Integrated cellular VoIP for call rerouting

• US 7,379,436 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, Yue Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US11/064,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20050186960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/450, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Integrated Cellular Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) systems (“ICV systems”) are described that redirect or reroute wireless network voice and data traffic to roaming subscribers via VoIP networks. The ICV system monitors roaming links of a first communication system. The first communication system may include a home network and a visited network. The ICV system detects a mobile device registering with the visited network. The ICV system receives location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device and selects a routing number corresponding to the location. The ICV system uses the selected routing number to transfer calls received at the home network to the mobile device via a second communication system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first communication system comprising a home network and a visited network, the home network having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a mobile device and a profile in the HLR;

at least one Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system coupled to the home network and the visited network; and

a gateway coupled to at least one of the first and the VoIP communication systems,

wherein the gateway monitors roaming links of the first communication system and detects the mobile device registering with the visited network,

wherein the gateway receives location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device and selects a VoIP routing number corresponding to the location,

wherein the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile is set, via a SS7 message, to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number, and

wherein the gateway uses the selected VoIP routing number to transfer calls for the mobile device received at the home network to the mobile device via the VoIP communication system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication system is a cellular system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Visited Location Register (VLR), a Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC), and subscription information of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving location information from Mobile Application Part (MAP) transaction messages between the mobile device and the first communication system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway determines if unconditional call forwarding is enabled at the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein selecting a VoIP routing number further comprises selecting a local number from a set of numbers that corresponds to at least one of a country, zone, and network of the location of the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, personal computer, portable computing device, portable telephone, portable communication device, subscriber device, and personal digital assistant.

8. A system comprising:

a gateway coupled to a first communication system and a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system, the first communication system having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a mobile device and a profile in the HLR; and

a client application coupled to the mobile device, the client application detecting a coupling with the VoIP communication system and transferring a message to the gateway via the coupling, the message including identification information of the mobile device,

wherein the gateway determines a VoIP routing number of the VoIP communication system that corresponds to a location of the mobile device,

wherein the gateway establishes an association between the VoIP routing number and an address of the mobile device on the VoIP communication system,

wherein the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile is set, via a SS7 message, to transfer calls for the mobile device via the determined VoIP routing number, and

wherein the gateway transfers a call for the mobile device received at the first communication system to the mobile device via the VoIP communication system using the VoIP routing number and address of the mobile device.

9. A system comprising:

circuitry that monitors roaming links of a first communication system, wherein the first communication system includes a home network and a visited network, the home network having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a mobile device and a profile in the HLR;

circuitry that detects the mobile device registering with the visited network;

circuitry that receives location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device;

circuitry that selects a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) routing number corresponding to the location;

circuitry that sets the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile, via a SS7 message, to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number; and

circuitry that uses the selected VoIP routing number to transfer calls for the mobile device received at the home network to the mobile device via a VoIP communication system.

10. A device comprising:

a monitoring system that monitors roaming links of a first communication system, wherein the first communication system includes a home network and a visited network, the home network having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a mobile device and a profile in the HLR;

a detector that detects the mobile device registering with the visited network;

a receiver that receives location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device;

a selection system that selects a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) routing number corresponding to the location;

circuitry that sets the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile, via a SS7 message, to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number; and

a transmitter that uses the selected VoIP routing number to transfer calls for the mobile device received at the home network to the mobile device via a VoIP communication system.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the first communication system is a cellular system.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Visited Location Register (VLR), a Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC), and subscription information of the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving location information from Mobile Application Part (MAP) transaction messages between the mobile device and the first communication system.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein selecting a VoIP routing number further comprises selecting a local number from a set of numbers that corresponds to at least one of a country, zone, and network of the location of the mobile device.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, personal computer, portable computing device, portable telephone, portable communication device, subscriber device, and personal digital assistant.

16. A device comprising:

means for monitoring at least one roaming link of a first communication system, the first communication system having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a mobile device and a profile in the HLR;

means for detecting the mobile device registering with a visited network;

means for receiving location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device;

means for selecting a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) routing number that corresponds to the location, the VoIP routing number corresponding to a VoIP communication system;

means for setting, via a SS7 message, the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number; and

means for transferring calls for the mobile device received at a home network to the mobile device via the VoIP communication system in accordance with the VoIP routing number, wherein the home network and the visited network are networks operating under the first communication system.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the means for selecting further comprises means for selecting a local number from a set of numbers that corresponds to at least one of a country, zone, and network of the location of the mobile device.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, personal computer, portable computing device, portable telephone, portable communication device, subscriber device, and personal digital assistant.

19. A method comprising:

monitoring at least one roaming link of a first communication system, the first communication system having a subscriber and a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having mobile device and a profile in the HLR;

detecting the mobile device registering with a visited network;

receiving location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device;

selecting a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) routing number that corresponds to the location, the VoIP routing number corresponding to a VoIP communication system;

setting the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile, via a SS7 message, to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number; and

transferring calls for the mobile device received at a home network to the mobile device via the VoIP communication system in accordance with the VoIP routing number, wherein the home network and the visited network are networks operating under the first communication system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first communication system is a cellular system.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the detecting further comprises at least one of intercepting a signal of the mobile device and probing the signal.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Visited Location Register (VLR), a Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC), and subscription information of the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising assigning at least one set of VoIP routing numbers to the home network of the mobile device, wherein assigning includes the VoIP communication system assigning the set of VoIP routing numbers.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting a VoIP routing number further comprises selecting a local number from a set of numbers that corresponds to at least one of a country, zone, and network of the visited network.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of cellular telephones, personal computers, portable computing devices, portable telephones, portable communication devices, subscriber devices, and personal digital assistants.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving location information further comprises receiving location information from Mobile Application Part (MAP) transaction messages between the mobile device and the first communication system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the MAP transaction messages are transferred between the HLR and a Visited Location Register (VLR) of a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN) with which the mobile device is roaming.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining if unconditional call forwarding is enabled at the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising, in response to determining that unconditional call forwarding is disabled, registering the selected VoIP routing number at the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein transferring further comprises:

forwarding the received call to the VoIP communication system;

requesting the selected VoIP routing number;

receiving the selected VoIP routing number in response to the request; and

routing the received call through the VoIP communication system to the mobile device using the selected VoIP routing number.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein requesting the selected VoIP routing number comprises transferring a request for the selected VoIP routing number from the VoIP communication system to the visited network via the home network.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving the selected VoIP routing number comprises receiving the selected VoIP routing number at the VoIP communication system from the visited network via the home network.

33. A method comprising:

detecting at a mobile device of a subscriber of a cellular network, a coupling with an Internet Protocol (IP) network, the cellular network having a Home Location Register (HLR), the subscriber having a profile in the HLR;

transferring a message to a gateway of the IP network via the coupling, the message including identification information of the mobile device;

selecting a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) routing number that corresponds to a location of the mobile device, the VoIP routing number corresponding to the IP network;

establishing an association between the selected VoIP routing number and an IP address of the mobile device;

setting, via a SS7 message, the subscriber'"'"'s HLR profile to transfer calls for the mobile device via the selected VoIP routing number; and

transferring a call received for the mobile device at the cellular network to the mobile device via the IP network using the VoIP routing number and the IP address of the mobile device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining the location of the mobile device.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining if unconditional call forwarding is enabled at the mobile device.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising assigning at least one set of VoIP routing numbers in response to the location of the mobile device.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein selecting a VoIP routing number further comprises selecting a local number from a set of numbers that corresponds to at least one of a country, zone, and network of the location of the mobile device.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) device, personal computer, portable computing device, portable telephone, portable communication device, subscriber device, and personal digital assistant.