IP Library Granted Patent US 9,414,186
Granted Patent B2
US 9,414,186 · App. 14/026,839 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

System and method for providing selective voiceover4g call blocking

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,414,186
App. No.
14/026,839
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for selectively blocking Voiceover4G services within a wireless communications network is provided. A request for access to Voiceover4G services is received from a device connected to a wireless communications network. A location of the device is determined from information contained within the request. A determination is made of whether Voiceover4G services are provided at the location by the wireless communications network at the location of the device indicated within the request. The device is configured to communicate over the wireless network using Voiceover4G services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location of the device or is configured to communicate over the wireless network using circuit switched services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided at the location of the device.

Claims (43)

1. A method for selectively blocking Voiceover4G services within a wireless communications network, comprising:

receiving a request having a location associated therewith for access to the Voiceover4G services from a device connected to the wireless communications network;

accessing a table defining a list of locations, the table mapping each of the locations to an indication of an allowance or non-allowance of the Voiceover4G services responsive to the request;

finding the location included within the request within the table providing the list of locations responsive to the request;

determining whether the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location included within the request by the wireless communications network based upon whether the indication associated with the location in the table indicates that the Voiceover4G services are allowed or not allowed at the location;

initiating the Voiceover4G services to the device responsive to a determination that the indication indicates that the Voiceover4G services are allowed at the location; and

initiating circuit switched services to the device responsive to a determination that the indication indicates that the Voiceover4G services are not allowed at the location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the request further comprises the step of receiving a SIP header within the request from the device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further including the step of extracting the location of the device from the SIP header received from the device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating further comprises the steps of:

configuring the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to the determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location of the device; and

configuring the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the circuit switched services responsive to the determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided at the location of the device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:

determining an identity of the device that generated the request for access to the Voiceover4G services;

determining whether the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device by the wireless communications network responsive to the determined identity;

configuring the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to the determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device and at the location of the device; and

configuring the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using circuit switched services responsive to the determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided to the device or at the location of the device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:

determining whether the Voiceover4G services are provided by the wireless communications network the device is accessing; and

configuring the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the circuit switched services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided by the wireless communications network.

7. A system for selectively blocking Voiceover4G services within a wireless communications network, comprising:

a server connected to the wireless communications network, the server receiving a request for access to the Voiceover4G services from a device connected to the wireless communications network;

a data table associated with the server including a plurality of locations in the wireless communications network, each of the plurality of locations having an indication of whether the Voiceover4G services are available at the plurality of locations;

wherein the server further determines whether the Voiceover4G services are provided by the wireless communications network at a location of the device using the data table; and

wherein the device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device and at the location of the device, and further wherein the device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using circuit switched services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided to the device or at the location of the device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the request includes a SIP header including the location.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server extracts the location of the device from the SIP header received from the device.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the data table further includes at least one particular communications device and a second indication of whether the Voiceover4G services are available to the at least one particular communications device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the server further:

determines an identity of the device that generated the request for access to the Voiceover4G services and determines whether the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device by comparing the identity with the at least one particular communications device in the data table;

configures the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device and the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location of the device; and

configures the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the circuit switched services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided to the device or the Voiceover4G services are not provided at the location of the device.

12. An apparatus for selectively blocking Voiceover4G services within a wireless communications network, comprising:

a mobile device for communicating with the wireless communications network;

wherein the mobile device generates a request for access to the Voiceover4G services through the wireless communications network, the request including a location of the mobile device;

wherein the request from the mobile device enables finding the location of the mobile device within a table providing a list of locations, each location of the list of locations including an indication of whether the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location and determining whether the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location included within the request responsive to the indication associated with the location in the table;

wherein the mobile device receives a response responsive to the determination of whether the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location of the mobile device; and

wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided to the device and at the location of the device, and further wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using circuit switched services responsive to a determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided to the device or at the location of the device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the mobile device generates a SIP header including the location of the mobile device within the request from the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using the Voiceover4G services responsive to the response indicating the determination that the Voiceover4G services are provided at the location of the mobile device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate over the wireless communications network using the circuit switched services responsive to the response indicating the determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided at the location of the mobile device.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the request enables a determination of an identity of the mobile device that generated the request for access to the Voiceover4G services and the determination of whether the Voiceover4G services are provided to the identified mobile device by the wireless communications network.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the mobile device further determines whether the Voiceover4G services are provided by the wireless communications network the device is accessing, and configures the device to communicate over the wireless communications network using the circuit switched services responsive to the determination that the Voiceover4G services are not provided by the wireless communications network.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.
Reel/Frame 052969/0314 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC
Reel/Frame 052969/0381 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
Reel/Frame 041225/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037125/0885 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 3, 2015
From: METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 035075/0723 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2013
From: PANKAJAKSHAN, BEJOY; KOSAR, ERIK; WONDOLOSKI, ROBERT
To: METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031243/0197 →