System and method for a wireline-wireless network interface

• US 5,901,359 A
• Filed: 01/03/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Malmstrom, Douglas Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/778,491
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/414, 455/417, 455/435, 455/433, 455/445, 455/461, 455/567, 379/207, 379/210
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A single-number service for providing integrated wireless and wireline communication networks for forwarding a call incoming to a subscriber'"'"'s designated single telephone number to a routing destination number based on the subscriber'"'"'s current location is provided. The single-number service includes storing subscriber mobile registration status in a wireline location register (WLR) of the wireline communication network. The subscriber mobile registration status is retrieved upon receiving the call incoming to the subscriber'"'"'s designated single telephone number. The call is routed to a wireline destination stored in the WLR in response to the subscriber mobile registration status indicating that the subscriber is wireline registered. A subscriber location request is sent from the WLR to the Home Location Register (HLR) of the wireless network in response to the subscriber mobile registration status indicating that the subscriber is wireless registered. A routing request is sent from the HLR to the MSC where the subscriber is registered in response to receiving the subscriber current location request. A wireless routing destination number (TLDN) is communicated from the MSC to the WLR. The call incoming to the subscriber'"'"'s directory number is routed by the WLR to the wireless routing destination number (TLDN).

Claims

1. For use in an integrated wireless and wireline communication network an method for providing a single number service to forward a call incoming to a subscriber'"'"'s designated single telephone number to a routing destination number based on the subscriber'"'"'s current location, the method comprising:

storing subscriber mobile registration status data in a wireline location register (WLR) located in the wireline communication network, the WLR in electrical communication with a wireline switch and a Home Location Register (HLR);

monitoring the wireline switch to detect predetermined AIN triggers;

generating a query at the wireline switch for receipt by the WLR upon detection of the predetermined AIN triggers, the query requesting subscriber mobile registration status data;

routing the call from the wireline switch to a wireline destination number stored in the WLR in response to the subscriber mobile registration status data indicating that the subscriber is wireline registered;

generating a first query at the WLR to the Home Location Register (HLR) of the wireless network in response to the subscriber mobile registration status data indicating that the subscriber is wireless registered, the query requesting a current subscriber mobile location;

generating a second query at the HLR to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) where the subscriber is registered, the query requesting a wireless routing destination number;

communicating a wireless routing destination number from the MSC for delivery to the WLR through the HLR; and

routing the call from the wireline switch to the MSC to the wireless routing destination number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the WLR resides in a Service Control Point (SCP).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the call includes sending the call to a plurality of wireless destinations, each wireless destination having a unique MIN, whereby the call is delivered to the first wireless destination answering the call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireline switch is an SS7 service switching point (SSP) operable to communicate with the SCP with AIN messages via SS7.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless routing destination number is a Temporary Local Directory Number (TLDN).

6. A method for providing an interface between wireless and wireline communication networks for exchanging subscriber status information in order to map a call incoming to a subscriber'"'"'s wireline Directory Number (DN) to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless mobile location through a Service Switching Point (SSP), the method comprising:

communicating wireless registration status data from a mobile service controller (MSC) of the wireless communication network to a wireline location register (WRL) located in a Service Control Point (SCP) of the wireline communication network;

storing the wireline registration status data in the WLR;

sending a subscriber current location request from the WLR to a Home Location Register (HLR) of the wireless network in response to the wireline registration data indicating that the subscriber is wireless registered;

sending a query at the HLR to the MSC where the subscriber is located in response to receiving the subscriber current location request, the query requesting a wireless routing destination number;

communicating a Temporary Location Destination Number (TLDN) from the MSC to the WLR; and

routing the call from the SSP to the MSC for delivery to the TLDN.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending a registration signal from the subscriber'"'"'s mobile unit to a Mobile Services Controller (MSC) when the subscriber becomes registered in the wireless communication network.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein routing the call includes sending the call to a plurality of wireless destinations, each wireless destination having a unique MIN, whereby the call is delivered to the first wireless destination answering the call.

9. A method for providing a single-number service adapted for use in wireless and wireline communication networks for exchanging network status information in order to selectively route a call incoming to a subscriber'"'"'s single telephone number to either a subscriber'"'"'s wireless or wireline location depending on the wireless registration status of the subscriber, the method comprising:

communicating wireless registration data from a mobile switching center (MSC) to a Home Location Register (HLR) in the wireless network;

communicating the wireless registration data from the HLR to a wireline location register (WLR) when the subscriber becomes registered in the wireless network;

storing the wireless registration data in the WLR;

communicating a location request query from the WLR to the HLR to determine a location of the subscriber, in response to receiving notification of an incoming call;

generating a routing request query from the HLR to the MSC to determine a routing destination for the subscriber;

responding to the WLR by the MSC the location and the routing destination of the subscriber; and

routing the call to a wireless routing destination number (TLDN) in the wireless network corresponding to the location of the subscriber in response to the subscriber being registered in the wireless network.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the subscriber is not registered in the wireless network, routing the call to a wireline routing destination number (TLDN) in the wireline network.

11. For use in an integrated wireless/wireline communication network, a system for providing an exchange of network status information in order to route a call incoming to a subscriber'"'"'s single telephone number to either a subscriber'"'"'s mobile unit through a Mobile Services Controller (MSC) or to a subscriber'"'"'s customer premises equipment (CPE) through a Service Switching Point (SSP) depending on the location of the subscriber, the system comprising:

a Wireline Location Register (WLR) located in the wireline communication network and in electrical communication with the SSP for storing subscriber routing information and subscriber registration status data;

a Home Location Register (HLR) located in the wireless communication network and in electrical communication with the WLR and the MSC for storing and communicating to the WLR subscriber routing information and subscriber registration status data; and

a service control point (SCP) located in the wireline communication network and provided in electrical communication with the WLR and the SSP, the SCP operable to retrieve the subscriber routing information and provide the subscriber routing information to the SSP.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a Visitor Location Register (VLR) located in the wireless communication network and provided in electrical communication with the HLR and the MSC, enabling the WLR to issue a query to the HLR requesting a routing destination for subscribers which are wireless registered, thereby allowing the delivery of the call to a one of the subscriber'"'"'s mobile unit and the subscriber'"'"'s CPE.