SELECTIVE CALL FORWARDING BASED ON THE LOCATION OF A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20110059732A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Xiangyang, Cai, Yigang
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Communication networks and methods are disclosed for selectively applying call forwarding between a mobile device and a fixed line device based on the location of the mobile device. A communication network includes a call control function that receives a call attempt to a mobile directory number. Responsive to the call attempt, the call control function identifies a location of the mobile device, and determines whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device. If call forwarding is applied, then the call control function forwards the call attempt to the fixed line device instead of the mobile device. A similar process is performed for a call attempt to the fixed line device for forwarding the call to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A communication network operable to provide selective call forwarding between a mobile device and a fixed line device, the communication network comprising:

a call control function operable to receive a call attempt to a first directory number associated with one of the mobile device or the fixed line device, to identify a location of the mobile device, to determine whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device, to map the first directory number to a second directory number associated with the other one of the mobile device or the fixed line device responsive to a determination to apply call forwarding, and to forward the call attempt to the second directory number.

2. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to route the call attempt to the first directory number responsive to a determination not to apply call forwarding.

3. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to determine if the location of the mobile device is within a threshold distance of a location of the fixed line device, and to apply call forwarding if the location of the mobile device is within the threshold distance.

4. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to determine if the location of the mobile device is within a zone predefined by the service provider as corresponding with the fixed line device, and to apply call forwarding if the location of the mobile device is within the zone.

5. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to identify a zone corresponding with the location of the mobile device, to identify a tariff defined for the zone, and to charge for the call based on the identified tariff.

6. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to apply a fixed line tariff for the call.

7. The communication network of claim 1 wherein:

the call control function is further operable to apply a mobile tariff for the call.

8. The communication network of claim 1 further comprising:

a location server operable to monitor the location of the mobile device.

9. A method of selectively applying call forwarding based on locations of mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt to a first directory number associated with one of a mobile device or a fixed line device;

identifying a location of the mobile device;

determining whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device;

mapping the first directory number to a second directory number associated with the other one of the mobile device or the fixed line device responsive to a determination to apply call forwarding; and

forwarding the call attempt to the second directory number.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

routing the call attempt to the first directory number responsive to a determination not to apply call forwarding.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein determining whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:

determining if the location of the mobile device is within a threshold distance of a location of the fixed line device; and

applying call forwarding if the location of the mobile device is within the threshold distance.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein determining whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:

determining if the location of the mobile device is within a zone predefined by the service provider as corresponding with the fixed line device; and

applying call forwarding if the location of the mobile device is within the zone.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

identifying a zone corresponding with the location of the mobile device;

identifying a tariff defined for the zone; and

charging for the call based on the identified tariff.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

applying a fixed line tariff for the call.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

applying a mobile tariff for the call.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

monitoring the location of mobile devices.

17. A method of selectively applying call forwarding based on locations of mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving a call attempt to a mobile device;

identifying a zone in which the mobile device is located;

determining whether to apply call forwarding based on the identified zone;

identifying a fixed line device corresponding with the identified zone;

forwarding the call attempt to the fixed line device responsive to a determination to apply call forwarding; and

routing the call attempt to the mobile device responsive to a determination not to apply call forwarding.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving another call attempt to the fixed line device;

identifying a zone in which the mobile device is located;

determining whether to apply call forwarding based on the identified zone;

forwarding the other call attempt to the mobile responsive to a determination to apply call forwarding; and

routing the other call attempt to the fixed line device responsive to a determination not to apply call forwarding.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

applying a fixed line tariff for the call.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

applying a mobile tariff for the call.