Wireless phone forwarding based on phone location

• US 20020164979A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johanson, James A., Mooney, Philip D., Cannon, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A system and method for automatically forwarding calls directed to a wireless telephone device is disclosed. A call forwarding operation is automatically enabled in response to the wireless telephone device being at a particular location and is automatically disabled in response to the wireless telephone device leaving said predetermined location.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless signals;

a control circuit for determining when said wireless telephone device is at a location where a call forwarding operation should occur;

said control circuit automatically operating said transceiver to initiate a connection between said telephone device and a service provider when said telephone device is at said location and instructing said service provider to enable a call forwarding operation, said control circuit further operating said transceiver to send a forwarding number to said service provider.

2. A wireless telephone device as in claim 1 wherein said location is a location of a power source for said wireless device, said wireless device further comprising at least one port for connecting with said power source, said control circuit determining when said wireless device is at said location by determining if said at least one port is connected with said power source.

3. A wireless telephone device as in claim 2 wherein said power source is a battery charger.

4. A wireless device as in claim 2 wherein said control circuit receives through said port said forwarding number which is stored at said power source.

5. A wireless device as in claim 2, wherein said power source has an associated identification number, said wireless device further comprising a memory for storing at least one forwarding number in respective association with at least one a power source identification number, wherein said control circuit receives identification information from said power source and selects a forwarding number from said memory which is associated with said received identification information for sending to said service provider.

6. A wireless telephone device as in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of ports for connection with said power source, and a memory for storing a plurality of forwarding numbers in respective association with said plurality of ports, said control circuit selecting a forwarding number in accordance with a port which is connected to said power source and causing said selected forwarding number to be sent to said service provider.

7. A wireless telephone device as in claim 4 wherein said control circuit is operative to cause a forwarding number entered at said wireless device to be stored at said power source.

8. A wireless telephone device as in claim 1 wherein said control circuit determines when said wireless telephone device is no longer at said location and in response initiates a connection between said wireless device and said service provider, and instructs said service provider to disable said call forwarding operation.

9. A wireless telephone device as in claim 1 further comprising a location determining device for determining the location of said wireless device, said control circuit receiving location information from said location determining device and determining when a location of said wireless device is within a predefined distance from a predetermined location, said control circuit, when said wireless device is within said predefined distance, selecting a stored forwarding number associated with said predetermined location, initiating said connection, and sending said selected forwarding number to said service provider.

10. A method of operating a wireless telephone device comprising:

determining when said wireless telephone device is at a location where a call forwarding operation should occur;

automatically establishing a connection to a service provider in response to said determination, and during said connection;

instructing said service provider to initiate a call forwarding operation; and

sending a forwarding number to said service provider.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said location is a location of a power source for said wireless device.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said determination is made when said wireless device is connected to said power source.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said power source is a battery charger.

14. A method as in claim 12 further comprising receiving said sent forwarding number from said power source.

15. A method as in claim 12 further comprising:

storing a plurality of forwarding numbers in respective association with a power source identification information;

determining an identification number of a power source connected to said wireless telephone device; and

selecting as said sent forwarding number a stored forwarding number associated with said determined identification information.

16. A method as in claim 12 wherein said wireless telephone device has a plurality of connection ports for connection with a power source, said method further comprising:

storing a plurality of forwarding numbers in respective association with said plurality of connection ports; and

selecting as said sent forwarding number a stored forwarding number which is associated with a port to which said power source is connected.

17. A method as in claim 14 further comprising storing a forwarding number in said storage area of said power source.

18. A method as in claim 10 further comprising:

determining when said wireless telephone device is no longer at said location and in response automatically initiating a connection between said wireless device and said service provider and instructing said service provider to disable said call forwarding operation.

19. A method as in claim 10 wherein said act of determining when said wireless telephone device is at said location comprises:

determining whether said wireless telephone device is within a predefined distance of a predetermined location.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising sending as said forwarding number a forwarding number associated with said predetermined location.