System, method, and apparatus for using alternative numbers for routing voice calls and short messages in a communications network

• US 8,634,800 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tango Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tango Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Silver, Andrew, Landgren, Patricia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/846,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/433, 455/445, 455/554.1, 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/551, 455/410, 455/415, 455/455, 370/401, 370/351, 370/388, 370/261, 370/328, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 379/93.23, 379/67.1, 707/999.01, 709/217
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/546 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A system, method and computer-readable medium for allowing the use of an alternative numbering plan for delivering short messages to mobile subscribers using the public mobile telephone network is provided. Users of an enterprise or other closed networks as well as users that are not part of a closed network may send short messages destined to members of an enterprise or closed network from their mobile or other devices associated with their subscription using an alternative enterprise directory number, such as the office number, instead of the mobile number, such that the alternative number will be presented at the destination device as the originating number. The recipient may respond to the message by addressing the response to the enterprise or closed network number, and the response may be delivered to the originator'"'"'s mobile or other device associated with their subscription.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a call to an enterprise network routing number wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device;

processing the call via at least one of a carrier gateway server (GS-C) and an enterprise gateway server (GS-E);

automatically re-routing the call from the enterprise network to a destination mobile device operating in the mobile network based on predefined routing criteria stored in at least one of the GS-C and the GS-E;

detecting landline call routing services have been interrupted due to an emergency event prior to re-routing the call; and

setting the predefined routing criteria of the GS-C and the GS-E to an emergency mode of operation responsive to identifying the emergency event;

wherein the emergency event comprises one or more landline networks not being available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enterprise network routing number is stored in a mobile network home location register (HLR).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the enterprise network routing number, via the GS-E, to be a corresponding mobile network routing number associated with the destination mobile device operated by an enterprise user assigned to the enterprise network routing number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the GS-E is not available to perform call routing functions then setting the enterprise network routing number, via the GS-C, to be a corresponding mobile network routing number.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a call to an enterprise network routing number wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device; and

a processor configured to process the call, and automatically re-route the call from the enterprise network to a destination mobile device operating in the mobile network based on predefined routing criteria stored in at least one of a carrier gateway server (GS-C) and an enterprise gateway server (GS-E);

wherein the processor is further configured to;

detect landline call routing services have been interrupted due to an emergency event prior to re-routing the call; and

set the predefined routing criteria of the GS-C and the GS-E to an emergency mode of operation responsive to identifying the emergency event;

wherein the emergency event comprises one or more landline networks not being available.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the enterprise network routing number is stored in a mobile network home location register (HLR).

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to set the enterprise network routing number to be a corresponding mobile network routing number associated with the destination mobile device operated by an enterprise user assigned to the enterprise network routing number.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:

receiving a call to an enterprise network routing number wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device;

processing the call via at least one of a carrier gateway server (GS-C) and an enterprise gateway server (GS-E); and

automatically re-routing the call from the enterprise network to a destination mobile device operating in the mobile network based on predefined routing criteria stored in at least one of the GS-C and the GS-E;

wherein the processor is further configured to perform;

detecting landline call routing services have been interrupted due to an emergency event prior to re-routing the call;

setting the predefined routing criteria of the GS-C and the GS-E to an emergency mode of operation responsive to identifying the emergency event;

wherein the emergency event comprises one or more landline networks not being available.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the enterprise network routing number is stored in a mobile network home location register (HLR).

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the enterprise network routing number is associated with the destination mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

setting the enterprise network routing number, via the GS-E, to be a corresponding mobile network routing number associated with the destination mobile device operated by an enterprise user assigned to the enterprise network routing number.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein if the GS-E is not available to perform call routing functions then setting the enterprise network routing number, via the GS-C, to be a corresponding mobile network routing number.