Personal mobile communication system with call bridging

• US 6,148,193 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miska, Richard A., Willcock, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/947,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/414, 455/461, 455/417, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18556 using a location database
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 providing paging services

Abstract

A communications system permits a personal mobile telecommunications device user, such as a cellular telephone subscriber, to complete a connection to a calling party that has attempted to reach the subscriber using the subscriber'"'"'s assigned telephone number, even when the subscriber is roaming outside of his or her home area. The system includes a messaging and bridging complex having an associated database, which receives a call placed to the subscriber. If the subscriber is out of his or her home area so that the call cannot be completed, information stored in the database is used to initiate transmission of a paging signal to the subscriber. The connection to the calling party is held in the complex for a predetermined period after the paging signal is transmitted. The mobile telephone user, upon receiving the paging signal, may initiate a call from their personal mobile telecommunications device to the messaging and bridging complex, which bridges the subscriber and the calling party together. The system can also include interactive voice response equipment for advising the calling party that the call cannot be completed and that a paging signal is being transmitted. The calling party may also be offered other options, including an opportunity to use a voice mailbox or other facility to leave a message in the event that the call cannot be completed.

Claims

1. A system for establishing communications with a mobile telecommunications subscriber, comprising:

means for automatically determining if the mobile telecommunications subscriber is roaming outside a home service area in a foreign service area having a foreign telecommunications service;

database means for storing (a) a status indication if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming outside of the home service area in the foreign service area, and (b) a paging number for signaling said subscriber in said foreign service area;

switch means responsive to a first call placed to said subscriber for

(a) accessing said database means to determine if said status indication indicates the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming;

(b) if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is not roaming, routing said first call to said subscriber; and

(c) if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming,

(i) retrieving said paging number;

(ii) routing said first call to a first bridge input and placing said first call on hold; and

(iii) causing a paging signal representing an identification of the first bridge input to be transmitted to said subscriber in said foreign service area;

means responsive to a mobile telecommunications second call made by said subscriber, using the foreign telecommunications service, for routing said second call to a second bridge input, thereby bridging said mobile telecommunications call to said first call placed to said subscriber;

means for storing messages for later retrieval by said subscriber, said message storage means being activated as a function of said status indication;

means for playing interactive voice announcements in response to said first call placed to said subscriber; and

means for providing said subscriber with messages stored in said storage means before operating said bridging means.

2. A system for establishing communications with a mobile telecommunications subscriber, comprising:

means for automatically determining if the mobile telecommunications subscriber is roaming outside a home service area in a foreign service area having a foreign telecommunications service;

database means for storing (a) a status indication if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming outside of the home service area in the foreign service area, and (b) a paging number for signaling said subscriber in said foreign service area;

switch means responsive to a first call placed to said subscriber for

(a) accessing said database means to determine if said status indication indicates the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming;

(b) if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is not roaming, routing said first call to said subscriber; and

(c) if the means for determining has determined that said subscriber is roaming,

(i) retrieving said paging number;

(ii) routing said first call to a first bridge input and placing said first call on hold; and

(iii) causing a paging signal representing an identification of the first bridge input to be transmitted to said subscriber in said foreign service area; and

means responsive to a mobile telecommunications second call made by said subscriber, using the foreign telecommunications service, for routing said second call to a second bridge input, thereby bridging said mobile telecommunications call to said first call placed to said subscriber; and

means for providing information to said subscriber that is derived from ANI information associated with said first call placed to said subscriber;

wherein said information providing means includes means for accessing stored information as a function of said ANI information.

3. A method of establishing communications with a mobile telecommunications subscriber located outside of a home service area and roaming in a foreign service area having a foreign telecommunications service, comprising the steps of:

automatically determining if the mobile telecommunications subscriber is roaming;

storing in a database

(a) a status indication that said subscriber is roaming outside of said home service area in said foreign service area, and

(b) a paging number for signaling said subscriber in said foreign service area;

responsive to a first call placed to said subscriber

(a) accessing said database means to determine if it is determined that said status indication indicates that said subscriber is roaming;

(b) if it is determined that said subscriber is not roaming, connecting said first call to said subscriber; and

(c) if it is determined that said subscriber is roaming,

(i) retrieving said paging number,

(ii) routing said call to a first bridge input and placing said call on hold, and

(iii) transmitting a paging signal to said subscriber in said foreign service area, by paging to the subscriber an identification of the bridging means; and

responsive to a mobile telecommunications second call to the bridging means made by said subscriber, using the foreign telecommunications service, routing said second call to a second bridge input, thereby bridging said mobile telecommunications call to said first call placed to said subscriber;

storing messages for later retrieval by said subscriber, said message storage step being activated as a function of said status indication;

playing interactive voice announcements in response to the first call placed to said subscriber; and

providing said subscriber with messages stored in said storage means before performing said bridging step.

4. A method of establishing communications with a mobile telecommunications subscriber located outside of a home service area and roaming in a foreign service area having a foreign telecommunications service, comprising the steps of:

automatically determining if the mobile telecommunications subscriber is roaming;

storing in a database

(a) a status indication that said subscriber is roaming outside of said home service area in said foreign service area, and

(b) a paging number for signaling said subscriber in said foreign service area;

responsive to a first call placed to said subscriber

(a) accessing said database means to determine if it is determined that said status indication indicates that said subscriber is roaming;

(b) if it is determined that said subscriber is not roaming, connecting said first call to said subscriber; and

(c) if it is determined that said subscriber is roaming,

(i) retrieving said paging number,

(ii) routing said call to a first bridge input and placing said call on hold, and

(iii) transmitting a paging signal to said subscriber in said foreign service area, by paging to the subscriber an identification of the bridging means; and

responsive to a mobile telecommunications second call to the bridging means made by said subscriber, using the foreign telecommunications service, routing said second call to a second bridge input, thereby bridging said mobile telecommunications call to said first call placed to said subscriber;

providing information to said subscriber that is derived from ANI information associated with said first call placed to said subscriber; and

accessing stored information as a function of said ANI information.