United States Patent (19)
`Syed et al.
`
`US0060384.51A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,038,451
`Mar. 14, 2000
`
`54) LOCATION BASED METHOD OF AND
`SYSTEM FOR FORWARDING WIRELESS
`TELEPHONE CALLS
`
`75 Inventors: R A systichron: Curtis R.
`s
`s
`73 Assignee: Integrated Telecom Solutions, Inc.,
`Richardson, TeX.
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/878,026
`22 Filed:
`Jun. 18, 1997
`(51) Int. Cl." ....................................................... H04Q7/20
`52) U.S. Cl. ............................................. 455/445; 455/456
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 455/445, 456,
`455/560, 561, 426,433, 31.2, 38.1
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,251.248 10/1993 Tokunaga et al. ........................ 379/58
`5,315,636 5/1994 Patel ........................................ 379/58
`5,367,558 11/1994 Gillig et al. ..
`... 455/426
`5,375,161 12/1994 Fuller et al. ..
`... 455/445
`5,469,496 11/1995 Emery et al. .
`... 455/461
`5,479,408 12/1995 Will .......
`... 455/38.1
`5,481,590
`1/1996 Grimes ................................... 455/31.2
`
`5,519,760 5/1996 Borkowski et al. ...................... 379/59
`5,579,375 11/1996 Ginter ................
`... 379/59
`5,600,704 2/1997 Ahlberg et al. .
`... 379/58
`5,602,903 2/1997 LeBlanc et al. ........................ 455/456
`5,661,652 8/1997 Sprague et al. ......................... 455/456
`5,673,308 9/1997 Akhaven ................................. 455/461
`5,675,110 10/1997 Koizumi .........
`... 455/445
`5,903,833 5/1999 Honnsson et al. ...................... 455/417
`Primary Examiner Dwayne D. Bost
`Assistant Examiner-Quochien B. Vuong
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Denise L. Mayfield; Locke
`Liddell & Sapp LLP
`ABSTRACT
`(57
`A method of and System for processing a telephone call to
`a wireless telephone number associated with a mobile tele
`phone unit forwards the call to a registered wireline number
`if the mobile unit is located near the geographic location
`asSociated with the wireline number. In response to a call
`placed to a wireless telephone number, the system deter
`mines the geographic location of the mobile unit associated
`with the wireless telephone number. If the mobile unit is
`near a registered location, the System forwards the call to the
`registered wireline number associated with the registered
`location
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`10 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`11
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`29
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`WRELESS
`BASE
`Nita SATION
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`31
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`13
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`WRELINE
`UNIT
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`27
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`47
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`BASE
`STATION
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`WRELESS
`UNIT
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`O
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`HOME MOBILE
`SERVICES
`SWITCHING
`CENTER (MSC)/
`VSTORS
`LOCATION
`REGISTER (VLR)
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`49
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`45
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`15
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`SERVING
`SYSTEM
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`HOME LOCATION
`REGISTER (HLR)
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`33
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`LOCATION
`BASED CALL
`FORWARDING
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`LOCATION
`FINDING SYSTEM
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`35
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`25
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`REGISTERED
`WRELINE
`NUMBER
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`REGISTERED
`WIRELINE
`NUMBER
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`43
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`Page 1 of 10
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`SAMSUNG EX-1211
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 14, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`location
`FROM LFS
`2
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`FEATREQ
`FROM HLR
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`TIMEOUT OR
`ERROR
`PROCESSING
`
`RETREVE
`CONTEXT AND
`CANCEL GUARD
`TIMER
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`PARSETCAP
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`READ
`SUBSCRIBER
`RECORD
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`COMPARE
`location WITH
`LOCATIONS
`IN SUBSCRIBER
`RECORD
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`LAUNCH QUERY
`TOLFSF S
`DALED Ps
`LOCATI
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`SAVE
`TRANSACTION
`CONTEX AND
`SET GUARD
`TIMER
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`65
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`67
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`69
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`CONSTRUCT
`YES featreq, ROUTING
`NUMBER =
`FORWARD
`DIGITS
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`CONSTRUCT
`featred, ROUTING
`NUMBER -
`DALED DIGITS
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`SEND featreq
`TO HLR
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`1
`LOCATION BASED METHOD OF AND
`SYSTEM FOR FORWARDING WIRELESS
`TELEPHONE CALLS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates generally to wireleSS
`telecommunications, and more particularly to a method of
`and System for forwarding calls made to a wireleSS tele
`phone number to a registered wireline telephone number
`based on the geographic location of the mobile unit associ
`ated with the wireless telephone number.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`People have become increasingly dependant upon the
`telephone in both their business and personal lives. Many
`people want or need to be able to make and receive tele
`phone calls not only at their homes and offices but also while
`traveling, while Visiting customer or remote offices, or at
`Virtually any other remote location. Accordingly, wireleSS
`telephone Services have become very popular.
