Call handling between a cellular network and a communication service
Techniques for call handling between a cellular network and a communication service are described. In at least some embodiments, a call refers to a real-time exchange of communication media between different communication endpoints. According to one or more embodiments, techniques described herein determine whether to route a call over a cellular network or to transfer (e.g., hand over) the call from the cellular network to a communication service. This determination can be made based on various policies that consider different call-related criteria.
1. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
one or more computer-readable storage media including instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the at least one processor, cause the system perform operations including:
detecting initiation of a call from a calling device over a wireless cellular network;
determining that the calling device is associated with an account with a communication service that is separate from the wireless cellular network;
notifying the communication service of the call to cause call control to be passed to the communication service;
receiving a notification from the communication service that the call is to be handled by the wireless cellular network;
receiving the call as routed back from the communication service to the wireless cellular network; and
handling the call over the wireless cellular network.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said detecting is performed by an infrastructure component of the wireless cellular network.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises determining that a phone number of the calling device is linked to the account with the communication service.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises determining that a user of the calling device is linked to the account with the communication service.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication service comprises a service that implemented independent of the wireless cellular network.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication service comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said notifying comprises routing a media flow of the call to the communication service.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said notifying comprises routing a media flow of the call over a wireless network that is different than the wireless cellular network.
9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the call is transferred between the wireless cellular network and the communication service multiple times in real time and in response to a change in one or more call conditions for the call.
10. A method comprising:
receiving a notification from a wireless cellular network indicating that a call is initiated with the wireless cellular network from a calling device associated with an account with a communication service that is separate from the wireless cellular network;
receiving call control from the wireless cellular network at the communication service;
determining that the call is to be handled by the wireless cellular network;
routing the call back from the communication service to the wireless cellular network; and
causing the call to be handled by the wireless cellular network.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the communication service comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said determining comprises determining that the calling device is not connected to a suitable alternative wireless network.
13. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the call is transferred between the wireless cellular network and the communication service multiple times in real time and in response to a change in one or more call conditions for the call.
14. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the call is to be handled by the communication service; and
causing a hand over of the call from the wireless cellular network to the communication service.
15. A method comprising:
receiving at a communication service a notification that a call is initiated with a wireless cellular network by a calling device associated with an account with a communication service that is separate from the wireless cellular network;
receiving call control from the wireless cellular network at the communication service;
determining that the call is to be handled by the wireless cellular network;
routing the call back from the communication service to the wireless cellular network;
determining that the call is to be handled by the communication service; and
receiving the call back from the wireless cellular network at the communication service.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein said receiving call control comprises receiving a hand over of the call from the wireless cellular network to the communication service.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein said receiving the notification comprises receiving the notification at the communication service separate from a hand over of the call from the wireless cellular network to the communication service.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising causing the call to be managed by the communication service and a media flow of the call to be routed via a data connection over the wireless cellular network.
19. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the communication service comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
20. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein said determining that the call is to be handled by the communication service is based on a change in network quality at the wireless cellular network.
21. A method comprising:
detecting initiation of a call from a calling device over a wireless cellular network;
determining that the calling device is associated with an account with a communication service that is separate from the wireless cellular network;
notifying the communication service of the call to cause call control to be passed to the communication service;
receiving a notification from the communication service that the call is to be handled by the wireless cellular network;
receiving the call as routed back from the communication service to the wireless cellular network; and
handling the call over the wireless cellular network.
22. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein said determining comprises determining that a phone number of the calling device is linked to the account with the communication service.
23. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein said determining comprises determining that a user of the calling device is linked to the account with the communication service.
24. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the communication service comprises a service that is implemented independent of the wireless cellular network.
25. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the communication service comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.
26. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the call is transferred between the wireless cellular network and the communication service multiple times in real time and in response to a change in one or more call conditions for the call.
27. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
one or more computer-readable storage media including instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform operations including:
receiving a notification indicating that a call is initiated with a wireless cellular network by a calling device associated with an account with a communication service that is separate from the wireless cellular network;
receiving call control from the wireless cellular network at the communication service;
determining that the call is to be handled by the wireless cellular network;
routing the call back from the communication service to the wireless cellular network; and
causing the call to be handled by the wireless cellular network.
28. The system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said receiving call control comprises receiving a hand over of the call from the wireless cellular network to the communication service.
29. The system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the communication service comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
30. The system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the call is transferred between the wireless cellular network and the communication service multiple times in real time and in response to a change in one or more call conditions for the call.