Methods and apparatus for a multi-technology subscriber base for global roaming

• US 7,610,328 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Murakami, Kazutaka, Xiong, Ming, Haase, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASEL, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US10/349,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20030157938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,469 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 455/445
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and a system for providing a connection to a subscriber having multiple subscriber devices utilizing different communications protocols are disclosed. The subscriber is associated with an address to which incoming calls are addressed. The method and system provide for completing an incoming call to the subscriber address via one of the subscriber devices, where the device is selected from the subscriber devices based on a subscriber profile. The profile generally includes respective service profiles for each of the communications protocols utilized to establish the call, respective service profiles for each of the subscriber devices, and a user destination selection policy describing routing parameters that determine routing of the call to one or more of the subscriber devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing a connection to a subscriber, said method comprising:

assigning an address to said subscriber, wherein said subscriber is associated with multiple devices accessible via a communications network and utilizing differing communications protocols;

assigning at least one first type service profile per communication protocol used to set up a call request to said subscriber by said address, wherein said at least one first type service profile includes service related data classified as address related;

assigning at least one second type service profile per each one of said multiple devices, wherein said at least one second type service profile includes service related data classified as both address and terminal related;

assigning a core incoming call handling service profile to at least one of said multiple devices, said core incoming call handling service profile having one core terminal per technology and being utilized for standard compliant connection queries regarding said subscriber;

providing a destination selection policy for describing routing parameters of an incoming call to said subscriber; and

analyzing, in response to said call request, said destination selection policy, said at least one first type service profile, and said at least one second type service profile to make a connection to an appropriate device of said multiple devices using an appropriate one of said communications protocols,

wherein said communications protocols comprise at least one of UMTS, ANSI, SIP or combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user profile comprises:

at least one terminal profile; and

at least one incoming call handling (ICH) service profile, wherein said ICH service profile includes said at least one first type profile and said at least one second type profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one terminal profile comprises:

terminal level and address independent service information, including location information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one terminal profile is dynamically updated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises:

checking availability of a device of said multiple devices; and

checking barring of incoming call service settings for said device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing parameters of said destination selection policy are based on information selected from the group consisting of:

time-of-day, caller identification, currently available network, and current location.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

upon determining that more than one device of said multiple devices is available, computing an ordered list of devices to be alerted.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon determining that an originating communications protocol differs from a terminating communications protocol for said call request, selecting an appropriate gateway for completing said call request.

9. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing a connection to a subscriber, said method comprising:

assigning an address to said subscriber, wherein said subscriber is associated with multiple devices accessible via a communications network and utilizing differing communications protocols;

assigning at least one first type service profile per communication protocol used to set up a call request to said subscriber by said address, wherein said at least one first type service profile includes service related data classified as address related;

assigning at least one second type service profile per each one of said multiple devices, wherein said at least one second type service profile includes service related data classified as both address and terminal related;

assigning a core incoming call handling service profile, said core incoming call handling service profile having one core terminal per technology and being utilized for standard compliant connection queries regarding said subscriber;

assigning a destination selection policy for describing routing parameters of an incoming call to said subscriber; and

wherein said destination selection policy, said at least one first type service profile, and said at least one second type service profile are considered, in response to said call request, to make a connection to an appropriate device of said multiple devices using an appropriate one of said communications protocols, and wherein said communications protocols comprise at least one of UMTS, ANSI, SIP or combinations thereof.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein user profile comprises:

at least one terminal profile; and

at least one incoming call handling (ICH) service profile, wherein said ICH service profile includes said at least one first type profile and said at least one second type profile.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one terminal profile comprises:

terminal level and address independent service information, including location information.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one terminal profile is dynamically updated.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said routing parameters of said destination selection policy are based on information selected from the group consisting of:

time-of-day, caller identification, currently available network, and current location.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

checking availability of a device of said multiple devices; and

checking barring of incoming call service settings for said device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

upon determining that more than one device of said multiple devices is available, computing an ordered list of devices to be alerted.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

upon determining that an originating communications protocol differs from a terminating communications protocol for said call request, selecting an appropriate gateway for completing said call request.

17. A method for handling an incoming call to a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving a request for establishing said incoming call to said subscriber addressed to an address associated with said subscriber, wherein said subscriber is associated with multiple devices utilizing one or more different communications protocols; and

analyzing a user profile of said subscriber to determine one or more appropriate devices of said multiple devices for completing said incoming call, wherein said user profile comprises;

one or more incoming call handling (ICH) service profiles, wherein one of said one or more ICH service profiles is associated with said address, each of said one or more ICH service profiles comprising;

a first type service profile per each communications protocol used to set up a call request to said subscriber, said first type service profile including address related data;

a second type service profile per each of said multiple devices, wherein said second type service profile includes address and terminal related data; and

a user destination selection policy describing routing parameters determining routing of an incoming call to one or more of said multiple devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said one or more ICH service profiles comprise a second ICH service profile associated with a second address, wherein said second address is different from said address and wherein said second address is associated with said subscriber.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said address is one of a phone number and SIP URL.