Method for managing a plurality of extension communication units

• US 20020136383A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Contreras, Elizabeth Sotelo
• Granted Patent: US 6,829,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for managing of a plurality of extension communication units in a cellular communication system by a directory and conference call decision process. A subscriber telephone number directory identifies those extension communication units which will receive the call. A conference call decision process allows the subscribers, rather than the system, to determine who will take the call. All subscribers have the same priority for answering the call and minimum resources are utilized to reach the correct extension communication unit.

A node in electronic communication with the plurality of extension communication units includes a response reception module for receiving paging and answering responses from the extensions and a conference call answering response timer in electronic communication with the response reception module. An extension communication unit management system having a plurality of extension communication units in electronic communication with the node, and an HLR having a paging response timer in electronic communication with the node.

Claims

1. A method of managing a plurality of extension communication units, wherein each one of the plurality of extension communication units corresponds to a single subscriber number, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from a calling party number for the subscriber number;

starting a paging timer to receive a paging response from at least one of the plurality of extension communication units;

stopping the paging timer after a pre-selected time period has passed;

receiving at least one answering response from the at least one of the plurality of extension communication units; and

routing the call from the calling party number to the at least one of the plurality of extension communication units.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

compiling a list of calling party numbers for each one of the plurality of extension communication units which correspond to a single subscriber number;

aggregating each one of the compiled lists of calling party numbers into a subscriber number list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the calling party number is not contained within the subscriber number list, further including the step of:

routing the call to each one of the plurality of extension communication units.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the calling party number is contained within the subscriber number list, further including the step of:

routing the call to only one of the plurality of extension communication units.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the calling party number is contained within the subscriber number list, further including the step of:

routing the call to more than one of the plurality of extension communication units.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of:

sending a route request message to each of the more than one of the plurality of extension communication units;

paging each of the more than one of the plurality of extension communication units; and

waiting until all paging responses have been received from each of the more than one of the plurality of extension communication units.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

receiving a paging response from none of the plurality of extension communication units;

initiating a recovery procedure and finishing the call.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

receiving a paging response from only one of the plurality of extension communication units;

delivering the call to the only one of the plurality of extension communication units.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling party number is associated with a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), and wherein the step of receiving a call from a calling party number for the subscriber number further includes the steps of. receiving the call at a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) associated with a home location register (HLR) including the subscriber number;

and

receiving an answering response from at least one of the plurality of extension communication units.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the answering response to the call further includes a function code to cancel the call to any non-answering extension communication units selected from the plurality of extension communication units upon activation by the at least one answering extension communication unit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the call to the plurality of extension communication units further includes a first ring tone prior to receiving an answering response from the at least one answering extension communication unit and a second ring tone after receiving an answering response from the at least one answering extension communication unit.

12. The method of claim 9, further including the step of:

allowing an independent call by any non-answering one of the plurality of extension communication units.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of extension communication units is busy, further including the step of:

terminating the call process for the busy extension communication unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of extension communication units is non-responding, further including the step of:

terminating the call process for the at least one non-responding extension communication unit.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the extension communication units is a mobile cellular telephone.

15. A node for managing a plurality of extension communication units, comprising:

a response reception module; and

a conference call answering response timer in electronic communication with the response reception module.

16. An extension communication unit management system, comprising:

a plurality of extension communication units;

a node in electronic communication with the plurality of extension communication units including a response reception module and a conference call answering response timer in electronic communication with the response reception module; and

a Home Location Register (HLR) in electronic communication with the node, the HLR including a paging response timer.