Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7974608?dq=7,117,485
Timestamp: 2017-09-22 12:34:37
Document Index: 207233637

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty 102', 'arty 104', 'arty 102', 'arty 102', 'arty 102', 'arty 102', 'arty 102', 'arty 104', 'arty 302', 'arty 304', 'arty 302', 'arty 304', 'arty 302', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304', 'arty 304']

Patent US7974608 - Anonymous call blocking in wireless networks - Google Patents
Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup...http://www.google.com/patents/US7974608?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7974608 - Anonymous call blocking in wireless networks
Publication number US7974608 B2
Application number US 11/071,510
Also published as US8165571, US20060199572, US20110212709
Publication number 071510, 11071510, US 7974608 B2, US 7974608B2, US-B2-7974608, US7974608 B2, US7974608B2
Inventors Frances Mu-Fen Chin, Paul C. Mui, Alok Sharma
Patent Citations (33), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (8), Classifications (13), Legal Events (6)
US 7974608 B2
1. A wireless network for providing anonymous call blocking, the wireless network comprising:
a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) system that receives a call from a calling party to a called party, and generates a call setup message for the call; and
a Home Location Register (HLR) system that receives the call setup message from the MSC system, determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and generates a call blocking message for blocking the call responsive to determining that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking and responsive to determining that the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.
2. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein:
the MSC system receives the call blocking message from the HLR system and transmits an announcement to the calling party that the call was blocked.
3. The wireless network of claim 2 wherein:
the MSC system releases the call.
4. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein:
the HLR system receives an anonymous call blocking instruction from the called party, and stores an anonymous call blocking indicator for the called party.
5. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein:
the calling party comprises a mobile calling party or a wire line calling party.
6. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein:
the caller ID information includes at least a number of the calling party.
7. A method of operating a wireless network for providing anonymous call blocking, the wireless network comprising a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) system and a Home Location Register (HLR) system, the method comprising:
receiving a call from a calling party to a called party in the MSC system;
generating a call setup message for the call in the MSC system and transmitting the call setup message to the HLR system;
determining if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking in the HLR system;
determining if the call setup message includes caller ID information in the HLR system; and
generating a call blocking message for blocking the call responsive to determining that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking and responsive to determining that the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.
receiving the call blocking message from the HLR system in the MSC system; and
transmitting an announcement from the MSC system to the calling party that the call was blocked.
releasing the call in the MSC system.
receiving an anonymous call blocking instruction from the called party in the HLR system; and
storing an anonymous call blocking indicator for the called party in the HLR system.
13. A wireless network for providing anonymous call blocking, the wireless network comprising:
an originating Mobile Switching Center (O-MSC) that serves a calling party;
a serving Mobile Switching Center (S-MSC) that serves a called party; and
the S-MSC receives an anonymous call blocking instruction from the called party, and stores an anonymous call blocking indicator in the HLR;
the O-MSC receives a call from the calling party to the called party and transmits a call setup message to the HLR;
the HLR determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking based on the anonymous call blocking indicator, and generates a call blocking message for blocking the call responsive to determining that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking and responsive to determining that the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.
14. The wireless network of claim 13 wherein:
the O-MSC system receives the call blocking message from the HLR and transmits an announcement to the calling party that the call was blocked.
15. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein:
the O-MSC releases the call.
16. The wireless network of claim 13 wherein:
FIG, 1 illustrates a wireless network in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 2 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in the wireless network of FIG, 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 3 illustrates another wireless network in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 4 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in the wireless network of FIG, 3 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 5 illustrates the wireless network of FIG, 3 where the called party has moved to an area served by the O-MSC in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 6 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in the wireless network for the configuration shown in FIG, 5 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 1 illustrates a wireless network 100 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Wireless network 100 includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) system 110 and a Home Location Register (HLR) system 112. MSC system 110 comprises any system that performs functions similar to a Mobile Switching Center. HLR system 112 comprises any system that performs functions similar to a Home Location Register. HLR system 112 may comprise a Standalone HLR or an Integrated HLR. Wireless network 100 may include other networks, systems, or devices not shown for the sake of brevity, such as other MSC systems and other HLR systems.
