US 7,024,182 B2 · Subscriber activated, time limited cellular incoming call redirection system

Abstract

The cellular call redirection system enables a subscriber to redirect all incoming calls directed to the subscriber's cellular telephone to an automated message system for a predetermined period of time. In addition, the calling party is connected to a voice announcement system which plays a message to the calling party to inform the calling party that the call has been redirected and provides information regarding the time remaining before the call redirection feature is automatically deactivated. This provides the calling party with an indication of the future time at which the subscriber is likely to be available to receive incoming calls. In addition, the cellular call redirection system maintains a count or queue of redirected incoming calls to thereby enable the subscriber to determine the number and identity of the calling parties who have attempted to contact the subscriber during the period that this feature has been activated.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A cellular call redirection system for providing subscriber activated, time limited redirection of incoming calls, comprising:

call redirection activation means, responsive to receipt of a call redirection signal from a subscriber's mobile subscriber station, for activating a call redirection feature to forward subsequently received incoming calls that are directed to said subscriber's mobile subscriber station to a predetermined automated message system destination;
timer means for storing data received from said subscriber indicative of a length of time that said call redirection feature is to remain operational;
call redirection means, responsive to receipt of an incoming call directed to said subscriber's mobile subscriber station during said length of time that said call redirection feature is to remain operational, for forwarding said incoming call to said predetermined automated message syatem destination;
and
announcement means for transmitting a message to a calling party on said incoming call that indicates the present activation of the call redirection feature and the length of time remaining that said call redirection feature is to remain operational.

2 more elements

A method of operating a cellular call redirection system for providing subscriber activated, time limited redirection of incoming calls, comprising:

activating, in response to receipt of a call redirection signal from a subscriber's mobile subscriber station, a call redirection feature to forward subsequently received incoming calls that are directed to said subscriber's mobile subscriber station to a predetermined automated message system destination;
storing data received from said subscriber indicative of a length of time that said call redirection feature is to remain operational;
forwarding, in response to receipt of an incoming call directed to said subscriber's mobile subscriber station during said length of time that said call redirection feature is to remain operational, said incoming call to said predetermined automated message system destination;
and
transmitting a message to a calling party on said incoming call that indicates the present activation of the call redirection feature and the length of time remaining that said call redirection feature is to remain operational.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Subscriber activated, time limited cellular incoming call redirection system

Life of this patent

Subscriber activated, time limited cellular incoming call redirection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8