System and method for sharing cellular communication services among mobile stations of different networks

A method for wireless multi-protocol communication, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first single-protocol mobile station operative over a first wireless single-protocol network having a Home Location Register (HLR) accommodating a configuration that includes a Calling Line Identity (CLI) associated with said first mobile station;
• (b) configuring said first mobile station for accessing a common subscriber service;
• and
• (c) configuring a second single-protocol mobile station to be operable over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first wireless single-protocol network and to access said common subscriber service;
• and
• (d) configuring said HLR to provide said first mobile station a new CLI, said new CLI is associated with said second single-protocol mobile station.

A wireless multi-protocol communications system for use by a subscriber, the system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;
• (b) a plurality of single-protocol mobile stations, such that for each of said wireless single-protocol networks there is at least one of said single-protocol mobile stations operative to communicating thereover;
• and
• (c) a common telephone number which is shared among at least two of said mobile stations which are operative to communicating over incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;
• wherein at least a first of said at least two mobile stations is operative over a first network having a Home Location Register (HLR) accommodating a configuration that includes a Calling Line Identity (CLI) associated with the first mobile station;
• said HLR is configured to comprise a new CLI, said CLI is associated with said common telephone number, thereby allowing the subscriber to utilize any of said at least two mobile stations to conduct communications according to said common telephone number.

A wireless multi-protocol communications system for use by a subscriber, the system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of incompatible wireless single-protocol networks;
• (b) a plurality of single-protocol mobile stations, such that for each of said wireless single-protocol networks there is at least one of said single-protocol mobile stations operative to communicating thereover;
• and
• (c) common subscriber service which is shared among at least two of said mobile stations which are operative to communicating over incompatible wireless single-protocol networks,
• wherein at least a first of said at least two mobile stations is operative over a first network having a Home Location Register (HLR) accommodating a configuration that includes a Calling Line Identity (CLI) associated with the first mobile station;
• said HLR is configured to comprise a new CLI, said CLI is associated with said common telephone number, thereby allowing the subscriber to utilize any of said at least two mobile stations to access said common subscriber service in a substantially identical fashion.

A method for terminating an incoming call to a common telephone number shared between a primary single-protocol mobile station and a secondary single-protocol mobile station;

• wherein the primary mobile station communicates over a first single-protocol network having a first gateway and a first switching center connected to a mobile number portability platform;
• wherein the secondary mobile station communicates over a second single-protocol network having a second gateway and a second switching center;
• wherein the primary mobile station has a first inherent telephone number and the secondary mobile station has a second inherent telephone number;
• and wherein a first call forwarding to the second inherent telephone number is associated with the primary mobile station;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) upon receiving the incoming call to the common telephone number, directing said incoming call to the second gateway;
• (b) constructing a derivative telephone number which is an unambiguous function of the common telephone number;
• (c) issuing a call delivery to the first gateway using said derivative telephone number;
• (d) obtaining the recovered inherent telephone number of the primary mobile station from said derivative telephone number;
• (e) issuing a call delivery to the first switching center using said recovered inherent telephone number of the primary mobile station;
• (f) issuing a first page to the primary mobile station;
• (g) upon failure of said first page, performing said first call forward to the second inherent telephone number via the mobile number portability platform;
• (h) upon response from the mobile number portability platform that the second inherent telephone number does not exist within the first network, issuing a call delivery to the second gateway;
• and
• (i) issuing a second page to the secondary mobile station.

A method for registering a first single-protocol mobile station with a first single-protocol network;

• the mobile station having a Calling Line Identity (CLI) associated with an inherent telephone number;
• the network includes a switching center with a visitor location register and has a home location register configured to provide the mobile station with a new CLI associated with a common telephone number;
• said common telephone number is associated with a second single-protocol mobile station operative over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first single-protocol network;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) issuing a registration of the mobile station with the visitor location register, using the inherent telephone number;
• (b) sending a Registration Notification to the home location register, using the inherent telephone number;
• and
• (c) returning a Registration Notification response to the visitor location register using the common telephone number.

A method for accessing common subscriber services associated with a common telephone number from a single-protocol mobile station communicating over a single-protocol network having a mobile switching center with a visitor location register;

• wherein the mobile station has an inherent telephone number distinct from the common telephone number;
• and wherein the network is operative to accessing a server providing such common subscriber services;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) requesting access of common subscriber services and identifying the mobile station to the visitor location register according to the inherent telephone number;
• (b) relating the inherent telephone number to the common telephone number;
• (c) sending the common telephone number to the switching center;
• and
• (d) issuing a call delivery for the requested common subscriber services to the server,
• wherein said common telephone number is associated with a second single-protocol mobile station operating over a second wireless single-protocol network incompatible with said first single protocol network.