MOBILE GATEWAY

• US 20140024367A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VoIP-Pal.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digifonica (International) Limited (VoIP-Pal.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bjrsell, Johan Emil Viktor, Huttunen, Pentti Kalevi, Malak, Emil, Sobolyev, Maksym
• Granted Patent: US 10,880,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

A method of initiating a call to a callee using a mobile telephone involves: receiving, from a user of the mobile telephone, a callee identifier associated with the callee; transmitting an access code request message to an access server, the access code request message including the callee identifier; receiving an access code reply message from the access server in response to the access code request message, the access code reply message including an access code different from the callee identifier and associated with the callee identifier; and initiating a call with the mobile telephone using the access code to identify the callee.

Claims

1. A method of establishing communications between a wireless device and a destination node of a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving from a user of the wireless device a destination node identifier associated with the destination node;

transmitting an access code request message to an access server, the access code request message including the destination node identifier and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

receiving an access code reply message from the access server in response to the access code request message, the access code reply message including an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, the access code being distinct from the destination node identifier; and

establishing communications between the wireless device and the destination node through the channel identified by the access code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the access code request message to the access server on a non-voice network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the access code request message on a voice network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the access code request message on a voice network comprises transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless device in a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier comprises an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier comprises a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the access code reply message comprises receiving the access code reply message from the access server on a non-voice network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the access code reply message comprises receiving the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving the access code reply message on a voice network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the access code reply message on a voice network comprises receiving the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the access code reply message comprises receiving, in the access code reply message, an access code temporarily associated with the destination node identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the access code reply message comprises receiving, in the access code reply message, a telephone number or an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing communications between the wireless device and the destination node comprises engaging a routing controller to route the call on a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or an IP network to the destination node.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the access server, the access code request message from the wireless device;

causing the access server to communicate with a routing controller to obtain from the routing controller the access code, wherein the access code identifies a communications channel associated with the location identifier and wherein the access code is useable by the wireless device in a subsequent communication to cause the routing controller to establish a call to the destination node using the communications channel; and

causing the access server to transmit the access code reply message to the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting the access code reply message comprises transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting the access code reply message comprises transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network comprises transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

20. A wireless apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a user of the wireless apparatus a destination node identifier associated with a destination node with which the user wishes to communicate;

means for transmitting an access code request message to an access server, the access code request message including the destination node identifier and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless apparatus;

means for receiving an access code reply message from the access server in response to the access code request message, the access code reply message including an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless apparatus and the destination node can be conducted, the access code being distinct from the destination node identifier; and

means for establishing communications between the wireless device and the destination node through the communications channel identified by the access code.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transmitting means comprises a non-voice network interface for transmitting the access code request message to the access server on a non-voice network.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting includes means for transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the access code request message on a voice network.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting the access code request message on a voice network comprises means for transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the location identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless apparatus in a wireless IP network.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the location identifier comprises an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the location identifier comprises a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for receiving an access code reply message comprises a non-voice network interface for receiving the access code reply message on a non-voice network.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for receiving the access code request message comprises means for receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the access code request message on a voice network.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for receiving the access code request message on a voice network comprises means for receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the access code includes a telephone number or an IP address.

33. The wireless apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for establishing communications comprises a mobile telephone network interface.

34. A system for enabling roaming by a wireless apparatus, the system comprising the wireless apparatus of claim 20 and further comprising:

a routing controller; and

an access server comprising;

means for receiving from the wireless apparatus the access code request message;

means for communicating with the routing controller to obtain from the routing controller the access code wherein the access code identifies a communications channel associated with the location identifier and wherein the access code is useable by the wireless apparatus to cause the routing controller to establish a call to the destination node using the communications channel; and

means for transmitting the access code reply message including the access code to the wireless apparatus.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for transmitting the access code reply message comprises means for transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for transmitting the access code reply message comprises means for transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network comprises means for transmitting the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

38. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a processor circuit comprising at least one processor;

a network interface in communication with the processor circuit; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable codes stored thereon for directing the processor circuit to cooperate with the network interface to;

receive from a user of the wireless apparatus a destination node identifier associated with a destination node with which the user wishes to communicate;

transmit an access code request message to an access server, the access code request message including the destination node identifier and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless apparatus;

receive an access code reply message from the access server in response to the access code request message, the access code reply message including an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless apparatus and the destination node can be conducted, the access code being distinct from the destination node identifier; and

establish communications between the wireless device and the destination node through the communications channel identified by the access code.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the network interface comprises a non-voice network interface, and wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be transmitted include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be transmitted to the access server using the non-voice network interface on a non-voice network.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to cause an access code to be transmitted to the access code server include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be transmitted as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the network interface comprises a voice network interface and wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to cause an access code to be transmitted to the access code server include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be transmitted on a voice network.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to cause an access code to be transmitted to the access code server include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be transmitted as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message on the voice network.

43. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the location identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless apparatus in a wireless IP network.

44. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the location identifier comprises an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless apparatus.

45. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the location identifier comprises a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless apparatus.

46. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the network interface comprises a non-voice network interface, and wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to receive an access code reply message include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code reply message to be received from the access server using the non-voice network interface on a non-voice network.

47. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the access code includes a telephone number or an IP address.

48. The wireless apparatus of claim 38, wherein the network interface comprises a mobile telephone network interface, and wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to establish communications between the wireless device and the destination node to include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause a call to be initiated using the mobile telephone network interface on a mobile telephone network.

49. A system for enabling roaming by a wireless apparatus, the system comprising the wireless apparatus of claim 38 and further comprising:

a routing controller; and

an access server comprising a processor circuit and a computer readable medium in communication with the processor circuit, the computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing the processor circuit of the access server to;

receive the access code request message from the wireless apparatus;

communicate with the routing controller to obtain from the routing controller the access code wherein the access code identifies a communications channel associated with the location identifier and wherein the access code is useable by the wireless apparatus to cause the routing controller to establish a call to the destination node using the communications channel; and

transmit the access code reply message to the wireless apparatus.

50. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable codes for directing a processor circuit of a wireless device to establish communications with a destination node on a network, the codes comprising codes for directing the processor circuit to:

cause the wireless device to receive from a user of the wireless device a destination node identifier associated with the destination node;

cause the wireless device to transmit an access code request message to an access server, the access code request message including the destination node identifier and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

cause the wireless device to receive an access code reply message from the access server in response to the access code request message, the access code reply message including an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, the access code being distinct from the destination node identifier; and

cause the wireless device to establish communications between the wireless device and the destination node through the communications channel identified by the access code.

51. A method for enabling a wireless device to establish communications with a destination node, the method comprising:

receiving from the wireless device an access code request message including a destination node identifier associated with the destination node and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

in response to receiving the access code request message, causing a routing controller to produce an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, wherein the access code is produced based on an area code associated with the wireless device and wherein the access code is useable by the wireless device to initiate communications with the destination node through the communications channel; and

transmitting an access code reply message including the access code to the wireless device.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein receiving comprises receiving the access code request message on a non-voice network.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein receiving the access code request message comprises receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein receiving comprises receiving the access code request message on a voice network.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein receiving the access code request message on a voice network comprises receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to route a call between the wireless device and the destination node when the wireless device uses the access code to establish communications between the wireless device and the destination node.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein causing the routing controller to produce the access code comprises causing the access code to be selected from a pool of access codes.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising determining from the location identifier a local calling area associated with the wireless device and causing the access server to select an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising accessing a location field of a dialing profile associated with the wireless device when a local calling area cannot be determined from the location identifier and determining a local calling area associated with the wireless device from the contents of the location field and selecting an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the location identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless device in a wireless IP network.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the location identifier comprises an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless device.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein the location identifier comprises a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless device.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one of the access codes in the pool of access codes identifies an IP network address as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising enabling communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through an IP network in response to a call received at the IP network address from the wireless device using the access code identifying the IP network address.

65. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one of the access codes identifies a telephone number as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising enabling communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in response to a call received at the telephone number from the wireless device using the access code identifying the telephone number.

67. The method of claim 51, wherein the access code request message includes a caller identifier and wherein the method further comprises associating the caller identifier included in the access code request message with the access code produced by the routing controller.

68. The method of claim 64, further comprising enabling the routing controller to facilitate communications in response to use of the access code by the wireless device only if the caller identifier associated with the access code used by the wireless device to establish communications with the destination node identifies the wireless device.

