System and method of completing calls to busy mobile subscribers in a radio telecommunications network

• US 5,995,848 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nguyen, Viet Anh
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/897,731
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/433, 455/458, 455/560, 455/528, 455/510, 455/466, 455/461
• US Class Current: 455/528
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method and system of completing calls to busy mobile subscribers in a radio telecommunications network. The system includes a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) to provide switching functions to a mobile station (MS) in a home service area, a home location register (HLR) providing a location of the MS to the G-MSC, a visitor mobile switching center (V-MSC) to provide switching functions to the MS when the MS roams outside the home service area, and a service control point (SCP) which includes service logic for periodically initiating a call attempt to the MS to determine if the MS is busy. When the calling party attempts to call a busy MS, the calling party may request an automatic callback service. The G-MSC releases all trunks from the calling party and the MS and notifies the SCP. The SCP periodically initiates a call attempt to ascertain whether the MS is idle. Upon determining that the MS is idle, the G-MSC connects the call between the calling party and the MS.

Claims

1. A system in a radio telecommunications network for completing a call from a calling party to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted, said system comprising:

an originating mobile switching center (O-MSC) where said call enters said radio telecommunications network, said O-MSC including a service switching function (SSF);

a visiting mobile switching center (V-MSC) where said called MS is operating, said V-MSC including means for determining whether said called (MS) is busy;

means for notifying said O-MSC whether said called MS is busy;

a service control function (SCF) associated with said O-MSC, said SCF including service logic for periodically initiating a call attempt to said called MS via said SSF without utilizing a trunk between said O-MSC and said V-MSC;

means within said O-MSC for informing said SCF whether said MS is busy; and

means for completing said call upon determining that said called MS is idle.

2. The system for completing a call to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 1 wherein said SCF is located within a service control point (SCP).

3. The system for completing a call to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 2 wherein said means for completing said call upon determining that said called MS is idle includes:

means within said V-MSC for alerting said called MS;

an announcement machine associated with said V-MSC for notifying an answering subscriber to wait for a call completion;

means within said O-MSC for alerting said calling party;

an announcement machine associated with said O-MSC for notifying said calling party to wait for said call completion; and

means within said O-MSC for connecting said call.

4. The system for completing a call to a called MS which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 3 wherein said means within said O-MSC for connecting said call includes means for joining a first trunk between said O-MSC and said V-MSC and a second trunk between said O-MSC and said calling party.

5. The system for completing a call to a called MS which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 1 wherein said calling party is a wireline subscriber within the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and said O-MSC is a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC).

6. The system for completing a call to a called MS which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 1 wherein said calling party is a calling mobile station (MS).

7. The system for completing a call to a called MS which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 6 further comprising a second V-MSC where said calling MS is located.

8. A system in a radio telecommunications network for completing a call from a calling party to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted, said system comprising:

a mobile switching center (MSC) that performs switching and call connecting functions for said calling party and said called MS, said MSC including means for determining whether said called MS is busy;

means within the MSC for releasing all trunks between the calling party and the called MS upon determining that the called MS is busy;

a service control point (SCP) associated with said MSC, said SCP including service logic for periodically initiating a call attempt to said called MS via said MSC;

means within said MSC for informing said SCP whether said called MS is busy;

signaling means for sending a request for call completion by the calling part to the SCP upon determining that the called MS is busy;

means within the MSC for establishing a first trunk from the MSC to the calling party upon determining that the called MS is idle;

means within the MSC for informing the calling party to wait for call completion; and

means within the MSC for completing said call upon determining that said called MS is idle.

9. The system for completing a call to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted of claim 8 wherein the MSC includes means for alerting said called MS and said calling party, and the means for informing the calling part to wait for call completion includes an announcement machine associated with said MSC for notifying an answering subscriber and said calling party to wait for call completion.

10. A method in a radio telecommunications network of completing a call from a calling party to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted, said MS operating in a service area of a visiting mobile switching center (V-MSC), said method comprising the steps of:

attempting a call by said calling party to said MS;

determining a busy status of said MS by a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), said G-MSC having a home service area from which said call enters said radio telecommunications network;

sending a request for call completion by said calling party to a service control point (SCP) associated with said G-MSC, upon determining that said MS is busy;

releasing, by said G-MSC, of all trunks between said calling party and said MS;

periodically initiating, by said SCP, a call attempt to said MS via said G-MSC to determine said busy status of said MS;

determining whether said MS is in said busy status;

establishing a first trunk from said G-MSC to said V-MSC where said MS is operating, upon determining said MS is idle;

sending an alerting signal to said MS;

detecting that said MS answered said alerting signal;

informing said MS to wait for call completion;

establishing a second trunk from said G-MSC to said calling party;

informing said calling party to wait for call completion; and

joining said first trunk to said second trunk to establish a call delivery from said calling party to said MS.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after the step of

determining a busy status of said MS, the step of announcing to said calling party that an automatic callback service is available to said calling party.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of determining a busy status of said MS includes the step of sending a plurality of messages to determine said busy status of said MS.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of sending a plurality of messages includes the steps of:

sending a Location Request (LOCREQ) Invoke message from said G-MSC to a home location register (HLR) located in said home service area; and

sending a Route Request (ROUTREQ) Invoke message from said HLR to said MS.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of sending a request for call completion by said calling party includes the steps of:

inputing a code to activate said automatic call back service by said calling party;

sending a first number, by said calling party, indicating a telephone number of said calling party; and

sending a second number, by said calling party, indicating a telephone number of said MS.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of informing said MS to wait for call completion includes the step of announcing a verbal message, by a first announcement machine associated with said V-MSC, to said MS to wait for call completion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of informing said calling party to wait for call completion includes the step of announcing a verbal message, by a second announcement machine associated with said G-MSC, to said calling party to wait for call completion.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of informing said calling party to wait for call completion includes the step of sending a series of tones to said calling party to indicate to wait for call completion.

18. A method in a radio telecommunications network of completing a call from a calling party to a called mobile station (MS) which is busy when said call is first attempted, said MS operating in a home service area of a mobile switching center (MSC), said method comprising the steps of:

attempting a call by said calling party to said MS;

determining a busy status of said MS by said MSC;

sending a request for call completion by said calling party to a service control point (SCP) associated with said MSC, upon determining that said MS is busy;

releasing, by said MSC, of all trunks between said calling party and said MS;

periodically initiating, by said SCP, a call attempt to said MS via said MSC to determine a busy status of said MS;

determining whether said MS is in said busy status;

sending an alerting signal to said MS;

detecting that said MS answered said alerting signal;

informing said MS to wait for call completion;

establishing a first trunk from said MSC to said calling party;

informing said calling party to wait for call completion; and

establishing a call delivery from said calling party to said MS.