`One of the disadvantages of wireleSS telephone Services is
`its high cost. Most wireleSS Services charge their Subscribers
`a periodic Service charge and a relatively high usage charge.
`Additionally, a wireleSS Subscriber incurs usage charges for
`calls made to and from the Subscriber's wireless number.
`Since wireline telephone Services typically charge only a
`periodic Service charge with no usage charges for local calls,
`there is Substantial economic incentive for wireleSS Subscrib
`ers to use wireline telephone communications as much as
`possible.
`The wireleSS Subscriber can minimize usage charges due
`to outgoing calls by using wireline telephones. However, the
`wireleSS Subscriber has much leSS control over incoming
`calls. A wireleSS Subscriber can use call forwarding Services
`to forward calls made to the Subscriber's wireless number to
`a wireline number. Once call forwarding is activated, all
`incoming calls will be delivered automatically to the for
`warded number until call forwarding is deactivated or a new
`destination is entered by the subscriber. Thus, the subscriber
`eliminates usage charges for incoming calls. However, using
`Standard call forwarding requires a considerable amount of
`user interaction. The Subscriber must remember to activate
`and deactivate the Service.
`There is also a “single number service” that is available
`for both wireleSS as well as wireline telephone Systems.
`Single number Service allows a Subscriber to preprogram a
`list of telephone numbers into the System using their handset
`or a special subscriber service form. The list allows the
`subscriber to specify the time of day and day of week
`applicable for each number in the list. Once activated, calls
`will be delivered to the number in the programmed list based
`upon the time of day and day of week. For subscribers with
`predictable Schedules, Single number Service works fairly
`well. However, Single number Service is not particularly
`useful for subscribers with less predictable schedules.
`Another System available to reduce wireleSS air charges is
`cordless visitor location register (C-VLR) or ACRE service
`Akhaven, U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,308 discloses such a system.
`This Service requires a Special type of Subscriber equipment
`that is Sometimes called customer premise equipment, or
`CPE. The subscriber equipment includes a special cellular
`handset and a base or docking Station. The Subscriber is
`given a cellular number as well as a wireline number. When
`the cellular handset is turned on and is within range of the
`docking Station, it automatically becomes a cordless tele
`phone. Any calls coming to the cellular number are auto
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`matically routed or delivered to the handset using the
`wireline or fixed number. When the handset is out of range
`of the docking Station, then incoming calls to the cellular
`number are completed as wireleSS calls. Thus, the Subscriber
`has only one number where he or she receives calls. The
`Subscriber Saves on air time for incoming calls when within
`range of the base Station. Finally, the Service works trans
`parently in that it does not require interaction from the
`subscriber. A disadvantage of C-VLR service is that it
`requires special equipment. A further disadvantage is that
`only one docking Station is Supported.
