Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-07-24
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
C455S554100, C455S422100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266523
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and systems for dynamically assigning features to interfaces of a wireline network and methods and systems for assigning customers to the interfaces on a call-by-call basis.
BACKGROUND ART
As the demand for wireless communications services increases, both wireless and wireline service providers alike continue to seek ways to supply such services to satisfy the needs of their existing and potential customers. These service providers normally accomplish this task by adding new hardware and software to allow increased usage in existing networks and to expand such networks to new coverage areas. For wireline service providers, however, the task is far more complicated. Because wireline service providers generally do not have existing wireless networks, substantial time and expense must be incurred to set up the required infrastructure. This infrastructure includes, for example, Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) which, unlike conventional wireline switches, have the ability to assign features such as three-way calling and call forwarding on a call-by-call basis. This capability is necessary due to the nature of wireless communications wherein it is inherent that one or more of the call participants have mobility.
As a partial solution to this problem, wireline service providers have utilized what is known in the art as one-to-one mapping. In this approach, a maximum number of subscribers are each assigned a resource at a switch located at the wireline network that accommodates the features subscribed to by the subscriber. When a subscriber is not utilizing his/her line, their corresponding switch resource remains idle. Furthermore, a fixed number of transport facilities between the two networks are shared by a fixed number of subscribers. Thus, the system is limited to a fixed number of subscribers, and blocking occurs when the number of subscribers trying to make a call exceeds the number of transport facilities. For example, in a GR-303 application the maximum number of subscribers may be 2048. Each of these 2048 subscribers are then assigned a specific switch resource at the wireline network. If there are only 96 transport facilities, then blocking would occur when the 97th subscriber attempts to make a call at the same time that 96 subscribers are already engaged in a conversation.
As readily seen, the above approach, while an advance over the prior art, still has limitations since sharing of resources is limited to a fixed maximum number of subscribers sharing a fixed number of transport facilities.
Consequently, a need exists for an integrated wireline/wireless network which has the capability to provide wireless and/or wireline services using existing switching infrastructure, but which is not limited by the above-noted drawbacks of one-to-one mapping. Such a system should utilize a single switching platform so as to afford the service provider the opportunity to offer feature portability between wireline and wireless access to communications services, as well as offer a common user interface.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to offer wireline features to wireless subscribers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide integrated wireless/wireline telecommunications services utilizing a wireline switch rather than a mobile switching center (MSC).
It is yet another object of the present invention to pool wireline interfaces into feature groups that represent the combinations of services and network features subscribed to by telecommunications customers.
It is a further object of the present invention to dynamically assign lines on a call-by-call basis to wireline interfaces in the feature group that corresponds to the subscriber profile and the line being assigned.
It is yet another object of the present invention to adjust the pool sizes utilizing static or dynamic thresholds.
Still further, it is an object of the present invention to dynamically assign a mobile user to a specific wireline interface based on the features subscribed to by the mobile user and the available resources.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a method is provided for using existing wireline interfaces to support wireless and/or wireline features of telecommunications subscribers. The method includes the step of provisioning the wireline interfaces to support predetermined wireless or wireline features. The method also includes the step of assigning the wireline interfaces to the telecommunications subscribers on a call-by-call basis based on the features subscribed to by the subscriber. Finally, the method includes the step of reprovisioning the wireline interfaces based on the number of customers assigned to the wireline interfaces.
In further carrying out the above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a system is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described method. The system includes a processor operative to provision the wireline interfaces to support predetermined wireless or wireline features. The system also includes service logic operative to assign the wireline interfaces to the telecommunications subscribers on a call-by-call basis based on the features subscribed to by the subscriber. The processor is further operative to reprovision the wireline interfaces based on the number of customers assigned to the wireline interfaces.
The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Cook Charles I.
Corliss James R.
Dougherty Angus O.
Fargano Michael J.
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Chow C.
Hunter Daniel
Qwest Communications International Inc.
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