One-number communications system and service integrating wireline/wireless telephone communications systems

• US 6,259,782 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, John Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/071,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/243, 455/414, 455/417, 455/428, 455/433, 455/445, 455/461
• US Class Current: 379/211.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• 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 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A one-number communications service system for a subscriber that allows completion of calls to designated wireless or wireline communications terminals through the use of a single assigned telephone number. The system includes a local wireline switch that is coupleable to a wireline terminal, and a wireless switch that is coupleable to a wireless terminal. A switched telephone network is coupled between the switches to thereby define a combined switching arrangement for directing and completing a call to and from the terminals upon receiving routing instructions. A data signaling network is coupled to the combined switching arrangement for controlling switching operations when the call is made. A database management system is coupled to the data signaling network and accessible to the switches. The database management system includes a telephone number assigned for use by the subscriber and routing instructions assigned to the telephone number for allowing access to the terminals. The wireline switch includes a mechanism for sending a request message requesting routing instructions from the database management system for completing the call to the telephone number. Lastly, the database management system includes a mechanism for sending a response message to the wireline switch containing the routing instructions for completing the call to at least one of the terminals.

Claims

1. A one-number communications service system for a subscriber comprising:

a local wireline switch having a line coupleable to a wireline terminal;

a wireless switch coupleable to a wireless terminal;

a switched telephone network coupled between the wireline switch and the wireless switch to thereby define a combined switching arrangement for directing and completing a call to and from the terminals upon receiving routing instructions;

a database management system coupled to a data signaling network and accessible to the wireline switch and the wireless switch, the database management system having a telephone number assigned for use by the subscriber, a plurality of wireline routing instructions assigned to the telephone number for allowing access to the wireline terminal through the wireline switch, a plurality of wireless routing instructions assigned to the telephone number for allowing access to the wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement, and said database management system further comprising;

means for sending the wireline routing instructions to the wireline switch;

means for requesting a routing number from the wireless switch for completing the call through the combined switching arrangement;

means for storing the routing number as part of the wireline routing instructions; and

means for sending the wireless routing instructions to the wireline switch;

said data signaling network coupled to the wireline switch, the wireless switch, and the switched telephone network for sending respective routing instructions therefor for controlling switching operations when the call is made to the telephone number.

2. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a wireline terminal for the subscriber.

3. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a wireline terminal for the subscriber and wherein the wireline terminal is selected from the group consisting of a wireline telephone and an answering machine.

4. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a wireless terminal for the subscriber.

5. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a wireless terminal for the subscriber and wherein the wireline terminal is selected from the group consisting of a wireline cellular telephone and a pager.

6. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireline routing instructions of the database management system include a wireline terminal identification number for allowing access to a wireline terminal through the wireline switch.

7. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless routing instructions include:

a wireless terminal identification number for allowing access to a wireless terminal through the wireless switch; and

a routing number for allowing access to a wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement.

8. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the database management system includes a calling priority scheme assigned to the telephone number in order to designate which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number.

9. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the database management system includes a calling priority scheme assigned to the telephone number in order to designate which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number; and

wherein the calling priority scheme is selected from the group consisting of call completion to the wireline terminal only, call completion to the wireless terminal only, call completion to the wireline terminal first and if unsuccessful to the wireless terminal next, call completion to the wireless terminal first and if unsuccessful to the wireline terminal next, and call completion to both the wireless terminal and the wireline terminal.

10. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the database management system includes a calling priority scheme assigned to the telephone number in order to designate which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number; and

wherein the calling priority scheme is set to allow call completion to at least one of the terminals at a designated time of day and day of week.

11. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1:

wherein the database management system includes a calling priority scheme assigned to the telephone number in order to designate which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number; and

further including means for updating the calling priority scheme based upon the subscriber'"'"'s direction.

12. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the database management system includes:

means for assigning the telephone number for use by the subscriber;

means for assigning the wireline routing instructions and the wireless routing instructions to the telephone number to thereby directly associate the terminals;

means for assigning a calling priority scheme to the telephone number for designating which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number; and

means for storing the telephone number, the respective routing, instructions, and the calling priority scheme therein to thereby define a modifiable global location register.

13. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireline switch includes means for assigning a wireline terminal identification number to the line thereof to thereby obtain a plurality of wireline routing instructions for allowing access to the wireline terminal.

14. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless switch includes means for registering a wireless terminal identification number therewith and thereby obtain a plurality of wireless routing instructions for allowing access to the wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement.

15. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireline switch includes:

means for receiving an incoming call requesting call completion to the telephone number;

means for requesting the respective routing instructions from the database management system for completing the call to the telephone number; and

means for completing the call to the wireline terminal using the wireline routing instructions.

16. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless switch includes:

means for receiving a request for a routing number from the global location register for completing the call through the combined switching arrangement; and

means for sending the routing number to the global location register.

17. The one-number communications service system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the combined switching arrangement includes means for completing the call to the wireless terminal using the wireless routing instructions.

20. The method for operating a one-number communications service as set forth in claim 12:

and further providing means for recording incoming calls for later playback by the subscriber to thereby define a voice mailbox terminal; and

completing the call to the voice mailbox terminal using the wireline routing instructions.

18. A method for operating a one-number communications service for a subscriber in a combination wireless and wireline communications system, the steps of the method comprising:

assigning a telephone number for use by the subscriber;

assigning a wireline terminal identification number to a line of a wireline switch and thereby obtaining a plurality of wireline routing instructions for allowing access to a wireline terminal through the wireline switch;

registering a wireless terminal identification number of a wireless terminal with a wireless switch and thereby obtaining a plurality of wireless routing instructions for allowing access to a wireless terminal through the wireline switch and the wireless switch;

assigning the wireline routing instructions and the wireless routing instructions to the telephone number to thereby directly associate the terminals;

assigning a calling priority scheme to the telephone number for designating which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number;

storing the telephone number, the respective routing instructions, and the calling priority scheme in a database management system to thereby define a modifiable global location register;

receiving an incoming call to the wireline switch requesting call completion to the telephone number;

in response to the incoming call at the wireline switch, requesting the respective routing instructions from the global location register for completing the call to the telephone number;

in response to the request for the routing instructions, and if the calling priority scheme designates call completion to the wireline terminal, sending the wireline routing instructions from the global location register to the wireline switch;

in response to the request for the routing instructions, and if the calling priority scheme designates call completion to the wireless terminal,

requesting a routing number from the wireless switch for completing the call through the combined switching arrangement,

in response to the request for the routing number, sending the routing number from the wireless switch to the global location register, and

upon receiving the routing number at the global location register, storing the routing number in the global location register as part of the wireline routing instructions, and then sending the wireless routing instructions from the global location register to the wireline switch; and

upon receiving the respective routing instructions at the wireline switch, completing the call to the wireline terminal through the wireline switch using the wireline routing instructions and completing the call to the wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement using the wireless routing instructions.

19. A method for operating a one-number communications service for a subscriber in a combination wireless and wireline communications system, the steps of the method comprising:

providing a wireline terminal for the subscriber;

providing a wireless terminal for the subscriber having a wireless terminal identification number assigned thereto;

providing a local wireline switch having a line coupled to the wireline terminal;

providing a wireless switch;

providing a switched telephone network coupled between the wireline switch and the wireless switch to thereby define a combined switching arrangement for directing and completing a call to and from the terminals upon receiving routing instructions;

providing a data signaling network coupled to the wireline switch, the wireless switch, and the switched telephone network for controlling switching operations when the call is made;

providing a database management system coupled to the data signaling network and accessible to the wireline switch and the wireless switch;

assigning a telephone number for use by the subscriber;

assigning a wireline terminal identification number to the line of the wireline switch and thereby obtaining a plurality of wireline routing instructions for allowing access to the wireline terminal through the wireline switch;

registering the wireless terminal identification number of the wireless terminal with the wireless switch and thereby obtaining a plurality of wireless routing instructions for allowing access to the wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement;

assigning the wireline routing instructions and the wireless routing instructions to the telephone number to thereby directly associate the terminals;

assigning a calling priority scheme to the telephone number for designating which terminal to call when a request for call completion is made to the telephone number;

storing the telephone number, the routing instructions, and the calling priority scheme in the database management system to thereby define a modifiable global location register;

receiving an incoming call to the wireline switch requesting call completion to the telephone number;

in response to the incoming call at the wireline switch, requesting the routing instructions from the global location register over the data signaling network for completing the call to the telephone number;

in response to the request for the routing instructions, and if the calling priority scheme designates call completion to the wireline terminal, sending the wireline routing instructions from the global location register over the data signaling network to the wireline switch;

in response to the request for the routing instructions, and if the calling priority scheme designates call completion to the wireless terminal,

requesting a routing number from the wireless switch over the data signaling network for completing the call through the combined switching arrangement,

in response to the request for the routing number, sending the routing number from the wireless switch over the data signaling network to the global location register, and

upon receiving the routing number at the global location register, storing the routing number in the global location register as part of the wireline routing instructions, and then sending the wireless routing instructions from the global location register over the data signaling network to the wireline switch; and

upon receiving the routing instructions at the wireline switch, completing the call to the wireline terminal through the wireline switch using the wireline routing instructions and completing the call to the wireless terminal through the combined switching arrangement using the wireless routing instructions.