MXPA97001611A - System and method for directing a telecommunication call inalambr - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for directing, without instructions and without interruptions (continuously and uniformly) a call from a wireless telecommunications unit requesting service and information. The method of the present invention includes the steps of entering a predetermined code in a wireless telecommunications unit, transmitting to a telecommunications system serving the unit a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and information identifying the unit and associating the unit with an originating service facility, transmitting the identification information of the unit to an addressing system, evaluating the identification information according to predetermined criteria, such as whether the originating service facility is served by the addressing system; and if the identification information of the unit satisfies the predetermined criteria, establish an end-to-end communication path between the wireless telecommunications unit and the originating service facility.

Description

i - SISTEME AND METO »PARJ a ^ MWi fM iBS iki Ü? IxAMMADg This invention relates to the addressing or routing of a wireless telecommunication call, and more particularly to the addressing of a wireless telecommunication call from a wireless telecommunication unit to a service destination -that is, a destination for service or information, or both.

The technology and wireless telecommunications services has constantly increased. Today, wireless telecommunications services available to the public include, for example, location services, mobile cellular telephone services as well as emergency personal communications services and mobile satellite services. In many applications, a subscriber to a wireless telecommunications service is equipped with a REF: 24266 wireless telecommunications unit that provides the capacity for mobile telecommunications - that is, the wireless telecommunications unit can be transported by the user or can be mounted on a car, truck or other vehicle. In other applications, the wireless telecommunications unit may be in a fixed position, either temporarily or permanently. Wireless telecommunications units can be equipped to transmit and receive voice communications, data communications or both. Typically, a user of wireless telecommunications services receives service by contracting a service provider that operates with a wireless telecommunications system. The systems with which the user enters into a contract or is usually subscribed are known as the wireless telecommunications system in the user's home. This originating system, for example, can provide the subscriber with access to a wireless telecommunications service and can provide a wide variety of services such as billing and collection for wireless telecommunications services; arrangements for telecommunications services such as long distance or other interconnected services with the originating wireless system; help with the operation of the subscriber's wireless telecommunications unit; information about costs, system coverage, tagging patterns and billed items; and a guide on how to obtain the various services in relation to the system that serves the wireless telecommunications unit. The location of the service can also function as a corporate communications center or a gateway between the user of a wireless telecommunications unit and a wide range of telecommunications and information services. In many applications, the originating wireless telecommunications system provides wireless telecommunications services in a geographic area. For example, in cellular telecommunications in the United States, the geographic areas served by cellular systems correspond roughly to the Metropolitan Statistical Areas determined by the Bureau of the Census and as established in the Federal Publication rules. of Communications (Federal Comunication Commission). In the personal communications services in the United States as another example, the system service areas correspond roughly to Metropolitan Business Areas (Metropolitan Trading Areas) or Basic Business Areas (Basic Tranding Areas) as established in the rules of the Federal Communications Commission, based on the frequency band used for the wireless portion of the service. An originating wireless telecommunications system usually provides subscribers with the ability to establish a communication path between the subscriber's wireless telecommunications unit and a telecommunications switch included in the premises of the originating system. This communication path includes a wireless telecommunications path between the subscriber's wireless telecommunications unit and a fixed station, usually known as base station. In a two-way wireless communications system such as a cellular mobile telephone system, a base station receives wireless communications from, and transmits wireless communications to, the wireless telecommunications unit of the subscriber. The base station is also interconnected with other telecommunications facilities to establish a telecommunications path between the wireless telecommunications unit and the telecommunications switch. The telecommunications switch of the system, in turn, can be connected to other communications facilities to establish telecommunication paths between the wireless telecommunications unit, in some cases through the telecommunications of the originating system, and other telecommunications units - wireless or non-wireless, mobile or fixed- that operate within the telecommunication system of origin or in relation to other telecommunications systems. These other telecommunications systems may include, by way of example, telecommunication systems, an urban center or other wireless telecommunications systems operating in the same geographical area as the originating wireless system, as well as telecommunication systems operating in other areas of the telecommunication network. same country or in other countries. When a wireless telecommunications unit is operated in a geographic area outside the area served by its originating system, it is usually said to be in movement or movement. In order to carry out the displacement, a system in whose geographical area the wireless telecommunications unit is operating, and which is able to communicate with the unit, must agree to provide the service to the wireless telecommunications unit. This arrangement can be made, for example, when the user of the unit attempts to make a call in an area outside the unit's source system. In this example, when a wireless telecommunications unit is activated, for example when the "send" key is pressed, the unit transmits information identifying the individual unit as well as the unit's origin system. The system serviced by the unit, sometimes referred to as the foreign system or service system, receives this identification information, recognizes that the unit is on the move, and directs the user to indicate another number in order to establish a basis to pay the charges for the call or divert the call to a destination with which the user can communicate in order to establish a basis for payment of charges for the call. Such bases may include billing charges for the call to a credit card account, a calling card account, a third party number, or the number being called (ie, a collect call). There are some ways in which the wireless telecommunications system serves as the wireless telecommunications unit which can ensure that it will offset these charges for handling calls originated by units or users on the move. Another approach for handling the units or users in displacement is for a remote system that provides service to the wireless telecommunications unit that has an agreement with respect to the units in displacement with the telecommunication system of origin of the wireless telecommunications unit. In this approach, when the traveling wireless telecommunications unit attempts to make a call, the remote system handles the call as if it were a home system for the wireless telecommunications unit-that is, there is no interception or diversion of the call. The remote system serves the wireless telecommunications unit, for example, billing their appropriate charges to the originating telecommunications system, which in turn makes the charges to the subscriber through the billing process of the originating system. However, problems may still arise when the traveling user of a wireless telecommunications unit attempts to make a call. For example, the dialing pattern for making a long-distance call or a collect call may be different in the originating system of the subscriber compared to the remote system. These problems can be corrected in the context of calls for service or information. Such calls can be requested, for example, by the difficulty of a user when using a strange system, by difficulties operating a wireless telecommunications unit, by questions about the characteristics of service options, or by asking questions about the charges and billing arrangements, or the need to have access to other telecommunications or information services, and so on. In some cases, the number that is dialed to request service or information on the remote system may be different from the number dialed for service or information on the originating system of the wireless telecommunications unit. Even if the numbers to call are the same on the remote and home systems, the service or information personnel of the system serving the wireless telecommunications unit may not be familiar with the particular wireless telecommunications unit that is used by the subscriber . In addition, the remote system may be directed by the originating system of the wireless telecommunications unit to limit or deny service to the unit, for example, due to concerns about fraudulent calls-from the unit or billing issues between the system of origin and the subscribers to the unit. In such cases, the service personnel of the remote system may not be familiar with the reasons for the limitations or the refusal to provide the service. In fact, it would be unlikely that the service or information personnel of the foreign system serving the traveling unit would have the same information about a subscriber on the move, such as the subscriber's billing history or service options and the preferences, which the service or information personnel of the subscriber's home system may have available in response to a service or information call. In addition, even if the call requesting service or information by a * -: suario in displacement is successfully directed to a service or information position associated with the originating system of the wireless telecommunications unit, the service or information installation of the source system is usually not informed of the position of the wireless telecommunications unit. As a consequence, the originating system information or service position, for example, can not know the identity of the wireless telecommunications system that serves the wireless telecommunications unit, and therefore can not have complete information about the circumstances, such as the difficulty with the dialing pattern for a long distance or other kind of call, that can be carried out to make the call requesting a service or information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF IA MENCTQN An object of the invention is to provide a system and method for providing the service or information, or both, for subscribers to wireless telecommunications systems. Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for addressing without interruption and intrusions (continuously and uniformly) a call requesting service from a wireless telecommunications unit. A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method for addressing, without intrusion and without interruption, a call from a wireless telecommunications unit on the way to a home service facility of the wireless telecommunications unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for reporting to a service facility associated with a traveling wireless telecommunications unit making a call requesting service or installation information or geographical location of the wireless telecommunications unit. The present invention, as broadly described herein, provides a system comprising a combination of elements for addressing a wireless telecommunications call that includes a wireless telecommunications unit, a telecommunications system serving the wireless telecommunications unit , an addressing system and means for establishing an end-to-end communication path between the wireless telecommunications unit and the originating service facility associated with the wireless telecommunications unit. The invention allows the user of the wireless telecommunications unit to enter a predetermined code such as "* 611" into the wireless telecommunications unit and connect to the originating service facility associated with the unit. As broadly described herein, the system of the present invention may also include means for informing the originating service facility about the location of the wireless telecommunications unit. The present invention, as broadly described herein, also provides a method for addressing a wireless telecommunications call, which includes the steps of entering a predetermined code in the wireless telecommunications unit; transmitting to a telecommunications system serving the unit a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and information identifying the unit and associating the unit with a source service facility; transmit the unit identification information to an addressing system; evaluate the identification information according to predetermined criteria such as the determination whether the originating service facility is served by the addressing system; and, if the identification information of the unit meets predetermined criteria, establish an end-to-end communication path between the wireless telecommunications unit and the originating service facility. As generally described herein, the method of the present invention may also include the step of signaling the originating service facility with information about the location of the wireless telecommunications unit. The additional objects and advantages of the invention are as set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part are obvious from the description, or can be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention can also be conceived and achieved by means of instrumentalities and combinations particularly set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated and constitute part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the preferred embodiment of a system for addressing a wireless telecommunications call. Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of a method for addressing a wireless telecommunication call.

