SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INTEGRATED VOICE AND DATA SERVICES UTILIZING WIRED CORDLESS ACCESS WITH UNLICENSED SPECTRUM AND WIRED ACCESS WITH LICENSED SPECTRUM

• US 20100173620A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing integrated wireless and wired data voice and data services via a dual mode telecommunications device are provided. A communication directed to an address associated with a dual mode device is received. If the dual mode device is in range of a wireless access point connected to a wired data network, then a determination is made whether the address of the dual mode device is associated with an address of at least one other device associated with the wired data network. If the address of the dual mode device is associated with an address of at least one other device associated with the wired data network, then the communication is routed over the wired data network to the dual mode device and the at least one other device.

Claims

1. A method of routing voice and data services over a plurality of telecommunication networks, comprising:

receiving a communication from a calling party, the communication is directed to an address assigned to a plurality of communication devices associated with the plurality of telecommunication networks;

placing a first outgoing call to a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices; and

placing a second outgoing call, substantially simultaneously to placing the first outgoing call, to a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, connecting the calling party to the first communication device and dropping the second outgoing call, if the first outgoing call is answered prior to the second outgoing call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, connecting the calling party to the second communication device and dropping the first outgoing call, if the second outgoing call is answered prior to the first outgoing call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, dropping the first outgoing call and the second outgoing call if the first outgoing call and the second outgoing call are not answered within a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, routing the communication to a softswitch for delivery of voicemail services, if the first outgoing call and the second outgoing call are not answered within a predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing the first outgoing call includes placing the first outgoing call over at least one of a wired data network or unlicensed wireless network, and the placing the second outgoing call includes placing the second outgoing call over a licensed wireless telecommunication network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the address is assigned to a dual mode device, wherein the dual mode device operates within at least two of the plurality of telecommunication networks.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing a single bill for communication associated with the plurality of communication devices.

9. A system of routing voice and data services over multiple telecommunication networks, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices that are assigned a shared telephone number; and

a service node that, substantially simultaneously, initiates outgoing telephone calls to the plurality of communication devices if communication directed to the shared telephone number is received.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of communication devices are associated with at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an unlicensed wireless network or a licensed wireless network.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein if one of the outgoing telephone calls is answered at one of the plurality of communication devices, the remaining of the outgoing telephone calls are dropped.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein an indication is provided to distinguish to which of the plurality of communication devices the communication is directed to, if the communication is directed to a specific communication device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the indication includes at least one of a distinctive ringing or call announcement provided with the outgoing telephone calls.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of communication devices includes at least one dual mode communication device that operates within two or more of the multiple telecommunication networks.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication is routed over a wired data network to the at least one dual mode communication device if the at least one dual mode communication device is in range of a wireless access point associated with the wired data network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication is routed over a licensed wireless data network to the at least one dual mode communication device if the at least one dual mode communication device moves outside the range of the wireless access point, without an explicit indication from the at least one dual mode communication device.

17. The system of claim 9, further comprising, a shared voice mailbox that is accessible from one or more of the plurality of communication devices.

18. A system for communicating via multiple communication networks, comprising:

means for receiving a communication directed to a telephone number;

means for identifying a plurality of communication devices in connection with one or more communication networks, to which the telephone number is assigned; and

means for routing the communication, substantially simultaneously, to at least two of the plurality of communication devices over the one or more communication networks.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for identifying determines whether at least one of the plurality of communication devices is a dual mode device that operates within at least one of a licensed wireless network or an unlicensed wireless network connected to a wired data network.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising, means for storing voicemail from a calling party, which can be accessed via a set of the plurality of communication devices.