Mid-Call Features

• US 20080070528A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joyner, Tom, O'Brien, James D., Mussman, Harry Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/533,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070528A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/187.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• 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 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A mid-call feature of a voice call server, such as an IP PBX or IP Centrex system, is accessed during a call. During the call with a mobile terminal via a mobile telephone network, a voice call signal associated with a mid-call feature from the mobile terminal is passed over a mobile telephone network to a first communication system. The voice call signal is converted to a data call signal at the first communication system, and the data call signal is transmitted to a second communication system over the data network. The method can also include providing the mid-call feature in response to receipt of the data signal at the second communication system.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a mid-call feature of a voice call server comprising:

(a) during a call with a mobile terminal via a mobile telephone network, passing a voice call signal associated with a mid-call feature from the mobile terminal over a mobile telephone network to a first communication system; and

(b) at the first communication system, converting the voice call signal to a data call signal and transmitting the data call signal to a second communication system over a data network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) providing the mid-call feature in response to receipt of the data call signal at the second communication system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein passing the voice call signal from the mobile terminal to the first communication system comprises passing a signal for establishing a multiparty call from the mobile terminal to the mobile telephone network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein passing the voice call signal from the mobile comprises receiving the signal for establishing a multiparty call and notifying the first communication system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein passing the voice call signal from the mobile terminal to the first communication system comprises passing a short message service (SMS) message from the mobile terminal to the first communication system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein passing the voice call signal from the mobile terminal to the first communication system comprises passing a GSM unstructured supplementary services data (USSD) message from the mobile terminal to the first communication system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication system comprises a gateway between the voice network and the data network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communication system comprises one of a private branch exchange system (PBX), an IP-based PBX, an IP Centrex, and a softswitch.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data call signal comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice call signal associated with a mid-call feature comprises at least one of an IS-41 and a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) signal.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice call signal associated with a mid-call feature comprises at least one of an GSM MAP, a GSM CAMEL, and a GSM USSD signal.

12. A system comprising:

a first communication system coupled to a mobile telephone network and to a data network configured to

receive from the mobile terminal over the mobile telephone network, during a call with a mobile terminal via a mobile telephone network, a voice call signal associated with a mid-call feature,

convert the voice call signal to a data call signal, and

transmit the data call signal to a second communication system over the data network.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising the second communication system, configured to provide the mid-call feature in response to receipt of the data call signal.

14. Software embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a processing system to:

process a voice call signal received over a mobile telephone network during a call with a mobile terminal via a mobile telephone network, the voice call signal being associated with a mid-call feature from the mobile terminal;

wherein the processing of the voice call signal includes converting the voice call signal to a data call signal and transmitting the data call signal to a second communication system over a data network.