Virtual subscriber network

• US 7,266,362 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engelhart, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/177,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-408, 455/414.3, 455418-419, 455/566, 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/121.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.04, 379/201.12, 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 user layer device wirelessly signaling with a network to set up network uses for the user layer device, the network comprising an access layer, a control layer, and a service layer, the user layer device including a graphical user interface supporting user selections, the graphical user interface comprising:

a rendered network access layer option;

a rendered control layer option; and

a rendered service layer option;

wherein the rendered network access layer option, control layer option, or service layer option comprise at least one difference in a selectable option when comparing the selectable option as offered by two or more service providers.

2. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein a rendered network access option includes two or more access technologies comprising GPRS, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, PHS, CDMA, DECT, Satellite, SS7 Gateway, Fiberoptic multiplexer, DSL, ISP, POTS, or Infrared.

3. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein a rendered control layer option includes two or more control technologies comprising SIP Call Servers, Quality of Service, Mobile Switching Centers, PSTN Switching Centers, or GPRS support Node.

4. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein two or more selectable service layer options include two or more service technologies comprising voicemail, stock quotes, email, video streaming, virtual private networks, or web browsing.

5. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein the user layer device is a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, a game console, or a music player.

6. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein rendered information further comprises capability and cost information.

7. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein the user layer device periodically requests updated costs and service information without requiring subscriber initiation.

8. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein a rendered control layer option varies based on a prior user selection of a network access layer option.

9. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein rendered information further comprises a service provider identifier thereby allowing a user to consider reputation in making a selection.

10. The user layer device of claim 1 further comprising an input device for receiving a user selection.

11. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein displayed costs are separately itemized for access, control, and service layer options.

12. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein the network comprising an access layer, a control layer, and a service layer is a logical architecture wherein actual nodes are combined in a physical system.

13. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein the user layer device is unrestrained by single service provider restrictions.

14. The user layer device of claim 1 wherein the selectable option as offered by two or more service providers includes a charge for one or more of the following:

a user layer to access layer charge;

an access layer to control layer charge;

a control layer to service layer charge;

a user layer to service layer charge;

a control layer to control layer charge;

a user layer to global data central administrative authority charge;

an originated service request call charge;

a terminating service request call charge;

a reverse charge;

a toll free charge;

or

a third party charge.

15. A network database including information about plural user layer devices where the network database supports user layer device configuration of access, control, and service nodes provided via plural service providers, and where information pertaining to individual user layer devices is indexed in the database by identifiers and provided to service providers upon request, and the network database is performing a method comprising:

receiving a request from a control node associated with a first service provider, the request comprising a unique identifier associated with a user layer device, and providing in response to the request, network configuration information associated with the user layer device; and

receiving a request from a control node associated with a second service provider, the request comprising the unique identifier associated with the user layer device, and providing in response to the request, network configuration information associated with the user layer device;

wherein the network database supports user layer device configuration of access, control, and service nodes, such that the user layer device is unrestrained by restrictions of any single service provider.

16. The network database of claim 15 wherein the requests from both the control node associated with the first service provider and the control node associated with the second service provider occur when a user embarks from an airplane and activates the user layer device.

17. The network database of claim 15 wherein the network configuration information associated with the user layer device as provided to the control node associated with the second provider comprises a subscriber rule set.

18. The network database of claim 15 wherein the identifier of the user layer device is one or more of a telephone number, a MIN, an ESN, a TMSI, an IMSI, or an IP address.

19. The network database of claim 15 wherein the network database is further used to locate a subscriber for service terminations.

20. On a user layer device, memory containing executable instructions for communicating with a network to set up network uses for the user layer device, the memory including executable instructions for rendering a graphical user interface supporting user selections, the executable instructions comprising:

instructions for rendering a menu of network access layer options;

instructions for rendering a menu of control layer options; and

instructions for rendering a menu of service layer options;

wherein the rendered menus comprise at least one difference in a selectable option when comparing the selectable options from two or more service providers.