US 7,106,848 B1 · Method and apparatus for in-progress call forwarding

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for transferring calls among communicating devices connected through a public network. The service is offered by a public network to permit a party in a ongoing conversation to transfer a call to another communicating device that may be more convenient to use, such as from a mobile telephone experiencing static to a land-based telephone, or from a home telephone to a mobile phone as a party leaves the home. In a method according to the invention, the network first establishes a connection between two communicating parties. The network then receives from one of the parties a request to transfer the call to another communications device. The network then transfers the call. The invention may be entirely network-based, in which case there may be a database of transferee devices stored on the network. Alternatively, the invention may be hybrid network-based and premises equipment-based, in which case the database of transferee devices may be stored in the premises equipment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for use in a non-PBX public switched communications network that provides communications services, the method comprising the steps of:

at a transfer service adjunct comprised in a communications network:
establishing a connection between first and second communicating stations;
receiving a signal from one of said first and second communicating stations requesting a transfer of the connection and identifying a third station to which the connection is to be transferred, the signal manually entered by a user and comprising a code;
translating the code to an Internet instant messaging service address of the third station based on a prearranged correlation of codes and public switched communications network addresses established by the user and stored in a database connected to the public switched communications network;
establishing a connection between the other one of the first and second communicating stations and the third station;
and
dropping the connection between the first and second communicating stations.

4 more elements

A communications handset for connecting to a non-PBX public switched telecommunications network, the handset comprising:

at least one user input adapted to receive a request manually entered by a user of the handset, the request to transfer a connection through the telecommunications network from the handset to a transferee communications device connected to the telecommunications network, the request adapted to identify to the telecommunications network the transferee telecommunications device, the request comprising a code adapted to be translated to an Internet instant messaging service address of the transferee telecommunications device based on a prearranged correlation of codes and public switched communications network addresses established by the user and stored in a database connected to the public switched telecommunications network;
a processor configured to receive the request to transfer the connection, receive an identification of the transferee communications device from a transfer service adjunct comprised in the telecommunications network, and signal the telecommunications network to transfer the connection to the transferee communications device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for in-progress call forwarding

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for in-progress call forwarding

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20