Call handling on dual-mode wireless handsets
First Claim
1. A telecommunication system for handling a call, the system comprising:
- a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“
MSC”
) configured to provide cellular service to the dual-mode phone that operates in a cellular mode and in a voice over Internet Protocol (“
VoIP”
) mode; and
a VoIP system in communication with the MSC, the VoIP system comprising a VoIP switch and configured to serve as an interface between the MSC and a public switched telephone network (“
PSTN”
), such that when a call is received on a public VoIP telephone number for the dual mode phone, the VoIP system is configured to;
route the call around the MSC and through the VoIP switch to the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is registered with the VoIP system; and
route the call through the MSC to a cellular telephone number associated with the dual-mode phone in the cellular system only if the dual-mode phone has unintentionally lost contact with the VoIP system and is thus not registered with the VoIP system, wherein the dual-mode phone, upon obtaining Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) access, automatically registers with the VoIP system.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions, including systems, methods and/or software, for handling calls in a dual-mode VoIP/cellular environment. Merely by way of example, some systems can be configured to determine whether to use a VoIP system or a cellular system to handle a particular call, and/or to transition a call from one network to the other network. Other systems can be configured to substitute a public number (which might be, for example, a VoIP number) for a private number (which might be, for example, a cellular number) when routing a call originating from a dual-mode phone on a cellular network. Further systems can be configured to allow a VoIP system to serve as an anchor for calls originated and/or delivered on a cellular system, for instance to facilitate a transition between cellular and VoIP service during a call.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A telecommunication system for handling a call, the system comprising:
-
a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“
MSC”
) configured to provide cellular service to the dual-mode phone that operates in a cellular mode and in a voice over Internet Protocol (“
VoIP”
) mode; anda VoIP system in communication with the MSC, the VoIP system comprising a VoIP switch and configured to serve as an interface between the MSC and a public switched telephone network (“
PSTN”
), such that when a call is received on a public VoIP telephone number for the dual mode phone, the VoIP system is configured to;route the call around the MSC and through the VoIP switch to the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is registered with the VoIP system; and route the call through the MSC to a cellular telephone number associated with the dual-mode phone in the cellular system only if the dual-mode phone has unintentionally lost contact with the VoIP system and is thus not registered with the VoIP system, wherein the dual-mode phone, upon obtaining Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) access, automatically registers with the VoIP system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A voice over Internet Protocol (“
- VoIP”
) system comprising a VoIP switch and configured to serve as an interface between a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“
MSC”
) and a public switched telephone network (“
PSTN”
), the VoIP system being configured to;receive, on a public VoIP telephone number at the VoIP system a call for a dual-mode phone associated with the public VoIP telephone number, wherein the dual-mode phone operates in a cellular mode and a VoIP mode; route the call around the MSC and through the VoIP switch directly to the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is registered with the VoIP system; and route the call through the MSC to a cellular telephone number associated with the dual-mode phone in the cellular system only if the dual-mode phone has unintentionally lost contact with the VoIP system and is thus not registered with the VoIP system, wherein the dual-mode phone, upon obtaining Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) access, automatically registers with the VoIP system.
- VoIP”
-
9. A method of providing an interface between a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“
- MSC”
) and a public switched telephone network (“
PSTN”
), the method comprising;receiving, at a voice over Internet Protocol (“
VoIP”
) system comprising a VoIP switch, cellular system registration information about a dual-mode phone that operates in a cellular mode and a VoIP mode;registering the dual-mode phone with the VoIP system; receiving a call on a public VoIP telephone number at the VoIP system; routing the call around the MSC and through the VoIP switch directly to the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is registered with the VoIP system; and routing the call from the VoIP system through the MSC to a cellular telephone number associated with the dual-mode phone in the cellular system only if the dual-mode phone has unintentionally lost contact with the VoIP system and is thus not registered with the VoIP system, wherein the dual-mode phone, upon obtaining Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) access, automatically registers with the VoIP system.
- MSC”
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10. A computer software program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising instructions executable by a computer to:
-
receive, at a voice over Internet Protocol (“
VoIP”
) system comprising a VoIP switch, cellular system registration information about a dual-mode phone that operates in a cellular mode and a VoIP mode;register the dual-mode phone with the VoIP system; receive a call on a public VoIP telephone number at the VoIP system; route the call around the MSC and through the VoIP switch directly to the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is registered with the VoIP system; and route the call through the MSC to a cellular telephone number associated with the dual-mode phone in the cellular system only if the dual-mode phone has unintentionally lost contact with the VoIP system and is thus not registered with the VoIP system, wherein the dual-mode phone, upon obtaining Internet Protocol (“
IP”
) access, automatically registers with the VoIP system.
-
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11. A method of handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone capable of operating in a cellular mode and in a voice over Internet Protocol (“
- VoIP”
) mode, the method comprising;receiving, at a mobile switching center (“
MSC”
) in a cellular system, a call originating from a dual-mode phone operating in the cellular system, wherein the call is associated with a destination number identifying a destination for the call;obtaining information for redirecting the call to a VoIP system from the MSC; redirecting the call to the VoIP system from the cellular system and through a public switched telephone network (“
PSTN”
), such that the VoIP system can route the call to the destination number; andimplementing a first call path; first, from the dual-mode phone to the MSC in the cellular system, second, from the MSC through the PSTN to the VoIP switch, after routing from the dual-mode phone to the MSC, and third, from the VoIP switch back through the PSTN to the destination, after routing from the MSC through the PSTN to the VoIP switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- VoIP”
Specification