`Patel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,636, and Fuller. et al., U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,375,161, each disclose systems in which a telephone
`Subscriber has a personal telephone number and carries a
`"personal communicator.” A System of low power radio base
`Stations, Separate from the wireleSS or cellular telephone
`System monitors the location of the personal communicator.
`When a call comes into the subscriber's personal telephone
`number, the system determines which of the subscriber's
`telephones, including a cellular phone, the personal com
`municator is near and routes the call to the phone at that
`location.
`It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
`Shortcomings of the prior art. It is a further object to enable
`a wireless Subscriber to only one number where he or she
`receives calls, regardless of his or her location, without
`requiring any Special equipment. It is a further object to
`enable a wireleSS Subscriber to Save on usage charges for
`incoming calls, without any time of day or day of week
`restrictions. It is a further object to provide a location based
`call forwarding Service that works transparently to the
`Subscriber, without requiring any user interaction to activate
`or deactivate the Service.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Briefly stated, the present invention provides a method of
`and System for processing a telephone call to a wireleSS
`telephone number associated with a mobile telephone unit
`by forwarding the call to one of a plurality of registered
`wireline numbers if the mobile unit is located near the
`geographic location associated with the wireline number. In
`response to a call placed to a wireleSS telephone number, the
`System determines the geographic location of the mobile
`unit associated with the wireless telephone number. If the
`mobile unit is near a registered location, the System forwards
`the call to the registered wireline number associated with the
`registered location.
`The System of the present invention includes a location
`based call forwarding Service that maintains Subscriber
`records, including lists of registered forwarding wireline
`numbers and the registered geographic location associated
`with each forwarding wireline number. When the location
`based call forwarding Service receives a request for routing
`instructions from a mobile System home location register,
`the location based call forwarding Service Sends a location
`query to a location finding Service that monitors the location
`of mobile units. In response to receipt of a location from the
`location finding Service, the location based call forwarding
`Service compares the location received from Said location
`finding Service with the Subscriber record corresponding to
`the called wireless number. If the location received from the
`location finding Service is within a preselected distance of
`one of registered locations, the location based call forward
`ing Service responds to the home location register with
`forwarding digits. If the location received from the location
`finding Service is greater than a preselected distance of one
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`6,038,451
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`of registered locations, the location based call forwarding
`Service responds to the home location register with dialed
`digits.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a System according to the
`present invention in a home market.
`FIG. 2 is a call flow diagram of messaging in the System
`of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a System according to the
`present invention in a roaming market.
`FIG. 4 is a call flow diagram of messaging in the System
`of FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing carried out in the
`location based call forwarding Service of the present inven
`tion.
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`15
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`4
`for wireless, manufacturers of radio equipment and other
`wireleSS technology have developed many types of location
`finding Systems. An example of Such a System is disclosed
`in Borkowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,760. Such location
`finding Systems allow the geographic location of a wireleSS
`unit to be determined. The location finding Systems are part
`of the network, in that additional Subscriber equipment is not
`required to enable the System. Thus, the location finding
`Systems may be called network location finding Systems.
`In FIG. 1, a call may be placed to wireless unit 15 by
`either a wireless unit 11 or wireline unit 13. In the case of
`a call placed from wireleSS unit 11, call Setup is routed to a
`home mobile services Switching center (MSC) 27 from a
`wireless system base station 29. Call setup from a wireline
`unit 13 is routed to MSC 27 through a public switched
`telephone network (PSTN)31. In the preferred embodiment,
`the present invention is implemented using IS-41 meSSag
`ing. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other
`messaging Systems may be used.
`Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, upon receipt of a request
`for call setup, MSC 27 sends an IS-41 location request
`invoke message to home location register (HLR) 33. A
`Subscriber record in HLR 33 will indicate whether or not the
`called party is a location based call forwarding Subscriber. If
`So, HLR 33 will send an IS-41 feature request invoke
`message to a location based call forwarding System 35. AS
`will be explained in detail with respect to FIG. 5, location
`based call forwarding System will launch a location query to
`location finding system 25. The interface between the loca
`tion based call forwarding System and the location finding
`System may be either a Standards based interface, Such as
`transactional capabilities application part (TCAP) or a pro
`prietary interface defined by the vendor of the location
`finding System. Location finding System 25 responds to the
`location based call forwarding System with the current or
`last known location of wireless unit 15.