DESCRIPGK Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements throughout the various views.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a system, consisting of a combination of elements, for directing or channeling a wireless telecommunications call. The system includes a wireless telecommunications unit ("WTU"), a telecommunications system that provides service to the WTU, an addressing or routing system, and means to establish an end-to-end telecommunications path between the WTU and the installation of origin service. The WTU has means for entering a predetermined code and means for transmitting a signal corresponding to the predetermined code, and identifying information of the WTU associated with the WTU which also associates the WTU with the originating service facility. The telecommunications system serving the WTU has means to receive the signal transmitted by the WTU and means responsive to that signal, to transmit the identification information of the WTU to an addressing system. The addressing system includes means for receiving identification information from the WTU and means for evaluating the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria. The system of the present invention also includes means, responsive to the evaluation means of the addressing system, to establish an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility. a_KHZ In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the WTU 10 is a portable two-way radio telecommunications subscriber unit. The WTU 10 may be equipped to operate in a cellular mobile telecommunications system, a personal telecommunications system, an extended specialized mobile radio system or another system known in the art to provide wireless telecommunications. The WTU 10 may be equipped to transmit and receive voice communications, data communications or both. In the preferred embodiments not shown in Figure 1, the WTU may be a transportable wireless telecommunications unit, or a wireless telecommunications unit mounted on a vehicle. In other preferred embodiments that are not shown in Figure 1, the WTU may be located in a fixed position temporarily or permanently. As shown in Figure 1, the means for entering a predetermined code in the WTU 10 comprises keys 12 on the face of the WTU 10. In alternative embodiments, the means for entering the predetermined code may include keys located elsewhere in the the WTU 10, speech recognition means in connection with the WTU 10 or other means known in the art for entering information within the wireless telecommunications unit. The default code is a code that is to be entered into the WTU in order to signal that the WTU user wants a call to a service installation. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined code is the symbol * 611, and is the number recognized by at least the telecommunications system serving the WTU 10 for calls requesting unit service or users on the move. Such a service may include, by way of example, help with dialing patterns in order to make calls of various types such as calls to other users of the telecommunications system that are served by the WTU and calls to users of other telecommunications systems; help with options and service preferences; help with the use and operation of the WTU equipment, help with charges and billing for wireless telecommunications services; help with fraudulent call control; help with access to various telecommunications and information services; information about services, features, charges and billing; information on the reasons for limiting or denying the service; or any other reason why a user of a wireless telecommunications unit may desire or need to obtain from a home service facility. In a preferred embodiment, the same predetermined code is widely used in wireless telecommunications systems so that the user only needs to remember and use a single predetermined code regardless of the wireless telecommunications system that is providing service to the WTU. In alternative preferred embodiments, the default code can be * 7ll, * 811, # 611, # 711 or # 811. In further alternative embodiments, the predetermined code may be any of four symbols in which each symbol corresponds to a key in the WTU 10. In other alternative preferred embodiments, the predetermined code may be a plurality of symbols, in which each symbol corresponds to a key on the WTU 10. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the WTU 10 is equipped with a radio transmitting and receiving means, such as a radio transceiver or other wireless telecommunications technology known in the art, the which provides a means for generating a signal corresponding to a predetermined code and the identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU 10, and means for transmitting that signal. The means for generating such a signal are known in the art. The WTU identification information relates the WTU 10 to a home service facility and is preferably designed to uniquely identify the WTU 10. For example, in a cellular mobile telecommunications system, the identification information of the WTU may be a mobile identification number of the WTU 10. In other wireless telecommunications services, conventions have been developed to identify subscriber units, and these conventions can provide the basis for developing WTU identification information for each WTU in such additional services.

