Apparatus and method for controlling the routing of incoming calls in a wireless communication system

• US 5,315,637 A
• Filed: 05/01/1992
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Muppidi, Prabhakar, Breeden, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/877,293
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58-63, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/56.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system (WCS) comprises a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) (109) each PCU having a telephone number for receiving incoming calls. The WCS is coupled to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) (106), and has a plurality of locations (102) defined by radio coverage of a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs) (108) at each location. The FCUs (108) are coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number. The WCS further comprises a routing controller (RC) (104) for routing (514) incoming calls for PCUs, a location database (116) for storing (408) information used in the routing, and a plurality of location controllers (LCs) (110) each assigned an identification. One LC is at each location and is coupled to the FCUs thereat. The LCs communicate (304, 602, 604) with the RC and control (610, 612) the FCUs in response to messages (410, 412, 510) from the RC.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system having a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) each PCU having a PCU identification code and a PCU telephone number for receiving incoming calls, the wireless communication system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transporting calls to and from the PCUs, and having a plurality of locations, each location having a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs), each location having a location controller (LC) for controlling the plurality of FCUs, each FCU coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number, the wireless communication system comprising:

a routing controller (RC) for controlling the PSTN to route an incoming call for a PCU and for generating an access request message in response thereto, the RC comprising;

a location database for storing information used in controlling the PSTN to route the incoming call for the PCU;

first data communication means coupled to the location database for receiving a call routing request from the PSTN; and

second data communication means coupled to the first data communication means and coupled to the location database for sending the access request message to an LC indicated by the location database to be the LC with which the PCU is registered,

wherein the second data communication means receives from the LC the telephone access number of an available transceiver channel selected by the LC in response to the access request message, and

wherein the first data communication means then forwards the telephone access number to the PSTN in response to the call routing request for controlling the PSTN to route the incoming call to the available transceiver channel.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the location database comprises storage means for storing a plurality of values, comprising:

a plurality of PCU telephone numbers for receiving incoming calls and a plurality of corresponding PCU identification codes, each PCU identification code and PCU telephone number forming a PCU identity pair; and

a plurality of reprogrammable registration status codes, each corresponding to a PCU identity pair for indicating registration status of the PCU identified by the PCU identity pair.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2,

wherein each LC is assigned an LC identification code, and

wherein each LC comprises data communication means coupled to the RC for exchanging data messages with the RC in order to control the routing of calls, and

wherein each of the FCUs comprises call processing means responsive to the LC collocated with the FCUs for processing calls taking place between the FCUs and the PSTN.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein ones of the plurality of reprogrammable registration status codes comprise an LC identification code corresponding to an LC with which a PCU identified by a corresponding PCU identity pair is registered.

5. A wireless communication system having a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) each PCU having a PCU identification code and a PCU telephone number for receiving incoming calls, the wireless communication system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transporting calls to and from the PCUs, and having a plurality of locations, each location having a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs), each location having a location controller (LC) for controlling the plurality of FCUs, each FCU coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number, the wireless communication system comprising:

a routing controller (RC) for controlling the PSTN to route an incoming call for a PCU and for generating an access request message in response to the incoming call, the RC comprising;

a location database for storing information used in controlling the PSTN to route the incoming call for the PCU, the location database comprising storage means for storing a plurality of values, including;

a plurality of PCU telephone numbers for receiving incoming calls and a plurality of corresponding PCU identification codes, each PCU identification code and PCU telephone number forming a PCU identity pair; and

a plurality of reprogrammable registration status codes, each corresponding to a PCU identity pair for indicating registration status of the PCU identified by the PCU identity pair;

first data communication means coupled to the location database for receiving a call routing request from the PSTN and for sending a telephone access number to the PSTN in response thereto for routing the incoming call; and

second data communication means coupled to the first data communication means and coupled to the location database for sending the access request message to an LC indicated by the location database to be the LC with which the PCU is registered, and for receiving the telephone access number selected by the LC in response thereto,

wherein the LC at each location is assigned an LC identification code, and

wherein the LC at each location comprises data communication means coupled to the RC for exchanging data messages with the RC in order to control routing of calls, and

wherein each of the FCUs comprises call processing means responsive to the LC collocated therewith for processing calls taking place between the FCUs and the PSTN, and

wherein ones of the plurality of reprogrammable registration status codes comprise an LC identification code corresponding to an LC with which a PCU identified by a corresponding PCU identity pair is registered.

