System and method of implementing an interactive callback feature in a radio telecommunications network

In a radio telecommunications network, a method of interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is inactive, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call for the called MS in the network;
• determining whether the called MS is inactive;
• providing the calling party with a plurality of call handling options;
• selecting, by the calling party, a call handling option from the plurality of call handling options wherein the calling party selects an option instructing the network to automatically set up a call with the called MS when the called MS is reactivated;
• determining actions required to execute the selected call handling option;
• and
• executing the determined actions, including:
• determining when the called MS registers with the network;
• and
• automatically initiating a call set-up between the calling party and the called MS, upon determining that the called MS registered with the network.

In a radio telecommunications network, a method of interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is inactive, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call for the called MS in the network;
• determining whether the called MS is inactive;
• providing the calling party with a plurality of call handling options;
• selecting, by the calling party, a call handling option from the plurality of call handling options wherein the calling party selects an option instructing the network to automatically set up a call with the called MS if the called MS is reactivated within a specified time period;
• determining actions required to execute the selected call handling option;
• and
• executing the determined actions, including:
• starting a timer to determine when the specified time period has expired;
• determining whether the called MS registered with the network;
• determining whether the specified time period had expired when the called MS registered;
• and
• automatically initiating a call set-up between the calling party and the called MS, if the called MS registered with the network before the time period expired.

In a radio telecommunications network having a home location register (HLR) and a service control point (SCP), a method of interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is either busy or inactive, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call for the called MS in the network;
• determining in the HLR a status of the called MS, the status indicating whether the called MS is inactive or busy;
• generating in the SCP a plurality of call handling options based upon the determined status of the called MS;
• providing the calling party with the plurality of call handling options, said providing step including the steps of:
• providing a first set of call handling options when the called MS is busy;
• and
• providing a second set of call handling options when the called MS is inactive;
• selecting, by the calling party, a call handling option instructing the network to automatically set up a call with the called MS when the called MS is reactivated;
• determining in the SCP actions required to execute the selected call handling option;
• and
• executing the determined actions said executing step including the steps of:
• determining when the called MS registers with the network;
• and
• automatically initiating a call setup between the calling party and the called MS, upon determining that the called MS registered with the network.

In a radio telecommunications network having a home location register (HLR) and a service control point (SCP), a method of interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is either busy or inactive, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a call for the called MS in the network;
• determining in the HLR a status of the called MS, the status indicating whether the called MS is inactive or busy;
• generating in the SCP a plurality of call handling options based upon the determined status of the called MS;
• providing the calling party with the plurality of call handling options, said providing step including the steps of:
• providing a first set of call handling options when the called MS is busy;
• and
• providing a second set of call handling options when the called MS is inactive;
• selecting, by the calling party, a call handling option instructing the network to automatically set up a call with the called MS if the called MS is reactivated before a specified time period expires;
• determining in the SCP actions required to execute the selected call handling option;
• and
• executing the determined actions said executing step including the steps of:
• starting a timer to determine when the specified time period has expired;
• determining whether the called MS registered with the network;
• determining whether the specified time period had expired when the called MS registered;
• and
• automatically initiating a call setup between the calling party and the called MS, if the called MS registered with the network before the time period expired.

In a radio telecommunications network, a system for interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is inactive, the system comprising:

• a mobile switching centre (MSC) connecting the calling party to the network;
• a home location register (HLR) connected to the MSC, said HLR including:
• a subscriber database which indicates a status of the called MS;
• means for sending the status of the called MS to a service control point (SCP);
• and
• means for flagging calls for special call handling treatment;
• a service control point (SCP) connected to the HLR, said SCP including:
• means for generating a plurality of call handling options in response to receiving the status of the called MS from the HLR, and sending the generated options to the calling party;
• means for determining actions required to execute a call handling option selected by the calling party;
• means for automatically setting up a call upon reception from the HLR of the message that the called MS has registered with the network;
• a timer for measuring a time period specified by the calling party;
• and
• means for executing the determined actions.