One-number communications system and service integrating...

Details One-number communications system and service integrating... One-number communications system and service integrating...

1998-05-04

2001-07-10

Weaver, Scott L. (Department: 2645)

Telephonic communications

Special services

Call diversion

C379S219000, C455S417000, C455S461000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06259782

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wireline/wireless telephone communications systems and more particularly pertains to allowing a subscriber to receive calls to designated wireless or wireline communications terminals through the use of a single assigned telephone number with a one-number communications system and service.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) provides a service-independent platform for telephone service creation, customization, and control. The AIN provides these services to subscribers through use of a variety of switching systems and architectures. In an AIN-type system, central or end office switches send and receive data messages from an intelligent services control point (ISCP) via a switching transfer point (STP). At least some of the calls are then controlled through the switches using data received from a database in the ISCP.
In recent years, a number of new service features have been provided by the AIN. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,533 to McHenry, et al. discloses a personal communication service registration system and method. The system effects registration for routing a telephone call to a subscriber's personal telephone number service in an integrated wired and wireless communication network by utilizing at least one land line terminal located in a public gathering place. In a manual version of this system, an adjunct registration device is situated at the site of the subscriber premises terminal, and registration in the ISCP of the AIN of the wireline system is effected by subscriber actuation of the adjunct device. In an automated version of this system, the registration device at the site of the termination includes a transceiver for emitting a periodic low power and a limited range scanning signal to detect the presence of a smart portable registration device carried by the subscriber.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,005 to Emery et al. discloses a personal communications service using wireline/wireless integration. This system connects to and controls processing of calls to a personal communication service (PCS) subscriber's wireless handset via a home-based station or a wireless communications network. Depending on its current location, the subscriber's handset automatically registers with the base station of the wireline network or with a mobility controller of the wireless network. A new registration takes place in a wireline network when the handset comes within range of the base station, thereby causing this station to update the subscriber's home location register in a database of the AIN. Similarly, when a handset first registers with a mobility controller, that controller updates the subscriber's home location register in the database of the AIN. In response to calls directed to the subscriber, the AIN accesses the home location register to determine the current location where the handset is registered. The AIN then uses the data to route the call to the current location.
The AIN and cellular system for implementing the PCS service of '005 patent is shown in FIG.
1
. This system uses an AIN-type architecture together with elements of a mobile communication system, such as a cellular radio-telephone network. This system provides wireline communication services via one or more central or end office switches, such as the class 4/5 switch
10
, that are located throughout a state or region served by a telephone company (TELCO) providing the PCS. Local telephone lines connect the central office switch
10
to individual telephone or device-compatible terminals in each geographic area, for example to the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) telephone
12
and a PCS base station
14
. This system also provides the wireless communication services via radio links using frequencies assigned to cellular communications networks.
The central office switch
10
of the '005 patent connects via trunk circuits
16
,
18
to one or more cellular Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs)
20
and PCS Mobility Controllers (MCs)
22
. Each central office switch also connects via trunk circuits to one or more remote central offices. The trunk circuits carry large numbers of telephone calls between central office switches and/or between a central office switch and the MSCs
20
and MCs
22
. Also, each central office has a Common Channel Inter-office Signaling (CCIS) type data link
24
connected to a Signaling Transfer Point (STP)
28
. CCIS type data links
30
and
32
provide data communication for service processing between the MSCs
20
, MCs
22
and the STP
28
. Also, a CCIS packet switched data link
34
connects the STP
28
to an ISCP
36
.
Each MSC and MC of the '005 patent connects to antennas for a number of cell sites to provide wireless communication services to wireless cellular mobile communication terminals
40
and PCS portable terminals
42
. Operation of the MSCs of the mobile or radio network is controlled entirely within the radio-link communication network.
The most common type of mobile radio link communication network is the wireless cellular radio telecommunications network or mobile telephone system. The cellular telecommunications industry has developed standards which when implemented allow automatic handoff from one cellular network to another during an established call, and to allow handoff from one system to another while having incoming calls follow the customer to the visited system. The process of handoff is commonly described as roaming. In this wireless network, exchange of registration, authorization, authentication, and validation signaling messages occur between a MSC
20
and the subscriber's wireless terminal
40
. These message exchanges occur when a subscriber is on a home MSC or roaming to a different MSC. These messages are based on protocol standards such as GSM or IS-41.
Dedicated trunk lines, generally provided by dedicated land lines, serve as the link between MSCs within the same system or the same cellular provider. Data links connect to the MSC to selectively access a home location register (HLR)
44
, a visitor location register (VLR)
46
, an equipment identity register (EIR)
48
, and an authentication center (AC)
50
, all of which are located at the MSC. All four registers may serve more than one MSC. The HLR
44
is the location register to which a user identity is assigned for record purposes, such as subscriber information, directory number, profile information, and current location. The VLR
46
is the location register, other than the HLR, which an MSC temporarily uses to store and retrieve information regarding a visiting subscriber or user. The differences between the VLR and the HLR are insignificant when handoff of a mobile subscriber is limited to the MSCs within a single system or with single provider, since all the subscribers are presumed to be listed in the HLR, and are validated on that basis. The VLR becomes important only when a subscriber who is not listed on the HLR of a cellular provider enters the system and registers. The EIR
48
is the register that maintains the identify of the particular terminal device. The AC
50
is the register that maintains authentication information and validation periods for a particular wireless terminal or subscriber.
Cellular MSC
20
controls communications via a number of macro cells
52
. PCS MC
22
controls communications via a number of micro cells
54
. The MSCs and MCs are also interconnected with each other by IS-41 data trunks
56
, and may be interconnected via voice trunks essentially running in parallel with the IS-41 trunks.
To provide land line type centrex services for a business customer per the '005 patent, the central office switch
10
provides a land line connection
58
to the customer's premises
60
. The land line link would actually include a number of telephone lines connected to various types of conventional telephone terminal devices. To provide wireless centrex services to a particular location which may be the sa

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