69. The method of claim 67, further comprising associating the destination node identifier included in the access code request message with the access code produced by the routing controller.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the associating the caller identifier and the destination node identifier with the selected access code occurs only when:

a) the access code is not already associated with a destination node identifier;

or

b) the access code is already associated with another destination node identifier, and a timeout value associated with the another destination node identifier has expired.

71. The method of claim 51, further comprising causing a timestamp to be associated with the access code, for use in determining when the usability of the access code to initiate a call to the destination node will expire, and causing the timestamp to be included in the access code reply message transmitted to the wireless device.

72. The method of claim 70, further comprising causing communications to be permitted between the wireless device and the destination node when the wireless device seeks to establish a call to the destination node using the access code transmitted in the access code reply message when the timestamp associated with the access code indicates the usability of the access code has not expired, and causing the communications to be prevented when the timestamp indicates the usability of the access code has expired.

73. The method of claim 51, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the access code reply message on a non-voice network.

74. The method of claim 51, wherein transmitting the access code reply message comprises transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

75. The method of claim 51, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network comprises transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

77. An apparatus for enabling a wireless device to establish communications with a destination node, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from the wireless device an access code request message including a destination node identifier associated with the destination node and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

means for causing a routing controller to produce an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, in response to receiving the access code request message, such that the access code server produces the access code based on an area code associated with the wireless device and such that the access code is useable by the wireless device to initiate communications with the destination node through the communications channel; and

means for transmitting an access code reply message including the access code to the wireless device.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for receiving comprises a non-voice network interface for receiving the access code request message on a non-voice network.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for receiving the access code request message comprises means for receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

80. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the access code request message on a voice network.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the means for receiving the access code request message on a voice network comprises means for receiving the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

82. The apparatus of claim 77, further comprising the routing controller and wherein routing controller is operably configured to route a call between the wireless device and the destination node.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to select the access code from a pool of access codes.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to determine a local calling area associated with the wireless device from the location identifier and to select an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device.

85. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising:

a dialing profile associated with the wireless device, the dialing profile including a location field; and

wherein the routing controller is operably configured to determine a local calling area associated with the wireless device from the contents of the location field and to select an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device, when a local calling area associated with the wireless device cannot be determined from the location identifier.

86. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the location identifier includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless device in a wireless IP network.

87. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the location identifier includes an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless device.

88. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the location identifier includes a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless device.

89. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein at least one of the access codes in the pool of access codes identifies an IP network address as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through an IP network in response to a call received at the IP network address from the wireless device using the access code identifying the IP network address.

91. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein at least one of the access codes in the pool of access codes identifies a telephone number as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in response to a call received at the telephone number from the wireless device using the access code identifying the telephone number.

93. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the access code request message includes a caller identifier and wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the caller identifier with the selected access code.

94. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to facilitate communications between the wireless device and the destination node in response to use of the access code by the wireless device only if the caller identifier associated with the access code used by the wireless device to establish communications with the destination node identifies the wireless device.

95. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the destination node identifier included in the access code request message with the selected access code.

96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the caller identifier and the destination node identifier with the selected access code only when:

a) the access code is not already associated with a destination node identifier;

or

b) the access code is already associated with another destination node identifier, and a timeout value associated with the another destination node identifier has expired.

97. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate a timestamp with the access code, for use in determining when the usability of the access code to initiate a call to the destination node will expire, and to cause the timestamp to be included in the access code reply message transmitted to the wireless device.

98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications to be established between the wireless device and the destination node when the wireless device seeks to establish a call to the destination node using the access code transmitted in the access code reply message when the timestamp associated with the access code indicates the usability of the access code has not expired and to prevent the communications from being established when the timestamp indicates the usability of the access code has expired.

99. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a non-voice network interface for transmitting the access code reply message on a non-voice network.

100. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for transmitting the access code reply message comprises means for transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

101. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the access code reply message on a voice network.

102. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the means for transmitting for the access code reply message on a voice network comprises means for transmitting the access code reply message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

103. An apparatus for enabling a wireless device to establish communications with a destination node, the apparatus comprising:

a processor circuit including at least one processor;

a network interface in communication with the processor circuit; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable codes for directing the at least one processor to;

receive from the wireless device an access code request message including a destination node identifier associated with the destination node and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

cause a routing controller to produce an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, in response to receiving the access code request message, such that the access code server produces the access code based on an area code associated with the wireless device and such that the access code is useable by the wireless device to initiate communications with the destination node through the communications channel; and

transmit an access code reply message including the access code to the wireless device.

104. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the network interface comprises a non-voice network interface, and wherein the codes for directing the processor circuit to receive include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code request message to be received using the non-voice network interface on a non-voice network.

105. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the codes includes codes for directing the processor circuit to receive the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

106. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the codes include codes for directing the processor circuit to receive the access code request message on a voice network.

107. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the codes include codes for directing the processor circuit to receive the access code request message as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

108. The apparatus of claim 103 further comprising the routing controller.

109. The apparatus of claim 108, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to cause the access code to be selected from a pool of access codes, wherein each access code in the pool of access codes identifies a respective telephone number.

110. The apparatus of claim 109, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to determine from the location identifier a local calling area associated with the wireless device and to select an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device.

111. The apparatus of claim 109, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to access a location field of a dialing profile associated with the wireless device when a local calling area cannot be determined from the contents of the location identifier and to determine a local calling area associated with the wireless device from the contents of the location field and to select an access code associated with a calling area matching the local calling area associated with the wireless device.

112. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the location identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless device in a wireless IP network.

113. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the location identifier comprises an identifier of a wireless voice signal station in wireless communication with the wireless device.

114. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the location identifier comprises a user-configured identifier of a location associated with the wireless device.

115. The apparatus of claim 109, wherein at least one of the access codes in the pool of access codes identifies an IP network address as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

116. The apparatus of claim 115, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through an IP network in response to a call received at the IP network address from the wireless device using the access code identifying the IP network address.

117. The apparatus of claim 108, wherein at least one of the access codes in the pool of access codes identifies a telephone number as a possible communications channel through which the communications can be conducted.

118. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications between the wireless device and the destination node to be established through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in response to a call received at the telephone number from the wireless device using the access code identifying the telephone number.

119. The apparatus of claim 109, wherein the access code request message includes a caller identifier and wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the caller identifier included in the access code request message with the selected access code.

120. The apparatus of claim 119, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to facilitate communications between the wireless device and the destination node in response to the access node used by the wireless device only if the caller identifier associated with the access code used by the wireless device to establish communications with the destination node identifies the wireless device.

121. The apparatus of claim 119, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the destination node identifier included in the access code request message with the selected access code.

122. The apparatus of claim 121, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate the caller identifier and the destination node identifier with the selected access code only when:

a) the access code is not already associated with another destination node identifier;

or

b) the access code is already associated with a destination node identifier, and a timeout value associated with the another destination node identifier has expired.

123. The apparatus of claim 122, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to associate a timestamp with the access code, for use in determining when the usability of the access code to initiate a call to the destination node will expire, and to cause the timestamp to be included in the access code reply message.

124. The apparatus of claim 123, wherein the routing controller is operably configured to enable communications to be established between the wireless device and the destination node when the wireless device seeks to establish a call to the destination node using the access code transmitted in the access code reply message when the timestamp associated with the access code indicates the usability of the access code has not expired and to prevent the communications from being established when the timestamp indicates the usability of the access code has expired.

125. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the network interface comprises a non-voice network interface, and wherein codes for directing the processor circuit to transmit include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code reply message to be transmitted using the non-voice network interface on a non-voice network.

126. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the codes include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code reply message to be transmitted as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

127. The apparatus of claim 103, wherein the codes include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code reply message to be transmitted on a voice network.

128. The apparatus of claim 127, wherein the codes include codes for directing the processor circuit to cause the access code reply message to be transmitted as a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

129. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer executable codes for directing a processor circuit of a wireless device to establish communications with a destination node, the codes comprising codes for directing the processor circuit to:

receive from the wireless device an access code request message including a destination node identifier associated with the destination node and a location identifier identifying a geographical location of the wireless device;

cause a routing controller to produce an access code identifying a communications channel on a gateway through which communications between the wireless device and the destination node can be conducted, in response to receiving the access code request message, such that the access code server produces the access code based on an area code associated with the wireless device and such that the access code is useable by the wireless device to initiate communications with the destination node through the communications channel; and

transmit an access code reply message including the access code to the wireless device.