6. In a wireless communication system having a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) each PCU having a PCU identification code and each PCU assigned a PCU telephone number for receiving incoming calls, the wireless communication system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transporting calls to and from the PCUs, and having a plurality of locations, each location having a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs), each location having a location controller (LC) for controlling the plurality of FCUs, each FCU being coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number, a method of using the LC for establishing communications with a routing controller (RC) and controlling each of the plurality of FCUs at a location in response to an access request message generated by the RC, wherein the LC has an LC identification code, the method comprising in the RC the steps of:

(a) registering the location of a PCU in a location database in response to a registration communication from one of the LCs, comprising the steps of;

(b) receiving an LC registration request message from the LC for requesting registration of the PCU at the location of the LC, comprising the steps of;

(c) receiving the PCU identification code of the PCU; and

(d) receiving therewith an LC identification code that identifies the LC sending the LC registration request message for the PCU;

(e) accessing the location database in response to step (b) to find a pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code;

(f) storing the LC identification code in a manner that couples the LC identification code to the pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code in response to finding the pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code;

(g) sending an LC registration acknowledge message to the LC to acknowledge successful completion of the registration in response to completing step (f); and

(h) sending an LC registration failure message to the LC to indicate failure of the registration in response to being unable to find a pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code;

(i) receiving a call routing request from the PSTN in response to an incoming call for a PCU, the call routing request comprising the PCU telephone number assigned to the PCU having received the incoming call;

(j) accessing the location database in response to step (i) to determine registration status of the PCU;

(k) providing call routing information in response to determining in step (j) that the PCU is registered with an LC, step (k) comprising the steps of;

(l) sending an access request message to the LC;

(m) receiving a telephone access number of a selected available FCU from the LC in response to step (l); and

(n) sending the telephone access number of the selected FCU received in step (m) to the PSTN in further response to the call routing request received in step (i); and

(o) providing a call routing failure message to the PSTN in response to determining in step (j) that the PCU is not registered; and

in the LC the steps of;

(p) handling communications for registrations of the locations of PCUs in response to registration requests from the PCUs, comprising the steps of;

(q) receiving a PCU registration request message from a PCU requesting registration of the PCU, the PCU registration request message comprising the PCU identification code of the PCU;

(r) sending an LC registration request message to the RC in response to step (q) comprising the steps of;

(s) sending the PCU identification code of the PCU; and

(t) sending therewith the LC identification code that identifies the LC;

(u) receiving the LC registration acknowledge message from the RC in response to a successful completion of the registration by the RC;

(v) receiving the LC registration failure message from the RC in response to an unsuccessful completion of the registration by the RC;

(w) sending a PCU registration acknowledge message to the PCU in response to step (u); and

(x) sending a PCU registration failure message to the PCU in response to step (v);

(y) receiving at the LC the access request message from the RC, the access request message being generated in response to an incoming call for a PCU determined to be registered with the LC, comprising receiving the PCU identification code of the PCU being called;

(z) selecting an available FCU at the location of the LC for receiving the incoming call in response to step (y);

(aa) sending the telephone access number of the selected FCU to the RC in response to step (z);

(bb) controlling activities of the FCU during a period between the selection of the FCU in step (z) and an expected delivery of the incoming call to the FCU by the PSTN, comprising the steps of;

(cc) temporarily preventing the selected FCU from being used for outgoing calls; and

(dd) controlling answer supervision of the selected FCU in response to delivery of the incoming call; and

(ee) controlling establishment of a wireless communication link between the selected FCU and the PCU being called in response to completion of the delivery of the incoming call, comprising sending the PCU identification code of the PCU being called over the wireless communication link in response to the completion of the delivery of the incoming call.

