US 7,443,972 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 comprising:

at a transfer service adjunct in a non-PBX public switched communications network:
establishing a second connection, said second connection between a third communicating station and a first communicating station, said first communicating station connected to a second communicating station via a first connection, said establishing responsive to a translation of a code into an Internet instant messaging service address of said third communicating station, said code correlated to an address of said second communicating station, said code stored in a database connected to said non-PBX public switched communications network, said transfer service adjunct adapted to query said database, said code translated responsive to a signal from said second communicating station requesting a transfer of said first connection.

A communications device comprising:

a processor configured to receive a request to establish a second connection, said second connection between a third communicating station and a first communicating station, said first communicating station connected to a second communicating station via a first connection, said establishing responsive to a translation of a code into an Internet instant messaging service address of said third communicating station, said code correlated to an address of said second communicating station, said code stored in a database connected to said non-PBX public switched communications network, said transfer service adjunct adapted to query said database, said code translated responsive to a signal from said second communicating station requesting a transfer of said first connection, said communications device in said non-PBX public switched communications network.

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