Abstract:
A universal phone number service and method of providing a universal phone number service that allows a user to receive phone calls on any phone service with a single phone number. A telephone is disclosed that is associated with more than one phone number and a universal phone number, wherein any phone call placed to the universal phone number results in the call being completed to the telephone regardless of the service associated with the more than one phone number.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to telecommunication, particularly to a system and method for providing a universal phone number service. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The proliferation of phone service, such as mobile phone service, Voice over IP (VoIP) service, SKYPE, or Instant Messaging (IM) based phone services such as those offered by Yahoo, MSN or Google, provides unprecedented convenience for a user to receive a phone call. For example, a user of a dual mode phone can receive a phone call from a mobile phone service while driving on a freeway and can receive another phone call from SKYPE service via a WiFi Hotspot while enjoying a relaxing afternoon in a downtown café. 
         [0003]    Typically, each phone service is associated with a phone number with which a user receives the service. This nevertheless creates a profound problem for the user. 
         [0004]    In one example, a user uses a WiFi-GSM dual mode phone to receive a GSM mobile phone service with a GSM phone number and Yahoo Phone In service with a Yahoo Phone In phone number. The user gives the GSM phone number to his stock broker while visiting his parents in a remote town in Kansas. The parents&#39; house has broadband Internet access through the local cable company, but is outside of GSM signal coverage. The user uses his dual mode phone to sign on to Yahoo Phone In service using the broadband Internet access and is able to receive phone calls from his wife and children back home. Unfortunately, when his stock broker needs to consult with the user for an important stock purchase decision by dialing the GSM phone number, he is unable to reach the user. 
         [0005]    In another example, a user uses a dual mode phone to receive a GSM mobile phone service, Yahoo Phone In service, SKYPE and two other phone services that are tailored to her participation in the local school and church. Each phone service is associated with a different phone number. A friend who knows only one of the five phone numbers can only reach the user if the associated phone service is available for her dual mode phone. A second friend who knows all five phone numbers will have to try calling the phone numbers one after another in order to reach the user. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need to provide a universal phone number service, that is, a service that allows a user to conveniently receive phone calls on any phone service with a single phone number. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention a system is described for providing a universal phone number service having a universal phone number service gateway associated with at least one telephone system and a telephone associated with a universal phone number. In one embodiment the system includes a telephone connected to at least one telephone system to receive at least one phone service and is associated with at least one phone number for receiving the at least one phone service. In a preferred embodiment the telephone is connected to more than one telephone system, and the telephone is associated with more than one phone number. 
         [0008]    In at least one embodiment a system is disclosed in which a universal phone number service gateway is provided that is associated with a datastore, the datastore optionally comprising a memory and optionally comprising a database. The datastore optionally further includes a route record associated with the universal phone number. The datastore may further include a subscriber record associated with the universal phone number, and the subscriber record preferably includes a phone number. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment a method of routing a call to a telephone using a universal phone number is described whereby a telephone is connected to at least one telephone system to receive at least one phone service. Preferably the telephone is associated with a plurality of phone numbers, each of which is associated with a phone service. The universal telephone number is associated with the telephone and the telephone number(s), and calls destined for the universal telephone number are routed through a universal phone number service gateway using the telephone number to a telephone system associated with the telephone number. The universal phone number service gateway preferably routes a call to the telephone system using a standard-based protocol, a proprietary protocol, a corporate telephony trunking protocol or an Application Programming Interface. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the method includes creation of a route entry of a route record. In a preferred embodiment, the universal phone number service gateway connects to a datastore including the route record and a subscriber record, wherein the route record is associated with the universal phone number and the subscriber record is associated with the universal phone number and includes a phone number. In another embodiment, the method further includes obtaining an indication that the telephone system can route a phone call to the phone number; selecting a subscriber record based on the phone number; selecting a route record based on the universal phone number associated with the subscriber record; and creating a route entry in the route record. The route entry preferably includes the phone number and the identity of the telephone system. 
