Multi-protocol wireless communication apparatus and method

• US 20050190789A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jay Salkini, Thomas V. Joseph III
• Original Assignee: Jay Salkini, Thomas V. Joseph III
• Inventors: Joseph, Thomas V. III, Salkini, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A scalable, multi-protocol mobile switching center in a wireless communications network provides communications control for digital and analog wireless communications devices including devices that operate according to GSM and IS-41 standards. The hardware and software architecture of the switching center is designed so that processing that is unique to a particular protocol is performed at the lowest possible level, and remaining processing can use generic procedures. The switching center incorporates a home location register and visitor location register that are used in conjunction with software applications to determine the protocol of mobile communications devices using the wireless communications network. The mobile switching center can be used to provide a large scale distributed wireless network or a small scale wireless network. The switching center can also be used as an adjunct to a private branch exchange to provide in-building wireless services and call control. Graphical user interfaces make the wireless communications network easy to maintain.

Claims

1. A switching center for a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a first interface, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a first protocol;

a second interface, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol;

a processor system coupled to the first and second interfaces, wherein the processor system controls operation of the first and the second interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the second interfaces; and

a prepaid module that enables prepaid communications and real time prepaid account debiting.

2. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the prepaid module includes instructions for:

determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer based on a prepaid account for the prepaid customer;

determining a warning time for the communication, wherein the warning time is a time less than the allowed time;

connecting the communication;

monitoring a time of the communication to determine if the warning time and the allowed time occurs;

providing a warning to the prepaid customer when the warning time occurs; and

disconnecting the communication when the allowed time is reached.

3. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the prepaid module further includes instructions for:

determining a least cost route for the communication from the prepaid customer.

4. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the prepaid module further includes instructions for determining an applicable rate plan for the prepaid customer.

5. The switching center of claim 4, wherein determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer determines the allowed time using the applicable rate plan.

6. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the prepaid module further includes instructions for determining if the prepaid customer has a sufficient prepaid account balance to pay for the communication.

7. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the prepaid module further includes instructions for defining an air time charge for the communication.

8. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the prepaid module further includes instructions for:

at a completion of the communication from the prepaid customer, computing an actual cost for the communication; and

debiting the prepaid account, based on the actual cost for the communication.

9. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the communication includes voice communication.

10. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the communication includes data communication.

11. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the communication is a call.

12. The switching center of claim 11, wherein the call is from a wireless device.

13. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the communications system receives the communication from an external wireless system having an external home location register and an external communications device registered on the external home location register, and wherein the processor system determines a protocol of the external communications device by obtaining an identification of the external home location register.

14. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the prepaid module includes instructions for providing a plurality of rate plans, wherein the prepaid customer may select a desired rate plan from the plurality of rate plans.

15. The switching center of claim 14, wherein the desired rate plan is stored in one of a home location register and a second database, wherein the second data base is in one of a location internal to the switching centers and extend to the switching centers.

16. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface providing an operator access to update data related to prepaid customers, prepaid accounts and prepaid communications.

17. A prepaid module for use in a switching center for a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless devices, wherein the prepaid module enables prepaid communications and real time prepaid account debiting and comprises instructions for:

determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer based on a prepaid account for the prepaid customer;

determining a warning time for the communication, wherein the warning time is a time less than the allowed time;

connecting the communication;

monitoring a time of the communication to determine if the warning time and the allowed time occurs;

providing a warning to the prepaid customer when the warning time occurs; and

disconnecting the communication when the allowed time is reached.

18. The prepaid module of claim 17, further comprising instructions for determining a least cost route for the communication from the prepaid customer.

19. The prepaid module of claim 17, further comprising instructions for determining an applicable rate plan for the prepaid customer.

20. The prepaid module of claim 19, wherein determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer determines the allowed time using the applicable rate plan.

21. The prepaid module of claim 17, further comprising instructions for determining if the prepaid customer has a sufficient prepaid account balance to pay for the communication.

22. The prepaid module of claim 17, further comprising instructions for defining an air time charge for the communication.

23. The prepaid module of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

at a completion of the communication from the prepaid customer, computing an actual cost for the communication; and

debiting the prepaid account, based on the actual cost for the communication.

24. A method of providing prepaid communications and real time prepaid account debiting in a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless devices, comprising:

determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer based on a prepaid account for the prepaid customer;

determining a warning time for the communication, wherein the warning time is a time less than the allowed time;

connecting the communication;

monitoring a time of the communication to determine if the warning time and the allowed time occurs;

providing a warning to the prepaid customer when the warning time occurs; and

disconnecting the communication when the allowed time is reached.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a least cost route for the communication from the prepaid customer.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining an applicable rate plan for the prepaid customer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining an allowed time of a communication from a prepaid customer determines the allowed time using the applicable rate plan.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining if the prepaid customer has a sufficient prepaid account balance to pay for the communication.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising defining an air time charge for the communication.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

at a completion of the communication from the prepaid customer, computing an actual cost for the communication; and

debiting the prepaid account, based on the actual cost for the communication.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing the prepaid customer with information related to the prepaid customer'"'"'s account.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving a query from the prepaid customer regarding information related to the prepaid customer'"'"'s account; and

providing a response to the prepaid customer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the information related to the prepaid account is used to provide one or more of Interactive Voice Response (IVR), short message system (SMS), Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD), data transmission, and Internet transmission information.

34. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying operator-determined charges to the prepaid account, wherein the operator-determined charges are based on one or more of a single occurrence, multiple occurrences, customer activity level, and actual air time.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the operator-determined charges vary pending on the basis for the charges.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising aging a value in the prepaid account using time limits for customer activity including automatic suspension and removal of access based on timer expiration.

37. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving a request from the prepaid customer to recharge a balance of the prepaid customer'"'"'s account.

61. The switching center of claim 35, wherein the voice/data switching system comprises one or more of a private branch exchange (PBX), a private auxiliary branch exchange (PABX), a key system, and a corporate/campus-type switching system.

38. A switching center for a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a single platform having a back plane for communication, the single platform, comprising;

a first interface, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a first protocol;

a second interface, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol;

a processor system coupled to the first and second interfaces, wherein the processor system;

controls operation of the first and the second interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the second interfaces; and

operates to reserve resources capable of receiving communications from wireless communications devices, wherein the communications received by the resources include data.

39. The switching center of claim 38, wherein the communications received by the resources include voice.

40. The switching center of claim 38, further comprising a prepaid module that enables prepaid communications and real time prepaid account debiting, wherein the communications received by the resources include prepaid communications.

41. The switching center of claim 38, wherein the communications system receives at least some of the communications from external wireless systems having external home location registers and external communications devices registered on the external home location registers, and wherein the processor system determines a protocol of the external communications devices by obtaining an identification of the external home location registers.

42. A switching center for a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a single platform having a back plane for communication, the single platform, comprising;

a first interface, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging related to communications sent to and received from a wireless system, the digital messaging having a first protocol;

a wired voice/data interface, the voice/data interface receiving and sending digital messaging related to communications sent to and received from a wired voice/data switching system;

a processor system coupled to the first and voice/data interfaces, wherein the processor system controls operation of the first and the voice/data interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the voice/data interfaces; and

a control application that optionally routes communications to the wireless system or the voice/data switching system.

43. The switching center of claim 42, further comprising customer profiles that include operational modes for customers'"'"' wired and wireless communication devices that are used by the control application to route the communications.

44. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the wired communication devices include desktop telephones.

45. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication terminates at a customer'"'"'s wired communication device first and is routed by the control application to the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device if the wired communication device is not available.

46. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication terminates at a customer'"'"'s wireless communication device first and is routed by the control application to the customer'"'"'s wired communication device if the wireless communication device is not available.

47. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication terminates at customer'"'"'s wired communication device only.

48. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication terminates at customer'"'"'s wireless communication device only.

49. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication is routed to the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device only if the wireless communication device is operating in a home area.

50. The switching center of claim 43, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which an incoming communication is routed to voice mail if the wired and wireless communication devices are both not available.

51. The switching center of claim 43, further comprising a home location register (HLR) coupled to the processor system and the voice/data interface, the HLR including the customer profiles.

52. The switching center of claim 51, wherein the operational modes include a mode in which the HLR determines if the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device is operating on another wireless system when an incoming communication is received.

53. The switching center of claim 52, wherein the incoming communication is routed to the other wireless system for delivery to the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device.

54. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the voice/data switching system includes wireless communication devices.

55. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the communications include data.

56. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the wireless system is an in-building wireless system.

57. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the wireless system is a microcellular wireless system.

58. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the control application optionally routes communications to the wireless system or voice/data switching system based on a customer profile.

59. The switching center of claim 42, wherein the control application optionally routes communications to the wireless system or voice/data switching system based on a customer input received via a communication device.

60. The switching center of claim 42, further comprising a second interface, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol.

62. A method for optionally routing communications to a wireless system or a wired voice/data switching system in a communications system, comprising:

receiving an incoming communication for a customer that has a wireless communication device and a wired communication device;

examining a customer profile for the customer to determine an operational mode for the customer'"'"'s wireless and wired communication devices;

if the operational mode indicates a priority for the wired communication device then;

terminating the incoming communication at the customer'"'"'s wired device first and, only if the wired device is not available,

routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wireless device; and

if the operational mode indicates a priority for the wireless communication device then;

terminating the incoming communication at the customer'"'"'s wireless device first and, only if the wireless device is not available,

routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wired device.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising routing the incoming communication to voice mail if the wired and wireless communication devices are both not available.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising determining if the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device is operating on another wireless system when an incoming communication is received.

65. The method of claim 62, further comprising routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device only if the wireless communication device is operating in a home area.

66. A module for optionally routing communications to a wireless system or a PBX in a communications system comprising instructions for:

upon receipt of an incoming communication for a customer that has a wireless communication device and a wired communication device, examining a customer profile for the customer to determine an operational mode for the customer'"'"'s wireless and wired communication devices;

if the operational mode indicates a priority for the wired communication device then;

terminating the incoming communication at the customer'"'"'s wired device first and, only if the wired device is not available,

routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wireless device; and

if the operational mode indicates a priority for the wireless communication device then;

terminating the incoming communication at the customer'"'"'s wireless device first and, only if the wireless device is not available,

routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wired device.

67. The module of claim 66, further comprising instructions for routing the incoming communication to voice mail if the wired and wireless communication devices are both not available.

68. The module of claim 66, further comprising instructions for determining if the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device is operating on another wireless system when an incoming communication is received.

69. The module of claim 66, further comprising instructions for routing the incoming communication to the customer'"'"'s wireless communication device only if the wireless communication device is operating in a home area.