System and method of calling a single mobile telephone through multiple directory numbers in a radio telecommunications network

• US 5,983,095 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Cameron, Duncan Peter Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOFOCLEOUS, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/686,655
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 455/551, 455/433, 455/495, 455/567, 455/414, 455/417, 455/33.1, 455/432, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method in a radio telecommunications network of utilizing a plurality of telephone numbers with a single mobile telephone by changes to the network rather than the mobile telephone are disclosed. The system provides a mobile subscriber with an indication of the directory number dialed by the calling party. A plurality of directory numbers, a plurality of mobile identification numbers (MINs), and a plurality of alpha-numeric strings are stored in a database in the network such as a home location register (HLR). Several directory numbers are associated with the mobile telephone'"'"'s MIN, and then each directory number is associated with an alpha-numeric string. When a directory number is dialed, an associated MIN and alpha-numeric string are identified. The MIN and alpha-numeric string are then transported through the network to the mobile telephone while the mobile telephone is being alerted. The called subscriber is informed of the dialed directory number either by a short message service (SMS) message carrying the alpha-numeric string, or by substituting the dialed directory number for a calling line identification (CLI) number in an Alert With Info signal sent to the mobile telephone.

Claims

1. In a radio telecommunications network having a home location register (HLR) and a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs), a method of utilizing a plurality of directory numbers with a single called mobile telephone roaming within said plurality of MSCs and sending an alpha-numeric string to said called mobile telephone indicating which one of said plurality of directory numbers was dialed, said method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a database in said HLR, said plurality of directory numbers, a plurality of mobile identification numbers (MINs), and a plurality of alpha-numeric strings each of which identifies a different directory number when displayed to said subscriber;

receiving in a first MSC of said plurality of MSCs an incoming call to the mobile telephone;

sending a first message from the first MSC to the HLR indicating a dialed directory number of the mobile telephone;

associating in the HLR, the plurality of directory numbers with a single one of the MINs, the MIN being associated with the mobile telephone;

associating in the HLR, each one of the plurality of directory numbers associated with the single MIN with one of the plurality of alpha-numeric strings;

determining which one of the plurality of associated directory numbers is dialed;

determining a second MSC of said plurality of MSCs, said second MSC currently serving the mobile telephone;

sending a second message from the HLR to the second MSC, the second message including the MIN of the called mobile telephone and the alpha-numeric string associated with the dialed directory number;

establishing a trunk between the first MSC and the second MSC;

transmitting a third message from the second MSC to the called mobile telephone, the third message including the alpha-numeric string associated with the dialed directory number; and

displaying the alpha-numeric string to the subscriber, the alpha-numeric string indicating to the subscriber the dialed directory number.

2. The method of utilizing a plurality of directory numbers with a single mobile telephone of claim 1 wherein said step of sending a first message from the first MSC to the HLR includes sending a Location Request Invoke message to the HLR utilizing an IS-41B communications protocol.

3. The method of utilizing a plurality of directory numbers with a single mobile telephone of claim 1 wherein said step of sending a second message from the HLR to a second MSC of said plurality of MSCs includes sending a Routing Request Invoke message to the second MSC utilizing IS-41B.

4. The method of utilizing a plurality of directory numbers with a single mobile telephone of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting a third message from the second MSC to the called mobile telephone includes sending an IS-136A Alert with Info signal to the called mobile telephone.

5. The method of utilizing a plurality of directory numbers with a single mobile telephone of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting a third message from the second MSC to the called mobile telephone includes sending a short message service (SMS) message to the called mobile telephone.