Telecommunications System that Serves 2a WTU In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the telecommunications system serving the WTU 10 is the service system 20. As shown in Figure 1, the service system 20 is a wireless telecommunications system that includes a base station 22 and a mobile telephone switching office 24. As shown in Figure 1, the base station 22 communicates by radio with the WTU 10 and with the mobile telephone switching office 24. The base station 22 provides the means for receiving the signal transmitted by the WTU 10 corresponding to the predetermined code and the identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU 10. The base station 22 also provides means for transmitting that signal to the 24 office mobile phone switching; such "means may be radio links, wireline links or a combination of such lines or other means known in the art for establishing communications between telecommunications base stations and switching offices." In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. , the mobile telephone switching office 24 also provides means responsive to the signal transmitted by the WTU 10 by means of the base station 22 which corresponds to a predetermined code and to the identification information of the WTU, to transmit the identification information From the WTU to an addressing system, such transmission medium includes wire, cable, fiber optic or other wireline communication technology, wireless satellite, microwave or other technology, or any combination of these or other technologies known in the art to establish communication trajectories between systems telecommunications issues. In an alternative preferred modality, the mobile telephone switching office 24 also includes telecommunications switching means including switches, processors and other technology known in the art to establish telecommunication paths between different wireless telecommunications units, and paths between wireless telecommunications units and other systems of telecommunications interconnected with the telecommunications switching medium. As shown in Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment, when the signal corresponding to the predetermined code and the identification information of the WTU is transmitted by the WTU 10, source communications between the WTU 10 and the switching means is established. telecommunications provided by office 24 mobile phone switching. This source communication path includes an intermediate communications path between the WTU 10 and the base station 22. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a communication path is established directly between the WTU 10 and the mobile telephone switching office 24 other telecommunications communication installation of the system 20 that provides the service.

In a preferred embodiment, the system 20 providing the service includes digital computer means or other means known in the art to determine, when evaluating the identification information of the WTU, whether the system 20 providing the service is the telecommunication service. source for the WTU 10, or if the WTU 10 is in movement -that is, it operates in a telecommunication system different from the source system of the WTU 10. If the system 20 providing the service determines that it is the originating system of the WTU 10, then the system 20 providing the service, for example, can route the call from the WTU 10 for service to the service installation for subscribers of the system 20 providing the service. On the other hand, if the system 20 providing the service determines that it is not the originating system of the WTU 10, then, in a preferred embodiment, the system 20 providing the service will transmit the identification information of the WTU to a system of addressing. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the system The service that provides the service directs all calls with a predetermined code -including those made from where the system 20 that provides the service is considered to be a system of origin- to an addressing system. In essence, the system that provides the 'service will treat all calls with the default code as calls from units or users on the move. Calls with a predetermined code from the wireless telecommunications unit from which the system 20 providing the service is a source system will then be addressed by the addressing system to the originating service facility associated with that wireless telecommunications unit. In an alternative embodiment that is not shown in Figure 1, the base station 22 receives the signal transmitted by the WTU 10 which corresponds to the predetermined code and the identification information of the WTU and, in response to this signal, transmits a signal which corresponds to the identification information of the WTU directly to an addressing system. In other alternative embodiments, which do not show in Figure 1, the means for receiving the signal transmitted by the WTU and the means for transmitting the WTU identification information to the addressing system may include a space satellite system or other wireless technology. communications known in the art to receive signals transmitted by wireless and sensitive telecommunications units to these signals, transmit them to an addressing system.

