Multiple-termination routing in a wireless network environment with an internet protocol core

• US 8,908,569 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bienn, Marvin, Bharatia, Jayshree, Stephens, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US14/039,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 370260-271, 370352-354, 379/70, 379/81, 379/82, 379/93.07, 379/93.11, 379/142.07, 379/156, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/309
• US Class Current: 370/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods for multiple-termination routing in a wireless network environment that includes an Internet Protocol (“IP”) core are described herein. One method includes receiving a call delivery request. The call delivery request includes a called number. The call features associated with the called number are determined. A determination is made whether the call features include multiple-termination routing information for a plurality of potential terminating devices. When the call features include the multiple-termination routing information including at least one termination to be routed utilizing Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”), a call setup is initiated to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

Claims

1. A method for multiple-termination routing in a wireless network environment, the method comprising:

receiving a call delivery request, wherein the call delivery request includes a called number;

determining call features associated with the called number;

determining whether the call features include multiple-termination routing information to a plurality of potential terminating devices;

initiating a call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices when the call features include multiple-termination routing information including at least one termination to be routed utilizing signaling connectivity; and

sustaining signaling communication with a media gateway for enabling at least one of the termination device to interwork with a bearer traffic connectivity core while initiating the call setup to substantially all of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising when the call delivery request is an INVITE, responding to the received call delivery request with a ring back message, wherein the ring back message instructs the sender of the call delivery request to generate ringback to the calling party terminating device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating a call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices comprises:

consecutively initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extending a call setup leg to the consecutively initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, foregoing initiation of the subsequent call setup to any of the remaining potential terminating devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices comprises:

concurrently initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extending a call setup leg to each of the concurrently initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information that is to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, releasing the call setup to any of the remaining potential terminating devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple-termination routing information comprises:

a member list providing the plurality of potential terminating devices; and

information indicating when to request instructions on call processing relating to a device of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the terminating devices is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing timing information as to when to invoke error treatment for a plurality of bearers for the call set-up.

8. A switching center, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory mediums coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more memory mediums store program instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to;

receive a call delivery request, wherein the call delivery request includes a called number;

determine call features associated with the called number;

determine whether the call features include multiple-termination routing information to a plurality of potential terminating devices; and

initiate a call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices when the call features include multiple-termination routing information including at least one termination to be routed utilizing signaling connectivity; and

sustain signaling communication with a media gateway for enabling at least one of the termination device to interwork with a bearer traffic connectivity core while initiating the call setup to substantially all of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

9. The switching center of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

when the call delivery request is an INVITE, respond to the received call delivery request with a ring back message that instructs the sender of the call delivery request to generate ringback to the calling party terminating device.

10. The switching center of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

consecutively initiate the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extend a call setup leg to the consecutively initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, foregoing initiation of a subsequent call setup to the remaining potential terminating devices.

11. The switching center of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

concurrently initiate the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extend a call setup leg to each of the concurrently initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information that is to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, release the call setup to any of the remaining potential terminating devices.

12. The switching center of claim 8, wherein the multiple-termination routing information comprises:

a member list providing the plurality of potential terminating devices; and

information indicating when to request instructions on call processing relating to a device of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

13. The switching device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the terminal devices is a mobile device.

14. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for multiple-termination routing in an wireless network, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

receive a call delivery request, wherein the call delivery request includes a called number;

determine call features associated with the called number;

determine whether the call features include multiple-termination routing information to a plurality of potential terminating devices; and

initiate a call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices when the call features include multiple-termination routing information including at least one termination to be routed utilizing switching connectivity; and

sustain signaling communication with a media gateway for enabling at least one of the termination device to interwork with a bearer traffic connectivity core while initiating the call setup to substantially all of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

15. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

when the call delivery request is an INVITE, respond to the received call delivery request with a ring back message, wherein the ring back message instructs the sender of the call delivery request to generate ringback to the calling party terminating device.

16. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein initiating a call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices comprises:

consecutively initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extending a call setup leg to the consecutively initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, foregoing initiation of the subsequent call setup to any of the remaining potential terminating devices.

17. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices comprises:

concurrently initiating the call setup to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices;

extending a call setup leg to each of the concurrently initiated call setups in response to a received provisional response, wherein the received provisional response provides call connection information that is to be used for establishing a bearer path; and

upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, releasing the call setup to any of the remaining potential terminating devices.

18. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein the multiple-termination routing information comprises:

a member list providing the plurality of potential terminating devices; and

information indicating when to request instructions on call processing relating to a device of the plurality of potential terminating devices.

19. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the terminal devices is a mobile device.

20. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 14, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

provide timing information as to when to invoke error treatment for a plurality of bearers for the call setup.