US 6,584,316 B1 · Handoff of phone calls from wireless to wireline network

Abstract

Telephone calls are handed off from a wireless network to a wireline network under the control of a subscriber. When at a given location, the subscriber enters the directory number of the wireline terminal (typically the closest) to which a future wireless call is to be transferred. The entered directory number is then stored in memory in the subscriber's wireless terminal with the current location of the subscriber as determined by a satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) for future use. If the subscriber wants to transfer a call to a wireline terminal, the subscriber selects a transfer handoff key on the subscriber's wireless terminal. After the subscriber's location is determined using the GPS, it is then determined if a directory number (DN) of a designated wireline terminal has previously been entered and stored in memory for the subscriber's present location. If so, the call is transferred to the designated wireline terminal using the local cellular network and the wireless call is terminated. If the DN of a wireline terminal associated with the subscriber's present location has not previously been entered, the wireless call is allowed to continue. Automatic call forwarding to a designated wireline terminal is also provided for in the event of a weak received signal link using a table of previously entered wireline terminal DN's. In both manual and automatic transfer of a wireless call, the subscriber must pick up the ringing wireline terminal to complete call transfer.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for handing off a telephone call from a first terminal in a wireless network to a second terminal in a wireline network, wherein said second terminal has an associated directory number, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory in the first terminal the directory number of the second terminal when the first terminal is in the vicinity of the second terminal;
determining the geographic coordinates of the first terminal when the first terminal is in the vicinity of the second terminal;
storing the geographic coordinates with the directory number in said memory in an associated manner;
placing a telephone call on the wireless network using the first terminal;
selecting a telephone call handoff selector key on the first terminal for transferring the telephone call to the wireline network;
determining the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal and comparing said current geographic coordinates with the geographic coordinates stored in said memory;
generating a signal to initiate the transfer of the telephone call to the second terminal if the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal match the geographic coordinates stored in said memory;
or
comparing a signal strength of a telephone call from the first terminal in the wireless network with a reference signal level and, if the signal strength of the telephone call is less than said reference signal level, determining the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal for automatically transferring the telephone call to the second terminal if the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal match the geographic coordinates stored in said memory associated with the second terminal;
and
terminating the telephone call on the wireless network.

8 more elements

A method for the automatic forwarding of a telephone call placed to a first terminal in a wireless network to a second terminal in a wireline terminal via a mobile switching center, wherein said second terminal has an associated directory number, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory in the first terminal the directory number of the second terminal when the first terminal is in the vicinity of the second terminal;
determining the geographic coordinates of the first terminal when the first terminal is in the vicinity of the second terminal;
storing the geographic coordinates of the first terminal when in the vicinity of the second terminal with the directory number in said memory in an associated manner;
activating a call forwarding mode of operation in the mobile switching center;
placing a telephone to the first terminal via the wireless network;
determining the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal and comparing said current geographic coordinates with the geographic coordinates stored in said memory;
generating a signal to initiate the transfer of the telephone call to the second terminal if the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal match the geographic coordinates stored in said memory;
or
comparing a signal strength of a telephone call to the first terminal in the wireless network with a reference signal level and, if the signal strength of the telephone call is less than said reference signal level, determining the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal for automatically transferring the telephone call to the second terminal if the current geographic coordinates of the first terminal match the geographic coordinates stored in said memory associated with the second terminal;
and
terminating the telephone call on the wireless network.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Handoff of phone calls from wireless to wireline network

Life of this patent

Handoff of phone calls from wireless to wireline network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13