Method to interact with packet-network based services and applications via intelligent network signaling

• US 8,787,355 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., Ristich, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH TRANG T
• Application Number:
  US12/592,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42

Abstract

A cross domain server is configured to receive calls to at least one predetermined phone number. The cross domain server is a member of a packet-switched network. The cross domain server receives a call setup message for a call from a subscriber outside of the packet-switched network. The cross domain server performs an action in the packet-switched network on behalf of the subscriber and based on the call. The call is disconnected.

Claims

1. A method for providing packet-switched network services to a circuit-switched network user equipment (UE), comprising the steps of:

provisioning the circuit-switched network UE as an Intelligent Network (IN) subscriber;

receiving, at a cross domain server operatively coupled to both the packet-switched and circuit-switched networks, a call setup message for a call to a phone number from the circuit-switched network UE to access a service provided by the packet-switched network;

initiating the service in the packet-switched network without establishing a bearer channel by the cross domain server, on behalf of the circuit-switched network UE; and

disconnecting the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one phone number comprises a called party number for the call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup message comprises:

an origination intelligent network trigger associated with the circuit-switched network UE.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the origination intelligent network trigger comprises a wireless intelligent network (WIN) trigger type of “

all calls.”

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the origination intelligent network trigger is from an ANSI-41, CAMEL, ETSI INAP or intelligent network protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service initiated in the packet-switched network comprises any of:

modifying one or more subscriber-modifiable parameters associated with the circuit switched network UE;

toggling a feature activation status for the circuit-switched network UE;

creating an information request on behalf of the circuit-switched network UE;

activating a service;

deactivating a service;

running a service; and

executing an application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating comprises the step of:

determining the action to perform in the packet-switched network based on one or more of;

a called party number for the call;

a calling party number for the call;

a service key associated with the call;

one or more circuit-switched network UE policy rules;

one or more network policy rules;

a current location of the circuit-based UE; and

a current time of day;

wherein the at least one phone number comprises the called party number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating comprises the step of:

determining the action to be performed by using the at least one phone number as a Service Identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating comprises the step of:

routing the call to an interactive voice response server; and

performing the action based on information received from the interactive voice response server.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises:

allowing the circuit-switched network LE to change subscriber-modifiable parameters in the packet-switched network.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

across domain server, coupled to an serving call session control function (S-CSCF) that controls call sessions in a packet-switched network, said cross domain server configured to operate in the packet-switched network and in a circuit-switched network, said cross domain server further configured to receive calls to at least one phone number from a user equipment (UE) in the circuit-switched network;

wherein the cross domain server is configured to perform an action in the packet-switched network on behalf of a the UE in the circuit-switched network without communicating with the S-CSCF to establish a bearer channel;

wherein the cross domain server is configured to disconnect the call after performing the action.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one phone number comprises a called party number of the call.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the UE in the circuit-switched network is provisioned with an origination intelligent network trigger to cause a query to be sent to the cross domain server based on the origination intelligent network trigger.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the origination intelligent network trigger comprises a wireless intelligent network (WIN) trigger type of “

all calls.”

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the UE in the circuit-switched network is provisioned with an origination trigger to cause a query to be sent to the cross domain server based on the origination trigger.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the action comprises one or more of:

an update, modification, or toggle of a subscriber-modifiable parameter or preference associated with the user equipment;

an activation or deactivation of a service;

running a service;

executing an application; and

a request for information to be sent to the user equipment.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the action comprises:

allowing the UE in the circuit-switched network to change subscriber-modifiable parameters in the packet-switched network.

18. An article for use in providing packet-switched network services to a circuit-switched network user equipment (UE), comprising:

one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media; and

means in the one or more media for receiving, at a cross domain server operatively coupled to both the packet-switched and circuit-switched networks, a call setup message for a call to a phone number from the circuit-switched network UE to access a service provided by the packet-switched network;

means in the one or more media for initiating the service in the packet-switched network without establishing a bearer channel by the cross domain server, on behalf of the circuit-switched network UE;

means in the one or more media for disconnecting the call.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the means in the one or more media for receiving comprise:

means in the one or more media for receiving an origination intelligent network trigger associated with the circuit-switched network UE.

20. The article of claim 18, wherein the means in the one or more media for initiating comprise:

means in the one or more media for determining the service to initiate in the packet-switched network based on a called party number for the call, wherein the at least one phone number comprises the called party number.