Methods and systems for providing an extension service to wireless units and wireline units

• US 7,545,760 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniel, John S., Rogers, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levitan; Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US09/345,668
• Time in Patent Office: 3,632 Days
• Field of Search: 379/221.01, 379/258, 370/310, 370/328, 370/351, 370/357, 370/312, 455/461, 455/414, 455/462, 455/465
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/45 public-private interworking, e.g. centrex
• 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: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A call from a wireline unit to a wireless unit may be made by the wireline unit using an extension of the wireless unit rather than a wireless number of the wireless unit. A table includes an entry for the wireless unit that includes the wireless extension and a corresponding wireless number of the wireless unit. The extension is used to obtain the corresponding wireless number from the entry for the wireless unit in the table. The call then is routed pursuant to the obtained corresponding wireless number. Similarly, the inclusion of wireless units in the communications network allows for calls using extensions between a wireless unit and a wireline unit, between wireless units, and of course, between wireline units.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system including a wireless network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and including a wireline network, the wireline network having a communications network wherein wireline units operating in the communications network may call each other by using wireline extensions rather than wireline directory numbers, the communications network having a communications element with access to a table with wireline entry including a wireline extension and a corresponding wireline directory number, a system for including wireless units of the wireless network in the communications network so the wireline units and the wireless units operating in the communications network may call each other by using the wireline extensions or wireless extensions rather than by using the wireline directory numbers or wireless numbers, the system comprising:

A. the table stored within the communications element or the MSC, the table comprising a wireless entry for each of the wireless units operating in the communications network, each wireless entry including a wireless extension and a corresponding wireless number for the wireless unit, wherein each extension is assigned utilizing a numbering scheme to distinguish between the wireless and wireline units, wherein the numbering scheme comprises assigning wireless extensions which are only even numbers and assigning wireline extensions which are only odd numbers, wherein each wireless extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireless number, wherein the extension is associated with a user of one of the wireless units;

B. the communications element being operative to store the table, access the table to obtain the corresponding wireless number in response to receipt of the wireless extension in association with a call to the wireless unit, receive routing instructions from a service control point (SCP), and the communications element being further operative to route the call pursuant to the corresponding wireless number based on the routing instructions receiving from the SCP, wherein the communications element comprises a single element in the telecommunications system; and

C. the MSC of the wireless network being functionally connected to the communications element, the MSC serving at least one or more wireless units operating in the communications network, the MSC being operative to access the table to obtain, respectively, the corresponding wireless number or wireline directory number in response to receipt of the wireless extension or wireline extension in association with a particular call to the wireless unit or to a wireline unit, wherein each wireline extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireline directory number, and the MSC being operative to store the table, receive routing instructions from the SCP, and based on the routing instructions received route the particular call pursuant to the corresponding wireless number or the corresponding wireline number,

wherein the communications element comprises a public branch exchange (PBX), at least one end office of the wireline network serving the wireline units operating in the communications network, or the MSC and whereby the wireline units and the wireless units operating in the communications network may call each other by using an appropriate wireline extension or an appropriate wireless extension, having the appropriate wireline extension or wireless extension converted respectively to an appropriate wireline directory number or an appropriate wireless number through access of the table by the communications element or by the MSC, and having the call routed pursuant to the appropriate wireline directory number or the appropriate wireless number.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a Centrex network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications element and the MSC comprise the table.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the table is stored in a distributed scheme, the distributed scheme comprising the table stored for access at each end office and each MSC that implements the communications network wherein the end office or MSC receiving a call directed to an extension is operative to:

access the table;

convert the extension to a corresponding directory number or wireless number; and

route the call pursuant to the corresponding directory number or wireless number.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the table is stored in a centralized scheme, the centralized scheme comprising the table stored for access at a selected end office or the MSC wherein any end office or MSC that implements the communications network and receives a call directed to an extension is operative to route one of a query or request to the selected end office or MSC storing the table and wherein the selected end office or MSC in response to receiving one of the query and request is operative to:

access the table;

convert the extension to a corresponding directory number or wireless number; and

provide instructions to the any end office or MSC receiving the call to route the call pursuant to the corresponding directory number or wireless number.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the table is stored in a distributed scheme, the distributed scheme comprising the table stored for access at each PBX in the communications network and each MSC that implements the communications network wherein when a PBX or MSC receive a call directed to an extension, the PBX or MSC receiving the call:

accesses the table;

converts the extension to a corresponding directory number or wireless number; and

routes the call pursuant to the corresponding directory number or wireless number.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the table is stored in a centralized scheme, the centralized scheme comprising the table stored for access at a selected PBX or the MSC wherein any PBX in the communications network or MSC that receives a call directed to an extension is operative to route one of a query or request to the selected PBX or MSC storing the table and wherein the selected PBX or MSC in response to receiving one of the query and request is operative to:

access the table;

convert the extension to a corresponding directory number or wireless number; and

provide instructions to the any PBX or MSC receiving the call to route the call pursuant to the corresponding directory number or wireless number.

