System and method for providing telecommunication services

• US 7,043,248 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Widmark, Jerker, Dahlin, Steinar, Hallenstål, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US10/400,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/432.1, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/422.1, 455461-462, 455/428, 455/435.1, 4554261-4262, 455/465, 455/552.1, 379/201.1, 379/207.12, 379/207.14, 379/210.01, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A system and method for routing an incoming telephone call to a mobile terminal (106) which is a combined cordless phone and mobile phone. The call will be connected over either a fixed network (104) or a mobile network (102) depending on whether the mobile terminal is within or out of radio coverage of a home base station (110) connected to the fixed network. The call is routed in response to a routing indication which is included in the called number of the mobile terminal depending on the location of the mobile terminal. In this way, network operators may direct calls over the fixed network in preference to the mobile network, thereby relieving the mobile network. A single telephone number can also be used for the combined cordless phone and mobile phone.

Claims

1. A combined telecommunication system, comprising:

a fixed network,

a mobile network,

a home base station connectable to the fixed network for providing a wireless interface between a mobile terminal and the fixed network, the home base station including means for detecting whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, and means for updating the combined system when the mobile terminal moves into or out of the radio coverage,

means for including a routing indication in a called number of an incoming call to the mobile terminal, the routing indication indicating whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not, and

means for routing the incoming call to the mobile terminal via the home base station when the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, and via the mobile network when the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station, in response to the routing indication included in the called number.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the home base station is configured to dial an updating code for updating the combined system on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

3. A system according to claim 1, the fixed network comprising a location database configured to store information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

4. A system according to claim 3, the location database being configured to add the routing indication to the called number, upon query in connection with an incoming call.

5. A system according to claim 1, the mobile network comprising a Home Location Register configured to store information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

6. A system according to claim 5, the Home Location Register being configured to add the routing indication to the called number if the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, upon query in connection with an incoming call.

7. A system according to claim 5, the Home Location Register being configured to provide a roaming number as the routing indication if the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station, upon query in connection with an incoming call.

8. A system according to claim 1, the system being configured to remove the routing indication from the called number before connecting the incoming call to the mobile terminal.

9. In a combined telecommunication system comprising a fixed network, a mobile network and a home base station connectable to the fixed network for providing a wireless interface between a mobile terminal and the fixed network, the home base station being configured to detect whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, and to update the combined system as the mobile terminal moves into or out of the radio coverage, a method of routing an incoming call to a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

including a routing indication in the called number of the incoming call to the mobile terminal, the routing indication indicating whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not, and

routing the incoming call to the mobile terminal via the home base station when the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, and via the mobile network when the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station, in response to the routing indication included in the called number.

10. A method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of the home base station dialling an updating code for updating the combined system on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

11. A method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of storing information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not in a location database of the fixed network.

12. A method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of adding the routing indication to the called number by the location database upon query in connection with an incoming call.

13. A method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of storing information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not in a Home Location Register of the mobile network.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising the further step of adding the routing indication to the called number by the Home Location Register if the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station, upon query in connection with an incoming call.

15. A method according to claim 13, comprising the further step of providing the routing indication in a roaming number given by the Home Location Register if the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station, upon query in connection with an incoming call.

16. A method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of removing the routing indication from the called number before connecting the incoming call to the mobile terminal.

17. Apparatus for use in a combined telecommunication system that includes a fixed network and a mobile network, comprising:

a home radio base station connectable to the fixed network for providing a wireless interface between a mobile terminal and the fixed network, the home base station including electronic circuitry configured to detect whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station and to generate an update when the mobile terminal moves into or out of the radio coverage,

location circuitry configured to include a routing indication in a called number of an incoming call to the mobile terminal, the routing indication indicating whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not, and

wherein the routing indication included in the called number directs routing of the incoming call to the mobile terminal via the home base station when the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station and via the mobile network when the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the home base station is configured to dial an updating code for updating the combined system on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the location circuitry includes a location database in the fixed network configured to store information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the location database is configured to add the routing indication to the called number upon a query in connection with an incoming call.

21. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the location circuitry includes a Home Location Register in the mobile network configured to store information on whether the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station or not.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the Home Location Register is configured to add the routing indication to the called number if the mobile terminal is within radio coverage of the home base station upon a query in connection with an incoming call.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the Home Location Register is configured to provide a roaming number as the routing indication if the mobile terminal is out of radio coverage of the home base station upon a query in connection with an incoming call.