Lucent Technologies Inc.

Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel-lucent USA Inc.

Michael Dwayne Chambers

Ruth S Gayde

Cynthia K Florkey

Rafael Quintero

Semyon B Mizikovsky

Patrick Jay Walsh

Douglas Harvey Riley

Yuen-Yin L Koo

Tony Tuong Nguyen

Gabriela Maria Abramovici

Chee Keong Lee

Chinmei Chen Lee

Anne Yin-Fee Lee

Bonnie P Hitzeman

Ismael Lopez

Kenneth Wayne Brent

Weiqian Dai

Charles C Teising

Douglass H Riley

Bonnie Marie Hitzeman

Renling Lawrence Huang

A method of load-based billing for customers in a communication network, wherein each customer has a calling plan. The method comprises monitoring utilization of the network in real-time via a switching center in the network; detecting at the switching center a Usage Level Event based upon the occurrence of a predetermined event trigger; informing a usage level application of the Usage Level Event; recording at the usage level application the Usage Level Event; and determining at the usage level application whether action should be taken based upon the Usage Level Event. When it is determined that action should be taken, the usage level application reports the Usage Level Event to a set of network elements via the usage level application and the switching center, where the set of network elements includes a customer billing platform and a broadcast message application. Further, a set of customers is notified of a change in pricing for calls based upon the Usage Level Event through the broadcast message application and a messaging center.

Method and apparatus for load-based billing in communication networks

A communication network is disclosed that uses voice authentication to provide call control. The communication network includes a call control function, a voice collection system, a voice authentication system, and a permission system. The voice collection system collects voice samples of a first party during the call to a second party, and transmits the collected voice samples to the voice authentication system. The voice authentication system compares the collected voice samples to stored voice samples to determine the identity of the first party. The permission system determines whether the first party is authorized for the call based on the identity of the first party. The permission system generates results based on the determination and transmits the results to the call control function. The call control function then processes the results, and interrupts the call if the first party is not authorized.

Voice authentication for call control

A wireless network and method are disclosed that provide temporary data service to a party. For the invention, a temporary data service system receives a request from a first party to establish temporary data service for a second party. The temporary data service system then configures the wireless network to establish temporary data service for the second party, such as by setting up a temporary subscriber profile or temporary account for the second party in the wireless network. A notification system then generates a notification message indicating that the temporary data service has been established for the second party, and transmits the notification message to the second party. The second party may use the temporary data service to access some type of data message or data file, such as a picture message sent by the first party.

Temporary data service in wireless networks

A mobile device and associated methods are disclosed that allow a mobile device subject to a communication restriction from a wireless network to respond to a priority call. If a call in the wireless network is destined for the mobile device, then the mobile device receives a paging request message for the call from the wireless network. The mobile device then determines if the call is a priority call. If the call is a priority call, then the mobile device determines that it is exempt from the communication restriction. The mobile device may be exempt for this particular call, for a defined time period, etc. The mobile device may then transmit a response message to the wireless network to initiate the setup of the priority call to the mobile device.

Mobile device subject to a communication restriction responding to a priority call

An improved method and system are disclosed for processing prioritized wireless calls. One embodiment of the present invention includes a method of providing prioritized wireless services, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for prioritized wireless service from a mobile device; determining the availability of a radio channel without obtaining the priority of the request; and if no radio channel is available, assigning a priority to the request and queuing the request according to the assigned priority.

System and method of handling prioritized wireless calls for mobile devices operating in an analog or TDMA mode

A method is provided for supplying service to mobile stations (MS) () utilizing a wireless telecommunications network (A). Each of the MS has a home country and a home network and is programmed with an identifier comprising a number including a set of digits. Each identifier is one of two types including a first type of identifier that uniquely identifies its MS globally via the entire set of digits making up the identifier (e.g., a true International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI)) and a second type of identifier that uniquely identifies its MS within its home country via a subset of least significant digits making up the identifier (e.g., a Mobile Identification Number (MIN)-based IMSI). The method includes: obtaining the identifiers from MS entering the wireless telecommunications network during a study period; collecting a subset of most significant digits from each identifier obtained during the study period; compiling a list of digit patterns, each digit pattern in the list corresponding to one of the subsets of most significant digits collected; receiving identifiers from MS accessing the wireless telecommunications network; and, comparing the subsets of most significant digits of the received identifiers to the compiled list to determine which of the received identifiers are the first type and which are the second type of identifier.