`Upon receipt of the location response from location
`finding system 25, location based call forwarding system 35
`will determine if wireless unit 15 is near a registered
`wireline number that the calling party has designated for call
`forwarding. The nearneSS criteria are based upon the reso
`lution of the location finding System and design choices.
`Based upon the location of wireless unit 15, location based
`call forwarding system 35 will return a feature request return
`result with designated routing digits of either wireleSS unit
`15 or one of registered wireline numbers 17 or 21. Then,
`HLR 33 will send a location request return result with the
`routing digits to MSC 27. If the received routing digits are
`for wireless unit 15, MSC 27 will connect the call through
`the appropriate base station 37. On the other hand, if the
`received routing digits are for registered wireline number 17
`or 21, MSC 27 will complete the call through a land line
`telephone System, Such as public Switched telephone net
`work 39.
`Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated the
`operation of the System of the present invention wireleSS unit
`15 is located in a roaming market. Again, a call may be
`placed to wireless unit 15 by either a wireless unit 11,
`through base station 29, or wireline unit 13, through PSTN
`31. In either case, call Setup is received at home mobile
`services Switching center (MSC) 27.
`Upon receipt of a request for call setup, MSC 27 sends a
`location request invoke message to home location register
`(HLR) 33. A subscriber record in HLR 33 will indicate
`whether or not the called party is a location based call
`forwarding subscriber. If so, HLR 33 will send a feature
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there
`is shown a block diagram of the completion of a call from
`a calling party to a called party according to the present
`invention. The calling party may be either a wireleSS Sub
`Scriber placing the call from a wireleSS unit 11 or from a
`wireline unit, i.e., Standard telephone 13. The called party is
`a wireless subscriber having a wireless mobile unit 15.
`Preferably, wireless unit 15 is a small portable cellular
`telephone that may be carried in a perSon's pocket, purse,
`briefcase, or the like. The wireless unit 15 could also
`constitute a portable personal locator device that does not
`incorporate a cellular telephone but is designed to work with
`the present invention. Such a portable personal locator
`device could be a separate unit, or could be incorporated into
`a keychain, jewelry, or another device Such as a pager.
`According to the present invention, a call to the number
`corresponding to wireleSS unit 15 may be completed either
`to wireless unit 15 or to a registered forwarding number
`according to the location of wireless unit 15. The system of
`the present invention maintains in a Subscriber record for the
`wireleSS Subscriber a list of registered forwarding number
`and corresponding registered geographic locations. The reg
`istered forwarding numbers may be telephone numbers
`which correspond to the current location of the Subscriber, or
`may be a telephone number that is at a remote location, Such
`as a voice mail number or an answering Service. The
`registered forwarding number could be any number avail
`able from the network, Such as any wireline number, another
`wireleSS number or a pager number.
`In FIG. 1, wireless unit 15 may be located near a first
`registered wireline number 17 as indicated by dashed block
`19, or a Second registered wireline number 21, as indicated
`by dashed block 23. Alternatively, wireless unit 15 may be
`located within the System's home Service area but not near
`55
`any registered location. While two registered wireline num
`bers are illustrated in the figures, the Service provider may
`enable as many registered wireline numbers as desired.
`The location of wireless unit 15 is monitored by a location
`finding System 25. Cellular Systems have always monitored
`the location of mobile units, at least to the cell granularity.
