Method and system for transferring a cellular telephone call between intelligent cell sites

In a cellular telecommunications network including a first switch connected to a first intelligent cell site, a second switch connected to a second intelligent cell site, and a third switch connected to a third intelligent cell site, said first switch and said third switch being connected to said second switch, wherein a call is established between a calling station and a mobile cellular telephone located within range of the first intelligent cell site, a method for transferring the call from the first intelligent cell site to the second intelligent cell site and then from the second intelligent cell site to the third intelligent cell site, comprising the steps of:

• when the mobile cellular telephone moves within the range of the second intelligent cell site:
• A. initiating a communication from the second intelligent cell site to the second switch;
• B. sending a message from the second switch to the first switch that includes a generic address parameter;
• C. reserving a conference bridge in the first switch responsive to receipt of the message;
• D. connecting on the conference bridge a first call segment from the calling station to the first switch, a second call segment from the first switch to the first intelligent cell site, and a third call segment from the first switch to the second intelligent cell site via a second switch, the first call segment being a segment of the call from the calling station to the first switch, the second call segment being another segment of the call from the first switch to the first intelligent cell site, and the third call segment being the communication from the second intelligent cell site via the second switch to the first switch;
• E. transferring control of the call from the first intelligent cell site to the second intelligent cell site;
• F. releasing the second call segment;
• G. disconnecting the conference bridge;
• and
• when the mobile cellular telephone moves within the range of the third intelligent cell site;
• repeating steps A-G but with respect to the second intelligent cell site, the third intelligent cell site and the second switch so as to effect transfer of the control of the call from the second intelligent cell site to the third intelligent cell site in the same manner as the transferring of the call from the first intelligent cell site to the second intelligent cell site.

In a cellular telecommunications network including a first switch connected to a first intelligent cell site and a second switch connected to a second intelligent cell site, said first switch being connected to said second switch, wherein a call is established between a calling station and a mobile cellular telephone located within range of said first intelligent cell site, a method for transferring the call from said first intelligent cell site to said second intelligent cell site, comprising the steps of:

• assigning a virtual number to said call;
• when said mobile cellular telephone moves within range of said second intelligent cell site:
• initiating a communication from said second intelligent cell site to said first switch using said virtual number;
• reserving a conference bridge in said first switch responsive to receipt of said communication using said virtual number;
• connecting on said conference bridge a first call segment from said calling station to said first switch, a second call segment from said first switch to said first intelligent cell site, and a third call segment from said first switch to said second intelligent cell site via said second switch;
• transferring control of said call from said first intelligent cell site to said second intelligent cell site;
• releasing said second call segment;
• and
• disconnecting said conference bridge.