Method and system for integrated wireline and wireless services in a switching system

• US 6,704,796 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanzel, R. Emery, Gentry, William, Price, Patrick Lee, Franks, Gary Steven, Ziesig, James, Cosgriff, Barbara, Gundecha, Chandrakant
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/261,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 709/238, 709/313, 709/320, 709/321, 709/311, 709/312, 455/422, 455/433, 455/428
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention perform enhanced services for wireline and wireless subscribers in an integrated wireline and wireless switching system. The enhanced services may include, for example, group dialing plans, message waiting indicator activation, call forwarding, simultaneous ringing, call conferencing, calling line identification, automatic call back, automatic recall, speed dialing services, and/or any other services that may be provided by a switching system to wireless and/or wireline subscribers. When a calling wireline and/or wireless subscriber requests one or more of the enhanced services, the integrated wireline and wireless switching system determines the line types associated with the wireline and/or wireless devices of a called subscriber, and identifies references to one or more shared procedures for performing the enhanced services according to the determined line types without creating direct dependencies between wireline and wireless modules in the integrated wireline and wireless switching system. Finally, the integrated wireline and wireless switching system executes the identified procedures to perform the shared services.

Claims

1. An integrated wireline and wireless switching system, comprising:

a shared operating system;

a shared telecommunications module which communicates with the shared operating system;

a wireline module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module;

a wireless module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module; and

one or more structures that include one or more procedure references arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute shared procedures corresponding to the procedure references for performing one or more enhanced services;

wherein the shared operating system is configured to perform at least one of task scheduling and processor interrupt handling.

2. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute the shared procedures without creating direct dependencies between the wireline and wireless modules.

3. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the shared procedures are bounded into the structures.

4. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules access one or more shared dialing plans for establishing a call between two or more subscribers that are in a group.

5. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules activate message waiting indicators in a plurality of devices, respectively, that are associated with a subscriber.

6. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules forward a call to a subscriber.

7. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules add one or more subscribers to a call.

8. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send simultaneous ring signals to one or more wireline and wireless devices associated with a subscriber.

9. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send calling subscriber identification information to a called subscriber.

10. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call back a called subscriber when a line associated with the called subscriber becomes idle.

11. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call a last calling subscriber when a called subscriber dials an access code.

12. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 1, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules perform a speed dial operation when a calling subscriber dials a code.

13. An integrated wireline and wireless switching system, comprising:

a shared operating system;

a shared telecommunications module which communicates with the shared operating system;

a wireline module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module;

a wireless module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module; and

one or more structures that include one or more procedure references arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute shared procedures corresponding to the procedure references for performing one or more enhanced services;

wherein the shared telecommunications module is configured to perform at least one of call processing scheduling, maintenance functions, and billing functions.

14. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute the shared procedures without creating direct dependencies between the wireline and wireless modules.

15. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the shared procedures are bounded into the structures.

16. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules access one or more shared dialing plans for establishing a call between two or more subscribers that are in a group.

17. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules activate message waiting indicators in a plurality of devices, respectively, that are associated with a subscriber.

18. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules forward a call to a subscriber.

19. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules add one or more subscribers to a call.

20. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send simultaneous ring signals to one or more wireline and wireless devices associated with a subscriber.

21. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send calling subscriber identification information to a called subscriber.

22. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call back a called subscriber when a line associated with the called subscriber becomes idle.

23. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call a last calling subscriber when a called subscriber dials an access code.

24. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 13, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules perform a speed dial operation when a calling subscriber dials a code.

25. An integrated wireline and wireless switching system, comprising:

a shared operating system;

a shared telecommunications module which communicates with the shared operating system;

a wireline module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module;

a wireless module which communicates with the shared telecommunications module; and

one or more structures that include one or more procedure references arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute shared procedures corresponding to the procedure references for performing one or more enhanced services;

wherein the shared operating system is configured to perform at least one of task scheduling and processor interrupt handling; and

wherein the shared telecommunications module is configured to perform at least one of call processing scheduling, maintenance functions, and billing functions.

26. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules execute the shared procedures without creating direct dependencies between the wireline and wireless modules.

27. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the shared procedures are bounded into the structures.

28. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules access one or more shared dialing plans for establishing a call between two or more subscribers that are in a group.

29. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules activate message waiting indicators in a plurality of devices, respectively, that are associated with a subscriber.

30. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules forward a call to a subscriber.

31. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules add one or more subscribers to a call.

32. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send simultaneous ring signals to one or more wireline and wireless devices associated with a subscriber.

33. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules send calling subscriber identification information to a called subscriber.

34. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call back a called subscriber when a line associated with the called subscriber becomes idle.

35. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules automatically call a last calling subscriber when a called subscriber dials an access code.

36. The integrated wireline and wireless switching system of claim 25, wherein the procedure references are arranged such that the wireline and wireless modules perform a speed dial operation when a calling subscriber dials a code.