Method and system for routing calls to wireless directory numbers in a network

• US 6,487,412 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Wireless Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, Stephen P., Dellangelo, Michael, Petrey, Michael J., Howe, Walter Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/340,508
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/433, 455/560, 455/561, 455/428, 455/432, 379/218.01, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/229, 379/232, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for establishing calls to wireless directory numbers (DNs) in a telecommunications network. When a call is directed to a wireless DN, a first node in the network identifies a signaling node associated with the wireless DN and sends the identified signaling node a request for a route to the wireless DN. If the wireless device associated with wireless DN is outside of its home area and is served by a visited node in the network, the signaling node determines a route that excludes the home node associated with the wireless DN and returns a temporary location directory number (TLDN) to the first node. Using the TLDN, the first node then establishes a connection to the visited node.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a call to a wireless directory number associated with a home wireless switch coupled to a public network, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying, at a first switch, a signaling node associated with the wireless directory number;

determining, at the signaling node, a route within the public network that excludes the home wireless switch;

transmitting the determined route to the first switch; and

establishing, by the first switch, a connection via the determined route to a visited node serving the wireless directory number, wherein the connection excludes the signaling node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by an area code associated with the wireless directory number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by an area code and an office code associated with the wireless directory number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by a variable number of digits associated with the wireless directory number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the step of requesting a route from a home location register associated with the wireless directory number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the step of receiving a temporary location directory number from a home location register associated with the wireless directory number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the steps of:

receiving from a first node a request to route the call to the wireless directory number; and

sending to the first node a temporary location directory number for establishing the call to the wireless directory number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing step comprises the step of establishing the connection to a temporary local directory number assigned by the visited node to the wireless directory number.

9. A system, comprising:

a first node including one or more predetermined triggers for identifying calls destined to wireless directory numbers;

a home wireless switch, coupled to a public network, associated with the wireless directory numbers;

a visited node serving at least one of the wireless directory numbers; and

a signaling node, identified via the predetermined signals to be associated with the at least one of the wireless directory numbers, for determining a route within the public network that excludes the home wireless switch for one of the identified calls that is destined to one of the wireless directory numbers served by the visited node,

wherein the identified signaling node transmits the determined route to the first node, and wherein the first node establishes a connection via the determined route to the visited node serving the at least one of the wireless directory numbers, the connection excluding the identified signaling node.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein one of the predetermined triggers includes an index and an identifier identifying the signaling node.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the index includes an area code associated with one of the wireless directory numbers.

12. The network of claim 10, wherein the index includes an area code and an office code associated with one of the wireless directory numbers.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first node is a switching system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the signaling node is a service control point.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the signaling node is an integrated service control point.

16. A computer-readable medium capable of configuring a computer to perform a method for establishing a call to a wireless directory number associated with a home wireless switch coupled to a public network, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a signaling node associated with the wireless directory number;

receiving from the signaling node a route within the public network that excludes the home wireless switch when a visited node serves the wireless directory number; and

establishing a connection via the determined route to the visited node, wherein the connection excludes the signaling node.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by an area code associated with the wireless directory number.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by an area code and an office code associated with the wireless directory number.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of invoking a trigger indexed by a variable number of digits associated with the wireless directory number.

20. A computer-readable medium capable of configuring a signaling node to perform a method for establishing a call to a wireless directory number associated with a home wireless switch coupled to a public network, said method comprising the steps of:

requesting from a home location register coupled to the public network a route to a wireless directory number;

receiving from the home location register a temporary directory number when a visited node coupled to the public network serves the wireless directory number; and

sending the received temporary directory number to a first node in the network for establishing a connection to the visited node, wherein said connection is by a route within the public network that excludes said home wireless switch and said signaling node.

21. A node coupled to a public network, comprising:

a memory including a signal for identifying a signaling node associated with a wireless directory number having an associated home wireless switch coupled to a public network;

a program stored in the memory for receiving from the signaling node a route within the public network that excludes the associated home wireless switch when the wireless directory number is served by a visited node and for establishing via the route a connection, which excludes the signaling node, to the visited node when establishing a call to the wireless directory number; and

a processor for running the program.

22. The node of claim 21, wherein the trigger includes an index and an identifier associated with the signaling node.

23. A computer-readable memory device encoded with a data structure for establishing calls to wireless directory numbers having associated home wireless switches coupled to a public network, the data structure comprising:

an index including at least one digit associated with at least one of the wireless directory numbers; and

an identifier that identifies a signaling node, associated with the at least one of the wireless directory numbers, coupled to the public network for determining a route within the public network to one of the wireless directory numbers that includes said at least one digit, wherein the route excludes the home wireless switch and the signaling node.

24. The computer-readable memory device of claim 23, wherein the index includes an area code associated with at least one of the wireless directory numbers.

25. The computer-readable memory device of claim 23, wherein the index includes an area code and an office code associated with at least one of the wireless directory numbers.

26. The computer-readable memory device of claim 23, wherein the index includes a variable number of digits associated with at least one of the wireless directory numbers.