Virtual subscriber network

• US 6,934,530 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engelhart, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/259,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/418, 455/414.3, 455/419, 455/403, 455/566, 455/111, 455/114.01, 455/121.01, 455/201.01, 455/201.04, 455/201.12, 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/121.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.04, 379/201.12, 379/201.2, 379/121.02, 379/122
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272

Abstract

A user device (e.g., a mobile telephone) communicates with an access node in a manner that causes the access node to provide call control and service options available through the access node. The capability and cost information is presented to a user device subscriber. The user device communicates to the access node a selection of call control and service options to use with the device.

Claims

1. A method of assigning communication resources for communications services of plural service providers to a mobile device via plural access nodes in a vicinity where the device is operated, the method comprising:

communicating a signal from the device to the plural access nodes available to the device;

receiving from the plural access nodes, control and service options for a plurality of control and service nodes with which the plural access nodes may operate via the access nodes, there being at least one difference in the control and service options available via separate access nodes;

presenting the control and service options to a user of the device; and

assigning control and service nodes to use with the device according to a selection received from the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the control and service options including capabilities and costs of service options of multiple telecom providers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the control and service options including capabilities and costs of control options of multiple telecom providers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting access, control, and service options according to a profile of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating selected control and service options to the access node.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control options comprise call control options.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

performing the acts of claim 6 in response to a signal from the mobile device.

7. A method comprising:

signaling from a mobile device to at least two access nodes accessible from the mobile device to request control and service options available through the access nodes;

determining control options associated with the at least two access nodes;

determining service options available with the control options; and

communicating to the mobile device combinations of the control and service options available via the access nodes, where the control and service options associated with the access nodes may differ between the access nodes;

wherein the control options comprise call control functions provided by plural telecom service providers.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining the control and service options prior to receiving a signal from the mobile device; and

communicating to the mobile device available combinations of the control and service options in response to receiving the signal.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

querying control nodes that provide the control options;

receiving responses from the control nodes, the responses comprising costs and capabilities of the control options provided by the control nodes;

querying service nodes that provide the service options; and

receiving responses from the service nodes, the responses comprising costs and capabilities of the service options provided by the service nodes.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

communicating to the mobile device indications of which control options are associated with which service options.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the control options further comprise call control options.

13. A mobile telephone, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in

signaling from the mobile telephone to plural access nodes in a manner that causes the plural access nodes to provide capability and cost information for a plurality of call control and service options available through the plural access nodes, the call control and service options differing in at least one respect between at least two of the access nodes;

presenting the capability and cost information to a user of the mobile telephone; and

communicating to an access node a selection of call control and service options to use with the mobile telephone.

14. The mobile telephone of claim 13, further comprising instructions which, when executed, further result in:

presenting the capability and cost information to a user of the mobile telephone in a manner that relates the service options with the call control options with which the service options are associated.

15. A mobile device, comprising:

a display, for displaying information to a user;

a processor coupled to the display; and

memory accessible by the processor, comprising instructions which when executed by the processor, result in

signaling from the mobile device to at least two access nodes accessible from the mobile device to request network configuration options available through the access nodes;

retrieving network configuration information; and

displaying network configuration options to the user;

wherein the network configuration information comprises plural available telecom providers supporting call control functions supporting wireless transmissions between the mobile device and a wireless network via the at least two access nodes.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising instructions in memory which when executed result in:

transmitting the user'"'"'s network configuration selection to an access node.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising instructions in memory which when executed result in:

retrieving an update of network configuration information.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising instructions in memory which when executed result in:

transmitting a network configuration change to an access node based on the update of network configuration information.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the update is retrieved without subscriber initiation.

20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the displayed network configuration options itemize at least two of the following charges:

an access layer rate;

a control layer rate;

or

a service layer rate.