Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Message storage or retrieval
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-19
2004-01-13
Maung, Nay (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Message storage or retrieval
C455S413000, C455S414200, C455S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678515
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method and system for conditional call forwarding.
BACKGROUND ART
Call forwarding features, namely, Call Forwarding No Answer (CFNA), Call Forwarding Busy Line (CFBL), and Call Forward Default (CFD), are commonly available to wireless network subscribers. When invoked, these features permit calls for which a busy or no answer condition has been detected to be automatically transferred to a corresponding voice mail system. Such voice mail systems enable callers to leave voice messages for wireless subscribers when the subscriber has powered off his or her handset, is out of coverage, is engaged in another wireless call, or for whatever reason, elects not to answer the incoming call. The routing to the voice mail systems in all of these conditions is controlled by the above call forwarding features. These features forward all unanswered incoming calls to a single, fixed destination—a voice mail system.
A prior art wireless communication system is shown in FIG.
1
and designated generally by reference numeral
10
. Wireless network
10
includes a Central Office Switch (COS)
12
. COS
12
is provided in communication with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
14
and one or more subscribers, each having at least one Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device
16
. COS
12
is further provided in communication with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
20
and an Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
22
. MSC
20
is, in turn, provided in communication with IP
22
, a Home Location Register (HLR)
24
and one or more Base Station Controllers (BSCs)
26
. Each BSC
26
is provided in communication with one or more Base Stations (BSs)
28
. Finally, each BS
28
is provided in communication with one or more mobile handsets
30
each having an assigned calling number known as a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) or Mobile Identification Number (MIN). Each handset
30
also has a preassigned Electronic Serial Number (ESN).
In operation, a call to a mobile subscriber having handset
30
and a preassigned Mobile Directory Number or Mobile Identification Number, whether originated from a wireless network or a wire line network, is forwarded through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
14
to COS
12
. COS
12
performs a database look-up and identifies the Called Party DN as corresponding to a mobile subscriber. COS
12
forwards the call to the subscriber's home MSC
20
. MSC
20
will thereafter launch a query to HLR
24
requesting the location of handset
30
, as well as call termination parameters. This request, termed a Location Request Message (LOCREQ) typically includes information such as calling party identification (the subscriber's MDN or MIN) and redirecting party identification, the details of which are well known in the art and need not be discussed in further detail here. Thereafter MSC
20
alerts handset
30
by generating a ringing signal.
In an ANSI-41 network, HLR
24
periodically receives update information regarding the location and call parameters for subscriber
30
. This typically occurs whenever subscriber
30
“powers on” or enters a wireless serving area and initiates the registration process. Again, as those skilled in the art will recognize, handset
30
detects the presence of a Base Station (BS)
28
or Base Station Controller (BSC)
26
. BS
28
or BSC
26
, in turn, alerts the serving MSC, here, MSC
20
, that the handset
30
has begun registration. MSC
20
thereafter sends a Registration Notification Message (REGNOT) to HLR
24
requesting call termination parameters for handset
30
. HLR
24
then sends a Registration Notification Response Message (regnot) to MSC
20
. The regnot provides the above referenced call termination parameters for subscriber
30
including whether the party has subscribed to any call forwarding features such as the above referenced CFBL, CFNA or CFD. MSC
20
then stores this information for subsequent processing.
Single number ring services such as U S West One Number Service™, provide a subscribing party the ability to simultaneously receive a ringing signal from a calling party at a plurality of CPE devices. Although each CPE device has a different calling number or DN, a calling party need only dial a “single” calling number or primary number. Each of the subscriber's DNs for corresponding CPE devices are stored at HLR
24
and cross referenced with the subscriber's primary number. For example, a subscriber may have a primary calling number of (303) 541-4000 and individual Directory Numbers of (303) 672-2985, (303) 672-2781, and (303) 672-2986 corresponding to the subscriber's office, home, and mobile telephones, respectively. A calling party, however, need only dial the primary number (303) 541-4000. Using the primary number, COS
12
will perform a database look up and identify the call as directed to a party that has subscribed to one number service. COS
12
will thereafter forward the call to Intelligent Peripheral (IP)
22
. IP
22
will launch a query to HLR
24
requesting the specific DNs corresponding to the primary DN. HLR
24
will perform a suitable database look up and provide this information to IP
22
along with the corresponding call termination parameters for each mobile handset
30
. IP
22
will thereafter generate and bridge the calls to all of the subscriber's DNs. Calls to land line or “wired” telephones such as telephone
16
are forwarded over the PSTN
14
to a serving switch such as COS
12
and routed accordingly. Calls to mobile or “wireless” telephones such as handset
30
are forwarded over the wireless network to a serving MSC such as MSC
20
.
Regardless if a call to a wireless handset
30
originates from MSC
30
as a direct call, or from IP
22
as part of a one number service product, MSC
20
will initiate a call forward feature if handset
30
is currently engaged in a call or, for any reason, the subscriber fails to answer. This feature sends a Transfer To Number Request Message to HLR
24
requesting further routing instructions. Because HLR
24
is unable to distinguish between calls originating from MSC
20
and calls originating from IP
22
, however, all calls will be forwarded to the subscriber's voice mail system.
As readily seen, forwarding a wireless call to a voice mail system in the case of one number service applications is undesirable, unnecessary, and wasteful of network resources.
Consequently, a need has developed for a method and system for conditionally forwarding calls to a wireless subscriber to an alternative device or system such as a voice mail system upon detection of a busy or no answer condition.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a method and system for conditionally forwarding calls to a subscriber to an alternative device or system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and system which does not forward calls to a wireless subscriber's voice mail system when such calls originate from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).
Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a method and system which does not forward calls to a wireless subscriber's voice mail system when such calls originate from an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) or are otherwise launched as part of a one number service.
In carrying out the above objects, there is provided a method for conditional call forwarding to an alternative device or system. The method is specifically adapted for use in a communication network including a switching system such as a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which is provided in communication with at least one alternative system such as, for example, a Voice Messaging System (VMS), and a plurality of subscribers, each having a handset with a corresponding Mobile Directory Number (MDN). The method includes providing a service location register such as a Wireless Service Location Register (WSLR™) (also called a wireless SCP) in communication with the switching center. The servic
Gillespie Donald E.
Robinson David G.
Roman Marcus
Lee John J
Maung Nay
Qwest Communications International Inc.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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