Method and apparatus of providing data service mobility

• US 8,655,327 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Mateer, Michael T, Boutcher, James K
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaheed, Khalid
• Application Number:
  US12/575,524
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/412.1, 455/411, 455/410, 455/412.2, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

A method and apparatus of accessing a data service in a wireless communications network is disclosed. An example may include receiving a call identifying an application accessed by a mobile station, and verifying whether the accessed application is installed on the mobile station. The example may further include transferring a notification message to the mobile station based on the accessed application.

Claims

1. A method of accessing a data service, the method comprising:

receiving a call, at a networking platform, identifying an application accessed by a mobile station;

verifying, at the networking platform, whether the accessed application is installed on the mobile station;

transferring, via the networking platform, a push notification message to the mobile station based on the accessed application;

executing the application on the mobile station; and

responsive to executing the application, establishing a communication path between the mobile station and an agent service client including at least one of a firewall and a virtual private network (VPN).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call and the notification message are data messages that do not include voice data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying is performed by accessing a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after the notification message is transferred, a hang-up message is received indicating that the mobile station has accepted the notification.

5. An apparatus configured to access a data service, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a call identifying an application accessed by a mobile station;

a processor configured to

verify whether the accessed application is installed on the mobile station

execute the application on the mobile station,

and responsive to the application being executed, establish a communication path between the mobile station and an agent service client including at least one of a firewall and a virtual private network (VPN); and

a transmitter configured to transfer a push notification message to the mobile station based on the accessed application.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the call and the notification message are data messages that do not include voice data.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the verification is performed by accessing a database.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein after the notification message is transferred, a hang-up message is received indicating that the mobile station has accepted the notification.

9. A method of accessing a data service, the method comprising:

receiving, at a networking platform, a call identifying an application accessed by a mobile station;

determining, at the networking platform, that the accessed application requires an agent service;

transferring, via the networking platform, a message to an intelligent call router (ICR) platform provided by an interactive voice response (IVR) server, responsive to determining that the application requires an agent service;

connecting to an agent service from the mobile station;

determining route information based on the accessed application by using the agent service; and

transferring a call information message comprising the route information to the mobile station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the call information message provides a call number that may be dialed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the call information message comprises a call number that may be dialed over a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data network is the Internet.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing an interactive voice response (IVR) application that autonomously dials the call number and receives application-related information and transfers the application-related information to the mobile station.

14. An apparatus configured to access a data service, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a call identifying an application accessed by a mobile station;

a processor configured to

determine that the accessed application requires an agent service, and, to determine route information based on the accessed application by using the agent service

transfer a message to an intelligent call router (ICR) platform provided by an interactive voice response (IVR) server, responsive to determining that the application requires an agent service, and

connect to an agent service from the mobile station; and

a transmitter configured to transfer a call information message comprising the route information to the mobile station.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the call information message provides a call number that may be dialed over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the call information message comprises a call number that may be dialed over a data network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the data network is the Internet.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to access an interactive voice response (IVR) application that autonomously dials the call number, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive application-related information, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transfer the application-related information to the mobile station.