US 5,963,864 A · Method and system for automatically connecting telephone calls to multiple devices having different directory numbers

Abstract

A system and method for providing telecommunication extension service to a subscriber with at least a first unit having a first number and a second unit having a second number. Upon receipt of a communication directed to the number associated with the one of the units, ringing is provided to both units. A party may answer either unit, or both units may be answered. If one unit is answered, then the other unit is provided with ringing for a predetermined number of rings or for a preselected amount of time. If the other unit is answered, then the communication is connected in a conference call to the other unit, whereby the communication is connected to both units. The conference call may be monitored for drop-out of one of the units. If one unit drops out, the other unit may remains connected. A disconnection feature allows a party who answers on a unit to provide an indication to discontinue ringing to the other unit, or to disconnect the other unit. If a unit is not engaged in a conference call, then that unit may be used to place and receive telecommunications even if the other unit is engaged.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit for telecommunications and a second unit for telecommunications, said first unit having a first number used for communication routing, and said second unit having a second number used for communication routing, comprising:

a switch operative
to receive a communication directed to said first number associated with said first unit,
to suspend the processing of said communication, and
to request communication processing instructions from a first programmable network element;
said first programmable network element being connected to said switch, and in response to receipt of said request for said communication processing instructions, said first programmable network element being operative
to check whether said second unit is available,
if said second unit is available, to provide said communication processing instructions to said switch, said processing instructions including a direction to route said communication to a second programmable network element;
said switch being further operative to receive and respond to said communication processing instructions by routing said communication to said second programmable network element;
and
said second programmable network element being operative to respond to the receipt of said communication by setting up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit, and
setting up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit, and
causing ringing to be provided to said first unit and said second unit.

9 more elements

In a telecommunications network, a method for checking the availability of a wireless unit to receive a communication, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a communication at a service switching point;
b. causing said service switching point
to suspend the processing of said communication, and
to launch a query to a service control point for communication processing instructions;
c. in response to said query, causing said service control point to check whether said communication is directed to a wireless number associated with said wireless unit;
d. if said communication is directed to said wireless number associated with said wireless unit, then causing said service control point
to format a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocol, and
to send said request for said availability information over a data link that directly connects said service control point and a home location register;
e. in response to said request for said availability information, causing said home location register to send said availability information over said data link to said service control point;
and
f. in response to receipt of said availability information, causing said service control point to provide said service switching point with said communication processing instructions.

8 more elements

In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit having a first directory number for routing telecommunications to the first unit and a second unit having a second directory number for routing telecommunications to the second unit, comprising:

a switch operative
to receive a communication directed to said first directory number, and
in response, to route said communication to a programmable network element in said telecommunications network;
said programmable network element being operative to respond to the receipt of said communication by
setting up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit by using said first directory number to set up said first leg,
setting up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit by using said second directory number to set up said second leg,
causing first ringing to be provided to said first unit, and
causing second ringing to be provided to said second unit;
and
wherein said programmable network element is directly connected to a home location register via a data link and is further operative to check whether said wireless unit is available by
formatting a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocol, and
sending said request for said availability information over said data link that directly connects said programmable network element and said home location register;
wherein said home location register is operative to respond to said request for said availability information by sending said availability information over said data link to said programmable network element;
and
wherein said programmable network element is further operative to receive said availability information, and based thereon, to provide said switch with said communication processing instructions.

12 more elements

a switch operative
to receive a communication directed to said first directory number associated with said first unit, and
to request communication processing instructions from a programmable network element in said telecommunication network;
and
said programmable network element being responsive to the receipt of said request for said communication processing instructions,
to set up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit,
to set up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit, and
to cause ringing to be provided to said first unit and said second unit;
and
wherein said programmable network element is directly connected to a home location register via a data link and is further operative to check whether said wireless unit is available by
formatting a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocols and
sending said request for said availability information over said data link that directly connects said programmable network element and said home location register;
wherein said home location register is operative to respond to said request for said availability information by sending said availability information over said data link to said programmable network element;
and
wherein said programmable network element is further operative to receive said availability information, and based thereon to provide said switch with said communication processing instructions.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description18,716 words

Summary4,240 words

#The present invention generally relates to telecommunication systems, and more particularly relates to a system and method for providing a telecommunication extension service to a subscriber who has two or more telecommunication units. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing a wireless telecommunication extension service in a telecommunication network including a wireline and wireless network to a subscriber with at least a wireline unit and a wireless unit.

