Call processing

• US 20040077315A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Crook, Michael David Stanmore
• Application Number:
  US10/433,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42212 Call pickup comprising simultaneous alerting H04M3/46
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A user terminal adapted to be used in a mobile telecommunications network, including: means for communicating via a short-range wireless communications interface in order to identify another device; and means for initiating one or more functions relating to said device in response to said identification process, said functions being performed at least in part by means of a control message sent over a communications link passing into said network.

Claims

1. A user terminal adapted to be used in a mobile telecommunications network, including:

means for communicating via a short-range wireless communications interface in order to identify another device; and

means for initiating one or more functions relating to said device in response to said identification process, said functions being performed at least in part by means of a control message sent over a communications link passing into said network.

2. A user terminal according to claim 1, wherein said one or more functions include controlling a bearer service.

3. A user terminal according to claim 2, wherein said device is another user terminal and said one or more functions include redirecting an incoming call to or from said other user terminal.

4. A user terminal according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said one or more functions include controlling a service management function.

5. A user terminal according to claim 4, wherein said one or more functions include setting a network service setting.

6. A user terminal according to claim 5, wherein said device is another user terminal and said one or more functions include setting call forwarding to or from said other user terminal.

7. A user terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said communication means comprises means for transmitting an enquiry message and for receiving a response message via said short-range interface.

8. A user terminal according to claim 7, wherein an identifier of the responding user terminal is included in said response.

9. A user terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said one or more functions are limited to user terminals belonging to a preconfigured group.

10. A user terminal according to claim 9, wherein data identifying members of said preconfigured group are stored on said user terminal.

11. A user terminal according to claim 9, wherein data identifying members of said preconfigured group are stored in the network, remote from the terminal.

12. A user terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said communications link comprises a cellular radio communications link.

13. A user terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said short-range interface comprises a short-range radio link, such as a Bluetooth™

link.

14. A user terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said control message is sent from said user terminal.

15. A user terminal according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein said control message is sent from said device.

20. A method according to claim 10, wherein a calling line identifier is passed to said receiving user terminal while redirecting said call.

16. A method of processing a telephone call in a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising:

a first user terminal communicating with other user terminals in its vicinity via a short-range link in order to identify at least a second user terminal; and

processing said call in response to said identification process.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said user terminals are mobile.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said first user terminal enquires about an alerting user terminal.

19. A method according to claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein said call processing includes redirecting a call to a receiving user terminal.

21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said call is redirected including the use of the following supplementary services:

i) call deflection or

ii) call transfer.

22. A method according to any of claims 16 to 21, wherein said call is controlled by an intelligent network process.

23. A method of processing a telephone call in a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising:

a third party'"'"'s station sending a short-range message to make an enquiry to other stations within a limited range,

a called party'"'"'s station answering said enquiry,

said third party station sending a request to said called party'"'"'s station by a short-range link to redirect the call from said called party'"'"'s station to said third party'"'"'s station.