IP Library Granted Patent US 7,548,611
Granted Patent B2
US 7,548,611 · App. 11/320,325 · Granted Jun 16, 2009

Method and system for reporting events in telecommunication networks

Assignee: GTE Wireless Incorporated
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,548,611
App. No.
11/320,325
Granted
Jun 16, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for reporting to subscribers, wireless network events in a plurality of formats and languages depending upon the particular subscriber group to which a wireless subscriber belongs. When a subscriber requests a call, a switching node in the network invokes a trigger that identifies a location register for routing the call and sends a route request to the location register. While processing the route request, if the location register detects an event that would prevent the call from being routed, the location register identifies the subscriber group of the wireless subscriber and determines a directory number associated with the identified subscriber group and the detected event. The location register then returns the determined directory number to the switching node. Using the determined directory number, the switching node establishes the call to a message node, where a message associated with the determined directory number is executed. Accordingly, the wireless network reports the detected event in a format and language that the wireless subscriber, or an entity attempting to communicate with the wireless subscriber, can recognize.

Claims (37)

1. A method comprising:

identifying a group associated with a wireless subscriber when an event that indicates an error in routing a call to the wireless subscriber is detected;

determining a directory number associated with the identified group and the detected event;

establishing a call between the wireless subscriber and a message node in the network using the determined directory number; and

providing a message from the message node to the wireless subscriber based on the directory number.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the group includes identifying a subscriber group associated with the wireless subscriber when the event is detected.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the group includes identifying the group when the detected event is associated with a call requested by the wireless subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the group includes identifying the group when the detected event is associated with a call that is requested by the wireless subscriber and that cannot be established in the network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the group includes retrieving from a subscriber services database in the network a group identifier associated with the calling wireless subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the directory number includes selecting the directory number from a table that includes one or more predetermined directory numbers indexed by event identifiers and group identifiers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the message includes providing the message in a voice format.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the message includes providing the message in a telecommunications device for deaf (TDD) format.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the message includes providing the message in a data format.

10. A processor-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause a processor to perform the method of claim 1 when executed by the processor.

11. A system comprising:

a first communications switching device;

a second communications switching device communicatively coupled to the first communications switching device; and

a message node communicatively coupled to the second communications switching device and storing a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages associated with a respective contact number;

wherein the first communications switching device is configured to receive a call request for a call from a communications device of a subscriber to a destination and determine that the call should be switched to the second communications switching device;

wherein the second communications switching device is configured to receive the call request, detect an event that indicates that the call cannot be connected to the destination, identify a group associated with the subscriber when the call cannot be connected to the destination, determine a contact number associated with the identified group and the detected event, and connect the call to the message node using the contact number when the call cannot be connected to the destination;

wherein the message node is configured to provide the message associated with the determined contact number via the call connection.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the subscriber is a wireless subscriber and the communications device is a wireless communications device.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a subscriber database storing a group identifier associated with the subscriber;

wherein the second communications switching device is configured to identify the group by retrieving from the subscriber database the group identifier.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second communications switching device is configured to determine the contact number by selecting the contact number from a table that includes one or more predetermined contact numbers indexed by event identifiers and group identifiers.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the message is stored in a voice format.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the message is stored in a telecommunications device for deaf (TDD) format.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the message is stored in a data format.

18. A system comprising:

a first communications switching device;

a second communications switching device communicatively coupled to the first communications switching device; and

a message node communicatively coupled to the first communications switching device and storing a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages associated with a respective contact number;

wherein the first communications switching device is configured to receive a call request for a call from a communications device of a subscriber to a destination and determine that the call should be switched to the second communications switching device;

wherein the second communications switching point is configured to receive the call request, detect an event that indicates that the call cannot be connected to the destination, and indicate the event to the first communications switching device;

wherein the first communications switching device is further configured to identify a group associated with the subscriber when the call cannot be connected to the destination, determine a contact number associated with the identified group and the detected event, and connect the call to the message node using the contact number when the call cannot be connected to the destination;

wherein the message node is configured to provide the message associated with the determined contact number via the call connection.

Assignments (3)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: GTE WIRELESS INCORPORATED
To: GTE WIRELESS LLC
Reel/Frame 055264/0275 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2008
From: HOWE, WALTER WESLEY
To: GTE WIRELESS SERVICE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021937/0700 →
PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 011290/0893 (CHANGE OF NAME/MERGER) Recorded Dec 29, 2005
From: GTE WIRELESS SERVICE CORPORATION
To: GTE WIRELESS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 017443/0278 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 0969280400 · Oct 20, 2000
Continuation In Part 0941843600 · Oct 14, 1999
Related Publication 20060277304A1 · Dec 7, 2006