Dual mode network call forwarding activation and deactivation

• US 6,381,453 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Arjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/072,387
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/434, 455/435, 455/436, 455/433, 455/552, 455/67.1, 455/417, 455/445, 455/416, 455/461, 455/467, 455/551, 455/466, 455/428
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

An apparatus and method, in a telecommunications network having a first and a second system, for activating and deactivating call forwarding from a dual mode subscriber station'"'"'s number in the second system to the subscriber station'"'"'s number in the first system. A first message is transmitted upon initiation of communication between the subscriber station and the first system. If it is determined that a data field in the first message is in the first state, call forwarding from the subscriber number of the second system to the subscriber number of the first system is activated. If the data field is in a second state, call forwarding from the subscriber number of the second system to the subscriber number of the first system is not activated. An indication of at least one type of selected subsequent event, upon which the user of the subscriber station desires to deactivate the call forwarding may also be included in the first message. If the selected event occurs, the call forwarding will be deactivated. The occurrence of the selected event may be signaled to the first system by the subscriber station in a second message.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network having a first and a second system, and a subscriber station capable of receiving calls at a first number when operating in said first system and at a second number when operating in said second system, a method for controlling call forwarding, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message in the first system, said first message transmitted from the subscriber station and including a field, said field settable to at least a first or a second state;

determining, responsive to receiving said first message, whether said field is set to said first state or said second state; and

if it is determined that said field is set to said first state, registering said subscriber station in said first system and sending a second message to said second system; and

if it is determined that said first field is set to said second state, registering said subscriber station in said first system without sending said second message to said second system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said field comprises a first field, and said first and second states comprise first and second activation states and said step of registering said subscriber in said first system and sending a second message comprises activating, in the network, call forwarding from the second number to the first number in response to receiving said second message in-said second system, and wherein said method further comprises, after said step of activating, the steps of:

receiving a third message in the first system, said third message transmitted from the subscriber station and including a second field, said second field settable to at least a first or a second event state, the state of said second field indicating whether or not a selected event has occurred in said system;

determining, responsive to receiving said third message, whether said second field is set to said first event state; and

if it is so determined, deactivating in the network said call forwarding;

else

if it is determined that said second field is set to said second event state, allowing said call forwarding to remain activated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said message received in said step of receiving a message includes a third field, said third field settable to at least a first or a second deactivation state, wherein said third field is set to said first deactivation state to indicate that call forwarding should be deactivated upon the occurrence of said selected event and wherein said step of deactivating said call forwarding comprises the steps of:

determining whether said third field is set to said first deactivation state; and

in response to an affirmative determination, deactivating said call forwarding.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said field comprises a first field and wherein said first message received in said step of receiving a first message includes a second field settable to at least a first or a second deactivation state and said step of registering said subscriber station in said first system and sending a second message comprises activating call forwarding from the second number to the first number in response to receiving said second message in said second system, and wherein said method further comprises, after said step of activating the steps of:

detecting in the network a loss of communications between the first system and the subscriber station;

determining, in response to detecting said loss of communications, whether said second field is set to said first state; and

in response to an affirmative determination, deactivating said call forwarding.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises, after said step of sending a second message to said second system, the step at activating, in response to receiving said second message in said second system, call forwarding from the second number to the first number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first message comprises a registration message.

7. In a telecommunications network having a first and a second system, and a subscriber station capable of dual mode operation for receiving calls at a first number when operating in said first system, and at a second number when operating in said second system, an apparatus for controlling call forwarding from said second number to said first number, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver capable of operating in the first system, said receiver for receiving a message, said message transmitted from the subscriber station and including a field settable to at least a first state or a second state, and, further, said receiver for generating a first signal, said first signal including said field;

a first controller coupled to said receiver, said controller comprising a first memory device for storing a database associating the subscriber station with the second subscriber number, and, further, said first controller for receiving said first signal, determining whether said field is set to said first state, and registering said subscriber station in said first system, and initiating transmission of a second signal to said second system if said field is set to said first state or registering said subscriber station in said first system without initiating transmission of said second signal if said field is not set to said second state; and

a second controller coupled to said first controller, said controller comprising a second memory device for storing a database associating the subscriber station with the second subscriber number, and, further, said second controller for receiving said second signal and activating call forwarding from said second number to said first number in response to receiving said second signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said field comprises a first field and said first and second states comprise first and second activation states, said memory device comprises a first memory device, said first controller comprises a second memory device, and said message further includes a second field settable to at least a first and a second deactivation state, wherein the state of said second field indicates whether or not said call forwarding from the second number to the first number should be deactivated, if activated, upon the occurrence of a selected event, and wherein said receiver transmits a third signal including said second field to said first controller, and said first controller stores said second field in said second memory device upon receipt of said third signal at said first controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said message comprises a first message and said receiver further receives a second message, said second message transmitted from the subscriber station and including a third field, said third field settable to at least a first and a second event state, the state of said third field indicating whether or not said selected event has occurred in the first system, and wherein said receiver generates a fourth signal, said fourth signal including said third field, and transmits said fourth signal to said first controller, and wherein said first controller further receives said fourth signal, and if said call forwarding is activated, compares the state of said third field with the state of said second field stored in said second memory device and initiates transmission of a fifth signal to said second controller if said third field indicates said selected event has occurred, and said second field indicates that said call forwarding from the second number to the first number should be deactivated upon the occurrence of said selected event, and wherein said second controller deactivates said call forwarding from said second number to said first number in response to receiving said fifth signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said message comprises a registration message.