Method and system for selective application of cellular-PBX integration service

• US 20060025140A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Weaver, Farni B., Bales, Mark R., Paczkowski, Lyle W., Phillips, Jeffrey F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request for a served wireless communication device (WCD), call setup signaling passes to a call session control function (CSCF), and a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service. If the WCD is checked-in, the call is set up to an IPPBX server for handling. If the WCD is checked-out, the call is set up back to the RAN for handling. Similarly, the CSCF may receive call setup signaling in response to a call dialed to an IPPBX extension associated with the WCD, and the check-in/check-out status of the WCD may be used as a basis to decide whether to send the call to the RAN for handling or whether to return the call to the IPPBX server for handling.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving into a cellular radio access network (RAN) a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in a wireless coverage area of the RAN;

responsively (i) requesting setup of a first leg of the call between the RAN and a media gateway system, and (ii) sending call setup signaling from the media gateway system to a call session control function (CSCF);

making a determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of a cellular-PBX integration service to which the WCD subscribes; and

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, then passing the call setup signaling from the CSCF to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD, to request setup of a second leg of the call from the media gateway system to the IP PBX server.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein requesting setup of the first leg of the call between the RAN and the media gateway system comprises engaging in ISUP signaling between the RAN and the media gateway system, and

wherein the call setup signaling comprises SIP signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining in a home subscriber server (HSS) a profile record for the WCD, wherein the profile record includes an indication of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service,

wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service comprises the CSCF referring to the profile record to make the determination.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from a user, a provisioning instruction to check the WCD into or out of the cellular-PBX integration service; and

responsively provisioning the profile record to accordingly indicate whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular PBX integration service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

signaling from the CSCF to a policy server,

wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service to which the WCD subscribes comprises the policy server making the determination.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

maintaining in a home subscriber server (HSS) a profile record for the WCD, wherein the profile record includes an indication of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service,

wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service comprises the policy server referring to the profile record to make the determination.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, from a user, a provisioning instruction to check the WCD into or out of the cellular-PBX integration service; and

responsively provisioning the profile record to accordingly indicate whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular PBX integration service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service, then signaling back from the CSCF to the media gateway system to request setup of the call back from the media gateway system to the RAN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the WCD operates under a WCD billing-account, and wherein the IP PBX server operates under an enterprise billing-account, the method further comprising:

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, then charging the call to the enterprise billing-account; and

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-out of the cellular PBX integration service, then charging the call to the WCD billing-account.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is a call to the WCD, the method further comprising:

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service, then (i) signaling back from the CSCF to the media gateway system to request setup of the call back from the media gateway system to the RAN, and (ii) setting up the call from the RAN to the WCD.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, then, after passing the call setup signaling from the CSCF to the IP PBX server, setting up a third leg of the call from the IP PBX server.

12. The method of claim 11,

wherein the call is a call to the WCD, and

wherein setting up the third leg of the call from the IP PBX server comprises performing a function selected from the group consisting of (i) ringing the WCD, (ii) simultaneously or sequentially ringing the WCD and a designated IP PBX extension, and (iii) sending the call to a voice mail box associated with the IP PBX server.

13. The method of claim 11,

wherein the call is dialed from the WCD to a called number, and

wherein setting up the third leg of the call from the IP PBX server comprises setting up the call from the IP PBX server to the called number.

14. The method of claims 13,

wherein the called number is a directory number, and

wherein setting up the third leg of the call from the IP PBX server to the called number comprises setting up the call from the IP PBX server over the public switched telephone network to the directory number.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein the called number is an IP PBX extension number, and

wherein setting up the third leg of the call from the IP PBX server to the called number comprises setting up the call from the IP PBX server to an IP PBX extension phone having the IP PBX extension number.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving together with the call request a directive of whether or not to apply cellular-PBX integration service for the call,

wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service comprises using the directive as a basis to make the determination.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving together with the call request a toggle command,

wherein making the determination comprises (i) referring to a WCD profile record to ascertain whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service, (ii) if the profile record indicates that the WCD is currently checked into the cellular-PBX integration service, then concluding in view of the toggle command that the WCD is currently checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service, and (iii) if the profile record indicates that the WCD is currently checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service, then concluding in view of the toggle command that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the toggle command comprises a feature code.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the call request originates from a caller, and wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service comprises:

setting up the call to an automated voice response system;

sending, from the automated voice response system, to the caller, a call-handling prompt;

receiving, into the automated voice response system, from the caller, a response to the call-handling prompt; and

making the determination based on the response.

20. The method of claim 1,

wherein the call is a call between the WCD and another party, and

wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service to which the WCD subscribes comprises basing the determination at least in part on an identity of the other party.

21. A method comprising:

receiving into a call session control function (CSCF), from an IP PBX server, a request to set up a call to a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) directory number, wherein the request is generated in response to a call dialed to an IP PBX extension associated with the WCD;

making a determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service; and

if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, then responsively signaling from the CSCF to a media gateway system and from the media gateway system to a radio access network (RAN) that serves the WCD, to request setup of the call to the WCD.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein making the determination comprises the CSCF making the determination.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the CSCF is communicatively linked with a policy server, and

wherein making the determination comprises the CSCF signaling to the policy server, the policy server making the determination, and the policy server signaling back to the CSCF.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

if the determination is that the WCD is currently not checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, then responsively signaling from the CSCF back to the IP PBX server to request set up of the call back to the IP PBX server.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the call request originates from a caller, and wherein making the determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service comprises:

setting up the call to an automated voice response system;

sending, from the automated voice response system, to the caller, a call-handling prompt;

receiving, into the automated voice response system, from the caller, a response to the call-handling prompt; and

making the determination based on the response.

26. A system comprising:

a cellular radio access network (RAN) comprising (i) a base station that radiates to produce a wireless coverage area and (ii) a mobile switching center that provides connectivity between the base station and the public switched telephone network;

a media gateway system comprising (i) a media gateway arranged to engage in bearer communication with the mobile switching and (ii) a media gateway controller arranged to engage in signaling communication with the mobile switching center and with the media gateway;

a control structure comprising (i) a call session control function (CSCF) arranged to engage in signaling communication with the media gateway controller, and (ii) a policy server linked with the CSCF;

an IP PBX server arranged to serve a plurality of enterprise telephone stations that are situated on an enterprise packet-switched network, the IP PBX server being further arranged to engage in signaling communication with the CSCF and bearer communication with the media gateway; and

data storage at the control structure, the data storage containing program logic executable, in response to a request to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the wireless coverage area, (i) to make a determination of whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service to which the WCD subscribes, and (ii) if the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-into the cellular-PBX integration service, to set up the call over a path comprising the RAN, the media gateway, and the IP PBX server.