Telephone management system and method

• US 20040170174A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxon LLC
• Original Assignee: Maxon LLC
• Inventors: Marsico, Marilyn J., Steen, Carl A., Marsico, Robert G., Marsico, Maxwell A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method is provided to manage multiple devices with a common network number. The method includes receiving a request from a first device having a network number. The request includes a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the first device, a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies a second device, and payload data indicating a change request. The method includes assigning to the second device network services associated with the first device.

Claims

1. A method of linking multiple phones with a common phone number, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first telephone wherein the request comprises a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the first telephone, a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies a second telephone and payload data indicating a change request; and

assigning to the second telephone a telephone number associated with the first telephone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request further specifies a type of video services associated with the second telephone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the request further specifies that a type of video services associated with the first telephone are different than a type of video services associated with the second telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the request further specifies a type of data services associated with the second telephone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the request further specifies that a type of data services associated with the first telephone are different than a type of data services associated with the second telephone.

6. A method of linking multiple devices with a common network number, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a first device having a network number associated therewith, wherein the request comprises a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the first device, a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies a second device and payload data indicating a change request; and

assigning to the second device network services associated with the first device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a video telephone, a communication device, an electronic device, a mobile device, an analog cellular device, a digital device, a video device, and an audio device.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising allocating selected services to the first device.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the request further specifies a type of audio services associated with the second device.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the request further specifies a type of video services associated with the second device.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the request further specifies a type of data services associated with the second device.

12. A communications device that is capable of managing a common phone number over a plurality of telephones, the telephone comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the telephone, wherein the unique identifier is different than a phone number assigned to the telephone; and

logic configured to format a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the unique identifier and payload data representative of a change request to connect services directed to the common phone number to a second telephone.

13. The telephone of claim 12 wherein the first unique identifier is an electronic serial number associated with the first telephone.

14. The telephone of claim 12 wherein the signaling word further comprises a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies the second telephone.

15. The telephone of claim 14 wherein the second unique identifier is an electronic serial number associated with the second telephone.

16. A method of sharing a common telephone number with multiple telephones, the method comprising:

generating a signaling word with a first telephone wherein the signaling word comprises a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the first telephone, wherein the unique identifier is different than a phone number assigned to the first telephone, and wherein the signaling word further comprises payload data representative of a change request directed to a second telephone.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the payload data assigns different voice services to the first telephone than to the second telephone.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the payload data assigns different data services to the second telephone than to the first telephone.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the payload data assigns different image services to the second telephone than to the first telephone.

20. A device that is capable of sharing a common network number with other devices, the device comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies a first device, wherein the first unique identifier is different than a network number assigned to the first device; and

logic configured to format a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the first unique identifier and payload data representative of a assigning network services available to the common network number to a second device.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a video telephone, a communication device, an electronic device, a mobile device, an analog cellular device, a digital device, a video device, and an audio device.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the payload data further comprises a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies the second device.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the first and second unique identifiers are different than the common network number shared by the first and second devices.

24. A method of sharing a common network number with multiple devices, the method comprising:

generating a signaling word with a first device wherein the signaling word comprises a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the first device, wherein the unique identifier is different than a network number assigned to the first device, and wherein the signaling word further comprises payload data representative of a change request to assign the network number to a second device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a computer, a personal digital assistant, a video telephone, a communication device, an electronic device, a mobile device, an analog cellular device, a digital device, a video device, an image forming device, and an audio device.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the payload data further comprises a second unique identifier that uniquely identifies the second device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first and second unique identifiers are different than the network number shared by the first and second devices.

28. A telephone that is capable of routing services available to a common phone number to a selected telephone in a network of telephones that share the common phone number, the telephone comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the telephone, wherein the first unique identifier is different than the common phone number;

a user interface wherein a user is capable of specifying a change request that routes services to a second telephone that is identified with a second unique identifier; and

logic in communication with the computer-readable medium and the user interface, the logic configured to format a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the first unique identifier, the second unique identifier and payload data representative of the change request.

29. The telephone of claim 28 wherein the user interface is a menu.

30. The telephone of claim 28 wherein the user interface receives input from keys on the telephone.

31. The telephone of claim 28 wherein the user interface enables video services for the second telephone.

32. The telephone of claim 28 wherein the user interface enables data services for the second telephone.

33. The telephone of claim 28 wherein the user interface enables voice services for the second telephone.

34. A method of sharing a common phone number with multiple telephones, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface wherein a user is capable of specifying a change request that assigns a first phone number associated with a first telephone to a second telephone that is identified with a second unique identifier, wherein the first and second unique identifiers are different than the common phone number; and

generating a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the first unique identifier, the second unique identifier and payload data representative of the change request.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the act of displaying the user interface displays a menu.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable video services for the second telephone.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable data services for the second telephone.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable voice services for the second telephone.

39. A device that is capable of sharing a common network number with other devices, the device comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising a first unique identifier that uniquely identifies the device, wherein the first unique identifier is different than a phone number for the device;

a user interface wherein a user is capable of specifying a change request that enables services associated with the common network number to be available to a second device that is identified with a second unique identifier; and

logic configured to format a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the first unique identifier, the second unique identifier and payload data representative of the change request.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a video telephone, a communication device, an electronic device, a mobile device, an analog cellular device, a digital device, a video device, and an audio device.

41. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables video services for the second device.

42. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables video services for the second device that differ from the video services associated with the first device.

43. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables data services for the second device.

44. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables data services for the second device that differ from the data services associated with the first device.

45. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables voice services for the second device.

46. The device of claim 39 wherein the user interface enables voice services for the second device that differ from voice services associated with the first device.

47. A method of sharing a common network number with multiple devices, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface wherein a user is capable of specifying a change request that makes services associated with a first network number identifying a first device available to a second network number identifying a second device, wherein the first and second network numbers are different than the common network number; and

generating a signaling word wherein the signaling word comprises the first network number, the second network number, and payload data representative of the change request.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable image services for at least one of the first and second devices.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable image services for the second device that differ from image services associated with the first device.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable data services for the first and second devices.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable data services for the second device that differ from data services associated with the first device.

52. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable voice services for the first and second devices.

53. The method of claim 47 wherein the act of displaying the user interface allows a user to enable voice services for the second device that differ from voice services associated with the first device.