Least cost dialing

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described that provide for directing a voice or video call using least cost dialing. Rules for directing a call may be generated by a server or a mobile device. The rules may be applied at a mobile device, facilitating a least-cost call with little or no input from the user of the mobile device. The rules may be based on identifying information about a caller or an intended call, or both. In determining what constitutes a least-cost option, a number of resources and factors, both monetary and non-monetary, may be considered. In some examples, a call identifier may be sent from a mobile device to a server, and the mobile device may receive, in response, one or more rules for directing a call. The rules may be applied at the mobile device, and the call may be placed accordingly.

1 . A method of wireless communication, comprising:
 receiving a call identifier from a mobile device via a first wireless network comprising a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a licensed spectrum cellular network, wherein the call identifier is indicative of a first telephone number;   generating one or more rules for directing a call based at least in part on the call identifier, wherein the one or more rules comprise directions for the mobile device to use a second telephone number different from the first telephone number and applicable based at least in part on a location of the mobile device; and   sending the generated rules to the mobile device via the first wireless network or a second wireless network that is different from the first wireless network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a service provider associated with the first wireless network, wherein the one or more rules for directing the call are applicable based at least in part on the determined service provider.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying relevant data for the call, the relevant data comprising at least one of:
 the location of the mobile device, a location of a callee associated with the call identifier, network availability associated with the mobile device or the call identifier, available technology for the call from the mobile device, or a combination thereof; 
 wherein the one or more rules for directing the call are generated based at least in part on the identified relevant data. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the mobile device has experienced a significant change event based at least in part on the call identifier, the significant change event comprising at least one of entering or leaving a cellular network, performing a cellular mobility operation, receiving a software update, or powering on or off, or any combination thereof;   wherein the one or more rules for directing the call are generated based at least in part on the significant change event.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the call identifier to a database of known identifiers; and   retrieving contact-related data based at least in part on the comparison of the call identifier to the database of known identifiers, wherein the one or more rules for directing the call are generated based at least in part on the retrieved contact-related data.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the contact-related data comprises a list of available telephone numbers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a location of a callee associated with the call identifier, wherein the one or more rules are generated based at least in part on the location of the callee.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules comprise directions for the mobile device to use the first wireless network for placing the call. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules comprise directions for the mobile device to use the second wireless network for placing the call. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules are generated based at least in part on limiting a cost for the call, maximizing security for the call, or maximizing reliability for the call, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more rules are generated based at least in part on a capability of the mobile device for initiating a call type, wherein the call type comprises at least one of a voice call or a video telephony call, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor; and   instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:
 receive a call identifier from a mobile device via a wireless network comprising a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a licensed spectrum cellular network, wherein the call identifier is indicative of a first telephone number; 
 generate one or more rules for directing a call based at least in part on the call identifier, wherein the one or more rules comprise directions for the mobile device to use a second telephone number different from the first telephone number and applicable based at least in part on a location of the mobile device; and 
 send the generated rules to the mobile device via the wireless network. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 determine a service provider associated with the wireless network, wherein the one or more rules for directing the call are applicable based at least in part on the determined service provider.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 identify relevant data for the call, the relevant data comprising at least one of:
 the location of the mobile device, a location of a callee associated with the call identifier, network availability associated with the mobile device or the call identifier, available technology for the call from the mobile device, or a combination thereof; and 
   generate the one or more rules for directing the call based at least in part on the identified relevant data.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 determine that the mobile device has experienced a significant change event based at least in part on the call identifier, the significant change event comprising at least one of entering or leaving a cellular network, performing a cellular mobility operation, receiving a software update, or powering on or off, or any combination thereof; and   generate the one or more rules for directing the call based at least in part on the significant change event.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 compare the call identifier to a database of known identifiers;   retrieve contact-related data based at least in part on comparing the call identifier to the database of known identifiers; and   generate the one or more rules for directing the call based at least in part on the retrieved contact-related data.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 generate the one or more rules based at least in part on limiting a cost for the call, maximizing security for the call, or maximizing reliability for the call, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause the apparatus to:
 generate the one or more rules based at least in part on a capability of the mobile device for initiating a call type, wherein the call type comprises at least one of a voice call or a video telephony call, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . A system for determining wireless communication, comprising:
 a call identifier (ID) comparator operable to compare a call ID received from a mobile device via a wireless communication network with a database of known IDs associated with a callee, wherein the call ID is indicative of a first telephone number associated with the callee;   a data store comprising the database of known IDs associated with the callee, wherein the data store is in electronic communication with the call ID comparator;   a rule generator operable to generate one or more rules for directing calls to the callee based at least in part on a comparison between a received call ID and the database of known IDs, wherein the rule generator is in electronic communication with the call ID comparator; and   a transmitter operable to transmit one or more generated rules via the wireless communication network, wherein the one or more generated rules are applicable to direct the mobile device to use a second telephone number to call the callee, wherein the second telephone number is different from the first telephone number and applicable based at least in part on a location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a telephone number retriever operable to retrieve a list of telephone numbers associated with the callee from the data store based at least in part on a received call ID, wherein the telephone number retriever is in electronic communication with the receiver, the data store, and the rule generator;   wherein the rule generator is operable to generate the one or more rules based at least in part on the list of telephone numbers.