In an alternative embodiment, the system 20 providing the service, responsive to the predetermined code, transmits the predetermined code and identification information of the WTU to the addressing system. The user of the WTU 10 can therefore make a signal to the addressing system, by means of the system 20 providing the service, to route the call to different originating service facilities, based on the predetermined code.

The System of Direccianamiento In a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the addressing system is the addressing system 30, and includes means for receiving the identification of the WTU transmitted by the mobile telephone switching office 24 of the system 20 providing the service. , and means for evaluating the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria. The means of the addressing system 30 for receiving the WTU identification information may include telecommunications receivers known in the art to receive telecommunications transmissions, based on the technology used to establish a communication path between the switching office 24 mobile telephone system 20 providing the service and addressing system 30. The means of the addressing system 30 for evaluating the identification information of the WTU according to the predetermined criteria may be constituted of digital computers or other technology known in the art.; for such functions. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the evaluation means in the addressing system 30 can evaluate the identification of the WTU according to the criteria to determine if the WTU 10 is subscribed to a telecommunications system with which the Addressing system 30 is connected for the purpose of routing wireless calls with the predetermined code to a source service facility. The evaluation means of the addressing system 30 preferably examines the database to determine the originating service facility associated with the WTU 10. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the system evaluation means 30 The address determines whether the WTU 10 is associated with a source service installation 40 and, if determined by this, with means for establishing an end-to-end path between the WTU 10 and the originating service facility 40.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the originating service facility 40 is associated with a home telecommunications system, which is shown in Figure 1 as the home system 42 having a switching office 44 mobile phone. In this mode, the addressing system 30 determines that the WTU 10 is associated with the originating system 42, and includes means for establishing a communication path between the communication system 30 and the mobile telephone switching office 44 and interconnect this path has a communication path between the mobile telephone switching office 44 and the addressing system 30. In a preferred embodiment that is not shown in Figure 1, the addressing system, responsive to an evaluation of the WTU identification information (and other information such as the predetermined code transmitted to the addressing system), points to telecommunications that they attend to the WTU so that it establishes a trajectory of telecommunications between the WTU and the installation of service of origin that does not use any of the installations of the system of addressing. With reference to Figure 1, as an example of this embodiment, the addressing system 30 may be responsive to the identification information of the WTU transmitted by the mobile telephone switching office 24, the signal of the switching office 24 mobile telephone to establish a direct communication path between the mobile telephone switching office 24 and a mobile telephone switching office 44. In such embodiments, the addressing system 30 functions primarily as a database that is requested by the appropriate facilities of the system 20 that provides the service in order to determine which of the same or different facilities of the system 20 it provides. the service must address the call. In a preferred embodiment, the addressing system also comprises means for signaling the telecommunications system serving the WTU of the evaluation of the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria. For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the addressing system 30 may send signals to the system 20 providing the service about whether the WTU 10 is associated with an originating service facility for which the system 30 is capable of establishing an end-to-end path with the WTU 10. For example, if the addressing system 30 is not able to establish such an end-to-end path, then it will send a signal to the system 20 providing the 'service, which in turn performs a variety of functions, such as signaling the WTU 10 that the call for service can not be completed, or directing the call to a service facility associated with the system 20 providing the service. In an alternative preferred embodiment, if the addressing system 30 is not able to establish an end-to-end communications path, the addressing system 30 instructs the system 20 to provide the service to instruct WTU 10 to enter additional information. in order to allow the addressing system 30 to perform its functions. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the system 20 providing the service serves a geographic area, and the addressing system 30 is located outside that geographic area. In a preferred alternative embodiment that is not shown in Figure 1, the addressing system may be located within the geographic area served by the system 20 providing the service. In another alternative embodiment, for example, the signal transmitted by the WTU 10 corresponds to an 800 number or a toll-free number associated with the source service installation 40, and the mobile telephone switching office 24 requests a database for the purpose of translating the free call number to a regular telephone number corresponding to the originating service installation 40, to which the call is routed from the WTU 10 to request service.

