Alternative routing

• US 20060172772A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Communications Inc. (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telepo AB (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Bjorkner, Jorgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• 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

The relates to means for increasing subscription transparency for mobile terminal users. An association between an identifier of a user and an identifier of a current SIM card, or a currently used logical phone, in a mobile terminal the user is using is provided. The association is sent from the mobile terminal to a communication server for use in call establishment to and from the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method for increasing subscription transparency for mobile terminal users, comprising:

storing, in a mobile terminal, an identifier of a user of the mobile terminal;

detecting an identifier of a current subscriber identity module, SIM, card in the mobile terminal; and

sending to a communication server, a communication indicating an association between the identifier of the user and the identifier of the current SIM card.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving and interpreting a routing table from the communication server, the routing table indicating a preferred routing for outgoing calls.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a request to establish an outgoing call from the mobile terminal to a called phone number; and

establishing the outgoing call according to the preferred routing indicated by the routing table.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

initiating the establishment of the call via a default route; and

interrupting the establishment of the call via the default route.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the routing table from the communication server indicates the preferred routing for outgoing calls to be via the communication server.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting is performed in response to the activation of the current SIM card.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selectively activating one of two or more SIM cards in the mobile terminal for use in communication, wherein the current SIM card is the currently activated SIM card.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a network for roaming of a number of selectable networks, the selection being based on cost information stored in the mobile terminal for the number of networks and on the current SIM card.

9. A mobile terminal for increased subscription transparency for users, comprising:

a storage means arranged to store an identifier of a user of the mobile terminal;

a detection means arranged to detect an identifier of a current subscriber identity module, SIM, card in the mobile terminal; and

a sending means arranged to send a communication to a communication server, which communication indicates an association between the identifier of the user and the identifier of the current SIM card.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving and interpreting a routing table from the communication server, the routing table indicating a preferred routing of outgoing calls.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, further comprising:

a user interface means arranged to receive a request to establish an outgoing call from the mobile terminal to a called phone number;

a call establishment means arranged to establish the call; and

a processing means arranged to instruct the call establishment means to establish the outgoing call via the preferred route indicated by the routing table.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the call establishment means is arranged to initiate the establishment of the call via a default route, and wherein the processing means is further arranged to interrupt the establishment of the call via the default route.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the detecting means is arranged to detect the identifier of the current SIM card in response to the activation of the current SIM card.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, further arranged to receive two or more SIM cards, and to selectively activate one of the two or more SIM cards for use in communication, wherein the current SIM card is the currently activated SIM card.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, further arranged to select a network for roaming of a number of selectable networks, the selection being based on cost information stored in the mobile terminal for the number of networks and on the current SIM card.

16. A method in a communication server for increased subscription transparency for mobile terminal users, comprising;

storing a default phone number of a user;

receiving and interpreting a communication from a mobile terminal used by the user, the communication indicating an association between an identifier of the user and an identifier of a current subscriber identity module, SIM, card in the mobile terminal; and

storing a phone number associated with the current SIM card as a current phone number of the user.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

creating, based on the current SIM card, a routing table indicating a preferred routing for establishing outgoing calls from the mobile terminal with the current SIM card; and

sending the routing table to the mobile terminal.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the routing table indicates that outgoing calls should be established via the communication server when the current phone number of the user is different from the default phone number of the user.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an outgoing call establishment request from the current phone number of the user to a called phone number; and

providing the default phone number instead of the current phone number of the user to the called phone number when establishing the outgoing call.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

determining a least cost route for establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number; and

establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number via the least cost route.

21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call establishment request to the default phone number of the user from a calling phone number; and

determining that the incoming call should be connected to the current phone number of the user instead of the default phone number; and

establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

determining a least cost route for establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user, wherein the incoming call is established to the current phone number via the least cost route.

23. The method according to claims 16, further comprising:

measuring and storing statistics regarding calls established via the communication server.

63. The method according to claim 17, wherein the routing table indicates that outgoing calls should be established via the communication server when the current phone number of the user is different from the default phone number of the user.

24. A communication server for increased subscription transparency for subscribers, comprising;

a receiving means arranged to receive and interpret a communication from a mobile terminal used by a user, the communication indicating an association between an identifier of the user and an identifier of a current subscriber identity module, SIM, card in a mobile terminal;

a storage means arranged to store a default phone number of the user and to store a phone number associated with the current SIM card as a current phone number of the user.

25. The communication server according to claim 24, further comprising:

a processing means arranged to create, based on the current SIM card, a routing table indicating a preferred routing for establishing outgoing calls from the mobile terminal with the current SIM card; and

a sending means arranged to send the routing table to the mobile terminal.

26. The communication server according to claim 25, wherein the processing means is arranged to create a routing table indicating that outgoing calls should be routed via the communication server when the current phone number of the user is different from the default phone number of the user.

27. The communication server according to claim 24, further comprising:

a call establishment means arranged to receive an outgoing call establishment request from the current phone number of the user to a called phone number, and to provide the default phone number instead of the current phone number of the user to the called phone number when establishing the outgoing call.

28. The communication server according to claim 27, wherein processing means is further arranged to determine a least cost route for establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number, and to instruct the establishing means to establish the outgoing call to the called phone number via the least cost route.

29. The communication server according to claim 24, further comprising

a call establishment means arranged to receive an incoming call establishment request to the default phone number of the user from a calling phone number, determine that the incoming call should be established to the current phone number of the user instead of the default phone number, and establish the incoming call to the current phone number of the user.

30. The communication server according to claim 29, wherein processing means is further arranged to determine a least cost route for establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user, and to instruct the establishing means to establish the incoming call to the current phone number via the least cost route.

