System and method for virtual wireless calling

• US 20080152120A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• 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

Abstract

A system and method is provided for call routing from a wired telephone switch. A virtual number may be registered with a database of the wired telephone switch for call routing. Outgoing calls are routed from a standard telephone utilizing the virtual number. The virtual number is unregistered to disable the call routing from the standard telephone.

Claims

1. A method for call routing from a wired telephone switch, said method comprising:

registering a virtual number with a database of the wired telephone switch for call routing;

routing outgoing calls made from a standard telephone utilizing the virtual number; and

unregistering the virtual number to disable the call routing from the standard telephone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wired telephone switch is a class 5 switch used in a publicly switched network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein registering is performed in response to receiving a user input.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein unregistering further comprises:

receiving user input to terminate the call routing; and

terminating the call routing to the standard telephone.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user input comprises dialing a phone number on the wireless device, turning on the wireless device, entering an identifier, or using the cell phone in a different wireless network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing calls include call information linked to the virtual number.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein routing outgoing calls further comprises:

routing the outgoing calls through a wireless network associated with the virtual number.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual number is provided by a local carrier.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

routing incoming calls destined for the virtual number to the standard telephone.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual number is not associated with a wireless device.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the virtual number uses minutes and services included in a wireless service plan.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

billing minutes of the outgoing calls to the wireless service plan.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein routing the outgoing calls is performed using a trunk line and a dialing code.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the dialing code is any of a primary interexchange carrier and a circuit identification carrier.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the virtual number is registered for roaming to the wired telephone switch.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a profit sharing agreement between a local telephone provider and a wireless service provider.

17. A wired telephone switch comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions within software modules;

a memory operatively connected to the processor for storing the software modules including;

a routing trigger configured to register a wireless device as roaming with the wired telephone switch operative to route outgoing calls from a standard telephone through a wireless network; and

a database configured to store a dialing code associated with the wireless device operative to route the outgoing calls to an intended recipient.

18. The wired telephone switch according to claim 17, wherein the outgoing call is routed through a wireless network associated with the virtual number.

19. The wired telephone switch according to claim 17, wherein the software modules further comprising:

a database for storing the virtual number, a mobile service identifier, and a phone number of a standard telephone for updating a home location register of the wireless network in communication with the wired telephone switch.

20. The wired telephone switch according to claim 17, wherein the software modules further comprising:

a record indicating a plurality of virtual numbers that may roam to the wired telephone switch.

21. The wired telephone switch according to claim 17, wherein an agreement between a local telephone provider operating the wired telephone switch and a wireless service provider operating the wireless network allows the outgoing calls to be routed from the standard telephone through the wireless network wherein the agreement allocates a portion of the fees collected for the outgoing calls to the local telephone provider.

22. A method for call routing from a wired telephone switch, said method comprising:

registering a virtual number with a database of the wired telephone switch;

routing outgoing calls made from a standard telephone to a wireless network using a trunk and a dialing code;

billing minutes used by the outgoing calls to a wireless service plan associated with the virtual number; and

unregistering the wireless device to disable the call routing of the virtual number from the standard telephone.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein routing outgoing calls comprises:

routing the outgoing calls through local carrier resources providing telephone service to the standard telephone.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein routing outgoing calls comprises:

routing the outgoing calls through long distance resources of a wireless service provider.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

establishing a profit sharing agreement between a local telephone carrier and a wireless service provider.