Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Jeffrey F Phillips

Lyle W Paczkowski

Farni B Weaver

Mark Richard Bales

Charles Woodson

Dorene G Weiland

Von Karl McConnell

John David Ehrsam

Bill A Hinds

A service profile for a mobile station identifies at least a first set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a first radio access network and a second set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a second radio access network. A service platform, such as an application server, receives a signaling message, e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message, and the service platform identifies which radio access network is serving the mobile station based on information contained in the signaling message. The service platform then controls the provision of services to the mobile station based on the identified radio access network, in accordance with the service profile.

Method and system for providing differentiated services to mobile stations

A method and system for using location of a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) as a basis to restrict application of a cellular-PBX integration service. In one embodiment, a radio access network (RAN) serving the WCD receives a call request for the WCD, and, based on the WCD's location, a determination is made as to whether the call should be set up to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD, to allow the IP PBX server to handle the call. In another embodiment, an IP PBX server serving a WCD receives a call request and responsively signals to a call session control function (CSCF), and the CSCF or a policy server decides based on the WCD's location whether the call should be set up to the RAN that serves the WCD, to allow the RAN to handle the call.

Method and system for location-based restriction on application of cellular-PBX integration service

A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the coverage area of the RAN, a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service. A service control point (SCP), for instance, may make the determination. If the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-in, then the call is set up to an IP PBX server that services the WCD, and the IP PBX server may then handle the call as it would handle a call placed to any IP PBX extension. Further, differential billing can be applied, charging an enterprise billing-account for the call if the WCD is checked-in, and charging a WCD billing-account for the call if the WCD is not checked-in.

Method and system for selective application of cellular-PBX integration service

A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request for a served wireless communication device (WCD), call setup signaling passes to a call session control function (CSCF), and a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service. If the WCD is checked-in, the call is set up to an IPPBX server for handling. If the WCD is checked-out, the call is set up back to the RAN for handling. Similarly, the CSCF may receive call setup signaling in response to a call dialed to an IPPBX extension associated with the WCD, and the check-in/check-out status of the WCD may be used as a basis to decide whether to send the call to the RAN for handling or whether to return the call to the IPPBX server for handling.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for causing a telephone device to selectively originate a call as a circuit-switched call or a packet-switched call, depending on the telephone number dialed by a user of the telephone device. By way of example, the telephone device can determine that the dialed telephone number is an international telephone number and can responsively originate the call as a packet-switched call, or the telephone device can determine that the dialed telephone number is not an international telephone number and can responsively originate the call as a circuit-switched call.

Dialed-digit based determination of whether to originate a call as a circuit-switched call or a packet-switched call

A user uses a wireless communication device to engage in a communication session over a packet-switched network. The communication session is one of a plurality of different session types, e.g., a push-to-talk (PTT) session or a Web browsing session. The user is identified in the communication session by a user identifier that is dependent on the session type. The user identifier used in a particular communication session is included in a usage record generated for that communications session. A billing system determines the session type from the user identifier in the usage record. Based on this session type, the billing system selects a billing formula to calculate a charge to the user for the communication session.

Method and system with user identifiers that indicate session type

An IP PBX system that serves enterprise telephones via a landline IP network connection is be expanded to serve cellular wireless communication devices (WCD) via a cellular wireless carrier's radio access network (RAN). Calls to and from the cellular WCD are connected through the cellular carrier's RAN and the IP PBX system, so that the IP PBX system can control and manage the calls just as the IP PBX would control and manage calls involving other extensions on the IP PBX. A cellular WCD thereby becomes an IP PBX client station, i.e., an extension on the IP PBX system. As such, the cellular WCD can seamlessly benefit from many of the same IP PBX features that other more conventional IP PBX client stations (e.g., desk phones) enjoy.

Growing community of inventors

Lee's Summit, MO, United States of America

Jeffrey F Phillips