         [0011]    Preferably the indication step takes place at the time of phone service subscription. However, this step may take place as further described herein. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment the present invention includes a telephone associated with more than one phone number and a universal phone number, wherein any phone call placed to the universal phone number results in the call being completed to the telephone regardless of the service associated with the more than one phone number. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a universal phone number service in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a route entry of a route record in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a universal phone number service in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a universal phone number service in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a universal phone number service in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a universal phone number service in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to a person of ordinary skill in the art, that these specific details are merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. In some instances, well known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, but instead merely provides an example of a particular feature, structure or characteristic of the invention described in connection with the embodiment. Insofar as various embodiments are described herein, the appearances of the phase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not meant to refer to a single or same embodiment. 
         [0021]    With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with at least one embodiment, a simplified block diagram depicting a system  100  providing a universal phone number service, the system  100  including a universal phone number service gateway  180  associated with at least one telephone system and a telephone  110  associated with a universal phone number  114 . 
         [0022]    Telephone  110  is connected to at least one telephone system to receive at least one phone service and is associated with at least one phone number for receiving the at least one phone service. For example, telephone  110  connects to a first telephone system  134  to receive a first phone service, and is associated with a first phone number  164  for the first phone service. Telephone  110  connects to a second telephone system  138  to receive a second phone service and is associated with a second phone number  168  for the second phone service. 
         [0023]    Telephone systems  134  and  138  are selected from, for example, a cellular phone system, such as a Global Service for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, or a W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) system; a Voice over IP (VoIP) phone system; an Instant Message (IM) based phone system, such as, but not limited to Yahoo Phone In service; a public phone system; a corporate phone system; or a residential phone system. 
         [0024]    A universal phone number service gateway  180  connects to a telephone network  190 . A phone call  195  through telephone network  190  destined to universal phone number  114  is routed to universal phone number service gateway  180 . Telephone network  190  may be without limitation a public telephony network such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Voice over IP network (VoIP), or cellular telephony network; a corporate telephone network; or an IM based telephone network. Universal phone number  114  may be a public telephone number; a corporate telephone number; or an IM user identity, such as, but not limited to a screen name or a user name. 
         [0025]    Universal phone number service gateway  180  includes the functionality of a telephone system  181  for receiving and routing a phone call. Universal phone number service gateway  180  receives phone call  195  using telephone system  181 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  determines first telephone system  134  to route phone call  195 . An example of a process of determining a telephone system to route a phone call is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  routes phone call  195  to telephone system  134  using the first phone number  164 . First telephone system  134  receives phone call  195 . First telephone system  134  routes phone call  195  to telephone  110  based on first phone number  164 . Routing phone call  195  to telephone  110  from telephone system  134  is well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0027]    Depending on the application and particular embodiment, a universal phone number service gateway  180  may route a phone call to a telephone system  134  or  138  using a standard-based protocol such as Integrated System Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate (PRI) protocol, Signaling System 7 (SS7) ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol, or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). In another embodiment, a universal phone number service gateway  180  may route a phone call to a telephone system  134  or  138  using a proprietary protocol, such as a SIP protocol extension, or a corporate telephony trunking protocol. In yet another embodiment, and not by way of limitation, a universal phone number service gateway  180  may route a phone call using an Application Programming Interface (API). 
         [0028]    By way of example, a caller using a universal phone number service in accordance with the present invention may use universal phone number  114  to send a short message or a multimedia message. Telephone  110  sends the message through a universal phone number service gateway  180 . In one embodiment, telephone  110  sends the message through first telephone system  134  to universal phone number service gateway  180 . 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, a short message or a multimedia message is sent to universal phone number  114 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  delivers the message to telephone  110  as described herein. In another embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  delivers the message through second telephone system  138  to telephone  110 . 
         [0030]    Now referring to  FIG. 2  a process for a universal phone number service gateway  180  to create a route entry  202  of a route record  200  is depicted. 
         [0031]    In accordance with one embodiment telephone  210  is associated with universal phone number  214  for the universal phone number service  100 . Telephone  210  is further associated with phone number  264  for receiving phone service from telephone system  234 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  connects to a datastore  287 . Datastore  287  may include a memory, a flash memory, a hard disk or the like. Datastore  287  may include a database. In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  includes datastore  287 . 
