System and method for routing a call to a landline communication unit or a wireless communication unit

• US 9,084,100 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Richard N., Bartels, Todd August, McCarthy, Terrence J., Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Brand, Rodney T., Donoso, Carlos H., Ford, Kara Elisia, Moore, Leslie Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/071,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/422.1, 455/435.2, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/445, 455/461, 455/567, 379/207, 379/210
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for routing a call to a landline communication unit or a wireless communication unit based on the availability of the wireless communication unit. A call placed to a landline communication unit is routed to the wireless communication unit if the wireless communication unit is determined available. Otherwise, the call is routed to the landline communication unit.

Claims

1. A method for call routing, the method comprising:

in response to receiving signaling at a first network element for a call placed to a landline communication device, sending a request to a second network element to determine an availability of a wireless communication device associated with the landline communication device, the request being sent to the second network element before the call is terminated at the landline communication device; and

when no response to the request is received within a first time period, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is not registered with the second network element, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response includes a routing address of the wireless communication device and does not indicate that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising replacing a calling party destination number of the call with a destination number associated with the wireless communication device after receiving the response and prior to routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the call is originated by the wireless communication device;

when the call is not originated by the wireless communication device, sending the request to the second network element; and

when the call is originated by the wireless communication device, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device without sending the request to the second network element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element is included in a landline network in communication with the landline communication device, and the second network element is included in a wireless network in communication with the wireless communication device.

8. A computer readable memory comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a first network element to perform operations comprising:

in response to receiving signaling for a call placed to a landline communication device, causing a request to be sent to a second network element to determine an availability of a wireless communication device associated with the landline communication device, the request to be sent to the second network element before the call is terminated at the landline communication device; and

when no response to the request is received within a first time period, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

9. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

10. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is not registered with the second network element, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response includes a routing address of the wireless communication device and does not indicate that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise replacing a calling party destination number of the call with a destination number associated with the wireless communication device after receiving the response and prior to routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the call is originated by the wireless communication device;

when the call is not originated by the wireless communication device, sending the request to the second network element; and

when the call is originated by the wireless communication device, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device without sending the request to the second network element.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the first network element is included in a landline network in communication with the landline communication device, and the second network element is included in a wireless network in communication with the wireless communication device.

15. A first network element for call routing, the first network element comprising:

a memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the computer readable instructions to perform operations comprising;

in response to receiving signaling for a call placed to a landline communication device, causing a request to be sent to a second network element to determine an availability of a wireless communication device associated with the landline communication device, the first network element being included in a landline network in communication with the landline communication device, the second network element being included in a wireless network in communication with the wireless communication device, the request to be sent to the second network element before the call is terminated at the landline communication device; and

when no response to the request is received within a first time period, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

16. The first network element of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

17. The first network element of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response indicates that the wireless communication device is not registered with the second network element, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device.

18. The first network element of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a response to the request within the first time period; and

when the response includes a routing address of the wireless communication device and does not indicate that the wireless communication device is inactive, routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

19. The first network element of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise replacing a calling party destination number of the call with a destination number associated with the wireless communication device after receiving the response and prior to routing the call for termination at the wireless communication device.

20. The first network element of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the call is originated by the wireless communication device;

when the call is not originated by the wireless communication device, sending the request to the second network element; and

when the call is originated by the wireless communication device, routing the call for termination at the landline communication device without sending the request to the second network element.