`Due to recent FCC dockets, wireless, and especially cellular,
`Service providers are preparing their networks to Support
`emergency 911 services for cellular subscribers. Wireless
`911 is being rolled out in phases, with the key differentiation
`among the phases being the accuracy of the location of the
`wireless caller. In order to support the rollout of 911 services
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`request invoke message to a location based call forwarding
`system 35. Location based call forwarding system will
`launch a location query to location finding System 25.
`Location finding System 25 responds to the location based
`call forwarding System with the current or last known
`location of wireless unit 15.
`Upon receipt of the location response from location
`finding system 25, location based call forwarding system 35
`will determine if wireless unit 15 is near a registered
`wireline number that the calling party has designated for call
`forwarding. Based upon the location of wireless unit 15,
`location based call forwarding system 35 will return a
`feature request return result with designated routing digits of
`either wireless unit 15 or one of registered wireline numbers
`41 or 43. If the received routing digits are the original dialed
`digits for wireless unit 15, HLR 33 will send a route request
`invoke message to the mobile Serving System 45 Serving
`roaming wireless unit 15. Serving system 45 will send HLR
`33 a route request return result containing a temporary local
`directory number (TLDN) for wireless unit 15. Then, HLR
`33 will send a location request return result with the TLDN,
`or forwarding routing digits if wireleSS unit 15 is near a
`registered wireline unit, to MSC 27. If the received routing
`digits are a TLDN, then MSC 27 connects the call to
`wireless unit 15 through a PSTN 47, serving system 45, and
`an appropriate base station 49. On the other hand, if the
`received routing digits are for registered wireline 41 or 43,
`MSC 27 will complete the call through PSTN 47.
`Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a high level flow
`chart of the processing performed by location based call
`forwarding system 35. The system waits for input in the
`form of either a location return from location finding System
`25 or a feature request from home location register 33, at
`block 51. Upon the receipt of an input, the System tests, at
`decision block 53, if the input is a location request return
`result from location finding system 25. If not, the system
`tests, at decision block 55 if the input is a feature request
`invoke message from HLR 33. If not, the system performs
`timeout or error processing, as indicated generally at block
`57, and returns to block 51 to await input.
`If, at decision block 55, the input is a feature request
`invoke message, the System parses the message at block 59
`and launches a query to the location finding System for the
`location of the wireleSS unit corresponding to the dialed
`digits, at block 61. Then, the System Saves the transaction
`context and Sets a guard timer, at block 63, and returns to
`block 51 to await further input.
`If, at decision block 53, the input is a location response,
`the System retrieves the transaction context, which was
`Saved at proceSS block 63, and cancels the guard timer, at
`block 65. Then, the system reads the subscriber record for
`the called wireless unit, at block 67, and compares the
`location response received from the location finding System
`with registered locations in the Subscriber record, at block
`69. If, at decision block 71, there is a match between the
`location of the wireleSS unit and a registered location in the
`Subscriber record, the System constructs a feature request
`return result with a routing number equal to forward digits
`corresponding to the matched location, at block 73, and
`Sends that feature request response message to the home
`location register, at block 75. If, at decision block 71, there
`is no match, then the System constructs a feature request
`return result with a routing number equal to the dialed digits,
`at block 77, and sends that feature request return result to the
`HLR, at block 75.
`From the foregoing, it may be seen that the System and
`method of the present invention offers many advantages
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`over the prior art. The subscriber has only one number where
`he or she receives calls, regardless of his or her location. The
`Subscriber Saves on usage charges for incoming calls when
`at one of the registered locations, without any time of day or
`day of week restrictions. The Service WorkStransparently to
`the Subscriber based on location, without requiring any user
`interaction to activate or deactivate the Service. The Service
`Works with Standard commercially available wireleSS tele
`phones and requires no special equipment. The Subscriber's
`list of registered wireline calls may, and preferably does,
`contain multiple call delivery numbers.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of processing telephone calls to a wireleSS
`telephone number associated with a mobile telephone unit,
`Said mobile telephone unit being located at a geographic
`location, which comprises the Steps of:
`in response to a call placed to a wireleSS telephone
`number, determining the geographic location of the
`mobile unit associated with the wireleSS telephone
`number;
`determining whether the geographic location of the
`mobile unit associated with the wireleSS telephone
`number corresponds to a geographic location of a
`registered forwarding telephone number; and,
`forwarding the call to a registered forwarding telephone
`number corresponding to the geographic location of the
`mobile unit.
