Extension of a local area phone system to a wide area network

• US 20060205436A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lon Communication Mgmt LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lon Communication Mgmt LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Devarasu, Regunath, Liu, Kim Quo-Taht, Natarajan, Shriram, Stensrud, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A soft switch 134 providing wireless PBX voice services to a local area network (WLAN) is used to extend PBX functionality to the cellular domain. A dual mode remote unit is capable of receiving signals both in the cellular system as well as the WLAN. The cellular system is comprised of a data-bearing path and a voice-bearing path. When the dual mode remote unit is within the WLAN, it communicates both voice over IP (VoIP) signaling as well as session initiation protocol (SIP) control signaling over the WLAN. When the remote unit is outside the WLAN, it communicates voice signaling over the voice-bearing path of the cellular network using a standard cellular voice channel. In parallel, it uses the data-bearing path of the cellular network to transmit SIP control signaling.

Claims

1. An apparatus in a cellular communication system comprising:

a call controller configured to receive a vicarious call initiation from a wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation containing an identifier indicating a remote party;

a connection session manager configured to receive a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system; and

wherein the call controller is further configured to correlate the vicarious call initiation with the voice call.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection session manager is further configured to place a second voice call to the remote party.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the call controller is further configured to connect the first voice call to the second voice call.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vicarious call initiation is received over a data-bearing path of the cellular communication system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a Short Message Services communication.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is an Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) encoded message.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is communicated over a virtual private network.

8. A method of initiating a call in a cellular communication system from a wireless phone to a remote party comprising:

receiving a vicarious call initiation from the wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation being encoded with containing an identifier indicating the remote party;

receiving a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system;

correlating the vicarious call initiation with the voice call;

placing a second voice call to the remote party;

connecting the first voice call to the second voice call.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vicarious call initiation is received over a data-bearing path of the cellular communication system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a Short Message Services communication.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) encoded encoded message.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is communicated over a virtual private network.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

authenticating the wireless phone through a wireless phone identifier contained in the vicarious call initiation.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the vicarious call initiation is received over a data-bearing path of the cellular communication system.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a Short Message Services communication.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) encoded encoded message.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the vicarious call initiation is communicated over a virtual private network.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further encoded with instructions to:

authenticate the wireless phone through a wireless phone identifier contained in the vicarious call initiation.

14. A computer readable medium encoded with data and instructions of initiating a call in a cellular communication system from a wireless phone to a remote party, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to:

receive a vicarious call initiation from the wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation being encoded with containing an identifier indicating the remote party;

receive a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system;

correlate the vicarious call initiation with the voice call;

place a second voice call to the remote party;

connect the first voice call to the second voice call.