Method and system for extending a mobile directory number to a landline-based voice-over-packet network

• US 8,194,634 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Delker, Jason R., Everson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Application Number:
  US12/966,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/445, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/557, 370/328, 370/338, 370/351, 370/352, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/401, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A mobile station is coupled to a docking station that has a landline connection to a packet-switched network. In response, the mobile station'"'"'s mobile directory number (MDN) is registered, via the packet-switched network, as being accessible via the docking station. As a result, when a call is placed to the MDN, the call is routed to the docking station via the packet-switched network. Communication devices coupled to the docking station may then be used to answer the call and/or participate in the call.

Claims

1. A telecommunication system for extending use of a directory number of a mobile station to a landline connection at a fixed location having a docking station, comprising:

a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) for wirelessly handling calls of the mobile station, the WWAN including a plurality of mobile switching centers with associated visitor location registers (VLR), the WWAN including a home location register (HLR) storing a data records for mobile stations including a data record containing a profile corresponding to the mobile station, the data record including a VLR identifier indicating a last known location from which the mobile station was registered;

a public switched telephone network (PS TN) including a bearer network and a signaling network, wherein the bearer network and signaling network are coupled to at least one mobile switching center;

a packet-switched network exchanging packets using IP addressing;

a docking station at a fixed location for interfacing with the mobile station when the mobile station is at the fixed location, the docking station being landline coupled to the packet-switched network and having a respective IP address, wherein the docking station or the mobile station implements a session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent when the mobile station is interfaced with the docking station;

a media gateway coupled to the PSTN and the packet-switched network for converting media formats between the PSTN and the packet-switched network; and

a call control system including

     1) a session initiation protocol (SIP) server for creating a registration of the SIP user agent including the respective IP address of the docking station and the directory number of the mobile station,

     2) a signaling gateway coupled to the signaling network for retrieving the data record from the HLR in response to the directory number, and

     3) an IP VLR for storing at least a portion of the profile of the mobile station whenever the SIP user agent registers the mobile station at the docking station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the SIP user agent periodically re-registers the directory number while the mobile station continues to interface with the docking station, wherein the re-registration includes updating the HLR with a VLR identifier corresponding to the IP VLR.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the landline connection of the docking station to the packet-switched network comprises a local area network (LAN) and an access device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the call control system further comprises a media gateway controller for setting up communication between the PSTN and the packet-switched network.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the media gateway controller communicates with the signaling system and the HLR via the signaling gateway to set up calls involving the mobile station while it is registered at the IP VLR.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the SIP user agent cancels a registration of the directory number with the SIP server when the docking station no longer interfaces with the mobile station.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the docking station comprises:

recharger contacts for recharging said mobile station;

a sensing circuit for sensing when said mobile station is electrically connected to said recharger contacts; and

a packet interface communicatively coupled to the packet-switched network;

wherein the SIP user agent performs the periodic re-registrations while the mobile station is electrically connected to the recharger contacts.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the mobile station detects when it is electrically disconnected from the recharger contacts, and in response to the detection registers its VLR identifier of a VLR in the WWAN.

9. A call control system for establishing calls on a landline-based voice-over-packet (VOP) network involving a mobile station having a directory number assigned for a wireless wide-area network (WWAN), wherein the VOP network is coupled to a docking station at a fixed location for interfacing with the mobile station when the mobile station is at the fixed location, wherein the WWAN includes a home location register (HLR) storing a data record containing a profile corresponding to the mobile station, the data record further including a VLR identifier indicating a last known location from which the mobile station was registered, and wherein the VOP network is coupled to the WWAN by a media gateway and by a signaling network, the call control system comprising:

a session initiation protocol (SIP) server for creating a registration of a SIP user agent corresponding to the mobile station upon connection of the mobile station to the docking station connected to the VOP network at a respective IP address within the VOP network, the registration associating the IP address and the directory number of the mobile station;

a signaling gateway coupled to the signaling network for retrieving the data record from the HLR in response to the directory number when the registration is created for the mobile station; and

an IP VLR for storing at least a portion of the profile of the mobile station whenever the SIP user agent registers the mobile station, wherein an identifier of the IP VLR is registered at the HLR via the signaling gateway in response to creation of the registration at the SIP server.

10. The call control system of claim 9 wherein the SIP user agent periodically re-registers the directory number while the mobile station continues to interface with the docking station, and wherein the re-registration includes updating the HLR with the VLR identifier of the IP VLR.