         [0032]    Datastore  287  preferably includes route record  200  and subscriber record  220 . In one embodiment route record  200  is associated with universal phone number  214 . Subscriber record  220  is associated with universal phone number  214  and includes phone number  264 . 
         [0033]    A universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains indication  239  that telephone system  234  can route a phone call to phone number  264 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  selects subscriber record  220  based on phone number  264 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  further selects route record  200  based on universal phone number  214  associated to subscriber record  220 . Universal phone number service gateway  180  creates a route entry  202  in route record  200 . Route entry  202  includes phone number  264  and identity of telephone system  234 . 
         [0034]    Universal phone number service gateway  180  may obtain indication  239  through a number of means. In one embodiment, telephone system  234  provides a phone service, such as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), or a residential Voice over IP (VoIP) service. Universal phone number service gateway  180  preferably obtains indication  239  at the time of the phone service subscription. In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains indication  239  through a service ordering process by an operator. 
         [0035]    By way of example only, in one embodiment, telephone system  234  provides a mobile phone service, such as GSM service. In this embodiment for example universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains indication  239  from a Home Location Register (HLR) or a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, telephone system  234  provides an Instant Message based phone service such as, but not limited to Google Talk, or Yahoo Phone In. In this embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  may obtain indication  239  from an Instant Message Presence Server for example. 
         [0037]    In a further embodiment, telephone system  234  provides a phone service based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In this embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  may for example obtain indication  239  from IMS. In another embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains indication  239  from a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) serving telephone  210 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains an indication  239  periodically, such as every 2 minutes, 20 minutes or 2 hours. In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains an indication  239  at a random time. In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains an indication  239  when the location of telephone  210  has changed. In another embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains indication  239  when the presence status of a phone number has changed. 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  an example of a process of routing a phone call by a universal phone number service gateway  180  is illustrated. Universal phone number service gateway  180  includes telephone system  381  and route selector  382 . Telephone system  381  receives a phone call  395  destined for universal phone number  314 . Telephone system  381  queries route selector  382  for a routing decision by sending universal phone number  314  to route selector  382 . 
         [0040]    Route selector  382  receives universal phone number  314 . In one embodiment, route selector  382  connects to datastore  387 . Datastore  387  includes route record  300  associated with universal phone number  314 . 
         [0041]    Route selector  382  selects route entry  302  in route record  300  in accordance with processes further exemplified and illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 . Route entry  302  includes phone number  364  and identity of telephone system  334 . Route selector  382  sends phone number  364  and identity of telephone system  334  to telephone system  381 . Telephone system  381  routes phone call  395  to telephone system  334  with phone number  364 . 
         [0042]    Route selection may be based on a variety of criteria such as, but not limited to service quality, user preference, user input and the like. Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a process of selecting a route entry based on service quality is illustrated. In this embodiment, route record  400  is associated with universal phone number  414  and preferably includes route entries such as route entries  407  and  408 . Route entry  407  includes identity of telephone system  434  and route entry  408  includes identity of telephone system  438 . Telephone  410  is associated with universal phone number  414 . 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, route entries  407  and  408  include respective service qualities  4071  and  4081 . The service qualities  4071  and  4081  respectively indicate a voice quality of a phone call routed through telephone systems  434  and  438  to telephone  410 . 
         [0044]    Service qualities  4071  and  4081  may represent various attributes. In one embodiment, service qualities  4071  or  4081  may represent the predicted signal strength of the radio link between a cellular telephone system  434  or  438  and telephone  410 . For example, service quality  4071 / 4081  may be considered “good” if the predicated signal strength is above 20 dB-microvolts per square meter (dBμV/m 2 ); “fair” if the predicted signal strength is between 10 to 20 dBμV/m 2 ; and “poor” if the predicted signal strength is below 10 dBμV/m 2 . 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, service quality  4071 / 4081  represents the average packet loss rate in a VoIP-based telephone system  434 / 438  respectively. For example, service quality  4071 / 4081  may be considered “good” if the predicted packet loss rate is below 1 percent; “fair” if the average packet loss rate is between 1-5 percent; and “poor” if the predicted packet loss rate is above 5 percent. In other embodiments, service quality  4071 / 4081  may represent the predicted jitter or predicted packet delay for the routed phone call. 
