Methods of delivering calls on dual-mode wireless handsets

• US 9,363,370 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: LaBauve, Lance, Cook, Charles I., Stevens, Gilman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/101,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,080 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/436, 455/445, 455/552.1, 455/90.2, 455/127.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions, including systems, methods and/or software, for providing handoffs between cellular providers and VoIP providers. In some cases, for example, upon the initiation of a call from a dual-mode cellular phone, the cellular network (and/or a component thereof) may be configured to store the dialed number and/or substitute a predetermined number for the dialed number. The predetermined number may be associated with a VoIP provider'"'"'s system. Hence, in a particular embodiment, the call may be routed (e.g., via the PSTN) to the VoIP provider'"'"'s system, which may be configured to obtain (perhaps from an application server) the original dialed number and/or to route the call (e.g., via the PSTN) to the original dialed number. If the dual-mode phone subsequently obtains IP access, a VoIP connection may be established between the VoIP system and the phone and/or a handoff may be performed (e.g., in the VoIP system) to transfer the call from the cellular connection to the VoIP connection. Optionally, the cellular connection may be terminated.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system comprising a cellular system and a voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) system, a method for handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone capable of operating in a cellular mode and in a VoIP mode, the method comprising;

the cellular system receiving the call placed by the dual-mode phone registered with the cellular system, wherein the call is associated with a destination number identifying a destination for the call, and wherein the dual-mode phone is configured to communicate with the cellular system via a cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system and to communicate with the VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) connection, separate from the cellular system, between the dual-mode phone and the VoIP system;

the cellular system obtaining a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system;

the cellular system storing the destination number;

forwarding the call to the VoIP system at the forwarding telephone number to establish a connection between the cellular system and the VoIP system, such that the VoIP system can be used to connect the call with the destination without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system;

receiving, from the VoIP system, a query request for the destination number;

providing, to the VoIP system, the destination number, wherein the VoIP system connects the call to the destination over the IP connection;

disconnecting, via the VoIP system, the connection between the cellular system and the VoIP system; and

disconnecting, via the cellular system and in response to disconnecting from the VoIP system, the cellular connection to the dual-mode phone.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein forwarding the call to the VoIP system at the forwarding telephone number comprises forwarding the call to the VoIP system via a public switched telephone network (“

PSTN”

).

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the cellular system recognizing that the call has originated from a phone requiring special call handling.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein obtaining a forwarding telephone number comprises obtaining a forwarding telephone number based on a recognition that the call has originated from a phone requiring special call handling.

5. The method recited in claim 3, wherein recognizing that the call has originated from a phone requiring special call handling comprises activating an origination attempt trigger associated with the dual-mode phone.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the origination attempt trigger is a wireless intelligent network (“

WIN”

) trigger.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the VoIP system obtaining the stored destination number; and

the VoIP system connecting the call with the destination without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the VOIP system connects the call with the destination via a public switched telephone network (“

PSTN”

).

9. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising:

the VoIP system determining that the dual-mode phone has connected with an IP network; and

the VoIP system performing a cellular-to-VoIP handoff, such that the call is connected with the dual-mode phone via the IP network without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system.

10. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising:

the VoIP system disconnecting the connection between the VoIP system and the cellular system, such that the call is handled by the VoIP system and the call is no longer handled by the cellular system.

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the cellular system is a global system for mobile communications (“

GSM”

) system.

12. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the cellular system is a code division multiple access (“

CDMA”

) system.

13. In a voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) system, a method for handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone capable of operating in a cellular mode and in a VoIP mode, the method comprising;

the VoIP system accepting a connection with a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“

MSC”

), the connection comprising the call forwarded by the MSC to a the VoIP system at a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system and placed by the dual-mode phone registered with the cellular system, wherein the dual-mode phone is configured to communicate with the cellular system via a cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system and to communicate with the VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) connection, separate from the cellular system, between the dual-mode phone and the VoIP system;

transmitting, via the VoIP system, a query request for a destination number stored on the cellular system;

the VoIP system obtaining, from the MSC, the destination number stored by the cellular system, the destination number identifying a destination for the call;

the VoIP system connecting the call with the destination;

the VoIP system determining that the dual-mode phone has established an IP connection with an IP network;

the VoIP system performing a cellular-to-VoIP handoff, such that the call is connected with the dual-mode phone via the IP network without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system; and

the VoIP system disconnecting the connection with the cellular system, such that the call is handled by the VoIP system and the call is no longer handled by the cellular system.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein performing a cellular-to-VoIP handoff comprises transmitting a session initiation protocol (“

SIP”

) invite for reception by the phone.

15. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the VoIP system obtains a destination number in response to a termination attempt trigger associated with the dual-mode phone.

16. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the VoIP system obtaining the destination number comprises the VoIP system obtaining the destination number from a service control point (“

SCP”

).

17. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the VoIP system obtaining the destination number comprises the VoIP system obtaining the destination number from an application server.

18. The method recited in claim 13, wherein performing a cellular-to-VoIP handoff comprises forking the call, such that the VoIP system simultaneously maintains the connection between the cellular system and the dual-mode phone, and a VoIP connection with the dual-mode phone via the IP network.

19. A computer program embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions executable by one or more computers to:

accept a connection with a cellular system comprising a mobile switching center (“

MSC”

), the connection comprising the call forwarded by the MSC to a Voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) system at a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system and placed by the dual-mode phone registered with the cellular system, wherein the dual-mode phone is configured to communicate with the cellular system via a cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system and to communicate with the VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) connection, separate from the cellular system, between the dual-mode phone and the VoIP system;

transmit a query request for a destination number stored on the cellular system;

obtain, from the MSC, the destination number stored by the cellular system, the destination number identifying a destination for the call;

connect the call with the destination;

determine that the dual-mode phone has connected with an IP network;

perform a cellular-to-VoIP handoff, such that the call is connected with the dual-mode phone via the IP network without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular system; and

disconnect the connection between the VoIP system and the cellular system, such that the call is handled by the VoIP system and the call is no longer handled by the cellular system.

20. The computer program recited in claim 19, further comprising instructions executable to:

fork the call, such that the VoIP system simultaneously maintains the connection between the cellular system and the dual-mode phone, and a VoIP connection with the dual-mode phone via the IP network.