US5878115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing different terminating call treatments based on service area
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-08
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2016-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A routing address representing an alternative terminal is assigned to a particular service area. Such a service area comprises a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA), Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area, Location Area, and Cell Area. Whenever an incoming call is received towards a mobile station currently located within the particular service area, instead of transmitting a routing address representing the mobile station, the serving mobile switching center (MSC) transmits a signal containing the routing address representing the alternative terminal. Instead of routing the call to the intended mobile station, the gateway mobile switching center (GMSC) utilizes the received routing address and reroutes the incoming call to the alternative terminal. By rerouting all incoming calls towards the alternative terminal in case of an emergency, all available access channels are reserved for making outgoing calls by the mobile subscribers located within the emergency service area.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric L. Valentine
- 👤 Vladimir Alperovich
- 👤 James L. Mills
- 👤 Erkki Joensuu
- 👤 Mahesh Patel
- 👤 David Boltz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/12; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for rerouting an incoming call intended for a mobile station to an alternative terminal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction for said incoming call, said first signal received within a mobile switching center/visitor location register (MSC/VLR) currently serving said mobile station; determining at said MSC/VLR a particular service area where said mobile station is currently located; determining at said MSC/VLR whether a different routing treatment should be applied for said particular service area; and retrieving a routing address assigned to said particular service area, wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal; and transmitting a second signal containing said routing address by said MSC/VLR instructing said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for rerouting an incoming call intended for a mobile station to an alternative terminal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction for said incoming call, said first signal received within a mobile switching center/visitor location register (MSC/VLR) currently serving said mobile station; determining at said MSC/VLR a particular service area where said mobile station is currently located; determining at said MSC/VLR whether a different routing treatment should be applied for said particular service area; and retrieving a routing address assigned to said particular service area, wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal; and transmitting a second signal containing said routing address by said MSC/VLR instructing said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particular service area is a mobile service area selected from a group consisting of: a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA); a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area; a Location Area (LA); or a Cell Area (CA).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an announcement machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an operator terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alternative terminal comprises a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alternative terminal is connected to said MSC.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining further comprises the steps of: retrieving a subscriber category assigned to said mobile station; and determining whether said different routing treatment should be applied for said retrieved subscriber category.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for rerouting an incoming call intended for a mobile station located within a particular service area, wherein said particular service area is served by a mobile switching node and all incoming calls terminating within said particular service area need to be rerouted to an alternative terminal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction associated with said incoming call by said mobile switching node; determining at said mobile switching node whether said mobile station is within said particular service area; and in response to an affirmative determination: determining a routine address assigned to said service area wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal; and transmitting a second signal containing said routine address by said mobile switching node wherein said routing address instructs said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for rerouting an incoming call intended for a mobile station located within a particular service area, wherein said particular service area is served by a mobile switching node and all incoming calls terminating within said particular service area need to be rerouted to an alternative terminal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction associated with said incoming call by said mobile switching node; determining at said mobile switching node whether said mobile station is within said particular service area; and in response to an affirmative determination: determining a routine address assigned to said service area wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal; and transmitting a second signal containing said routine address by said mobile switching node wherein said routing address instructs said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said particular service area is a mobile service area selected from a group consisting of: a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA); a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area; a Location Area (LA); or a Cell Area (CA).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an announcement machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an operator terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said alternative terminal comprises a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said mobile switching node comprises a mobile switching center (MSC) serving said particular service area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of determining further comprises the step of: retrieving a subscriber category assigned to said mobile station; and determining whether said incoming calls towards said mobile station with said retrieved subscriber category need to be rerouted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A mobile switching center (MSC) for rerouting an incoming call intended for a particular mobile station to an alternative terminal, said MSC comprising: means for receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction for delivering said incoming call to said mobile station; means for determining a particular service area said mobile station is currently located; means for determining whether a different call treatment should be applied for said particular service area; and means responsive to an affirmative determination for retrieving a routing address assigned to said particular service area, wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal and for transmitting a second signal containing said routing address, said routing address instructing said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
A mobile switching center (MSC) for rerouting an incoming call intended for a particular mobile station to an alternative terminal, said MSC comprising: means for receiving a first signal requesting routing instruction for delivering said incoming call to said mobile station; means for determining a particular service area said mobile station is currently located; means for determining whether a different call treatment should be applied for said particular service area; and means responsive to an affirmative determination for retrieving a routing address assigned to said particular service area, wherein said routing address represents said alternative terminal and for transmitting a second signal containing said routing address, said routing address instructing said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The MSC of claim 15 wherein said particular service area is a service area selected from a group consisting of: a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA); a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area; a Location Area (LA); or a Cell Area (CA).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The MSC of claim 15 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an announcement machine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The MSC of claim 15 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an operator terminal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The MSC of claim 15 wherein said alternative terminal comprises a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The MSC of claim 15 wherein said alternative terminal is associated with said MSC.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said mobile station is assigned a particular subscriber category and wherein said means for determining further comprises means for determining whether said different routing treatment should be applied towards said mobile station with said particular subscriber category.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
111 words
A mobile telecommunications system comprising: a telecommunications node serving a plurality of service areas, a certain one of said plurality of service areas subject to an alternative routing instruction for terminating incoming calls; an alternative terminal associated with a routing address, said routing address further assigned to said certain one of said plurality of service areas; means for determining that an incoming call is to be terminated to a mobile station currently located within said certain one of said plurality of service areas; and means associated with said telecommunications node for routing said incoming call using said routing address to said alternative terminal for handling instead of to said mobile station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
111 words
A mobile telecommunications system comprising: a telecommunications node serving a plurality of service areas, a certain one of said plurality of service areas subject to an alternative routing instruction for terminating incoming calls; an alternative terminal associated with a routing address, said routing address further assigned to said certain one of said plurality of service areas; means for determining that an incoming call is to be terminated to a mobile station currently located within said certain one of said plurality of service areas; and means associated with said telecommunications node for routing said incoming call using said routing address to said alternative terminal for handling instead of to said mobile station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
97 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said means for routing comprises: a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) for transmitting a first signal requesting routing instruction for delivering said incoming call to said mobile station; and a mobile switching center (MSC) in response to said first signal comprising: means for determining whether said alternative routing instruction should be applied for said mobile station; and means responsive to an affirmative determination for transmitting a second signal containing routing instruction by said MSC wherein said routing instruction instructs said incoming call to be routed to said alternative terminal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said plurality of service area comprise one or more of: a Local Access and Transport Areas (LATA); a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) area; a Location Area (LA); and a Cell Area (CA).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an announcement machine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said alternative terminal comprises an operator terminal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said alternative terminal comprises a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said means for determining further comprises: means for determining one of said plurality of service areas said mobile station is currently located; and means for determining said alternative terminal associated with said one of said plurality of service areas.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mobile telecommunications system of claim 22 wherein said mobile station is associated with a subscriber category value and wherein said means for determining further comprises means for further determining whether said incoming call should be routed for said subscriber category.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |