Method and apparatus for call delivery

• US 20070243875A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hua, Suzann, Lou, E-Ling, Gouthama, Sudha, Thompson, Robin, Ristich, Mark, Remoquillo, Angelica
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method and system for forwarding calls in telecommunication networks are provided. More particularly, control of late call forwarding logic and routing is placed at the home network Gateway MSC and HLR, thus removing the home network service provider'"'"'s dependency on the visited network capabilities.

Claims

1. A method of routing calls in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party directed to a subscriber at a first network entity;

obtaining call routing information for the subscriber from a database and starting an answer timer;

determining the current location of the subscriber;

connecting the call to a second network entity servicing the subscriber;

receiving an indication that the subscriber has not answered;

releasing the connection to the second network entity;

obtaining late call forwarding information for the subscriber from the database; and

completing the call to a late call forwarding destination based on the late call forwarding information.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the indication that the subscriber has not answered comprises a user busy message or an answer timer expiration message.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the first network entity comprises a gateway mobile switching center and the second network entity comprises a visited mobile switching center.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the late call forwarding destination comprises a voicemail system or other pre-determined call forward number.

5. A subscriber registration method in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a visited mobile switching center for a subscriber'"'"'s call routing information;

obtaining the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information from a subscriber database; and

sending the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information to the visited mobile switching center, wherein the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information does not include call forwarding features or destination information for the subscriber.

6. The method defined in claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the subscriber is roaming internationally or in the United States.

7. A system for routing calls in a communication network, the system comprising:

a database for storing subscriber profile information; and

a gateway mobile switching center, wherein the mobile switching center is operative to;

receive a call from a calling party directed to a subscriber;

obtain call routing information for the subscriber from the database and start an answer timer;

determine the current location of the subscriber;

connect the call to a visited mobile switching center servicing the subscriber;

receive an indication that the subscriber has not answered;

release the connection to the visited mobile switching center;

obtain late call forwarding information for the subscriber from the database; and

complete the call to a late call forwarding destination based on the late call forwarding information.

8. The system defined in claim 7, wherein the indication that the subscriber has not answered comprises a user busy message or an answer timer expiration message.

9. The system defined in claim 7, wherein the gateway mobile switching center is further operative to:

receive a request from a visited mobile switching center for the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information;

obtain the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information from the subscriber database; and

send the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information to the visited mobile switching center, wherein the subscriber'"'"'s call routing information does not include call forwarding features or destination information for the subscriber.

10. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the late call forwarding destination comprises a voicemail system or a pre-determined call forward busy number.