Proximity-based call forwarding
First Claim
1. A method for automatically forwarding a call intended for a first phone to a second phone based upon the proximity of the first phone to the second phone, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting that the first phone is within range of the second phone; and
automatically forwarding calls intended for the first phone to the second phone upon detecting that the first phone is within range of the second phone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus of call forwarding is presented whereby a wireless phone and one or more landline phones are equipped and programmed to perform call forwarding activation and de-activation automatically, without user intervention, based on geographic proximity relationships between the phones. When the wireless phone is not in near-proximity to any of the landline phones, calls to the landline phones are forwarded to the wireless phone. When the wireless phone comes in near-proximity to one of the landline phones, all calls to the wireless phone—including calls forwarded from other phones—are forwarded to the nearby landline phone. When the wireless phone subsequently leaves the nearby landline phone, all calls are sent to the wireless phone again. Advantageously, this arrangement overcomes numerous problems associated with manual activation and de-activation of call forwarding. In addition, the arrangement is entirely handset-based and requires no changes to network infrastructure, software, or established call forwarding procedures.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for automatically forwarding a call intended for a first phone to a second phone based upon the proximity of the first phone to the second phone, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting that the first phone is within range of the second phone; and
automatically forwarding calls intended for the first phone to the second phone upon detecting that the first phone is within range of the second phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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19. A phone that provides automatic call forwarding for calls intended for the phone, the phone comprising:
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a low-range transceiver that receives a low-range signal, the low-range signal indicating the proximity of a second phone; and
a processor that sends a call forwarding activation signal to automatically forward calls intended for the phone to the second phone upon receiving the low-range signal.
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Specification