`2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein Said Step of
`determining the geographic location of the mobile unit
`includes the Step of
`querying a network location finding Service for the loca
`tion of Said mobile telephone unit.
`3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of
`determining whether the geographic location of the mobile
`unit associated with the wireleSS telephone number corre
`sponds to a geographic location of a registered forwarding
`telephone number includes the Steps of:
`maintaining a Subscriber record associated with Said wire
`leSS telephone number, Said Subscriber record including
`a list of registered forwarding telephone numbers and
`respective associated registered geographic locations,
`receiving a location from Said location finding Service,
`comparing the location received from Said location find
`ing Service with Said Subscriber record.
`4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said step of
`determining whether the geographic location of the mobile
`unit associated with the wireleSS telephone number corre
`sponds to a geographic location of a registered forwarding
`telephone number includes the further step of:
`determining whether the location received from Said
`location finding Service is within a preselected distance
`of one of Said registered locations.
`5. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of
`completing the call to the wireleSS telephone number if the
`mobile unit is located at a geographic location greater than
`a preselected distance from a registered location.
`6. A method of processing telephone calls to a wireleSS
`telephone number associated with a mobile telephone unit,
`Said mobile telephone unit being located at a geographic
`location, which comprises the Steps of:
`in response to a call placed to a wireleSS telephone
`number, querying a network location finding Service to
`determine the geographic location of the mobile unit
`asSociated with the wireleSS telephone number; and,
`in response to receiving a location from a network loca
`tion finding Service, Searching a list of registered geo
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`6,038,451
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`7
`graphic locations to determine whether the geographic
`location of the mobile unit associated with the wireless
`telephone number corresponds to a geographic location
`of a registered wireline telephone number.
`7. The method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of:
`forwarding the call to a registered wireline telephone
`number if the mobile unit is located within a prese
`lected distance of Said registered wireline telephone
`number.
`8. The method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of:
`completing the call to the mobile unit if the mobile unit is
`located greater than a preselected distance from a
`registered wireline telephone number.
`9. A System for processing wireleSS telephone calls, which
`comprises:
`a mobile Services Switching center for routing calls to
`wireleSS telephone numbers,
`a home location register for providing routing information
`to Said mobile Services Switching center;
`a location based call forwarding Service, Said location
`based call forwarding Service maintaining Subscriber
`records including lists of registered forwarding wire
`line telephone numbers and respective associated reg
`istered geographic locations, Said location based call
`forwarding Service including:
`means for receiving requests for routing instructions
`from Said home location register;
`
`1O
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`15
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`25
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`8
`means for forming location queries,
`means for comparing mobile unit locations with regis
`tered geographic locations in Said Subscriber records,
`and,
`means for Sending location based routing instructions
`to Said home location register;
`and a location finding System, said location finding Sys
`tem monitoring the location of mobile units associated
`with wireleSS telephone numbers, Said network location
`finding Service having means for responding to location
`queries from Said location based call forwarding Ser
`vice.
`10. A location based call forwarding service, which com
`prises:
`means for Storing Subscriber records including lists of
`registered forwarding wireline telephone numbers and
`respective associated registered geographic locations,
`means for receiving requests for routing instructions from
`a mobile telephone System home location register;
`means for Sending location based routing instructions to
`Said home location register;
`means for Sending location queries from a network to a
`mobile unit location finding System; and
`means for comparing mobile unit locations with regis
`tered geographic locations in Said Subscriber records.
`
`k
`
`k
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`k
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`k
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`k
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