Abstract:
A method by a cellular network for notifying a caller when a called user is connected to the cellular network includes the steps of storing a phone number associated with a caller that wants to be notified when a called user is connected to the cellular network, registering the called user with the cellular network when a communication device associated with the called user becomes active on the network, and notifying the caller indicating that the communication device is active on the network responsive to the step of registering by the called user.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    This disclosure relates to wireless communications and, more particularly to notifying callers that a called number previously not connected to a cellular network is now connected to the cellular network and can be contacted.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    When a caller calls another person&#39;s phone, the cellular network will know if the other person&#39;s phone is registered with the network and thus, connected to the network. If the other person&#39;s phone is connected to the network the local Mobile Switching Center will access the Home Location Register (HLR) database to determine that the other person&#39;s phone is active and process the call. The other person&#39;s phone will receive a notification transmission that the caller is attempting to call.  
           [0005]    When the other person is not connected to the cellular network the caller&#39;s mobile switching center will be unable to process the call. With current cellular technology the only option is for a caller to continually call the other person until that person&#39;s phone is active and registered as connected to the network.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists for a method of informing the caller when the other party&#39;s phone is active again.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A method for caller notification when a called device is registered with a cellular network includes the steps of storing information identifying a caller in a database of a cellular network associated with a called user, and notifying the caller when the called user registers with the cellular network having the phone number of the caller.  
           [0008]    A method by a cellular network for notifying a caller when a called user is connected to the cellular network includes the steps of storing a phone number associated with a caller that wants to be notified when a called user is connected to the cellular network, registering the called user with the cellular network when a communication device associated with the called user becomes active on the network, and notifying the caller indicating that the communication device is active on the network responsive to the step of registering by the called user.  
           [0009]    A computer readable medium containing software instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of storing a caller&#39;s phone number in a database associated with a called user in reply to the caller indicating that notification should be given when the called user becomes active on a cellular network after the caller called the called user, and notifying the caller when the called user is active on the cellular network within time limit set by the caller.  
           [0010]    A wireless communications device is configured for performing the steps of transmitting to a wireless network a call for a recipient, receiving from the wireless network that the recipient is not connected to the wireless network, instructing the wireless network that a notification be given indicating the recipient is connected to the network, and receiving a notification that the recipient is connected to the network.  
           [0011]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    This disclosure will present in detail the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a diagram of the home location register HLR processing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a diagram of cellular network elements involved in the home location register HLR processing in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a diagram of additional fields to the home location register HLR database in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    The inventive method is for a cellular network to inform a caller when a person that was recently called and whose phone was not on or was out of service has become active on the cellular network. The invention requires a modification to the existing cellular system. In particular, additional fields can be added to the Home Location Register (HLR) database to facilitate additional processing.  
         [0017]    When the calling user calls the called user&#39;s phone, the cellular network will know whether or not the called user&#39;s phone is registered with the network and thus active. If the phone is not registered with the network, either because it is turned off or not in a service area, the network will give the calling user the option of being notified when the called user&#39;s phone is active again. The network can prompt the calling user for a time limit for this notification. For example, the network can notify the calling user if the called user&#39;s phone is turned on within the next hour, or perhaps within the next 5 hours. The caller preferably chooses the time limit when a notification should be sent to the calling user.  
         [0018]    The next time that the called user registers with the network, the network will check to see if there are any callers who need to be notified. If these callers&#39; time limits have not expired, the network can send a text message or some other notification to the calling user(s) to inform them that their previously unavailable called user is now active in the network.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a diagram  30  of a home location register HLR database modified in accordance with the present invention. The called user&#39;s cellular number  31  and other existing HLR fields  32  are supplemented with additional fields. The additional fields need to be added to the HLR database for each caller. A notification flag  33  indicates whether or not the user is subscribed to the notification service. A phone number of the caller  34 , time the caller called  35  and a time limit for notifying that the called user is active on the cell network  36  are added.  
         [0020]    Additional processing needs to be performed with these fields by the home service provider also referred to as a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, the block diagram  10  shows the HLR processing for notifying that a previously called user is registered with the cellular network as online and the called user&#39;s phone is active and connected to the cellular network. A caller places a cellular call to the called user&#39;s cell phone that is currently off or out of service, resulting in the called user not being registered on the cell network. As typically occurs in such a situation, the network&#39;s Mobile Switching Center MSC for the called user processes this call. When this occurs, the Mobile Switching Center MSC checks the Notification Flag field  12 ,  13  in the caller&#39;s HLR database  30 .  
         [0022]    If the Notification Flag is set, the Mobile Switching Center MSC records the phone number of the caller  34 , the time that the caller called  35 , and the caller-specified time limit for notification  36 , 15 . If the Notification Flag is not set the call processing proceeds normally  19  and the HLR processing ends  111 . When the current time minus the time called is not less than the caller-specified time limit  15  the corresponding field entries  34 , 35 , 36  including the Notification Flag  33  in the HLR database are deleted and the processing ends  113 .  
         [0023]    When the called user turns on his cell phone and registers, the called user&#39;s Mobile Switching Center MSC is notified. Even if the called user is roaming, the local Mobile Switching Center MSC&#39;s Visiting Location Register (VLR) must access the called user&#39;s HLR. When it does so, the called user&#39;s Mobile Switching Center MSC will know that the called user has turned his phone on.  
         [0024]    The called user&#39;s Mobile Switching Center MSC compares the current time to the HLR entry that indicates when the caller called. If this time difference is within the caller-specified time limit for notification  15  (indicated by an entry in the HLR), the Mobile Switching Center MSC sends a text message  16  to the caller&#39;s phone number (indicated by an entry in the HLR) to indicate that the called user&#39;s phone is now registered, meaning the called user&#39;s phone is connected to the cellular network. The Mobile Switching Center MSC deletes the corresponding entry from the HLR database  17  and ends the HLR processing for this call notification.  
         [0025]    The cellular network elements involved in the inventive HLR processing are shown  20  in FIG. 2. A caller or user  28  connects over a first service provider&#39;s SvcPrv 1  cell tower  27  with that first service provider&#39;s SvcPrv 1  Mobile Switching Center MSC server  26 . The Mobile Switching Center server  26  contains the first service provider&#39;s SvcPrv 1  Home Location Register HLR database  25  for the caller  28 . Often that same caller will register over a cell tower  22  in a new cell network  22 , 23 , 24  with a second service provider&#39;s SvcPrv 2  Visiting Location Register VLR  24  database on the second service provider&#39;s SvcPrv 2  Mobile Switching Center MSC  23 . In such cases when the caller  21 ,  28  registers in the new cell  21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , data for the caller notification processing is copied from the caller&#39;s home location register HLR  25  with the first service provider SvcPrv 1  server  26  to the new local Visitor&#39;s Location Register  24 .  
         [0026]    Having described a preferred method for caller notification of a return to active status of a called user (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.