31. The communication server according to claim 24, further comprising:

means measuring and storing statistics regarding calls established via the communication server.

32. A method for increasing subscription transparency for mobile terminal users, comprising:

storing, in a mobile terminal, an identifier of a user of the mobile terminal;

detecting an identifier of a currently used logical phone in the mobile terminal; and

sending to a communication server, a communication indicating an association between the identifier of the user and the identifier of the currently used logical phone.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

receiving and interpreting a routing table from the communication server, the routing table indicating a preferred routing for outgoing calls.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising:

receiving a request to establish an outgoing call from the mobile terminal to a called phone number; and

establishing the outgoing call according to the preferred routing indicated by the routing table.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising:

initiating the establishment of the call via a default route; and

interrupting the establishment of the call via the default route.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the routing table from the communication server indicates the preferred routing for outgoing calls to be via the communication server.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein the detecting is performed in response to the activation of the currently used logical phone.

38. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

selectively activating one of two or more logical phones in the mobile terminal for use in communication.

39. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

selecting a network for roaming of a number of selectable networks, the selection being based on cost information stored in the mobile terminal for the number of networks and on the currently used logical phone.

40. A mobile terminal for increased subscription transparency for users, comprising:

a storage means arranged to store an identifier of a user of the mobile terminal;

a detection means arranged to detect an identifier of a currently used logical phone in the mobile terminal; and

a sending means arranged to send a communication to a communication server, which communication indicates an association between the identifier of the user and the identifier of the currently used logical phone.

41. The mobile terminal according to claim 40, further comprising:

a receiving means for receiving and interpreting a routing table from the communication server, the routing table indicating a preferred routing of outgoing calls.

42. The mobile terminal according to claim 41, further comprising:

a user interface means arranged to receive a request to establish an outgoing call from the mobile terminal to a called phone number;

a call establishment means arranged to establish the call; and

a processing means arranged to instruct the call establishment means to establish the outgoing call via the preferred route indicated by the routing table.

43. The mobile terminal according to claim 42, wherein the call establishment means is arranged to initiate the establishment of the call via a default route, and wherein the processing means is further arranged to interrupt the establishment of the call via the default route.

44. The mobile terminal according to claim 41, wherein the detecting means is arranged to detect the identifier of the currently used logical phone in response to the activation of the currently used logical phone.

45. The mobile terminal according to claim 40, further arranged to receive two or more logical phones, and to selectively activate one of the two or more logical phones for use in communication.

46. The mobile terminal according to claim 40, further arranged to select a network for roaming of a number of selectable networks, the selection being based on cost information stored in the mobile terminal for the number of networks and on the currently used logical phone.

47. A method in a communication server for increased subscription transparency for mobile terminal users, comprising;

storing a default phone number of a user;

receiving and interpreting a communication from a mobile terminal used by the user, the communication indicating an association between an identifier of the user and an identifier of a currently used logical phone in the mobile terminal; and

storing a phone number associated with the currently used logical phone as a current phone number of the user.

48. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

creating, based on the currently used logical phone, a routing table indicating a preferred routing for establishing outgoing calls from the mobile terminal with the currently used logical phone; and

sending the routing table to the mobile terminal.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the routing table indicates that outgoing calls should be established via the communication server when the current phone number of the user is different from the default phone number of the user.

50. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

receiving an outgoing call establishment request from the current phone number of the user to a called phone number; and

providing the default phone number instead of the current phone number of the user to the called phone number when establishing the outgoing call.

51. The method according to claim 50, further comprising:

determining a least cost route for establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number; and

establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number via the least cost route.

52. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call establishment request to the default phone number of the user from a calling phone number; and

determining that the incoming call should be connected to the current phone number of the user instead of the default phone number; and

establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user.

53. The method according to claim 51, further comprising:

determining a least cost route for establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user, wherein the incoming call is established to the current phone number via the least cost route.

54. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

measuring and storing statistics regarding calls established via the communication server.

55. A communication server for increased subscription transparency for subscribers, comprising;

a receiving means arranged to receive and interpret a communication from a mobile terminal used by a user, the communication indicating an association between an identifier of the user and an identifier of a currently used logical phone in a mobile terminal;

a storage means arranged to store a default phone number of the user and to store a phone number associated with the currently used logical phone as a current phone number of the user.

56. The communication server according to claim 55, further comprising:

a processing means arranged to create, based on the currently used logical phone, a routing table indicating a preferred routing for establishing outgoing calls from the mobile terminal with the currently used logical phone; and

a sending means arranged to send the routing table to the mobile terminal.

57. The communication server according to claim 56, wherein the processing means is arranged to create a routing table indicating that outgoing calls should be routed via the communication server when the current phone number of the user is different from the default phone number of the user.

58. The communication server according to claim 56, further comprising:

a call establishment means arranged to receive an outgoing call establishment request from the current phone number of the user to a called phone number, and to provide the default phone number instead of the current phone number of the user to the called phone number when establishing the outgoing call.

59. The communication server according to claim 58, wherein processing means is further arranged to determine a least cost route for establishing the outgoing call to the called phone number, and to instruct the establishing means to establish the outgoing call to the called phone number via the least cost route.

60. The communication server according to claim 55, further comprising

a call establishment means arranged to receive an incoming call establishment request to the default phone number of the user from a calling phone number, determine that the incoming call should be established to the current phone number of the user instead of the default phone number, and establish the incoming call to the current phone number of the user.

61. The communication server according to claim 60, wherein processing means is further arranged to determine a least cost route for establishing the incoming call to the current phone number of the user, and to instruct the establishing means to establish the incoming call to the current phone number via the least cost route.

62. The communication server according to claim 55, further comprising:

means measuring and storing statistics regarding calls established via the communication server.