Wireless centrex call screen

• US 6,606,505 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Albert, Kim, Jinman, Walker, Hopeton, Wang, Spencer, Ying, Wenchu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/460,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 455/555, 455/517, 455/422, 455/417, 455/413, 455/414, 379/201.01, 379/219, 379/210.02, 379/211.02, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 455/555
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

The instant invention discloses a method and system for providing a novel wireless centrex service that untethers subscribers from the immobility associated with traditional desktop telephones. Essentially, the present invention extends the benefits of wireless voice and data services to subscribers having a need to move within a plurality of localities such as business and hospital campuses.

In accordance with the invention, a wireless telephone subscriber can use a standard cellular/PCS telephone as a wireless extension of their desktop phone, while in the proximity of a miniature radio base station capable of communicating with the PCS/cellular telephone. The advantage of such a system is that a subscriber can use the same cellular/PCS telephone that provides service in the public network in the wireless centrex environment. Additionally, the wireless centrex system provides services and features which are similar to those offered to regular centrex telephone subscribers. Exemplary features include, caller ID, call waiting, call hold, call transfer, call forwarding and voice messaging.

Claims

1. A method for blocking incoming calls to a mobile station in a wireless centrex system including an intelligent radio transceiver assigned to a called party, comprising the steps of:

enabling said call blocking by entering a feature code with said mobile station;

receiving said call blocking feature code at said intelligent radio transceiver from said mobile station registered in said wireless centrex system, said intelligent radio transceiver in communication with a local digital switch without being connected to any public cellular system;

identifying a directory number from which incoming calls to said mobile station will be blocked;

verifying that said mobile station is authorized to block incoming calls; and

storing said director number in a database including a list of directory numbers from which incoming calls to said mobile station will be blocked, via a line side interface to said local digital switch, said local digital switch in communication with a network server platform, said network server platform determining where said mobile station is registered and how to route said incoming calls to said mobile station.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of identifying a directory number includes entering the digits of said directory number with said mobile station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of identifying a directory number includes not entering said directory number with said mobile station and entering only said feature code such that a directory number of said last active call is retrieved and used as said directory number for call blocking.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of blocking a call originating from said directory number which is intended for said mobile station.

5. The method according claim 4, further including the step of providing a particular call treatment to said blocked call.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said particular call treatment is determined based on a system default.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said particular call treatment is dropping said blocked call without any announcement.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a network server platform instructs a local digital switch to disconnect said blocked call to accomplish said dropping of said blocked call without any announcement.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said local digital switch assumes processing of said blocked call and drops said call.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein said particular call treatment is sending said call to a resource.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said resource is selected from the group consisting of an answering service, a voice mail system, and an operator assistant.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a network server platform determines which resource is selected and instructs a local digital switch to select said resource.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said local digital switch and said resource process said blocked call and drop said blocked call after processing of said blocked call by said resource is complete.

14. The method according to claim 5, wherein said particular call treatment is providing said call with an announcement.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said announcement is selected from the group consisting of a system default call screen message, a recorded message created by a user of said mobile station, and a voice synthesized message defined by said user of said mobile station.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of selecting which of a plurality of intelligent transceivers will play said announcement, and wherein a network server platform requests one of said plurality of intelligent transceivers to play said announcement.

17. The method according to claim 16, fturther comprising the step of playing said announcement to said blocked call calling party.

18. The method according to claim 5, wherein said blocked call originates from a telephone outside a wireless centrex system.

19. The method according to claim 5, wherein said blocked call originates from a telephone within a wireless centrex system.

20. A method for screening incoming calls directed to a mobile station in a wireless centrex system including an intelligent radio transceiver, comprising the steps of:

enabling call screening by entering a feature code with said mobile station;

identifying a directory number from which incoming calls to said mobile station will be blocked;

transmitting said feature code from said mobile station through an intelligent radio transceiver to a network server platform, said intelligent radio transceiver in communication with a local digital switch without being connected to any public cellular system, said local digital switch in communication with said network server platform, said network server platform determining where said mobile station is registered and how to route incoming calls to said mobile station;

verifying, with said network server platform, that said mobile station is authorized to block incoming calls;

storing, with said network server platform, said directory number in a database including a list of directory numbers from which incoming calls to said mobile station will be blocked;

blocking said incoming call originating from said directory number which is intended for said mobile station;

providing a call treatment for said blocked incoming call;

instructing said local digital switch with said network server platform via a line side interface as how to dispose of said blocked incoming call according to said call treatment; and

disconnecting said blocked incoming call using said local digital switch.

21. A system for allowing a called party to screen an incoming call to a mobile station in a wireless centrex system including an intelligent radio transceiver, comprising:

a local digital switch, responsive to an incoming call, creating a voice path between an origin of the incoming call and the local digital switch via a line side interface, said intelligent radio transceiver in communication with said local digital switch without being connected to any public cellular system;

a network server platform coupled to said local digital switch r determining where the called mobile station is registered and how to route said incoming call to said called mobile station and fixer determining whether an incoming call is to be blocked; and

said intelligent radio transceiver receiving a call screen activate/deactivate instruction from said mobile station and instructing said network server platform to place calls originating from particular directory numbers in a call screen log.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said network server platform determines disposition of said incoming call to be blocked.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said network server platform comprises:

a memory for storing information related to a profile of the mobile station; and

a controller, responsive to said local digital switch, for evaluating the profile of a called party and instruction the local digital switch to determine whether said incoming call is to be blocked and said disposition of said incoming call to be blocked.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said network server platform carries out a system default for said disposition according to the profile of the called party.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said network server platform determines the disposition is to forward said incoming call to a voice mail system.

26. The system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a voice processing unit for providing an announcement to a calling party that the call has been screened, and wherein said network server platform determines the disposition is to provide said announcement to the calling party.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein said network server platform determines the disposition is to drop the call without an announcement.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said intelligent transceiver is a voice access port in a wireless centrex system.