#Keeping in touch. Since the dawn of history, human beings have developed increasingly more sophisticated means of keeping in touch. First, it was language. Then came systems for communicating over distance such as smoke signals, drumbeats and semaphores. The heroes of the Industrial Revolution provided us with the radio, the telegraph and the telephone. More recently, mobile telephones, televisions and networked computers allow us to keep in touch.

#The prime importance that people attach to keeping in touch is easily demonstrated by an inventory of a typical person's home. There you will generally find at least a radio, a television and a telephone. Moreover, it is not unusual for a home to have several telephone extensions so that a call may be answered quickly and conveniently. The fear of missing a call and thereby being out-of-touch has led many people to use telephone answering machines and services to record messages from callers. Also, the fear of missing a call and thereby being out-of-touch has led many people to use mobile telephones, which they typically use while they are on the go and away from their homes.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in its preferred environment.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention in an alternative environment.

#FIG. 3 is a diagram of yet another embodiment of the present invention in yet another alternative environment.

Detailed description14,396 words

#This detailed description first provides an overview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Then a description of the preferred environment and the operation of the preferred embodiment is provided with reference to FIG. 1. Alternate embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Finally, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a flow diagram is used to provide a summary of the operation of the preferred embodiment.

#Generally, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides wireless telecommunication extension service to a subscriber who has a wireline unit and a wireless unit. Pursuant to this service, notice of a communication directed to the wireline unit is provided by ringing both the wireline unit and the wireless unit. The subscriber may receive and respond to the communication through use of either the wireline unit or the wireless unit. Advantageously, the subscriber may respond to the communication on one of the units and another party may respond to the same communication on the other unit. The result is that the subscriber and the other party are connected as a conference call to the communication such that the subscriber, other party and caller may all engage in the communication. Another advantage of the present invention is that the service may monitor the conference call for the drop-out of one of the units. In response to detecting such a drop-out, the service disconnects the communication from the unit that dropped out such that the communication remains connected to the other (non-drop-out) unit. In other words, the service breaks down the conference call in such a manner that such breakdown of the conference call is virtually transparent and un-interruptive to the caller and the party that has not dropped out. They may continue to engage in their communication.

#The wireless telecommunication extension service of the present invention may also provide a disconnection feature with respect to use of one of the units during any particular communication. Per this feature, once the subscriber (or another party) responds to the communication on one of the units, then the subscriber may provide an indication to the service to disconnect the ringing or the communication from the other unit. This feature demonstrates yet another advantage of the present invention. The subscriber may prevent the other unit from being picked up and a conference call being established with respect to the other unit. This feature saves time and effort because it provides an indication that the communication has already been taken care of, and that another party need not respond to the communication on the other unit. This feature also allows a party responding to the communication to disconnect an answering machine that may have responded to the communication on another unit.

Facts

Application

08/656,561Filed 31 May 1996

Granted

5 Oct 1999

Term ended

31 May 2016

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification7 codes

H04W 4/16
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: communication-related supplementary services, e.g.…
H04M 3/465
Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained: arrangements for simultaneously calling…
H04M 3/56
Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers: arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e.…
H04M 2203/5027
Related to audio conference: dropping a party from a conference

Description18,716 words

Summary4,240 words

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in its preferred environment.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention in an alternative environment.

#FIG. 3 is a diagram of yet another embodiment of the present invention in yet another alternative environment.

Detailed description14,396 words

Method and system for automatically connecting telephone calls to multiple devices having different directory numbers

Life of this patent

Method and system for automatically connecting telephone calls to multiple devices having different directory numbers

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description18,716 words

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description18,716 words

Drawings