         [0046]    In another embodiment, service quality  4071 / 4081  may represent the current network traffic load of a circuit switching based telephone system  434 / 438 . For example, service quality  4071 / 4081  may be considered “good” if the current network traffic load is below 20 percent; “fair” if the current network traffic load is between 20-80 percent; and “poor” if the current network traffic load is above 80 percent. 
         [0047]    In another embodiment, route selector  482  queries for service quality  4071 / 4081  from telephone systems  434 / 438 . Route selector  482  compares service quality  4071  and service quality  4081 . For example, service quality  4071  may be found “fair” and service quality  4081  found “good”. Route selector  482  determines service quality  4081  is better and selects route entry  408  based on service quality  4081 . 
         [0048]    Now referring to  FIG. 5  a process of selecting a route entry based on user preference is illustrated. In accordance with this embodiment, route record  500  is associated with universal phone number  514 . Route record  500  includes route entry  507  associated with telephone system  534  and route entry  508  associated with telephone system  538 . Subscriber record  520  is associated with universal phone number  514 , and includes a user preference  525 . In one embodiment, user preference  525  includes a preferred phone service type  5251 . Route entries  507  and  508  include phone service types  5071  and  5081  respectively. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, universal phone number service gateway  180  obtains phone service types  5071  and/or  5081  as an indication  239  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, preferred phone service type  5251  may be “mobile phone services”. In one scenario for example, wherein phone service type  5071  is “IM-based phone service” and phone service type  5081  is “mobile phone service”, route selector  582  determines that phone service type  5081  matches preferred phone service type  5251 ; route selector  582  selects route entry  508 . 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, user preference  525  includes a preferred phone service type associated with a time. Route selector  582  connects to a clock that indicates the current time of day. Route selector  582  selects route entry  508  whose phone service type  5081  matches the preferred phone service type and the associated time matching the current time of day. 
         [0051]    Now referring to  FIG. 6  a process of selecting a route entry based on user input is depicted. In accordance with one embodiment route record  600  is associated with a universal phone number  614 . Route record  600  includes route entries such as for example route entry  607  associated with telephone system  634  and route entry  608  associated with telephone system  638 . Telephone  610  is associated to universal phone number  614 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art route record  600  may include multiple route entries. 
         [0052]    A universal phone number service gateway  180  includes route selector  682 . Route selector  682  connects to telephone  610 . In one embodiment, route selector  682  connects to telephone  610  over a network such as, but not limited to a network or cellular network; or using a message service such as, but not limited to paging service, Short Message Service, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) or Instant Messaging (IM) service. 
         [0053]    Route selector  682  sends a query  686  to telephone  610  for the selection of a telephone system. Query  686  includes information about telephone systems  634  and  638 , such as the identities of telephone systems  634  and  638 . By way of examples, route selector  682  may use a Short Message Service (SMS) or an IM service to send query  686 ; or route selector  682  may send query  686  using a network or other protocol such as a proprietary protocol. Telephone  610  receives query  686 . In one embodiment, telephone  610  includes a graphic user interface (GUI) such as but not limited to a display screen (not shown). Telephone  610  displays the identities of telephone systems  634  and  638  on the GUI. 
         [0054]    Telephone  610  provides input means, such as a dialpad, navigation keys or stylus, for a user to select a telephone system. In this illustration, telephone  610  receives from the input means that the user has selected telephone system  638 . Telephone  610  sends a reply  688  to route selector  682  indicating the selection of telephone system  638 . Route selector  682  receives reply  688 . Based on the indicated telephone system  638 , route selector  682  selects route entry  608 . 
         [0055]    In accordance with one embodiment, route selector  682  may select a route entry  608  based on phone call type, such as a voice-only, or a video phone call. In another embodiment, a route entry  608  includes a plurality of phone call types supported by the associated telephone system. Route selector  682  in this embodiment selects a route entry  608  whose supported phone call types include the phone call type of the phone call. 
         [0056]    In another embodiment, a preferred phone service type is associated with a caller identity. Route selector  682  selects a route entry  608  whose phone service type matches the preferred phone service type and the caller identity of phone call matches the associated caller identity. 
         [0057]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.