Installation of Origin Service In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the originating service facility is the originating service facility 40. In this preferred embodiment, the installation 40 of the origin service is associated with a telecommunication system of origin. This originating telecommunication system can be the system to which the WTU 10 is regularly subscribed to provide it with service, and for example it can bill the user designated for use of the WTU 10 for the service provided by its telecommunication system of origin as well. as, for example, services provided by other telecommunications providers with which the origin system 42 has a billing and collection arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the source service installation 40 may be equipped to provide service to a user of the WTU 10 including, for example, information about the wireless service options selected by the user; information about features such as call waiting, call routing and conference call used by the user; information about the user's arrangements with long-distance services or other telecommunications services that may be used in connection with the user's wireless telecommunications services; information about the operation of the WTU 10; the user's credit information; information and access to services in a remote or strange market in which the WTU 10 is operating (for example as having access to emergency medical services or public safety), - information and access to other telecommunications and information services provided through the remote system or in some other way; information about the coverage of the remote system serving the WTU 10; information about the limitations or denials of service imposed by the remote system in which the WTU 10 is operating; implementation of restrictions or termination of service desired by the user of the WTU 10, and any other service or information that the user of the WTU wishes to perform to call a service or information installation. The source service installation 40 may include automated response devices, human operators and other means known in the art to provide service and information to users of telecommunications services. As shown in Figure 1, the telecommunication system of origin of the WTU 10 is the origin system 42. As further shown in Figure 1, the origin service facility 40 is located within the geographic service area of the home telecommunications service 42. In an alternative embodiment that is not shown in Figure 1, the origin service facility 42, although associated with the origin system 42, is outside the geographic service area served by the origin system 42. In another alternative embodiment, the originating service facility 40 may not be associated with the telecommunications system, but rather be a separate service facility having information, for example, as a result of contract arrangements, sufficient to provide service or information to the user of the WTU 10. Thus, for example, the addressing system 30 can route a call from the WTU 10 to different service facilities, based on the introduction of a predetermined code in the WTU 10 and the transmitted information from the service system 20 to the addressing system 30. As another example, the addressing system 30 may provide different addresses of a call from the WTU 10 to the same installation as the originating service, based on any of several factors such as the time of day and volumes of traffic over communication paths. particular. As an additional example, based on the identification information of the WTU of each wireless telecommunications unit, the addressing system 30 can provide different addresses for calls to the same originating service facility from different wireless telecommunications units operating in the same system. remote telecommunications, again based on the relevant call addressing factors and the service priorities and billing arrangements associated with the individual wireless telecommunications units.

Trajectories of -Telecommunications In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an end-to-end communications path, responsive to evaluation means of the addressing system 30, is established between the WTU 10 and the originating service installation 40. In a preferred embodiment, the end-to-end communications path may be constituted by a source communications path between the WTU 10 and a telecommunications switching means of the system 20 providing the service, as well as a service communications path to the source part between the telecommunication switching means of the system 20 providing the service and a source service installation 40. As indicated in the above, these communication paths can be established using any technology or combination of technologies known in the art to establish communication paths. As shown in Figure 1, the end-to-end communication path comprises a source communications path between the WTU 10 and the mobile telephone switching office 24 via a base station 22, both of the system 20 that provides the service. As also shown in Figure 1, the end-to-end communications path comprises a source service path between a mobile telephone switching office 24 of the system 20 providing the service and a source service installation 40. In a preferred embodiment, in which the originating service installation is associated with a home telecommunication system, the origin-service communication path may be constituted by an intersystem communication path between the system providing service to the WTU 10 and the telecommunication system of origin. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, an intersystem communication path is established, responsive to the evaluation by the addressing system 30 of the WTU identification information, by means of the addressing system 30 between the office 24 system mobile telephone switching 20 providing the mobile telephone switching service and office 44 of the originating system 42, as part of the end-to-end communication path. In such an embodiment, the end-to-end communications path between the WTU 10 and the home service facility 40 also includes a termination of the communication path between the mobile telecommunications communication office 44 and the home service facility 40. The configuration and technology of the completion of the communications path can be selected based on factors known in the art which are based on the configuration, installation and functions of the originating service installation 40 and the facilities used in the system 42 of origin.

In another preferred embodiment, a source-system communications path includes a first address-system path between the telecommunications system serving the WTU 10 and the addressing system, and a second address-system path between the system of addressing. address and the originating telecommunication system, and the addressing system / includes a switching means for interconnecting the first address-system path and the second address-system path. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1 for example, in order to establish an end-to-end communication path between the WTU 10 and the service installation 40 in response to the evaluation of the information routing system 30 identification of the WTU 10, a communication path origin between the WTU 10 and the mobile telephone switching office 24 is established by the base station 22 of the system 20 providing the service; a first address-system communications path is established between the mobile telephone switching office 24 and the addressing system 30. A second routing-system communication path may be established between the addressing system 30 and the mobile telephone switching office 44 of the originating system 42; and a communication path completion between the mobile telephone switching office 44 and the originating service facility 40 can be established.

Signage of the Facility In a further preferred embodiment, the system for addressing wireless telecommunications calls of the present invention also includes means for providing a source service facility with additional information, such as the identity of the system 20 providing the service and the geographical location of the service. WTU 10. By providing such information to the originating service facility, the system of this mode provides the originating service facility with additional capacity to respond to the needs and questions of the WTU user. For example, the user may need information about the availability and price of various wireless telecommunications system services serving the WTU, or dialing patterns needed to use these services, and knowledge of the system serving the WTU or location. of the WTU, or both, which would make it easier to provide this marking pattern information.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mobile telephone switching office 24 transmits information identifying the system 20 that provides the service to address the system 30 contemporaneously with the transmission of the identification information of the WTU. to the addressing system 30. In a manner sensitive to the evaluation of the WTU identification information by the system , the addressing system 30 also transmits information identifying the system 20 that provides the service to the mobile telephone switching office 44, which transmits it or passes it to the home service installation 44 together with the information of the WTU. Means to identify the system 20 providing the service are known in the art and include, by way of example, information of the dialed number and information of the toll-free number associated with the system 20 providing the service, when a trajectory is established of communications between the system 20 providing the service and the addressing system 30. Installation 40 of originating service in this way is informed about the system 20 that provides the service which serves the WTU 10, and may also use this information to determine the approximate geographical position of the WTU 10.

