Systems for delivering calls on dual-mode wireless handsets

• US 9,363,384 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:
  US11/101,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229101A1
• 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, 455/560
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• 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 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

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. A telecommunication system for handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone configured to operate in a cellular mode and in a voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) mode, the system comprising;

a mobile switching center (“

MSC”

) configured to;

receive the call placed by the dual-mode phone registered with a cellular network, 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 network via a cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular network and to communicate with a VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

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

store the destination number at a location accessible by the VoIP system;

transmit a message requesting a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system;

forward the call to the VoIP system at the forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system, wherein the VoIP system establishes an IP connection with the dual-mode phone without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular network;

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; and

disconnect, in response to determining that a handoff of the call to the VoIP system has occurred, the cellular connection and connection to the VoIP system;

a service control point (“

SCP”

) in communication with the MSC and configured to;

receive a message requesting a forwarding telephone number of a VoIP system;

obtain the forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system; and

transmit the forwarding telephone number for reception by the MSC.

2. A telecommunication system for handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone configured to operate in a cellular mode and in a voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) mode, the system comprising;

a mobile switching center (“

MSC”

) configured to;

receive the call placed by the dual-mode phone registered with a cellular network, 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 network via a cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular network and communicate with a VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

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

store the destination number at a location accessible by the VoIP system;

obtain a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system; and

forward the call to the VoIP system at the forwarding telephone number, wherein the VoIP system establishes an IP connection with the dual-mode phone without connecting through the cellular connection between the dual-mode phone and the cellular network;

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; and

disconnect, in response to determining that a handoff of the call to the VoIP system has occurred, the cellular connection and connection to the VoIP system;

a VoIP system in communication with the MSC, the VoIP system being configured to;

receive the forwarded call;

obtain the destination number stored by the MSC; and

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

3. The telecommunication system recited in claim 2, wherein the MSC is part of a global system for mobile communications (“

GSM”

) system.

4. The telecommunication system recited in claim 2, wherein the MSC is part of a code division multiple access (“

CDMA”

) system.

5. The telecommunication system recited in claim 2, wherein the MSC is further configured to:

recognize that the call has originated from a phone requiring special call handling.

6. The telecommunication system recited in claim 5, wherein the MSC is configured to obtain the forwarding telephone number based on a recognition that the call has originated from a phone requiring special handling.

7. The telecommunication system recited in claim 2, further comprising a service control point (“

SCP”

) in communication with the MSC, wherein;

obtaining a forwarding telephone number of a VoIP system comprises the MSC transmitting a message for reception by the SCP; and

the SCP is configured to;

receive the message;

obtain the forwarding telephone number of the VoIP system; and

transmit the forwarding telephone number for reception by the MSC.

8. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein storing the destination number comprises transmitting the message for reception by the SCP, the message comprising the destination number, and wherein the SCP is further configured to store the destination number.

9. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein the MSC is incorporated within a cellular system, and wherein the cellular system comprises the SCP.

10. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein the SCP is associated with the VoIP system.

11. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein the message is a transaction capabilities application part (“

TCAP”

) request.

12. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein the SCP is configured to obtain the forwarding telephone number by performing a database lookup for the forwarding telephone number.

13. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, further comprising an application server in communication with the SCP, wherein the SCP is configured to obtain the forwarding telephone number from an application server.

14. The telecommunication system recited in claim 13, wherein the VoIP system comprises the application server.

15. The telecommunication system recited in claim 7, wherein the SCP is a first SCP, wherein the telecommunication system further comprises a second SCP in communication with the first SCP, and wherein the first SCP is configured to obtain the forwarding number from the second SCP.

16. The telecommunication system recited in claim 15, wherein the MSC is incorporated within a cellular system, wherein the cellular system comprises the first SCP, and wherein the second SCP is associated with the VoIP system.

17. A voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) system for handling a call placed by a dual-mode phone configured to operate in a cellular mode and in a VoIP mode, the system comprising;

a VoIP switch comprising a processor and instructions executable by the processor to;

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

MSC”

), the connection comprising the call placed by the dual-mode phone, forwarded by the MSC to the VoIP switch at a forwarding telephone number of the VoIP switch and originating from 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 a VoIP system via an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

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

establish a connection to the dual-mode phone over the IP connection;

transmit, to the MSC, a query request for a destination number of a call placed by the dual-mode phone over 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 established the IP connection with the IP network; and

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 network; 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.

18. The VoIP system recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to obtain a destination number comprise instructions executable by the processor to transmit a message requesting the destination number, the VoIP system further comprising a device in communication with the VoIP switch, the device comprising a second processor and instructions executable by the second processor to:

receive the message from the VoIP switch;

obtain the destination number; and

transmit the destination number for reception by the VoIP switch.

19. The VoIP system recited in claim 18, wherein the device is a service control point (“

SCP”

).

20. The VoIP system recited in claim 18, wherein the device is an application server.

21. The VoIP system recited in claim 17, wherein the VoIP switch is configured to obtain the destination number in response to a termination attempt trigger.

22. The VoIP system recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor 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.

23. The VoIP system recited in claim 17, wherein the connection with the cellular system is a trunk connection.