System and method of dynamic allocation of redundant peripheral equipment gateways in a radio telecommunications network

• US 5,839,064 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiegolaget I.M. Ericsson
• Inventors: Foti, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOFOCLEOUS, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/686,595
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455/412, 455/433, 455/445, 455/414, 455/417, 455/432, 455/461, 455/212, 455/213
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A radio telecommunications network for providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS) is disclosed. The radio telecommunications network includes a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) connected to the VMS, wherein the PEG-1 provides a first interface between the VMS and the radio telecommunications network, and a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) connected to the VMS, wherein the PEG-2 provides a second interface between the VMS and the radio telecommunications network. The MSC receives and routes an incoming call from a mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval, and a home location register (HLR) simultaneously sends routing request messages to PEG-1 and PEG-2, and includes an indication that the routing request messages are for voice mail retrieval. PEG-1 and PEG-2 return routing numbers for the VMS to the HLR. The HLR receives at least one routing number for the VMS, and the MSC delivers the incoming call to the VMS utilizing the first routing number received in the HLR.

Claims

1. In a radio telecommunications network, a method of providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS), said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) to said VMS, said PEG-1 providing a first interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

connecting a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) to said VMS, said PEG-2 providing a second interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

receiving an incoming call for said VMS in said MSC;

transmitting a location request message from said MSC to a home location register (HLR), said location request message including an indicator that said location request message is for voice mail retrieval;

simultaneously transmitting, from said HLR, a first request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-1, and a second request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-2, said first and second requests for a routing number including an indicator that said requests are for voice mail retrieval;

receiving, in said HLR, at least one routing number for said VMS; and

delivering said incoming call to said VMS utilizing the first routing number received in said HLR.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the step of receiving, in said HLR, at least one routing number for said VMS, the step of returning to said MSC, the first routing number received in said HLR.

3. A radio telecommunications network providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS), said network comprising:

a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) connected to said VMS, said PEG-1 providing a first interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) connected to said VMS, said PEG-2 providing a second interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

switching means within said MSC for receiving and routing an incoming call from a mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval;

a home location register (HLR) for requesting routing numbers for said VMS and returning said routing numbers to said MSC;

means for simultaneously transmitting, from said HLR, a first request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-1, and a second request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-2, said first and second requests for a routing number including an indicator that said requests are for voice mail retrieval;

means for receiving, in said HLR, at least one routing number for said VMS; and

means for delivering said incoming call to said VMS utilizing the first routing number received in said HLR.

4. The radio telecommunications network of claim 3 wherein said means for simultaneously transmitting, from said HLR, a first request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-1, and a second request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-2 includes means within said HLR for associating said incoming call from said mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval with two different routes for requesting routing numbers for said VMS.

5. The radio telecommunications network of claim 4 further comprising means for returning to said MSC, the first routing number received in said HLR.

6. In a radio telecommunications network, a method of providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS), said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) to said VMS, said PEG-1 providing a first interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

connecting a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) to said VMS, said PEG-2 providing a second interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

receiving an incoming call for said VMS in said MSC;

transmitting a location request message from said MSC to a home location register (HLR), said location request message including an indicator that said location request message is for voice mail retrieval;

simultaneously transmitting from said HLR, a first request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-1, and a second request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-2, said first and second requests for a routing number including an indicator that said requests are for voice mail retrieval;

receiving, in said HLR, at least one routing number for said VMS;

returning to said MSC, the first routing number received in said HLR;

determining whether a second routing number for said VMS was received in said HLR;

discarding, upon determining that a second routing number was received in said HLR, said second routing number; and

delivering said incoming call to said VMS utilizing the first routing number received in said HLR.

7. A radio telecommunications network providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS), said network comprising:

a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) connected to said VMS, said PEG-1 providing a first interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) connected to said VMS, said PEG-2 providing a second interface between said VMS and said radio telecommunications network;

switching means within said MSC for receiving and routing an incoming call from a mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval;

a home location register (HLR) for requesting routing numbers for said VMS and returning said routing numbers to said MSC;

means for simultaneously transmitting, from said HLR, a first request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-1, and a second request for a routing number for said VMS to said PEG-2, said first and second requests for a routing number including an indicator that said requests are for voice mail retrieval, said simultaneous transmitting means including means within said HLR for associating said incoming call from said mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval with two different routes for requesting routing numbers for said VMS;

means for receiving, in said HLR, at least one routing number for said VMS;

means for returning to said MSC, the first routing number received in said HLR;

means within said HLR for determining whether a second routing number for said VMS was received in said HLR;

means for discarding said second routing number upon determining that a second routing number was received in said HLR; and

means for delivering said incoming call to said VMS utilizing the first routing number received in said HLR.