System and method for forwarding communications to an alternate telephone number

• US 20040151295A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.), Quenton Lanier Gilbert
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Quenton Lanier
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for forwarding communications to a first destination number to a second destination number after receipt of a forwarding indication from the second destination number. In the first embodiment, the method comprises the steps of the communication device coupled to the second destination number receiving a forwarding indication, determining the first destination number to be forwarded based on the forwarding indication, and forwarding communications directed to the first destination number to the second destination number. In the second embodiment, the method comprises the steps of the client device coupled to the second destination number receiving a forwarding indication, determining the first destination number to be forwarded based on the forwarding indication, and forwarding communications directed to the first destination number to the second destination number.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding communications directed to a first wireline destination number to a second wireline destination number, the method comprising:

receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device associated with the second wireline destination number;

determining the first wireline destination number based on the second wireline destination number; and

forwarding communications directed to the first wireline destination number to the second wireline destination number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device associated with the second wireline destination number comprises receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device comprises receiving a star code sequence entered into a keypad of a communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the first wireline destination number to be forwarded comprises retrieving the first wireline destination number to be forwarded corresponding to the second wireline destination number from a database.

5. A method for forwarding communications directed to a first wireless destination number to a second wireless destination number, the method comprising:

receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device associated with the second wireless destination number;

determining the first wireless destination number based on the second wireless destination number; and

forwarding communications directed to the first wireless destination number to the second wireless destination number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device associated with the second wireless destination number comprises receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device coupled to the second wireless destination number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device comprises receiving a star code sequence entered into a keypad of a communication device coupled to the second wireless destination number.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining the first wireless destination number to be forwarded comprises retrieving the first wireless destination number to be forwarded corresponding to the second wireless destination number from a database.

9. A method for forwarding communications directed to a first wireline destination number to a second wireline destination number, the method comprising:

receiving a forwarding indication entered into a communication device communicatively coupled to a client device at the second wireline destination number;

determining the first wireline destination number to be forwarded based on the second wireline destination number; and

forwarding communications directed to the first wireline destination number to the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device coupled to a second wireline destination number comprises receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device comprises receiving a star code sequence entered into a keypad of a communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the first wireline destination number to be forwarded comprises retrieving the first wireline destination number to be forwarded corresponding to the second wireline destination number from a database.

13. A method for forwarding communications directed to a first wireline destination number to a second wireline destination number, the method comprising:

receiving a forwarding indication entered into a communication device communicatively coupled to a client device at the second wireline destination number;

determining the first wireline destination number to be forwarded based on the second wireline destination number; and

forwarding communications directed to the first wireline destination number to the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a forwarding indication from a communication device coupled to a second wireline destination number comprises receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a signal originating from the entry of a key sequence into the communication device comprises receiving a star code sequence entered into a keypad of a communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the first wireline destination number to be forwarded comprises retrieving the first wireline destination number to be forwarded corresponding to the second wireline destination number from a database.

17. A system for forwarding communications directed to a first wireless destination number to a second wireless destination number based in part on receipt of a forwarding request from the second wireless destination number, the system comprising:

a processing unit resident in a communication device coupled to the second wireless destination number;

a memory accessible to the processing unit for storing the first wireless destination number associated with the second wireless destination number, wherein the first wireless destination number is representative of the number to be forwarded; and

a plurality of instructions executable by the processing unit to cause forwarding of communications directed to the first wireless destination number to the second wireless destination number upon receipt of a forwarding request from the communication device coupled to the second wireless destination number.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the system further comprises a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing unit for receipt of the forwarding request.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a keypad.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a microphone.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface further comprises a speech recognition unit.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a voice command.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a star code entered into the keypad.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a key sequence entered into the keypad.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the forwarding request comprises receipt of the selection of an icon on the touch screen.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions is a first plurality of instructions and the system further comprises a second plurality of instructions executable by the processing unit to cause storage of the first wireless destination number in the memory in response to the receipt of the first wireless destination number from the second wireless destination number.

28. A system for forwarding communications directed to a first wireline destination number to a second wireline destination number based in part on receipt of a forwarding request from the second wireline destination number, the system comprising:

a processing unit resident in a communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number;

a memory accessible to the processing unit for storing the first wireline destination number associated with the second wireline destination number, wherein the first wireline destination number is representative of the number to be forwarded; and

a plurality of instructions executable by the processing unit to cause forwarding of communications directed to the first wireline destination number to the second wireline destination number upon receipt of a forwarding request from the communication device coupled to the second wireline destination number.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the system further comprises a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing unit for receipt of the forwarding request.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the user interface comprises a keypad.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the user interface comprises a microphone.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the user interface further comprises a speech recognition unit.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a voice command.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a star code entered into the keypad.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the call forwarding request comprises a key sequence entered into the keypad.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein the forwarding request comprises receipt of the selection of an icon on the touch screen.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions is a first plurality of instructions and the system further comprises a second plurality of instructions executable by the processing unit to cause storage of the first destination number in the memory in response to the receipt of the first destination number from the second destination number.