FIG, 2 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in wireless network 100 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Calling party 102 initiates a call to called party 104. MSC system 110 receives the call (or signaling for the call) from calling party 102. The term “calling party” refers to both the communication device and the user of the communication device. Calling party 102 may comprise a mobile calling party or a wire line calling party. A mobile calling party communicates using a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, etc, that is portable or otherwise mobile and transmits and receives messages via wireless signals. If calling party 102 comprises a mobile calling party, then MSC system 110 may comprise an Originating MSC for calls from calling party 102. A wire line calling party communicates using a wire line communication device, such as a traditional telephone, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, etc, that communicates over wire lines. If calling party 102 comprises a wire line calling party, then MSC system 110 may comprise a Home MSC for called party 104 that receives a call from a wire line network (not shown).
FIG, 3 illustrates another wireless network 300 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG, 3, calling party 302 is placing a call to called party 304. In this embodiment, calling party 302 comprises a mobile calling party and called party 304 comprises a mobile called party. Wireless network 300 includes an originating network 310 that includes an originating Mobile Switching Center (O-MSC) 311 for serving calling party 302. Wireless network 300 also includes a terminating network 320 that includes a serving MSC (S-MSC) 321 for serving called party 304. Wireless network 300 also includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 322 that is shown as a separate system in FIG, 3, but HLR 322 may be integrated in an MSC. O-MSC 311, HLR 322, and S-MSC 321 are connected to a transport network 331. Transport network 331 may comprise a circuit-based network, a packet-based network, or a combination of the two. Wireless network 300 may include other components, devices, or systems not shown in FIG, 3.
FIG, 4 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in wireless network 300 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. To begin, called party 304 needs to activate the anonymous call blocking feature. Called party 304 may subscribe to a full-time anonymous call blocking feature that is activated for a monthly charge. In this instance, the service provider stores an anonymous call blocking indicator in a subscriber record for called party 304. Called party 304 may also activate the anonymous call blocking feature by transmitting an anonymous call blocking instruction to S-MSC 321 (as seen in FIG, 4). The anonymous call blocking instruction may comprise a code, such as *77. Responsive to receiving the anonymous call blocking instruction from called party 304, S-MSC 321 transmits a FeatureRequest invoke message (FEATREQ INV) to HLR 322 indicating that called party 304 activated the anonymous call blocking feature. HLR 322 stores the anonymous call blocking indicator in a subscriber record for called party 304. HLR 322 then returns a FeatureRequest return request message (FEATREQ RR) to S-MSC 321 confirming that anonymous call blocking has been activated. S-MSC 321 then transmits a confirmation message or tone to called party 304.
FIG, 5 illustrates wireless network 300 where called party 304 has moved to an area served by O-MSC 311 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG, 6 is a message diagram illustrating anonymous call blocking in wireless network 300 for the configuration shown in FIG, 5 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. To begin, called party 304 needs to activate the anonymous call blocking feature. As in FIG, 4, called party 304 transmits an anonymous call blocking instruction to O-MSC 311. The anonymous call blocking instruction may comprise a code, such as *77. Responsive to the anonymous call blocking instruction, O-MSC 311 transmits a FeatureRequest invoke message (FEATREQ INV) to HLR 322 indicating that called party 304 activated the anonymous call blocking feature. HLR 322 stores the anonymous call blocking indicator in a subscriber record for called party 304. HLR 322 then returns a FeatureRequest return request message (FEATREQ RR) to O-MSC 311 confirming that anonymous call blocking has been activated. O-MSC 311 then transmits a confirmation message or tone to called party 304.
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U.S. Classification 455/415, 455/466, 379/210.03, 455/433, 379/142.02
Cooperative Classification H04M3/42008, H04M15/06, H04M3/42059, H04M3/436, H04M2207/18
European Classification H04M15/06, H04M3/436
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CHIN, FRANCES MU-FEN;MUI, PAUL C.;SHARMA, ALOK;REEL/FRAME:016357/0178