Mobile Node DTMF Tone Detection for Enhanced Service Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile telephony technologies, particularly pre-3G systems, are limited in providing enhanced enterprise-type telephony services over wireless networks, as they rely solely on basic voice and data communications, lacking the ability to distinguish between conventional and enhanced services calls, which can lead to incomplete or incompatible caller ID information and potential service integrity issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tone on a voice channel to determine the availability of enhanced services by checking for a corresponding notify message on a data channel, allowing the mobile node to selectively initiate enhanced services with a server that concurrently uses both voice and data channels, ensuring service integrity and distinguishing between conventional and enhanced service calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile telephony devices rely on basic voice and data communications services, then device compatibility and ease of operation are maintained, but the ability to provide enhanced enterprise-type telephony services is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Enhanced Services Indication (ESI) bit as an intermediary mechanism within existing signaling protocols (MAP, IAM, ANI) to convey enhanced services capability information. This mediator allows the system to provide advanced enterprise-type telephony services without requiring fundamental changes to mobile devices or network infrastructure, thus increasing adaptability while maintaining compatibility with existing systems.
2Loss of information
If caller ID information is used to identify enhanced services calls, then information availability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to incomplete or incompatible information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the ESI bit provides explicit confirmation of enhanced services capability in the signaling chain. When a calling party device or network element supports enhanced services, the ESI bit is set accordingly and propagates through the network (visible to switching centers, service nodes, and called devices). This feedback loop ensures reliable service identification without depending on potentially incomplete or incompatible caller ID information formats.
3Reliability
If dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones are used on voice channels, then service differentiation is improved, but potential interference with voice communications may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service identification function into separate signaling channels (MAP, IAM, ANI messages) distinct from the voice channel. The ESI bit is embedded within these dedicated signaling protocols rather than being transmitted as DTMF tones over the voice path. This segmentation eliminates potential interference with voice communications while maintaining reliable service identification through structured signaling messages that are processed separately from voice data.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a method comprises a mobile node receiving an incoming wireless call; the mobile node determining whether enhanced services are available for the incoming wireless call based on outputting a DTMF tone on a voice channel associated with the incoming wireless call and determining whether a notify message, indicating a server providing the enhanced services has received the DTMF tone, is received on a data channel during the incoming wireless call; and the mobile node selectively initiating the enhanced services for the incoming wireless call with the server in response to determining the enhanced services are available for the incoming wireless call.