Method and system for directed call establishment to facilitate the provision of enhanced communications services

A system for directed call establishment of selected cellular calls initiated on a public land mobile network by a subscriber from a mobile handset, comprising:

• a mobile handset application client programmed to:
• monitor user input to a mobile handset to intercept selected cellular telephone calls dialed using the mobile handset;
• send a called number associated with each selected cellular call to a converged services node (CSN) to request a directed call establishment (DCE) number, the sending being performed over a data network using a packet network protocol, the packet network protocol being distinct from a cellular network protocol used in the public land mobile network:
• receive a DCE dial number (DCE/DN) from the CSN;
• the converged services node, comprising a DCE application programmed to:
• receive DCE request messages from the mobile handset application client;
• extract location information, handset identification and called number from the DCE request message;
• select a DCE/DN for each DCE request message received;
• store the extracted handset identification and the called number indexed by a copy of the selected DCE/DN;
• prepare a DCE response message containing the DCE/DN;
• return to the mobile handset client application the DCE response message containing the DCE/DN;
• launch a cellular telephone call over the public land mobile network from the mobile cellular handset using the DCE/DN;
• complete a call to the called number after the CSN receives a call setup request message containing the DCE/DN;
• wherein completing the call to the called number comprises:
• receiving an inbound call request at the CSN and extracting the called number;
• determining whether the extracted called number is a DCE/DN;
• if the extracted called number is a DCE/DN, retrieving the handset identification and called number indexed by the DCE/DN using the called number to formulate a call setup request to the called number;
• sending the call setup request to connect the subscriber to the called number;
• and
• anchor the call in the CSN, the CSN exercising control over the call after the call has been established
• wherein the converged service node includes a processor.

A converged services node (CSN), comprising:

• a directed call establishment (DCE) application that:
• receives a DCE request message from a mobile handset client application over a data network using a packet network protocol, the packet network protocol being distinct from a cellular network protocol used in a public land mobile network in which a call is dialed;
• stores a called number sent in the DCE request message;
• extracts location information, handset identification and called number from the DCE request message;
• selects a DCE dial number (DCE/DN) for the DCE request message;
• stores the extracted handset identification and the called number indexed by a copy of the selected DCE/DN;
• prepares a DCE response message containing the DCE/DN;
• returns a DCE response message containing the DCE/DN to the mobile handset client application;
• launches a cellular telephone call over the public land mobile network from the mobile cellular handset using the DCE/DN;
• completes a call over the public land mobile network to the called number when a call setup request containing the DCE/DN is received;
• wherein completing the call to the called number comprises:
• receiving an inbound call request at the CSN and extracting the called number;
• determining whether the extracted called number is a DCE/DN;
• if the extracted called number is a DCE/DN, retrieving the handset identification and called number indexed by the DCE/DN using the called number to formulate a call setup request to the called number;
• sending the call setup request to connect the subscriber to the called number;
• and
• anchors the call in the CSN, the CSN exercising control over the call after the call has been established
• wherein the converged service node includes a processor.