In an alternative embodiment, the mobile telephone switching office 24 determines that a communication path origin or start has been established between the WTU 10 and the base station 22, and signals from the addressing system 30 with the identity of the station. 22 base and its geographical position. This geographic position information is transmitted to the originating service facility 40 by means of a source-service communication path, such as that shown in Figure 1, so that the originating service facility 40 has more accurate information about the position of the WTU 10. In another preferred embodiment, which is not shown in Figure 1, the WTU 10 indicates a geographic position determination system that uses global satellite position determination or other technology for determining the position, which is indicated to the originating service installation 40, either directly or indirectly, with a precise geographical position of the WTU 10.

Inalflpbri = a Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of a method for addressing a wireless telecommunication call. The method includes the steps of entering a predetermined code in a WTU; transmit, from the WTU to the telecommunication system serving the WTU, a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU which is also associated with the WTU with an originating service facility; transmit, in response to the signal, the identification information of the WTU to an addressing system; evaluate the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria; and establish, if the WTU identification information meets the predetermined criteria, an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the introduction step is carried out when the user dials * 611 in step 100. This step can be carried out by using a WTU, for example the WTU 10 shown in Figure 1 or other wireless telecommunications units known in the art. As described in the foregoing with reference to Figure 1, the predetermined code * 611 is preferably highly known and used for calls by subscribers for calls requesting service or information. As also described with reference to Figure 1, other predetermined codes may be used. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the WTU transmits a signal in step 120 when carrying out the transmission stage, from the WTU to a telecommunications system that provides service to the WTU, a signal corresponding to the default code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU which also associates the WTU with a source service facility. The conversion from the predetermined code to a signal corresponding to that code and the identification information of the WTU is carried out by a wireless telecommunications unit technology known in the art. The WTU identification associates the WTU with a source service facility. As described in the foregoing with regard to Figure 1, the identification information of the WTU can also uniquely identify the WTU as well as the telecommunication system of origin associated with the WTU. The transmit signal stage 120 of the WTU is carried out using wireless telecommunications technology known in the art which includes, by way of example, the WTU 10 and the base station 22 and a mobile telephone switching office 24 system 20 of the service shown in figure 1. Alternatively, other technologies such as satellite technology or others known in the art can be used, including technologies described above in relation to figure 1 to transmit signals from a WTU to a system telecommunications that provides service to the WTU. The transmission stage, responsive to the signal transmitted by the WTU, the identification information of the WTU to an addressing system is carried out, in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, in step 130, in the which the service system transmits the identification information of the WTU. This transmission stage 130 can be carried out through the use of a mobile telephone switching office 24 and the addressing system 30 shown in FIG. 1 or through other technologies known in the art for transmitting signals. between telecommunications systems and addressing systems. As described in the foregoing, in relation to Figure 1, such technologies would receive the signal transmitted by the WTU corresponding to the predetermined code and the identification information of the WTU and, based on that signal, transmit the identification information of the WTU. WTU to the addressing system. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the step of evaluating the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria is carried out when evaluating the identification information stage 140 of the WTU. This evaluation may be carried out in the addressing system 30 or in the mobile telephone switching office 24 shown in FIG., or in another installation or facilities in which the technology can be located to carry out such evaluations. In a preferred embodiment, this evaluation in step 140 of identification information of the WTU uses a computerized database to determine if the WTU is subscribed to a wireless telecommunications system with which the addressing system is capable of establishing a trajectory. of communications so that the call for service from the WTU can be addressed to a telecommunications system of origin of the WTU. In the preferred embodiment in a cellular mobile telephone system, the WTU is a cellular mobile unit, the addressing system is operated by a carrier between exchanges and the identification information of the WTU is the mobile identification number ("MIN") of the cellular mobile unit. The addressing system verifies the MIN against a database that includes the MIN intervals of wireless telecommunication systems with which the inter-exchange carrier has arrangements to 'handle calls from mobile subscribers on the move using a predetermined code to obtain a origin service position associated with their home telecommunications systems. If the MIN is within these ranges, then the identification information of the WTU must satisfy the predetermined criteria. In a further preferred embodiment, as described above in relation to Figure 1, if the identification information of the WTU satisfies the predetermined criteria, then the addressing system also determines the means to establish an end-to-end path between the WTU and the origin service facility. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, if the identification information of the WTU satisfies the predetermined criteria, then the establishment of end-to-end path in step 150 carries out the step of establishing an extreme communication path to end between the WTU and the originating service facility associated with the WTU. As shown in Figure 1, this end-to-end telecommunications path consists of interconnected paths between the WTU 10 and the base station 22 of the system 20 providing the service, between the base station 22 and the switching office 24. of the mobile telephone of the system 20 providing the service, between the mobile telephone switching office 24 and the addressing system 30, between the addressing system 30 and the mobile telephone switching office 44 of the home system 42, and between the mobile telephone switching office 44 and the home service installation 40. As described in the above in relation to Figure 1, other technologies known in the art can be used to establish an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, if the identification information of the WTU does not meet the predetermined criteria, then the system providing report service and the 160 stage of the WTU is carried out. Functionally, the call is returned to the telecommunications system that serves the WTU, for example, by management by service personnel or by installations of that telecommunications system. In a further preferred embodiment, the system providing the service transmits the identification information of the WTU of step 130 and also includes the step of transmitting additional information, for example the identity of the telecommunications system serving the WTU or the position of the WTU, or both. In this preferred embodiment, if the identification information of the WTU satisfies the predetermined criteria, this additional information can also be transmitted to the originating service facility, so facility personnel are provided at the origin service facility with potentially important information to answer the call from the WTU to the origin service facility . Technologies for implementing the step of transmitting additional information are known in the art and include technologies for this purpose described in connection with Figure 1. Step 150 of end-to-end path establishment shown in Figure 2 may also include the establishment of various interconnected communication paths which, together, form an end-to-end communication path. For example, step 150 of establishing an end-to-end path may include establishing a source communications path between the WTU and a telecommunication switching means of the telecommunications system serving the WTU, and a communication path of origin- service interconnected with the communication path that originates, between the telecommunication switching medium of the telecommunications system serving the WTU and the originating service facility. The origin-service communication path may in turn be constituted by a series of interconnected communication paths, for example, an inter-system communication path between the telecommunication switching medium of the system serving the WTU and the switching medium. of telecommunications in the telecommunication system of origin with which the originating service facility is associated; and the completion of the communication path between the telecommunication switching means of the originating system and the installation of the originating service. In an alternative embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 1, the intersystem communication path comprises a first addressing-system path between the telecommunication switching means of the telecommunication system serving the WTU and the addressing system, interconnected with the second addressing-system communications path, the addressing system and the telecommunication switching means of the originating telecommunication system.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made of a system and method for addressing a wireless telecommunications call, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It will also be understood that the present invention encompasses modifications and variations of the system and method for addressing a wireless telecommunications call within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (60)