7. In a wireless communication system having a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) each PCU having a PCU identification code and each PCU assigned a PCU telephone number for receiving incoming calls, the wireless communication system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transporting calls to and from the PCUs, and having a plurality of locations, each location having a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs), each location having a location controller (LC) for controlling the plurality of FCUs, each FCU coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number, a method of using a routing controller (RC) coupled to a location database for controlling the PSTN to route an incoming call for a PCU and for sending an access request message to the LC with which the PCU is registered in response to the incoming call, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) registering a location of a PCU in the location database in response to a registration communication from an LC;

(b) receiving a call routing request from the PSTN in response to an incoming call for a PCU, the call routing request comprising the PCU telephone number assigned to the PCU having received the incoming call;

(c) accessing the location database in response to step (b) to determine registration status of the PCU;

(d) providing call routing information in response to determining in step (c) that the PCU is registered with an LC having a location controller ID, step (d) comprising the steps of;

(e) sending an access request message to the LC;

(f) receiving a telephone access number of a selected FCU from the LC in response to step (e); and

(g) sending the telephone access number of the selected FCU received in step (f) to the PSTN in further response to the call routing request received in step (b).

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(h) providing a call routing failure message in response to determining in step (c) that the PCU is not registered.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:

(i) receiving an LC registration request message from the LC for requesting registration of a PCU at the location of the LC, comprising the steps of;

(j) receiving the PCU identification code of the PCU; and

(k) receiving therewith an LC identification code that identifies the LC sending the registration request message for the PCU;

(l) accessing the location database in response to step (i) to find a pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code;

(m) storing the LC identification code in a manner that couples the LC identification code to the pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code in response to finding the pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code;

(n) sending an LC registration acknowledge message to the LC to acknowledge successful completion of the registration in response to completing step (m); and

(o) sending an LC registration failure message to the LC to indicate failure of the registration in response to being unable to find a pre-programmed entry for the PCU identification code.

10. In a wireless communication system having a plurality of portable communication units (PCUs) each PCU having a PCU identification code and each PCU assigned a PCU telephone number for receiving incoming calls, the wireless communication system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for transporting calls to and from the PCUs, and having a plurality of locations, each location having a plurality of fixed communication units (FCUs), each location having a location controller (LC) for controlling the plurality of FCUs, each FCU being coupled to the PSTN, each FCU having at least one transceiver channel, and each transceiver channel having a telephone access number, a method of using the LC for establishing communications with a routing controller (RC) and controlling each of the plurality of FCUs at a location in response to an access request message generated by the RC, wherein the LC has an LC identification code, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) handling communications for registrations of the locations of PCUs in response to registration requests from the PCUs, comprising the steps of;

(b) receiving a PCU registration request message from a PCU requesting registration of the PCU, the PCU registration request message comprising the PCU identification code of the PCU;

(c) sending an LC registration request message to the RC in response to step (b), comprising the steps of;

(d) sending the PCU identification code of the PCU; and

(e) sending therewith the LC identification code that identifies the LC;

(f) receiving an LC registration acknowledge message from the RC in response to a successful completion of the registration by the RC;

(g) receiving an LC registration failure message from the RC in response to an unsuccessful completion of the registration by the RC;

(h) sending a PCU registration acknowledge message to the PCU in response to step (f); and

(i) sending a PCU registration failure message to the PCU in response to step (g); and

(j) receiving at the LC the access request message from the RC, the access request message being generated in response to an incoming call for a PCU determined to be registered with the LC.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(k) selecting an available FCU at the location of the LC for receiving the incoming call in response to step (j); and

(l) sending the telephone access number of the selected FCU to the RC in response to step (k).

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

(m) controlling activities of the FCU during a period between the selection of the FCU in step (k) and an expected delivery of the incoming call to the FCU by the PSTN; and

(n) controlling establishment of a wireless communication link between the selected FCU and the PCU being called in response to completion of the expected delivery of the incoming call.

13. The method according to claim 12,

wherein step (m) comprises the steps of:

(p) temporarily preventing the selected FCU from being used for outgoing calls; and

(q) controlling answer supervision of the selected FCU in response to the expected delivery of the incoming call, and

wherein step (n) comprises the step of;

(r) sending the PCU identification code of the PCU being called over the wireless communication link in response to the completion of the expected delivery of the incoming call.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein step (j) comprises the step of:

(o) receiving the PCU identification code of the PCU being called.