IP Library Granted Patent US 7,804,821
Granted Patent B2
US 7,804,821 · App. 10/463,111 · Granted Sep 28, 2010

Circuit switched cellular network to internet calling with internet antennas

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 7,804,821
App. No.
10/463,111
Granted
Sep 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A call routing system for use with a wireless telephone systems is disclosed. The system, which monitors the subscriber's current physical location, determines the device to which a call should be terminated, and routes the call. The device can be any IP telephone, including a cable television system adapted to IP telephony. The system routes calls without direct subscriber actions, without a second telephone number, regardless of the time of day and day of week. Various options can also apply to a call, determined by subscriber-established preferences, when specified criteria are met, or calls can be limited to/from specified telephone numbers. The system and method uses signaling techniques that will allow routing of the call, along with any authorization or restrictions, to be done remotely from the actual switching of the call. Call events are transmitted to the call routing system while the communications path of the call is held at the switching system awaiting call routing information. The identity of the subscriber is established using existing means that are used to authenticate the user. The wireless phone user does not have to enter any additional codes or identification to obtain access to the call routing system.

Claims (17)

1. A method for providing communications services to a mobile telephone device and a first end user telephone device, the mobile telephone device and the first end user telephone device being physically separate and distinct from each other, the method comprising:

(a) having a telephone system using telephone numbers where a direction for routing a call to a number is specified in a rewritable memory within the telephone system and the direction specifies that a call be routed to a network address in a packet switched network via a gateway from the telephone system to the packet switched network;

(b) receiving an instruction to specify in the memory a direction that a call, to a telephone number associated with the mobile telephone device operable in a cellular network, be routed to a network address of the first end user telephone device on the packet switched network at which the call is terminable, wherein the instruction is received during a registration of the mobile telephone device with the packet switched network when the mobile telephone device is proximal in location to the first end user telephone device; and

(c) saving the direction in the memory.

2. The method of claim 1 where the telephone system is a mobile telephone system.

3. The method of claim 1 where the instruction is received in the telephone system from the first end user telephone device on the packet switched network via the packet-switched network.

4. The method of claim 3 where a radio access point in electronic communication with the first end user telephone device receives from a mobile telephone the mobile telephone's mobile identification number and forwards information identifying the identification number to the telephone system which uses the information to determine the telephone number for which the routing direction is to be saved.

5. The method of claim 3 where the instruction is received while a call is in progress and the call is redirected to the first end user telephone device while the call is in-progress.

6. The method of claim 3 where the first end user telephone device on the packet-switched network is coupled via a cable television cable based packet-switched network access.

7. The method of claim 1 where the first end user telephone device is a telephone adapted for use on a packet switched network.

8. The method of claim 1 where the first end user telephone device is a computer system.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an instruction to specify in the memory a second direction that a call, to the telephone number associated with the mobile telephone device operable in the cellular network, be routed to a network address of a second, different end user telephone device on the packet switched network at which the call is terminable; and

saving the second direction in the memory.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

coupling to the mobile telephone device a Bluetooth or 802.11 device operable to detect a presence of the mobile telephone device in the packet switched network.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein no pre-existing relationship exists between the network address of the first end user telephone device on the packet switched network and the telephone number of the mobile telephone device prior to receiving the instruction during the registration of the mobile telephone device with the packet switched network.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2025
From: ALIANZA, INC.; METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 071191/0228 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2025
From: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK
To: ALIANZA, INC.
Reel/Frame 070383/0393 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2023
From: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
To: BRIDGEPORT NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063841/0130 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2023
From: ALIANZA, INC.
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK
Reel/Frame 063816/0760 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: COUNTERPATH CORPORATION
To: ALIANZA INC.
Reel/Frame 058180/0770 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2021
From: COUNTERPATH CORPORATION; BRIDGEPORT NETWORKS, INC.
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
Reel/Frame 055428/0573 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2012
From: BRIDGEPORT NETWORKS, INC.
To: COUNTERPATH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029438/0411 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2003
From: WILHOITE, MICHAEL T.; CARTER, THOMAS A.
To: BRIDGEPORT NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 014194/0335 →