1. A system for addressing a wireless telecommunication call, characterized in that it comprises: a wireless telecommunications unit ("WTU") having means for entering a predetermined code, and means for transmitting a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU, in which the WTU identification information also associates the WTU with a home service facility; and a telecommunications system that provides service to the WTU having means for receiving the signal transmitted by the WTU, and means, responsive to the signal transmitted by the WTU, for transmitting the identification information of the WTU to an addressing system, wherein the addressing system includes means for receiving the identification information of the WTU, means for evaluating the identification information of the WTU according to predetermined criteria; and means, responsive to the evaluation means of the addressing system, to establish an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined code comprises a plurality of symbols.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the plurality of symbols corresponds to a key in the WTU.

4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of symbols comprises four symbols.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 611.

6. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 711.

7. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 811.

8. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 611.

9. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 711.

10. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 811.

11. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined code comprises a plurality of words.

12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU additionally comprises: telecommunications switching means; and transmission and reception means for establishing a source communications path between the WTU and a telecommunications switching means.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU additionally comprises a base station and the transmission and reception means of the telecommunications system serving the WTU comprises means for establishing a trajectory. of intermediate communications between the WTU and the base station.

14. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises means, sensitive to the evaluation means of the addressing system, for signaling to the telecommunications system serving the WTU with an evaluation of the identification information of the WTU. according to the predetermined criteria.

15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU serves a geographical area, and the addressing system is located within the geographical area.

16. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU serves a geographical area, and the addressing system is located outside the geographical area.

17. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications system it serves. The WTU comprises a telecommunication switching means, and wherein the end-to-end communication path comprises a source communications path between the WTU and the telecommunication switching means.

18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the end-to-end communication path comprises a source-service communication path between the telecommunications system serving the WTU and the originating service facility.

19. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the WTU identification information associates the WTU with the originating telecommunication system associated with the originating service facility, and wherein the origin-service communications path It includes a path of inter-system communications between the telecommunications system that serves the WTU and the telecommunication system of origin.

20. The system according to claim 19, characterized in that the origin-service communication path comprises the completion of a communication path between the originating telecommunications system and the originating service facility.

21. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the source-service communication path comprises a first routing-system communication path between the telecommunication system serving the WTU and the addressing system, and a second path of system-management communications between the addressing system and the originating service installation; and wherein the addressing system further comprises switching means for interconnecting the first addressing-system communication path and the second addressing-system communication path.

22. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification information of the WTU associates the WTU with a telecommunication system of origin associated with the originating service facility.

23. The system according to claims 19, 20, 21 or 22, characterized by the originating service facility is located within a geographical area served by the telecommunication system of origin.

24. The system according to claims 19, 20, 21 or 22, characterized in that the originating service facility is located outside the geographical area served by the originating telecommunications system.

25. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises means for signaling the origin service facility with additional information regarding the WTU.

26. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that the additional information signaling means comprises means for signaling the origin service facility with information identifying the telecommunications system serving the WTU.

27. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that the additional information of the signaling means comprises means for signaling the originating service installation with information in relation to the geographical position of the WTU.

28. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that the additional information of the signaling means comprises means for signaling the originating service installation with information identifying the telecommunications switching facility included in the telecommunications system serving the WTU .

29. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that the additional information of the signaling means comprises means for signaling the originating service installation with information identifying a base station included in the telecommunications system serving the WTU.

30. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises geographical locating means for signaling the position of the origin service with an accurate position of the WTU.

31. A system for addressing a wireless telecommunication call, characterized in that it comprises: a wireless telecommunications unit ("WTU") having means for entering a predetermined code, and means for transmitting a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU, in which the identification information of the WTU in combination with the predetermined code associates the WTU with a source service facility; and a telecommunications system serving the WTU having means for receiving the signal transmitted by the WTU, and means, responsive to the signal transmitted by the WTU, for transmitting the identification information of the WTU and the predetermined code to a system. address, wherein the address system includes means for receiving the WTU identification information and the predetermined code, means for evaluating the WTU identification information and the predetermined code according to predetermined criteria; and means, responsive to the evaluation means of the addressing system, to establish an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility.

