Methods, systems, and computer readable media for unifying fixed and mobile devices via third party call control

• US 9,161,190 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Genband US LLC (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gentry, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asanbayev, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/747,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/211.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for unifying fixed and mobile devices via third party call control (3PCC) are disclosed. The method is performed at a dedicated application server (AS) that supports a third-party call control (3PCC) interface. According to one method, a call addressed to a unified subscriber identifier associated with a terminating subscriber is detected, where the terminating subscriber is associated with two or more terminating endpoints. The call is offered to each of the terminating endpoints by initiating signaling to each of the terminating endpoints using the 3PCC interface. One of the terminating endpoints used to answer the call is detected and the call is redirected to the terminating endpoint used to answer the call. Signaling messages are sent to all of the terminating endpoints other than the terminating endpoint used to answer the call for instructing the terminating endpoints to release resources associated with the offered call.

Claims

1. A method performed by an application server (AS) that supports a third-party call control (3PCC) interface for unifying fixed and mobile devices via third party call control, the method comprising:

detecting a call from an originating endpoint, wherein the call is addressed to a unified subscriber identifier associated with a terminating subscriber, wherein the terminating subscriber is associated with two or more terminating endpoints;

offering the call to each of the terminating endpoints by initiating signaling to each of the terminating endpoints using the 3PCC interface;

detecting a first one of the terminating endpoints used to answer the call;

redirecting the call to the first terminating endpoint used to answer the call;

sending signaling messages to all remaining ones of the terminating endpoints other than the first terminating endpoint for instructing the remaining terminating endpoints to release resources associated with the call;

receiving an indication that the terminating subscriber wishes to terminate the call at a second terminating endpoint that is different from the first terminating endpoint, wherein receiving the indication includes receiving a service code from the second terminating endpoint, the service code identifying a call grabber service as part of a setup message;

initiating the call grabber service for invoking a call grabber session;

correlating the call grabber session to the call;

negotiating an end-to-end media path between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint;

connecting the call between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint; and

sending signaling messages to the first terminating endpoint for instructing the first terminating endpoint to release resources associated with the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the call to the two or more terminating endpoints includes offering the call to at least one of a mobile endpoint and a fixed endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising paging and alerting at least one of the terminating endpoints.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining state information for a session associated with the call such that the state information is visible to services running on the application server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating a temporary location directory number (TLDN) to a call grabber session and instructing a signaling node to transfer the call grabber session to the specified TLDN.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering interest in termination or origination events by an endpoint associated with the unified subscriber identifier that includes requesting notification of events whenever a session originates or terminates to the endpoint associated with the unified subscriber identifier.

7. An application server (AS) configured to support a third-party call control (3PCC) interface, the AS comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the AS, cause the AS to;

detect a call from an originating endpoint, wherein the call is addressed to a unified subscriber identifier associated with a terminating subscriber, wherein the terminating subscriber is associated with two or more terminating endpoints;

offer the call to each of the terminating endpoints by initiating signaling to each of the terminating endpoints using the 3PCC interface;

detect a first one of the terminating endpoints used to answer the call;

redirect the call to the first terminating endpoint used to answer the call;

send signaling messages to all remaining ones of the terminating endpoints other than the first terminating endpoint for instructing the remaining terminating endpoints to release resources associated with the call;

receive an indication that the terminating subscriber wishes to terminate the call at a second terminating endpoint that is different from the first terminating endpoint, wherein the indication includes a service code identifying a call grabber service as part of a setup message;

initiate the call grabber service for invoking a call grabber session;

correlate the call grabber session to the call;

negotiate an end-to-end media path between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint;

connect the call between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint; and

send signaling messages to the first terminating endpoint for instructing the first terminating endpoint to release resources associated with the call.

8. The AS of claim 7, wherein the AS is configured to communicate with one of a private branch exchange (PBX), a softswitch, or an end-office telephony node.

9. The AS of claim 7, wherein the 3PCC interface includes one of a technical report (TR)-87 interface or a telephony application programming interface (TAPI)-based interface.

10. The AS of claim 7, wherein the AS provides uniform services for the unified subscriber identifier.

11. The AS of claim 7, wherein the unified subscriber identifier includes one of a directory number (DN) or a uniform resource identifier (URI).

12. The AS of claim 7, wherein the 3PCC interface is configured to register interest in termination or origination events by an endpoint associated with the unified subscriber identifier that includes requesting notification of events whenever a session originates or terminates to the endpoint associated with the unified subscriber identifier.

13. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that, upon execution by an application server (AS) that supports a third-party call control (3PCC) interface, cause the AS to:

detect a call from an originating endpoint, wherein the call is addressed to a unified subscriber identifier associated with a terminating subscriber, wherein the terminating subscriber is associated with two or more terminating endpoints;

offer the call to each of the terminating endpoints by initiating signaling to each of the terminating endpoints using the 3PCC interface;

detect a first one of the terminating endpoints used to answer the call;

redirect the call to the first terminating endpoint used to answer the call, wherein the first terminating endpoint is a mobile endpoint;

send signaling messages to all remaining ones of the terminating endpoints other than the first terminating endpoint for instructing the remaining terminating endpoints to release resources associated with the call;

receive an indication that the terminating subscriber wishes to terminate the call at a second terminating endpoint that is different from the first terminating endpoint, wherein the second terminating endpoint is a fixed endpoint and wherein the indication includes a service code identifying a call grabber service;

initiate the call grabber service for invoking a call grabber session;

correlate the call grabber session to the call;

negotiate an end-to-end media path between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint;

connect the call between the originating endpoint and the second terminating endpoint; and

send signaling messages to the first terminating endpoint for instructing the first terminating endpoint to release resources associated with the call.