LAN based wireless communications system

• US 9,629,062 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heubel, Michael, Clegg, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US14/488,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20150003437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A method of routing calls from a mobile unit to a destination location can include registering the mobile unit with a wireless adjunct, wherein the wireless adjunct is in communication with a switching unit and a packet based network and is operable to receive data from the switching unit and place the data, in packetized form, on the packet based network. The method can further include responding to a call setup request from the mobile unit and querying a subscriber database to determine if the mobile unit is a resident or a guest. If the mobile unit is a resident, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through the switching unit to a first destination location. If the mobile unit is a guest, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through an RF source to a second destination location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless adjunct unit comprising a processor, from a private branch exchange, an indication of an incoming call directed to a mobile unit;

in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call directed to the mobile unit from the private branch exchange, sending, by the wireless adjunct unit, a setup request to a radio transmit point to cause the radio transmit point to send a page to the mobile unit;

while waiting for a response from the radio transmit point, determining, by the wireless adjunct unit, whether an instruction is received from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit; and

in response to receiving the response from the radio transmit point prior to receiving the instruction from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit,

converting, by the wireless adjunct, non-packetized voice data of the incoming call received from the private branch exchange to packetized voice data, and

routing, by the wireless adjunct unit, via a packetized data network, the packetized voice data of the incoming call to the radio transmit point for transmission to the mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to receiving the indication of the incoming call, waiting, by the wireless adjunct unit, for the indication, wherein the wireless adjunct unit is in a wait state while waiting for the indication.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising when the incoming call ends, returning, by the wireless adjunct unit to the wait state.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving, from the radio transmit point, when the mobile unit enters an environment of the radio transmit point, a notification associated with the mobile unit;

and

in response to receiving the notification from the radio transmit point, registering the mobile unit in a visitor location registry of the wireless adjunct unit.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, via the radio transmit point, an indication of an outgoing call from the mobile unit.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to receiving the indication of the outgoing call from the mobile unit, determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest;

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through the private branch exchange to a first destination location; and

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a guest, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through a radio frequency source to a second destination location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest comprises querying a subscriber database to determine whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest.

4. A wireless adjunct unit comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable-storage device comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a private branch exchange, an indication of an incoming call directed to a mobile unit,

in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call directed to the mobile unit from the private branch exchange, sending a setup request to a radio transmit point to cause the radio transmit point to send a page to the mobile unit,

while waiting for a response from the radio transmit point, determining whether an instruction is received from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit, and

in response to receiving the response from the radio transmit point prior to receiving the instruction from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit,

converting non-packetized voice data of the incoming call received from the private branch exchange to packetized voice data, and

routing, via a packetized data network, the packetized voice data of the incoming call to the radio transmit point for transmission to the mobile unit.

14. The wireless adjunct unit of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the radio transmit point, when the mobile unit enters an environment of the radio transmit point, a notification associated with the mobile unit; and

in response to the notification from the radio transmit point, registering the mobile unit in a visitor location registry of the wireless adjunct unit.

15. The wireless adjunct unit of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, via the radio transmit point, an indication of an outgoing call from the mobile unit.

16. The wireless adjunct unit of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the indication of the outgoing call from the mobile unit, determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest;

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through the private branch exchange to a first destination location; and

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a guest, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through a radio frequency source to a second destination location.

17. The wireless adjunct unit of claim 16, wherein determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest comprises querying a subscriber database to determine whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a wireless adjunct unit, cause the wireless adjunct unit to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a private branch exchange, an indication of an incoming call directed to a mobile unit;

in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call directed to the mobile unit from the private branch exchange, sending a setup request to a radio transmit point to cause the radio transmit point to send a page to the mobile unit;

while waiting for a response from the radio transmit point, determining whether an instruction is received from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit; and

in response to receiving the response from the radio transmit point prior to receiving the instruction from the private branch exchange to end paging of the mobile unit,

converting non-packetized voice data of the incoming call received from the private branch exchange to packetized voice data, and

routing, via a packetized data network, the packetized voice data of the incoming call to the radio transmit point for transmission to the mobile unit.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the radio transmit point, when the mobile unit enters an environment of the radio transmit point, a notification associated with the mobile unit; and

in response to receiving the notification from the radio transmit point, registering the mobile unit in a visitor location registry of the wireless adjunct unit.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, via the radio transmit point, an indication of an outgoing call from the mobile unit.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage device of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the indication of the outgoing call from the mobile unit, determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest;

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through the private branch exchange to a first destination location; and

in response to determining that the mobile unit is a guest, routing the outgoing call from the mobile unit through a radio frequency source to a second destination location.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage device of claim 8, wherein determining whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest comprises querying a subscriber database to determine whether the mobile unit is a resident of the private branch exchange or a guest.