MOBILE TELEPHONE RESELECTION BETWEEN A CIRCUIT SWITCHED CELLULAR NETWORK AND THE INTERNET AND USE OF THE INTERNET TO CONNECT MOBILE SWITCHING CENTERS TO ANTENNAS

• US 20130343206A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alianza, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CounterPath Corporation (Alianza, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilhoite, Michael T., Carter, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,681,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• 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: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/38 adapting due to varying relative distances between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A call routing system for use with a wireless telephone systems is disclosed. The system, which monitors the subscriber'"'"'s current physical location, determines the device to which a call should be terminated, and routes the call. The device can be any IP telephone, including a cable television system adapted to IP telephony. The system routes calls without direct subscriber actions, without a second telephone number, regardless of the time of day and day of week. Various options can also apply to a call, determined by subscriber-established preferences, when specified criteria are met, or calls can be limited to/from specified telephone numbers. The system and method uses signaling techniques that will allow routing of the call, along with any authorization or restrictions, to be done remotely from the actual switching of the call. Call events are transmitted to the call routing system while the communications path of the call is held at the switching system awaiting call routing information. The identity of the subscriber is established using existing means that are used to authenticate the user. The wireless phone user does not have to enter any additional codes or identification to obtain access to the call routing system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling telephone calls in a wireless communications network having a switch in communication with a plurality of wireless devices, wherein one or more of said wireless devices are associated with a subscriber account, wherein said switch determines where said wireless devices receive calls and said switch connects said devices to calling parties, said method comprising the steps of:

determining if said wireless devices is located within a private IP network;

notifying a service control point device to route telephone calls to said private IP network;

monitoring said wireless communications network to determine the destination of the telephone call, wherein voice communications for said call are routed through an IP Gateway device;

connecting said call to an IP-capable device within said private IP network;

re-routing said call when said wireless device exits said private IP network.