Unstructured supplementary service data application within a wireless network

• US 8,532,630 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vascode Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Vascode Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Mottes, Dorron
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/033,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 4554141-4144, 455415-420, 455/422.1, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/445, 455/458, 455/466, 455/517, 455/518, 455/550.1, 455/555, 455/556.2, 455/563, 455/566, 455/567, 379/201.1, 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 379/207.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/215.01, 370260-262, 370/264, 370/310, 370/312, 370352-357, 370/350, 370/335, 709/204, 709/205, 715/753
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party service or three-way call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method is provided for handling a call communication session via a communication address associated with a private network using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol. USSD messages are used between the wireless private network subscriber and a wireless network to provide the subscriber with information about the caller, and routing options of the call. The subscriber can also inform the wireless network using USSD messages how to proceed with the call. USSD messages such as but not limited to, transferring the call to another subscriber with canned messages, transferring the call to a subscriber'"'"'s voice mail, establishing a conference call, swapping to other call, creating new call, consulting with other person, transferring to specific predefined person, hold, consulting with other person via canned message, etc. Another method is exchanging the device status information using USSD messages.

Claims

1. A method for call control, comprising:

sending from a call control manager a first message using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol to a first device, wherein the first message alerts the first device of an incoming call from at least one second device and includes a first set of call options and call initiator information;

receiving a first response message from said first device responsive of said first message; and

,

when the first response includes an instruction for accepting said call with at least one second device, exchanging USSD messages, during said call established between the at least one second device and the first device, between said call control manager and said first device and between the first device and the at least one second device through the call control manager, said USSD messages containing selection lists including a second set of call options sent to said first device from said call control manager and responses thereof received from said first device;

sending a barge-in call control message from said call control manager to said first device during a call in progress.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

handling said call responsive to the type of said first response message by performing one of;

forwarding said call to a voice mail if the type of the first response is diverting said call to voice mail;

disconnecting said call if the type of the first response is rejection of said call;

transferring said call to an attendant device if the type of the first response is rejecting said call with a message; and

transferring said call to a third device if the type of the first response is diverting said call to said third device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said call initiator information including one or more of:

said call initiator device number, said call initiator dialed device number, and said call initiator member status, call initiator name, call initiator company title, call initiator organization name, call initiator preferred status.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said first set of call options including one of:

accepting said call, rejecting said call, rejecting said call with a message, diverting said call to voice mail, diverting said call to a second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a call option of said second set of call options including one of:

transferring said call to a second device, transferring said call to a voicemail, adding a second device to said call, a canned message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said canned message including:

“

set a meeting,”

“

set a conference call,”

“

get a message,”

“

help said call initiator,”

“

can you take a call?”

.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said exchanging messages further comprising:

resending of a previously sent message responsive of a request from said first device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining contents of said selection list responsive to information about said first device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving said information about said first device from a database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said responses received from said first device comprising:

one or more digits transferred to a call control manager over a communication channel using a USSD interface;

said digits generated by a sequential or parallel depression of buttons, said buttons being one of;

physical buttons, displayed buttons.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said first device including one of:

cellular phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, and wireless network device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call control message from said first device to set up a conference call.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message by said call control manager; and

,

creating a new call responsive of said message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a message by said call control manager;

swapping between calls in progress.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to another subscriber requesting a response.

16. A method of information exchange between devices communicating in a wireless exchange, comprising:

sending a first message alerting a first device of an incoming call from destined to at least one second device, said first message includes a first set of call options and call initiator information;

sending an information message from a call control manager to a first device using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) interface protocol of a communication channel, wherein the information message includes at least update status information about at least one second device, said at least one second device is a supervisor device and the first device is an attendant device, wherein the status information is one of not available and available;

prohibiting, by the call control manager, communication destined to said second device from said at least one first device when said status information of said second device is not available;

establishing a call between the at least one second device and the first device, where when said status information of said second device is available;

exchanging USSD messages between said call control manager and said first device and between said first device and said at least one second device through the call control manager, said USSD messages containing selection lists including a second set of call options sent to said first device from said call control manager and responses thereof received from said first device; and

sending a barge-in call control message from said call control manager to said first device during a call in progress.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein sending said status information results responsive of at least one of:

the status of said at least one second device changing from connected state to disconnected state, the status of said at least one second device changing from disconnected state to connected state.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forwarding communication destined to said first device from said at least second device when said status information of said first device is available.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said sending status information further comprising:

sending said status information automatically;

or,

sending said status information responsive of depression of a button on said at least a second device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying said status information on said at least one second device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

requesting said status information from said first device by said at least second device.