Communication device for placing calls within a plurality of wireless communication networks

• US 6,704,566 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Besharat, Mark, Burgan, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/692,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/412, 455/414, 455/422, 455/424, 455/425, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/450, 455/460, 455/459, 455/461, 455/500, 455/514, 455/517, 455/524, 455/550, 455/551, 455/564, 370/347, 370/410, 370/352, 379/221.02, 379/216.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.05, 379/355.06, 379/355.08
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for making calls from communication devices that operate within a plurality of wireless communication networks. A call number associated with a call from a communication device is received which communicates with an active network. Based on the received call number, a calling code requirement is selected for dialing the call from the communication device. The calling code requirement is then transmitted to the communication device. The call number or the call number in combination with at least one selected calling code is dialed at the communication device based on the transmitted calling code requirement.

Claims

1. A communication device that initiates calls within a wireless communication network, the communication device comprising:

a storage device in which a call number and at least one associated calling code is prestored to facilitate making a call in the wireless communication network;

a transmitter that transmits the call number to the wireless communication network;

a receiver that receives a calling code requirement, based on the call number, from the wireless communication network responsive to transmission of the call number; and

a call dialer that dials the call using the call number alone or in combination with at least one associated, prestored calling code based on the calling code requirement received from the wireless communication network.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is a home network assigned to the communication device.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is a visiting network to which the communication device is not assigned.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one associated calling code is associated with a service area covered by the wireless communication network.

5. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the call number is a local number for the service area covered by the wireless communication network.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one associated calling code comprises at least one of an area code and a country code.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein phone number identifiers differentiate between a local number, the area code, and the country code.

8. The communication device of claim 1, further including an identity module that identifies the communication device to the wireless communication network, wherein the calling code requirement received from the wireless communication network is selected based on an identity of the communication device at the wireless communication network.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one associated calling code is updated based on updated calling code requirements received from the wireless communication network.

10. A communication network that supports calls made by communication devices operating within a plurality of communication networks, comprising:

a receiver that receives a call number associated with the calls made by a communication device;

a call processor that selects a calling code requirement based on the call number which is received;

a transmitter that transmits the calling code requirement to the communication device; and

a call receiver that receives a call from the communication device that is dialed using the call number or the call number in combination with at least one calling code that is selected based on the calling code requirement being transmitted.

11. The communication network of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of communication networks is a home network assigned to the communication device.

12. The communication network of claim 11, wherein the communication network is a visiting network.

13. The communication network of claim 10, wherein the at least one calling code is associated with a service area covered by one of the plurality of communication networks.

14. The communication network of claim 13, wherein the call number is a local number for the service area covered by one of the plurality of communication networks.

15. The communication network of claim 10, wherein the at least one calling code comprises at least one of an area-code and a country-code.

16. The communication network of claim 10, wherein the calling code requirement is selected based on an identity of the communication device at the communication network.

17. The communication network of claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits an updated calling code requirement to the communication device.

18. A method for making calls from communication devices that operate within a plurality of wireless communication networks comprising the steps of:

receiving a call number associated with a call from a communication device that communicates with an active network;

based on the call number which is received, selecting a calling code requirement for dialing the call from the communication device;

transmitting the calling code requirement to the communication device; and

dialing the call number or the call number in combination with at least one calling code which is selected at the communication device based on the calling code requirement which is transmitted.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one calling code requirement which is selected based on an identity of the communication device at the active network.

20. A method for a communication device to initiate a call in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a call number to the wireless communication network;

receiving a calling code requirement, based on the call number, from the wireless communication network responsive to transmission of the call number; and

dialing the call number alone or in combination with an associated, prestored calling code based on the calling code requirement.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the associated, prestored calling code is at least one of an area code and an international country code.