Methods and systems for implementation of the calling name delivery service through use of a location register in a network element in a wireless network

• US 7,149,517 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Easley, Larry Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/969,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20050059394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/415, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/426.1, 379/88.19, 379/88.21
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing for calling party name and/or other information corresponding to a wireless unit to be stored in association with an identifier of the wireless unit in a location register such as the home location register (HLR) in a network element of a wireless network. The network element is configured to accept and support the TR-1188, wireless intelligent network (WIN), or the like messaging processes. When a calling party uses a wireless unit to make a call to a wireline unit of a subscriber having calling name delivery service, the call is routed in a conventional manner to the service switching point (SSP) serving the calling line of the wireline unit. Based on the called party'"'"'s status as a subscriber, the SSP uses the appropriate messaging process in a query/response exchange to obtain the calling party name and/or other information from the appropriate network element that includes the calling name (or other information) in or has access to an appropriate location register. The SSP then may provide the calling party name and/or other information for display on the wireline unit or associated display device.

Claims

1. In a communications system including a wireless network and a wireline network, the wireless network including a network element functionally connected to the wireline network, the network element also functionally connected to a location register (LR) with the LR including an entry corresponding to a wireless unit, the entry including an identifier of the wireless unit, and the wireline network including a service switching point (SSP) serving a wireline unit connected to a calling line having information delivery service enabled, a method to provide the wireline unit with information corresponding to the wireless unit when the wireless unit makes a call to the wireline unit, the method comprising:

causing the identifier in the entry in the LR to be associated with the information corresponding to the wireless unit;

with respect to receipt of the call to the wireline unit, causing the SSP to note the calling line has been enabled for the information delivery service, and based thereon, to initiate a query to be routed to the network element in the wireless network based on the identifier of the wireless unit for the information corresponding to the wireless unit, the query including the identifier of the wireless unit;

in response to receipt of the query by the network element, causing the network element to use the identifier with the LR to find the entry in the LR including the identifier; and

based on the information being associated with the identifier in the entry, causing the LR to retrieve the information corresponding to the wireless unit and to provide the information to the network element;

causing the network element to provide the information in a response routed to the SSP; and

upon receipt of the response, causing the SSP to provide the information to the wireline unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a name corresponding to the wireless unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receipt of the information, causing the wireline unit to display the information.

4. A location register (LR) in a network element of a wireless network, the LR comprising:

a plurality of entries with each entry including an identifier corresponding respectively to a wireless unit;

each identifier of an entry being associated with information corresponding respectively to the wireless unit; and

the information being retrievable respectively based on the identifier of the wireless unit for provision in response to a query for the information received by the network element of the wireless network,

whereby the information corresponding respectively to the wireless unit having the identifier may be retrieved through use of the entry having the identifier in the LR of the network element in the wireless network.

5. The LR of claim 4, wherein the information comprises a name corresponding respectively to the wireless unit.

6. The LR of claim 4, wherein the information comprises a presentation indicator with respect to a name, the identifier;

and

wherein the presentation indicator comprises a presentation restriction, or a presentation allowance.

7. A method for a location register (LR) of a network element in a wireless network to provide information associated with a wireless unit, the method comprising:

causing the LR to include a plurality of entries with each entry including an identifier and corresponding respectively to a wireless unit, each identifier of an entry being associated with information corresponding respectively to the wireless unit;

causing the LR in response to receipt of a query including the identifier to use the identifier to find an entry having the identifier in common with the query;

based on the information being associated with the identifier of the entry, causing the LR to retrieve the information corresponding to the wireless unit; and

causing the LR to provide the information in a response to the query.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information comprises a name corresponding respectively to the wireless unit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information comprises a presentation allowance with respect to a name, the identifier;

and

wherein after finding the entry, checking that the information associated with the identifier of the entry comprises the presentation allowance prior to causing the LR to retrieve the information corresponding to the wireless unit.

10. A method for a location register (LR) of a network element in a wireless network to respond to a request for information regarding a wireless unit, the method comprising:

causing the LR to include a plurality of entries with each entry including a identifier corresponding respectively to a wireless unit, each identifier of an entry being associated with information corresponding respectively to the wireless unit;

causing the LR in response to receipt of a query including the identifier to use the identifier to find an entry having the identifier in common with the query, the identifier of the entry being associated with information including a presentation restriction; and

based on the presentation restriction, causing the LR to provide a response to the query, the response providing notice of the presentation restriction.