Data network computing device call processing

• US 7,656,864 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alianza, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: McNiff, Peter Gerald, Wilhoite, Michael Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US11/582,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• 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 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• 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

Abstract

A telecommunications service node is connected to a data network using a packet data protocol and a telephone network using a circuit switched protocol. The service node is also connected to a wireless roaming network using the IS-41 signaling protocol. The service node stores status information, including location and registration information, for mobile computing devices connected to the data packet network. The location information includes a temporary data network address for visiting mobile computing devices. The service node manages voice calls to and from the mobile computing devices. If a call is received to a mobile computing device which is not registered, the service node will attempt to connect the call to a wireless telephone associated with the mobile computing device, or a predefined destination established as a preference by the user. In the case of a voice call between a telephone connected to the telephone network and a mobile computing device connected to the data network, the service node acts as a gateway and translates between the data packet protocol and the circuit switched protocol. A personal information manager executing in a mobile computing device may be used for managing call processing functions of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A communication system for providing telecommunication services comprising:

an interface to a data network and to a wireless telephone network; and

a manager coupled to the interface for placing voice calls to and from user devices coupled to the data network,

wherein the manager is configured to maintain in a database an association of an identity of a user in the wireless telephone network with a corresponding user device coupled to the data network; and

wherein the manager is further configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to

cause calls placed to the identity of said user in the wireless telephone network to be carried via the interface for onward routing to the corresponding user device coupled to the data network, and

cause calls to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)

initiated at the corresponding user device coupled to the data network to be carried through the data network and subsequently through the interface for onward routing via the wireless telephone network to a destination in the PSTN such that the calls would appear to have been initiated by a user device coupled to the wireless telephone network.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor and computer program instructions stored in a memory that implement at least part of the manager.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the data network includes a public data network.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a voice path gateway between the data network and the wireless telephone network for the calls placed to the identity of said user and for the calls initiated at the corresponding user device.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a first interface to the data network and a second interface to the wireless telephone network, and the system further comprises:

a gateway for coupling voice paths between the first interface and the second interface for the voice calls to and from the user device.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the voice paths use a packet data protocol on the data network and a circuit switched protocol on the wireless telephone network.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein interacting with the wireless telephone network includes exchanging cellular radiotelecommunications messages with the one or more components of the wireless telephone network.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein the cellular radiotelecommunications messages include IS-41 standard messages.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communication system forms a service node of a telecommunications network.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to monitor the progress of calls to or initiated at the user devices coupled to the data network.

11. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the manager is further configured to provide mid-call features at the user devices coupled to the data network.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the mid-call feature relates to disposition of a further call that comes in during the call in progress.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the mid-call features includes one of a group consisting of call screening, outgoing call restrictions, short message text to phone service, message waiting indicator, and an information service.

14. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to:

cause calls initiated at the corresponding user device coupled to the data network to be routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

15. The communication system of claim 1 wherein interacting with the wireless telephone network to cause calls initiated at the user devices to be carried through the wireless telephone network includes interacting with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the wireless communication network.

16. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data storage for holding registration information identifying those of the user devices that are registered to receive calls placed to corresponding destinations in the wireless telephone network.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the data storage includes an association of mobile identification numbers and data network addresses of user devices corresponding to the mobile identification numbers.

18. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the manager is further configured to interact with the wireless telephone network to:

determine whether calls placed to users of the wireless telephone network are to be routed to user devices that are registered to receive calls placed to destinations in the wireless telephone network or routed to wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

19. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to permit mobility of users between the wireless telephone network and the data network.

20. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the manager is further configured to perform mobility management functions for the user devices.

21. A method for providing telecommunication services comprising:

maintaining in a database an association of an identity of a user in a wireless telephone network with a corresponding user device coupled to a data network;

causing voice calls placed to said user of the wireless telephone network to be routed to the corresponding user device coupled to the data network; and

causing voice calls to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) initiated at the corresponding user device coupled to the data network to be routed through the data network to the wireless telephone network;

wherein causing the voice calls to be routed to the corresponding user device and causing voice calls to be routed to the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages between a communication system and one or more components of the wireless telephone network, the communication system being coupled to the data network and to the wireless telephone network.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein causing voice calls to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) initiated at the user device coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages with one or more components of the wireless network causing calls initiated at the user device to be further routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

coupling voice paths between the data network and wireless telephone network for the voice calls placed to the users and the voice calls initiated at the user device.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein causing voice calls initiated at the user device coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes exchanging messages with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the wireless telephone network for causing calls initiated at the user device coupled to the data network to be routed.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising monitoring the progress of calls to or initiated at the user device coupled to the data network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein monitoring the progress of calls comprises providing mid-call features at the user device coupled to the data network.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising performing mobility management functions for the user device.

28. A method for providing telecommunication services comprising:

maintaining in a database an association of an identity of a user in a wireless telephone network with a corresponding user device coupled to a data network;

causing voice calls to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) initiated at the corresponding user device coupled to a data network to be routed through a wireless telephone network including exchanging messages between a communication system and one or more components of the wireless telephone network, the communication system being coupled to the data network and to the wireless telephone network;

wherein causing voice calls initiated at the corresponding user device coupled to the data network to be routed through the wireless telephone network includes causing calls initiated at the user devices to be further routed as if the calls were initiated at wireless telephones coupled to the wireless telephone network.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the one or more components of the wireless telephone network include at least one of a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

30. A method for providing telecommunication services comprising:

providing a manager coupled to an interface to a data network and to a wireless telephone network, wherein the manager is configured to maintain in a database an association of an identity of a user in the wireless telephone network with a corresponding user device coupled to the data network; and

providing services by the manager to the corresponding user device coupled to the data network, wherein the services include at least one of a group of services consisting of

a messaging service for passing messages between the wireless telephone network and user device on the data network,

a voice call delivery service for connecting calls from the wireless telephone network through the data network to the user device, and

a voice call delivery service for connecting calls from the user device through the data network to the wireless telephone network.

31. The method claim 30 wherein the messaging service includes a short message service (SMS).

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the services include at least two of the group of services.

33. A network communication system comprising:

a packet-based voice communication system, including user terminals coupled to a data network; and

a service node coupled to a wireless telephone network and to the packet-based voice communication system, configured to exchange control information and at least one of voice and messaging data with elements of the wireless telephone network;

wherein the service node is configured to maintain in a database an association of an identity of a user in the wireless telephone network with a corresponding user device coupled to the data network; and

wherein the service node is further configured to provide at least one of a group of services consisting of

a messaging service for passing messages between the wireless telephone network and user devices on the data network,

a voice call delivery service for connecting calls from the wireless telephone network through the data network to the user devices, and

a voice call delivery service for connecting calls from the user devices through the data network to the wireless telephone network.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the service node is coupled to at least some of the user terminals over a public data network.