comprises the step of receiving the message on a first network, wherein the message was placed utilizing a second network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the message comprises the step of receiving the message on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wherein the message was placed utilizing a Wide Area Network (WAN).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the message comprises the step of receiving the message on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wherein the call was placed from a cellular network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining identification information from the message comprises the step of determining “

from”

address information from the message.

6. A method for updating a mobile-unit attribute within a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call;

determining identification information from the telephone call;

associating the identification information with a particular mobile unit; and

updating an attribute for the particular mobile unit without connecting the received telephone call.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of updating the attribute comprises the step of updating a multi-modal location for the particular mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of receiving the telephone call comprises the step of receiving the telephone call on a first network, wherein the telephone call was placed utilizing a second network.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of receiving the telephone call comprises the step of receiving a Public-Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) call.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of receiving the telephone call comprises the step of receiving the telephone call on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wherein the telephone call was placed from a Wide Area Network (WAN).

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of receiving the telephone call comprises the step of receiving the telephone call on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wherein the telephone call was placed from a cellular network.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining identification information from the telephone call comprises the step of determining Signaling System 7 information from the telephone call.

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

associating the identification information with a particular mobile-unit attribute that needs updating.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of updating the attribute comprises the step of:

updating location information for the mobile unit.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of updating the attribute comprises the step of updating a database to reflect the fact that the particular mobile unit is no longer associated with a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

16. An apparatus comprising:

a location database comprising location information for a mobile unit;

a mapping database mapping caller identification information to a particular mobile unit; and

a mobility manager receiving a call from the mobile unit, accessing the mapping database to associate caller identification information to the mobile unit, and updating the location database based on the call and the association.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the call comprises a PSTN call.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the call comprises a call taken from the group consisting of a short message service (SMS), an email, an IP ping, a data call, a web request, a multimedia message, and a push-to-talk call.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the call is received on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and was placed utilizing a Wide Area Network (WAN).

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the call is received on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and was placed from a cellular network.