8. In a communications network including wireline units and wireless units, a communications element accessible for use in providing an extension service to the wireline units and the wireless units operating in the communications network, the extension service allowing the wireline units and the wireless units to call each other by using wireline extensions or wireless extensions rather than wireline directory numbers or wireless numbers, the communications element comprising:

A. a table for use in providing the extension service to the wireline units and the wireless units;

B. the table including a wireline entry for each wireline unit, each wireline entry including a wireline extension and a corresponding wireline directory number, wherein each extension is assigned utilizing a numbering scheme to distinguish between the wireless and wireline units, wherein the numbering scheme comprises assigning wireless extensions which are only even numbers and assigning wireline extensions which are only odd numbers, wherein each wireline extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireline directory number, wherein the extension is associated with a user of one of the wireless units; and

C. the table also including a wireless entry for each wireless unit, each wireless entry including a wireless extension and a corresponding wireless number, wherein each wireless extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireless number,

wherein the table is stored within and calls are routed from at least one of a private branch exchange (PBX), and end office, or a mobile switching center (MSC), all operative to receive routing instructions from a SCP, and route the calls pursuant to a corresponding wireless or wireline number based on the routing instructions received from the SCP, the communications element comprising a single element in the communications network.

9. In a communications network including a wireline network having a wireline unit and a wireless network having a wireless unit, a method to provide the wireless unit with extension service whereby the wireless unit may call the wireline unit by using an extension for the wireline unit rather than a directory number for the wireline unit, the method comprising:

A. causing a table to include an entry for the wireline unit and a plurality of additional wireless units operating in the communications network, each entry including the extension of the wireline unit and a corresponding directory number of the wireline unit, wherein each extension is assigned utilizing a numbering scheme to distinguish between the wireless and wireline units, wherein the numbering scheme comprises assigning wireless extensions which are only even numbers and assigning wireline extensions which are only odd number, wherein each wireline extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireline directory number, wherein the extension is associated with a user of one of the wireless units;

B. receiving the extension for the wireline unit in association with a call from the wireless unit to the wireline unit;

C. using the extension to obtain the corresponding directory number for the wireline unit by checking the entry for the wireline unit in the table; and

D. routing the call from where the table is stored to the corresponding wireline directory number,

wherein the table is stored within and the call is routed from a single communications element in the communications network, the single communications element operative to receive routing instructions from an SCP, and whereby the wireless unit is accorded the extension service so that a call from the wireless unit to the wireline unit may be made by the wireless unit using the extension of the wireline unit and result in the routing of the call by the single communications element to the corresponding directory number of the wireline unit based on obtaining the corresponding directory number from the entry for the wireline unit in the table.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing the table to include a wireless unit entry for the wireless unit, the wireless unit entry including the extension of the wireless unit and a corresponding wireless number of the wireless unit, inclusion of the wireless unit entry in the table signifying the wireless unit is to receive the extension service, wherein each wireless extension comprises at least the last four digits of the corresponding wireless directory number;

wherein Action B comprises receiving the wireless number of the wireless unit in association with the call from the wireless unit to the wireline unit; and

in response to Action B and prior to Action C, using the wireless number to determine the wireless unit is to receive the extension service by finding the wireless unit entry for the wireless unit in the table.

11. The method of claim 9, whereby the wireless unit may call a second wireless unit by using an extension for the second wireless unit rather than a directory number for the second wireless unit, further comprising

causing the table to include an entry for the second wireless unit, the entry including the extension of the second wireless unit and a corresponding directory number of the second wireless unit;

receiving the extension for the second wireless unit in association with a wireless call from the wireless unit to the second wireless unit;

using the extension to obtain the corresponding directory number for the second wireless unit by checking the entry for the second wireless unit in the table; and

routing the wireless call from where the table is stored to the corresponding wireless directory number,

wherein the table is stored within and the wireless call is routed from the single communications element, and whereby the wireless unit is accorded the extension service so that the wireless call from the wireless unit to the second wireless unit may be made by the wireless unit using the extension of the second wireless unit and result in the routing of the wireless call to the corresponding directory number of the second wireless unit based on obtaining the corresponding directory number from the entry for the second wireless unit in the table.