Method of personal communications service using wireline/wireless integration detecting a predetermined event during process of a call

• US 6,011,975 A
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Tucker, Brenda N., Schwartz, Laurie D., Emery, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/951,470
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/428, 455/461, 455/414, 455/445, 455/422, 379/207, 379/115, 379/67, 379/201, 379/230, 379/88.1, 370/385
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• 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 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 : Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 : PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 : Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/909 : Alternatives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 : Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) wireline system connects to and controls processing of calls to a Personal Communication Service subscriber'"'"'s wireless handset via a home base station or a wireless communication network. Depending on its current location, the subscriber'"'"'s handset automatically registers with the base station or with a mobility controller of the wireless network. A new registration with the base station when the handset comes within range causes that station to update the subscriber'"'"'s home location register in a central data base of the AIN. Similarly, when a handset first registers with a mobility controller, that controller updates the subscriber'"'"'s home location register in the central data base of the AIN. In response to calls directed to the subscriber, the AIN accesses the home location register to determine the current location where the handset is registered. The AIN then uses that data to route the call to the current location. In response to calls from the handset, the central data base provides instruction data to the land line network and/or a mobility controller to extend a requested special service to the calling subscriber.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call from a caller through one of a first plurality of switching offices of a communication network;

sending a first query containing first information, including a destination telephone number corresponding to one of a second plurality of switching offices, through an interoffice signaling network to a service controller serving as a first mediation point for the first plurality of switching offices;

sending a second query containing at least some of the first information from the service controller to a second mediation point serving a second plurality of switching offices and having a database;

receiving, at the service controller, second information corresponding to the second query from the second mediation point database, said second information comprising routing information corresponding to said destination telephone number and information identifying a current location of the caller; and

completing the processing of said call from the caller in response to the second information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the completing step comprises registering the caller in a subscriber location register for at least some services managed by the first mediation point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the registering comprises storing in said subscriber location register wireless telephone information contained in said first information.

4. A method comprising the steps of:

detecting a predetermined event during processing of a call from a caller through one of a first plurality of switching offices of a telephone communication network;

sending a first query containing first information, including a destination telephone number corresponding to one of a second plurality of switching offices, through a telephone interoffice signaling network to a first database node separate from the first plurality of switching offices, said first database node serving as a first mediation point for the first plurality of switching offices;

sending a second query containing at least some of the first information from the first database node to a second database node separate from and in communication with the first database node, said second database node serving as a mediation point for a second plurality of switching offices;

obtaining, from the second database node, second information corresponding to the second query, said second information comprising routing information corresponding to a destination telephone number and information identifying a current location of the caller;

receiving, at the first database node, the second information from the second database node; and

completing the processing of said call from the caller in response to the second information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first database node includes a service control database of a first telephone company (TELCO), and said second database node includes a service control database of a second telephone company (TELCO).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first TELCO is in a first geographic region, and said second TELCO is in a second geographic region different from said first geographic region.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second database nodes includes a database of call processing data.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said first database node is a first integrated service control point (ISCP) of a first telephone company (TELCO), and the second database node is a second integrated service control point (ISCP) of a second telephone company (TELCO).

9. A method comprising the steps of:

detecting an advanced intelligent network (AIN) trigger during processing of a call from a caller through one of a first plurality of switching offices;

sending a first query containing first information relating to the call through a signaling network to a first database of call processing data operated by a first carrier, said first database being separate from, and serving as a first mediation point for, the first plurality of switching offices;

sending a second query containing at least some of the first information from the first database to a second database operated by a second carrier, the second database being separate from and in communications with the first database;

obtaining, from the second database, second information corresponding to the second query, said second information comprising routing information corresponding to said destination telephone number and information identifying a current location of the caller;

receiving, at the first database, the second information from the second database; and

completing the processing of said call from the caller in response to the second information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

sending the first query through an interoffice signaling network; and

sending the second query through said interoffice signaling network.

11. In a communication network including a plurality of communication links, a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the communication links, a mediation point separate from the central office switching systems, a signaling communication system coupled to the central office switching systems and to the mediation point for two-way communications of data messages, and at least one service control database separate from and in communication with the mediation point, a method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a query message from one of said plurality of central office switching systems to the mediation point in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event;

b) in response to step (a), obtaining calling control data for said call from said at least one service control database; and

c) transmitting said obtained calling control data from said mediation point to said one central office switching system;

wherein the predetermined event is an advanced intelligent network (AIN) trigger.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (a) includes the step of transmitting said query message via the signaling communication system.

13. In a communication network including a plurality of communication links, a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the communication links, a mediation point separate from the central office switching systems, a signaling communication system coupled to the central office switching systems and to the mediation point for two-way communications of data messages, and at least one service control database separate from and in communication with the mediation point, a method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a query message from one of said plurality of central office switching systems to the mediation point in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event;

b) in response to step (a), obtaining calling control data for said call from said at least one service control database; and

c) transmitting said obtained calling control data from said mediation point to said one central office switching system;

wherein step (b) includes the step of transmitting said obtained calling control data from the at least one service control database to the mediation point via the signaling communication system.

14. In a communication network including a plurality of communication links, a plurality of separately located central office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providing switched call connections between at least two of the communication links, a mediation point separate from the central office switching systems, a signaling communication system coupled to the central office switching systems and to the mediation point for two-way communications of data messages, and at least one service control database separate from and in communication with the mediation point, a method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a query message from one of said plurality of central office switching systems to the mediation point in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event;

b) in response to step (a), obtaining calling control data for said call from said at least one service control database; and

c) transmitting said obtained calling control data from said mediation point to said one central office switching system;

wherein the mediation point is a service control point of a first carrier, and the at least one service control database is a service control point of a second carrier.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the service control point of the first carrier is an integrated service control point, and the service control point of the second carrier is an integrated service control point.