Data network computing device call processing

• US 20070037569A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alianza, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: McNiff, Peter, Wilhoite, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 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: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

A telecommunications service node is connected to a data network using a packet data protocol and a telephone network using a circuit switched protocol. The service node is also connected to a wireless roaming network using the IS-41 signaling protocol. The service node stores status information, including location and registration information, for mobile computing devices connected to the data packet network. The location information includes a temporary data network address for visiting mobile computing devices. The service node manages voice calls to and from the mobile computing devices. If a call is received to a mobile computing device which is not registered, the service node will attempt to connect the call to a wireless telephone associated with the mobile computing device, or a predefined destination established as a preference by the user. In the case of a voice call between a telephone connected to the telephone network and a mobile computing device connected to the data network, the service node acts as a gateway and translates between the data packet protocol and the circuit switched protocol. A personal information manager executing in a mobile computing device may be used for managing call processing functions of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A communication system for providing telecommunication services comprising:

an interface to a data network and to a wireless telephone network; and

a manager coupled to the interface for placing calls voice calls to and from user devices coupled to the data network, wherein the manager is configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to

cause calls placed to users of the wireless telephone network to be carried to user devices coupled to the data network, and

cause calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be carried through the wireless telephone network.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor and computer program instructions stored in a memory that implement at least part of the manager.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the data network includes a public data network.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a gateway between the data network and the wireless telephone network for the calls placed to the users and for the calls initiated at the user devices.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a first interface to the data network and a second interface to the wireless telephone network, and the system further comprises:

a gateway for coupling voice paths between the first interface and the second interface for the voice calls to and from the user devices.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the voice paths use a packet data protocol on the data network and a circuit switched protocol on the wireless telephone network.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein interacting with the wireless telephone network includes exchanging cellular radiotelecommunications messages with the one or more components of the wireless telephone network.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein the cellular radiotelecommunications messages include IS-41 standard messages.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communication system forms a service node of a telecommunications network.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to monitor the progress of calls to or initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network.

11. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the manager is further configured to provide mid-call features at the user devices coupled to the data network.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the mid-call feature relates to disposition of a further call that comes in during the call in progress.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the mid-call features includes one of a group consisting of call screening, outgoing call restrictions, short message text to phone service, message waiting indicator, and an information service.

14. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to:

cause calls initiated at the user devices to be routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

15. The communication system of claim 1 wherein interacting with the wireless telephone network to cause calls initiated at the user devices to be carried through the wireless telephone network includes interacting with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the wireless communication network.

16. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data storage for holding registration information identifying those of the user devices that are registered to receive calls placed to corresponding destinations in the wireless telephone network.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the data storage includes an association of mobile identification numbers and data network addresses of user devices corresponding to the mobile identification numbers.

18. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the manager is further configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to:

determine whether calls placed to users of the wireless telephone network are to be routed to user devices that are registered to receive calls placed to destinations in the wireless telephone network or routed to wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

19. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to permit mobility of users between the wireless telephone network and the data network.

20. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to perform mobility management functions for the user devices.

21. A communication system for providing telecommunication services comprising:

an interface to a data network and to a wireless telephone network; and

a manager coupled to the interface for placing calls voice calls to and from user devices coupled to the data network, wherein the manager is configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to

cause calls initiated at the user devices to be carried through the wireless telephone network and routed to a destination as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

22. A method for providing telecommunication services comprising:

causing voice calls placed to users of a wireless telephone network to be routed to user devices coupled to a data network; and

causing voice calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network;

wherein causing the voice calls to be routed to the user devices and causing voice calls to the routed through the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages between a communication system and one or more components of the wireless telephone network, the communication system being coupled to the data network and to the wireless telephone network.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein causing voice calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages with one or more components of the wireless network causing calls initiated at the user devices to be further routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

coupling voice paths between the data network and wireless telephone network for the voice calls placed to the users and the voice calls initiated at the user devices.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein causing voice calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the wireless telephone network for causing calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be routed.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising monitoring the progress of calls to or initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein monitoring the progress of calls comprises providing mid-call features at the user devices coupled to the data network.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising performing mobility management functions for the user devices.

29. A method for providing telecommunication services comprising:

causing voice calls initiated at user devices coupled to a data network to be routed through a wireless telephone network including exchanging messages between a communication system and one or more components of the wireless telephone network, the communication system being coupled to the data network and to the wireless telephone network.

wherein causing voice calls initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes causing calls initiated at the user devices to be further routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more components of the wireless telephone network include at least one of a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

31. In a telecommunication system having a first portion adapted for packet communication with terminals and a second portion adapted for circuit wireless communication with terminals, a method for mobility management comprising:

accepting a request to initiate a call from a terminal in the first portion at a node;

emulating at the node a signaling component of the second portion of the network to route the call through the second portion; and

providing a voice path between the first portion and the second portion for the call.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the node is coupled to both the first portion and the second portion

33. The method of claim 31 wherein emulating the signaling component includes exchanging cellular radiotelecommunication messages with components of the second portion.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein emulating the signaling component includes exchanging messages with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the second portion.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein emulating the signaling component includes causing the call to be further routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the second portion.