32. A method for addressing a wireless telecommunications call, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: entering a predetermined code into a wireless telecommunications unit ("WTU"); transmitting, from the WTU to a telecommunication system serving the WTU, a signal corresponding to a predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU, in which the identification information of the WTU also associates the WTU with a source service facility; transmit, on the basis of the signal transmitted by the WTU, the identification information of the WTU to an addressing system; evaluate the identification information of the WTU according to the predetermined criteria; and establishing, if the WTU identification information meets predetermined criteria, an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the predetermined code comprises a plurality of symbols.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that each of the plurality of symbols corresponds to a key in the WTU.

35. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that the plurality of symbols comprises four symbols.

36. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 611.

37. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 7ll.

38. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise * 811.

39. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 611.

40. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 711.

41. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that the four symbols comprise # 811.

42. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the predetermined code comprises a plurality of words.

43. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of signaling the wireless telecommunications system that serves the WTU with the results of the evaluation stage.

44. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU serves a geographical area, and the addressing system is located within the geographical area.

45. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the telecommunications system serving the WTU serves a geographical area, and the addressing system is located outside the geographical area.

46. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the step of establishing the end-to-end communication path further comprises the step of establishing a source communication path between the WTU and the telecommunication switching medium of the telecommunications system who attends the WTU.

47. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the step of establishing the end-to-end communication path additionally comprises the step of establishing a source-service communication path between the telecommunications system serving the WTU and the installation of origin service.

48. The method according to claim 47, characterized in that the WTU identification information associates the WTU with a home telecommunication system associated with the originating service facility, and wherein the origin service service path It includes a path of inter-system communications between the telecommunications system that serves the WTU and the telecommunication system of origin.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that the step of establishing the origin-service communications path additionally comprises the step of establishing the completion of a communication path between the originating telecommunications system and the service installation. originally.

50. The method according to claim 47, characterized in that the step of establishing a source-service communication path further comprises the steps of establishing a first address-system communication path between the telecommunications system serving the WTU and the addressing system; and establishing a second address-system communication path between the addressing system and the originating service facility; wherein the addressing system additionally comprises switching means for interconnecting the first address-system communication path and the second address-system communication path.

51. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the identification information of the WTU associates the WTU with a telecommunication system of origin associated with the originating service facility.

52. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the originating service installation is located within a geographical area served by the originating telecommunications system.

53. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the originating service facility is located outside of a geographical area served by the originating telecommunication system.

54. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of signaling the originating service installation with additional information with respect to the WTU.

55. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the step of signaling additional information comprises the step of signaling the originating service installation with information that identifies the telecommunications system that serves the WTU.

56. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the step of signaling additional information comprises the step of signaling the originating service installation with information that identifies the telecommunications system that serves the WTU.

57. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the step of signaling additional information comprises the step of signaling the originating service installation with information identifying the telecommunications switching facility included in the telecommunications system serving the WTU

58. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the step of signaling additional information comprises the step of signaling the originating service installation with information identifying the base station included in the telecommunications system serving the WTU.

59. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of informing the originating service facility about the precise position of the WTU.

60. A method for addressing a wireless telecommunications call, comprising the steps of: entering a predetermined code into a wireless telecommunications unit ("WTU"); transmitting, from the WTU to the telecommunications system serving the WTU, a signal corresponding to a predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU, and wherein the identification information of the WTU and the predetermined code associate the WTU with a source service facility; transmitting, from the WTU to the telecommunications system serving the WTU, a signal corresponding to a predetermined code and identification information of the WTU associated with the WTU, in which the identification information of the WTU and the predetermined code associate to the WTU with a home service facility; transmitting, in response to the signal transmitted by the WTU, the identification information of the WTU and the predetermined code to an addressing system; evaluate the identification information of the WTU and the predetermined code according to predetermined criteria; and establish, if the WTU identification information and the predetermined code satisfy the predetermined criteria, an end-to-end communication path between the WTU and the originating service facility. This invention provides a system and method for addressing without interruption and intrusions (continuously and uniformly) a call from a wireless telecommunications unit requesting service and information. The system and method are especially useful and effective for calls in which service and information is requested from wireless telecommunications that are in movement or in movement (roaming) outside of their service areas of origin. The invention allows the user of a wireless telecommunications unit to enter a predetermined code such as "* 611" in the unit to be automatically connected to a source service facility associated with the unit. The originating service facility can provide a wide variety of information and services, such as information1 about the services, features and fees offered by the system serving the unit; billing, fraud control and other information in relation to the telecommunications system of origin of the unit; and any other service and information that may prompt a user to make a call to a home service facility. The system of the present invention includes a wireless telecommunications unit, a telecommunications system serving the unit, an addressing system and a means for establishing an end-to-end communication path between the wireless telecommunications unit in the service facility originally. The system of the present invention may also include means for informing the home service facility of the position of the wireless telecommunications unit. The method of the present invention includes the steps of entering a predetermined code in a wireless telecommunications unit; transmit to a telecommunications system serving the unit a signal corresponding to the predetermined code and information identifying the unit and associating the unit with an originating service facility; transmit the identification information of the unit to an addressing system; evaluate the identification information according to predetermined criteria, such as whether the originating service facility is served by the addressing system; and if the identification information of the unit meets predetermined criteria, establish an end-to-end communication path between the wireless telecommunications unit and the originating service facility.