Serving roaming mobiles with incorrectly programmed identifiers

The present invention relates to wireless telephone networks, and more particularly to the allocation of radio channels to calls in CDMA-based systems when their Radio Access Networks (RAN) are congested. A Base Station (BS) receives a call origination from a mobile device. The BS communicates information about the call and about its radio availability to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The MSC determines the priority of the call and how the call should be treated by the BS based on the supplied information. The MSC communicates the treatment information and the priority information back to the BS. When the RAN is congested, high-priority calls are queued. These high-priority calls are served based on allocation specification in which radio channels may be assigned to low-priority calls, which are not queued, while there are still calls in the queue.

Radio channel allocation for national security and emergency preparedness calls

A method and apparatus for completing a priority call to a wireless border switch. A priority or preemption request is transmitted as part of the signaling messages used to set up a call. A border switch is a switch which is used in conjunction with the switch indicated by the last-seen pointer from an HLR entry for the called terminal to page a called station. The switch indicated by the last-seen pointer transmits the priority request to a border switch, to indicate that the call should be given priority treatment. Further, preemption service for calls terminating on a wireless station can be provided. Advantageously, priority and preemption treatment can be provided for calls originated by wireless or landline stations and terminating on mobile station destinations that are served by a border switch; preemption or priority service can be provided for calls to a wireless station originated from a landline station; and preemption service can be provided for calls to a wireless station from a wireless station.

Wireless priority service for intersystem call delivery

A selective Global Service Redirection mechanism allows a service provider, for instance, to instruct only CDMA2000 (MOB_P_REV=6) mobiles to access specific carrier that is deployed to support advanced services known as 3G services. In another embodiment, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles are instructed to access specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Additionally, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles may be instructed to access a specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Pre-CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV&#x3c;6) are redirected by a conventional Global Service Redirection Message to another carrier, while CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV=&#x3c;6) are instructed to ignore this redirection.

Wireless service redirection signaling based on protocol revision

A method of forwarding a call properly for a wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is roaming in a different region (or country) than where its home location register resides is disclosed. In particular, this is accomplished by having the home location register and the serving wireless switching system implement procedures for internationalizing, when appropriate, forward-to numbers, and for nationalizing, when appropriate the same forward-to numbers. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises: receiving at a first wireless switching center a first call set-up message from a second wireless switching center; transmitting, in response to the first call set-up message, a second call set-up message from the first wireless switching center to a third wireless switching center; receiving, in response to the second call set-up message, a first call set-up response message at the first wireless switching center from the third wireless switching center; and transmitting, in response to the first call set-up response message, a call set-up response message from the first wireless switching center to the second wireless switching center directing the second wireless switching center to set-up a call directly with the third wireless switching center.

Handling of forward-to numbers across regional and political boundaries

Apparatus and a method for providing international numbers in order to implement international cellular roamer service. When a roamer registers, the Visitor Location Register (VLR) serving the roamer, queries the Home Location Register (HLR) record of the roamer. The HLR tests whether the VLR is in a foreign country. If so, the HLR provides numerical information, such as the roamer's billing number, in international form, including the country code of the HLR. Advantageously, the VLR is provided with international numbers where appropriate, and the roamer can be accommodated outside the roamer's home country.

Providing telephone number data for international cellular roamer service

A selective Global Service Redirection mechanism allows a service provider, for instance, to instruct only CDMA2000 (MOB_P_REV&equals;6) mobiles to access specific carrier that is deployed to support advanced services known as 3G services. In another embodiment, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles are instructed to access specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Additionally, data-only CDMA2000 mobiles may be instructed to access a specific carrier that is optimized to support high speed data services. Pre-CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV<6) are redirected by a conventional Global Service Redirection Message to another carrier, while CDMA2000 mobiles (MOB_P_REV&equals;>6) are instructed to ignore this redirection.

Signaling to support wireless service redirection

Apparatus for performing a smooth by-pass of extra Vocoders in a mobile station to mobile station connection. Vocoders are used in mobile stations using digital signals to communicate with base stations. When the vocoded signals are to be transmitted over the public switched telephone network, they are normally converted into the kinds of signals such as 64 Kb per second pulse code modulation (PCM), used in the public switched network. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention, when a connection is made between two mobile units, the connection is made via a separate asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. Arrangements are also available to switch between the ATM network and Vocoders connected to the public switched telephone network when it is necessary to transmit a PCM signal to a land based station, or other equipment. Advantageously, this arrangement allows switches between by-pass mode and non/by-pass mode to be made seamlessly without requiring a synchronous operation of that switch in the two switching systems involved in a connection, and therefore, further improves the voice quality during Vocoder by-pass because there is no disruption of the voice path when the by-pass mode is activated or deactivated.

Growing community of inventors

Plainfield, IL, United States of America

Michael Dwayne Chambers