Call redirection zones for wireless communications

• US 20040142703A1
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Knowledge Corporation (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Erb, Paul Andrew, Syrowatka, Maciej
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system and method of controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device is provided. When an incoming call directed to the wireless communication device is received, the location of the wireless communication device, to which the incoming call is destined, is determined. If the wireless communication device is not within a designated zone, the incoming call is directed to the wireless communication device. If the wireless communication device is in a designated zone, the incoming call is handled based on specified criteria.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device comprising the steps of:

determining generally the location of the wireless communication device to which said incoming call is directed;

if said wireless communication device is not within a designated zone, directing the incoming call to said wireless communication device; and

if said wireless communication device is in a designated zone handling said incoming call based on specified criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein during said handling if the incoming call meets said specified criteria, said incoming call is directed to one of a designated extension within said designated zone and said wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein when said specified criteria includes a designated caller list, if the incoming call meets said specified criteria, said incoming call is directed to said designated extension, otherwise said incoming call is directed to said wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein if the incoming call is private and meets said specified criteria, said incoming call is directed to said wireless communication device irrespective of whether a designated extension is included in said specified criteria.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said specified criteria further includes an importance threshold, incoming calls received from callers in said designated caller list and/or incoming calls having an importance value equal to or exceeding said importance threshold, meeting said specified criteria.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein during said handling if the incoming call does not meet said specified criteria, said incoming call is directed to an extension outside of said designated zone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein delivery of incoming calls is controlled within a location having a plurality of designated zones, each of said designated zones being defined by a specified area within said location.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said designated zones include rooms within said location.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said location is subdivided by a grid into grid locations and wherein said designated zones are mapped to said grid locations, said mapping being used during said determining to determine if said wireless communication device is located within a designated zone.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein during said determining, the location of said wireless communication device is determined using triangulation based on wireless signal strength to base stations at said location.

11. A system for controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device comprising:

means for determining generally the location of the wireless communication device to which said incoming call is directed and for determining if said wireless communication device is within a designated zone; and

means for directing the incoming call to said wireless communication device if said wireless communication device is not within a designated zone and for handling said incoming call based on specified criteria if said wireless communication device is in a designated zone.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein if the incoming call meets said specified criteria, said directing means directs said incoming call to one of a designated extension within said designated zone and said wireless communication device.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein when said specified criteria includes a designated extension, if the incoming call meets said specified criteria, said directing means directs said incoming call to said designated extension, otherwise directs said incoming call to said wireless communication device.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein if the incoming call is private and meets said specified criteria, said directing means directs said incoming call to said wireless communication device irrespective of whether a designated extension is included in said specified criteria.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein said specified criteria further includes a designated caller list and an importance threshold, incoming calls received from callers in said designated caller list and/or incoming calls having an importance value equal to or exceeding said importance threshold, meeting said specified criteria.

16. A system according to claim 12 wherein during said handling if the incoming call does not meet said specified criteria, said directing means directs said incoming call to an extension outside of said designated zone.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein delivery of incoming calls is controlled within a location having a plurality of designated zones, each of said designated zones being defined by a specified area within said location.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said location is subdivided by a grid into grid locations and wherein said designated zones are mapped to said grid locations, said directing means using said mapping to determine if said wireless communication device is located within a designated zone.

19. A telephone system to control the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device within a location, said location being subdivided into a plurality of grid locations and including redirection zones therein, each redirection zone encompassing a subset of said grid locations, said system comprising:

a position determiner for determining the location of a wireless communication device within said location to which an incoming call is destined; and

a call handler for determining if said wireless communication device is in a redirection zone and for handling delivery of said incoming call in accordance with the results of said determining.

20. A telephone system according to claim 19 wherein said call handler directs the incoming call to said wireless communication device if the wireless communication device is not within a redirection zone and directs an incoming call to one of a designated extension within said redirection zone and said wireless communication device if said wireless communication is in a redirection zone.

21. A telephone system according to claim 20 wherein said call handler directs the incoming call to one of the designated extension within the redirection zone and the wireless communication device if the incoming call meets specified criteria.

22. A telephone system according to claim 21 wherein said specified criteria includes a designated extension, said call handler directing the incoming call to an extension outside of the redirection zone if the incoming call does not meet the specified criteria.

23. A telephone system according to claim 22 wherein said position determiner uses triangulation based on wireless signal strengths to base stations at said location to determine the location of said wireless communication device therein.