Lucent Technologies Inc.

Alcatel Lucent

Karla Rae Hunter

Cynthia K Florkey

Victoria Marie Halsell

Mrinal Milind Joglekar

Ruth S Gayde

Ronald Bruce Martin

Randall Joe Wilson

E-Ling Lou

Anne Yin-Fee Lee

Mariana Benitez Pelaez

Penny Lynne Bright

Charu Verma

Harold Aaron Lassers

Kamal K Verma

Frank J Dobner

A communication network and method are disclosed that block calls from a calling party based on the network access type of a called party. The communication network of the invention includes a permission system, an access system, and a call control system. Based on a call from a calling party to a called party, the permission system identifies permissions associated with the calling party. The access system identifies a network access type for the called party, such as wireless, circuit-based, etc. The call control element determines if the network access type for the called party is permitted by the calling party based on the permissions associated with the calling party. If the network access type for the called party is not permitted by the calling party, then the call control system releases the call.

Call blocking based on the network access type for the called party

A first communication device of an apparatus in one example shares a billing relationship with a second communication. The second communication device comprises a primary communication device, where a user associated with the second communication device comprises a primary user associated with the primary communication device. The primary user associated with the primary communication device sets one or more restrictions for the first communication device. The first communication device employs one or more of the one or more restrictions to make a determination of allowability of one or more communication sessions.

Communication device employment of one or more restrictions to make determination of allowability of one or more communication sessions

An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives an indication of one or more communication devices that are to receive one or more invitations to join a communication session. The application server component notifies the one or more communication devices of the one or more invitations to join the communication session. Upon acceptance of one or more of the one or more invitations by one or more of the one or more communication devices, the application server component connects the one or more of the one or more communication devices to the communication session.

Application server component that notifies one or more communication devices of one or more invitations to join communication session

Information that is based on a database portion of a first user equipment component is translated from a first database format to a second database format for a download of the information from a network storage component to a second user equipment component. The first database format is understood by the first user equipment component. The second database format is understood by the second user equipment component. The first database format is not understood by the second user equipment component.

Translation of information between database formats understood by different user equipment components for download of the information from network storage component

A telephone subscriber is provided with call features associated with his home telephone line when the subscriber is at a remote (different) telephone line. Aspects include: registration of the subscriber at a remote telephone line with association of the subscriber's normal call feature set with the remote line; processing of incoming calls for the subscriber so that the calls reach the subscriber at the remote line with the subscriber's call feature set being available to handle processing of the incoming call; processing of outgoing calls from the subscriber at the remote line so that the calls are processed with the subscriber's call feature set.

Portability of subscriber features in a telecommunication system

A method and apparatus for providing real time updates of a database describing the features of individual terminals of a shared plan telecommunications group for communication sessions from and to that individual terminal. The characteristics (numbering plan, incoming and outgoing screening, alternate routing, types of service provided) of each of the individual stations of the shared communication plan are stored in a database accessed through a server. The database can be updated in real time by a designated one of the stations in the shared group. The designated station can also handle appeals for an exception to the restrictions stored in the database. The designated station can receive immediate or periodic information on activity of individual stations, or can receive such information on request. Advantageously, updates of the database can be implemented immediately and economically without requiring assistance of the personnel of the carrier, and the designated station can control communications for the group.

Real time administration of shared communication plan arrangements

A broadband address of a first subscriber is identified and communicated to a second subscriber in a first communication system using an SMS data enabled cellular system or call origination set up messaging. If authorization is given by the second subscriber, the broadband address of the second subscriber is delivered to the first subscriber by the first communication system, whereby the first and second subscribers have exchanged their respective broadband addresses over a first communications system where the broadband addresses are utilized for broadband communications over a second communication system.

Automated exchange of broadband communication addresses over a non-broadband channel in a wireless telecommunication system

An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives one or more notifications of one or more open communication sessions from one or more first communication devices. The application server component sends one or more of the one or more notifications of one or more of the one or more open communication sessions to one or more second communication devices. Upon a request by a communication device of the one or more second communication devices to join an open communication session of the one or more of the one or more open communication sessions, the application server component initiates a connection of the communication device to the open communication session.

Application server component notification to one or more communication devices of one or more open communication sessions

Conditional reconnection of a suspended call occurs responsive to a mobile unit () sending a mobile-originated reconnect (MORC) message into the network (). Reconnection does not occur not if the mobile unit does not send a MORC message or affirmatively declines reconnection within a designated waiting period.

Mobile-originated reconnection of dropped wireless calls

Reconnection of a mobile unit to a call session controlled by a first MSC is supported responsive to a network-initiated or mobile-originated reconnect attempt even in instances where the mobile unit has roamed to a border cell controlled by a second MSC. In a network-initiated reconnect attempt, the first MSC sends a suspended call page request to a second MSC. The second MSC pages the mobile unit, sets up a bearer channel to the mobile unit, and sends to the first MSC a suspended call page response including indicia of the bearer channel set up by the second MSC. The first MSC establishes a bearer channel to the second MSC thereby reconnecting the mobile unit to the call session. In a mobile-originated reconnect attempt, the mobile unit sends a mobile-originated reconnect message to the second MSC. If the second MSC does not find session information associated with the call, it sends a suspended call handoff request to the first MSC causing the first MSC to query a database to find indicia of the call session, establish a bearer channel to the second MSC and send to the second MSC a suspended call handoff acknowledgement including information associated with the call session. The second MSC establishes a bearer channel to the mobile unit thereby reconnecting the mobile unit to the call session.

Reconnection of wireless calls to mobile units in border cells

A method of processing multimedia calls in a multimedia telecommunications network. The method comprises: receiving at a first network element a multimedia call from a caller using a first communication device to a prepaid wireless user using a second communication device, the prepaid wireless user having an amount of airtime remaining for the second communication device; displaying in real-time a plurality of available call features and the amount of airtime remaining on the second communication device; prompting the prepaid wireless user to select the call features from the plurality of available call features via the second communication device; receiving the user's selected call features at the first network element; routing the selected call features from the first network element to a second network element and then to the caller; setting up the call according to the selected call features; and connecting the call.

Method and system for processing adjustments to the type and quality of multimedia communication sessions

An application server component of an apparatus in one example communicates to one or more mobile stations, of a plurality of mobile stations, one or more updates of one or more statuses of respective one or more mobile stations of the plurality of mobile stations. The plurality of mobile stations comprise a first mobile station and a second mobile station, wherein the one or more updates of the one or more statuses of the respective one or more mobile stations comprise an update of a status of the first mobile station. The application server component communicates the update of the status of the first mobile station to the second mobile station to indicate to the second mobile station whether the first mobile station is available for participation in a call with the second mobile station.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Karla Rae Hunter