Call routing using direct in-dialing numbers in place of temporary routing numbers

• US 6,185,425 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lindgren, Magnus, Wikström, Claes
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/102,722
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/422, 455/445, 455/426, 455/461, 455/465, 455/555, 455/552
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A call routing number for a mobile station operating in a wireless telecommunication system is obtained by first requesting a temporary routing number for use in routing a call to the mobile station. Provided in response to the request is a routing number that had already been assigned to the mobile station when the request was received.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a call routing number for a mobile station operating in a first wireless telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving a request to provide a temporary routing number for use in routing a call from outside said first wireless telecommunication system to the mobile station, when said station is located within said first wireless telecommunication system; and

providing in response to the request instead of a temporary routing number, a routing number that had already been assigned to the mobile station when the request was received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the request in a private wireless network portion of the wireless telecommunication system in which private wireless network portion the mobile station is located, and receiving the request from a public wireless network portion of the wireless telecommunication system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the request from a home location register of the private wireless network portion.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the already-assigned routing number is a direct in-dialing number used for direct dialing from a public switched telephone network to the mobile station in the private wireless network portion.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the request includes identification information that uniquely identifies the mobile station, and wherein said providing step includes mapping said identification information into the already-assigned routing number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said mapping step includes using the identification information to select the already-assigned routing number from a list including a plurality of routing numbers already respectively assigned to a plurality of mobile stations located in the private network portion of the wireless telecommunication system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the already-assigned routing numbers are direct in-dialing numbers used for direct dialing from a public switched telephone network to the respective mobile stations in the private network portion.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the request in a wireless office system of the private network portion.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the already-assigned routing number is a direct in-dialing number used for direct dialing from a public switched telephone network to the mobile station in the private network portion, and including using the direct in-dialing number to route the call from the pubic network portion of the wireless telecommunication system through the public switched telephone network to the private network portion of the wireless telecommunication system.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the request according to one of an IS-41 protocol and a MAP protocol.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said public network portion is a cellular network, and wherein said private network portion is a cellular network.

12. An apparatus for providing a call routing number for a mobile station operating in a first wireless telecommunication system, comprising:

an input for receiving a request to provide a temporary routing number for use in routing a call from outside said first wireless telecommunication system to the mobile station, when said station is located within said first wireless telecommunication system; and

an output coupled to said input and responsive to the request received at said input for providing instead of a temporary routing number, a routing number that had already been assigned to the mobile station when the request was received.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said input is for receiving said request from a public network portion of said wireless telecommunication system in a private network portion of said wireless telecommunication system in which private network portion is located said mobile station.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said input is for receiving said request from a home location register of the public network portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said already-assigned routing number is a direct in-dialing number used for direct dialing from a public switched telephone network to the mobile station in the private network portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said request includes identification information that uniquely identifies the mobile station, and including a converter coupled between said input and said output for mapping said identification information into said already-assigned routing number.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said converter includes a memory having stored therein a lookup table, said converter for using said identification information to select the already-identified routing number from said lookup table in said memory, said lookup table including a plurality of routing numbers already respectively assigned to a plurality of mobile stations located in the private network portion of the wireless telecommunication system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said already-assigned routing numbers are direct in-dialing numbers used for direct dialing from a public switched telephone network to the respective mobile stations in the private network portion of the wireless telecommunication system.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus forms a portion of a wireless office system in the private network portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said input is for receiving said request according to IS-41 protocol and said output is for providing said routing number according to IS-41 protocol.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said input is for receiving said request according to MAP protocol and said output is for providing said routing number according to MAP protocol.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the public network portion is a cellular network, and wherein the private network portion is a cellular network.

23. A private cellular telecommunication network, comprising:

a mobile station for receiving calls from outside a coverage area of said private cellular network; and

an apparatus for providing a call routing number for said mobile station, including an input for receiving from outside said coverage area a request to provide a temporary routing number for use in routing a call from outside said coverage area to said mobile station within said coverage area, and an output coupled to said input and responsive to said request received at said input for providing instead of a temporary routing number, a routing number that had already been assigned to said mobile station when said request was received when said mobile station is located within said private telecommunication network and when said request originates from outside said private telecommunication network.

24. The network of claim 23, including a wireless office system, wherein said coverage area is associated with said wireless office system, and wherein said mobile station is accessible to receive calls from outside of said coverage area of said wireless office system.