Hybrid multizone call delivery system

• US 6,016,425 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Bannister, Cecil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Application Number:
  US08/718,010
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 379/56-61, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/436, 455/445, 455/517, 455/524, 455/554, 455/560, 455/561, 455/410, 455/411, 455/518 , 455/456, 455/458
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A hybrid multizone call delivery system delivers calls to portables by broadcasting from a central node a portable identification number (PIN) and dial-in number (DN) to all the zones in the system. Portables register their presence in zones as they roam throughout the coverage area. When a zone matches a broadcast PIN to a PIN registered therein, a zone controller pages the portable and initiates a call back to the broadcast DN. Upon receipt of the call back, the central node connects the incoming call to the portable through the call back connection.

Claims

1. A zoned communication network comprising:

a central node; and

at least two zone cells, each having a plurality of base stations and a zone controller for controlling an associated zone cell, said zone controller including a visitor location register that is distinct from said plurality of base stations and that maintains a list of portables currently in said zone cell such that said central node need not maintain a home location register for storing a list of locations of portables,

wherein said central node establishes a communication link between an incoming call received at said central node and a portable in said zone cell, said zone controller registering an identifier of said portable in said visitor location register as said portable enters said zone cell and being responsive to an indication of said incoming call from said central node to page said portable and signal said central node to establish said communication link if said portable is available to receive said incoming call, said zone controller deleting said identifier of said portable from said visitor location register when said portable leaves said zone cell, said zone controller storing an updatable black list of identifiers of portables that said network will not service.

2. The network recited in claim 1, wherein said central node comprises a transmitter responsive to said incoming call to broadcast said identifier to each said zone cell.

3. The network recited in claim 1, wherein each said central node comprises a timer set to command said central node to forward said incoming call to another communication device if said portable is unavailable to receive said incoming call within a predetermined time of said page of said portable.

4. The network recited in claim 1, wherein each said zone cell comprises a modem responsive to a command broadcast from said central node to route Call Detail Records to said central node over said modem.

5. The network recited in claim 1, wherein each said zone controller comprises call initiating circuitry to signal said central node to establish said communications link by initiating a call back to said central node.

6. The network recited in claim 5, wherein said call back to said central node is routed through a communication line.

7. The network recited in claim 6, wherein said communication line is one of a line of a public switched telephone network, a line of a private branch exchange and a centrex line.

8. The network recited in claim 7, wherein each said zone controller is connected directly to one of said public switched telephone network, said private branch exchange, and a centrex controller.

9. The network recited in claim 6, wherein each said zone controller is connected to a plurality of base stations, each base station being connected directly to said one of said public switched telephone network and said private branch exchange.

10. The network recited in claim 1, wherein each said central node comprises a switch for receiving and transmitting calls between a public switched telephone network and a node controller directing operation of said zone controller.

11. The network recited in claim 1, wherein each said zone cell comprises a receiver for receiving messages from said central node, said associated zone controller receiving said messages from said receiver.

12. The network recited in claim 11, wherein said associated zone controller routes said incoming call to one of said plurality of base stations, and said one base station routes said incoming call to said portable.

13. The network recited in claim 12, wherein each said zone cell further comprises a switch controlled by said associated zone controller to route said incoming call to said base stations, said switch controller also being connected to a public switched telephone network to provide said signal to said central node to establish said communications link from said zone controller.

14. The network recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of base stations is directly connected to one of a public switched telephone network and a private branch exchange.

15. The network recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of said plurality of base stations is directly connected to one of a public switched telephone network and a private branch exchange.

16. The network recited in claim 12, wherein said base stations comprises means for handing off said portable among said base stations as said portable moves within said zone cell.

17. A method of communication in a zoned network, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a zoned network having a central node and at least two zone cells, each of said at least two zone cells having a plurality of base stations and a zone controller for controlling an associated zone cell, said zone controller including a visitor location register that is distinct from said plurality of base stations and that maintains a list of portables currently in said zone cell such that said central node need not maintain a home location register for storing a list of locations of portables,

storing an updatable black list of identifiers of portables that the network will not service in each said visitor location register;

registering an identifier of a portable in said visitor location register of a zone cell as said portable enters said zone cell, provided said identifier does not appear in said updatable black list;

upon receipt of an incoming message for said portable from a central node, paging said portable from said zone cell;

signaling said central node from said zone cell to establish a communication link with said portable, if said portable is available to receive said incoming call; and

deleting said identifier of said portable from said visitor location register when said portable leaves said zone cell.

18. The method recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of:

in response to said incoming call, broadcasting via said central node said identifier to each said zone cell.

19. The method recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of:

forwarding said incoming call via said central node to another communication device if said portable is unavailable to receive said incoming messages within a predetermined time of said page of said portable.