Method for re-establishing telephone calls after unintended termination

• US 20050202849A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ignatin, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment

Abstract

Methods for automatically re-establishing a wireless telephone call following a disruption of a wireless communication link are disclosed. A representative embodiment of the present invention may detect when a telephone call via a wireless communication network has been unintentionally ended, and may automatically re-establish the call when a characteristic of the wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition. A user may be notified that the lost call is about to be re-established, to enable the user to inhibit the re-establishment if the call is no longer desired. A user may also set one or more parameters to permit them to adjust the operation of the re-establishment mechanism to meet their needs.

Claims

1. A method of automatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintended disconnection, the method comprising:

receiving a first telephone call via a wireless communication network;

storing information identifying an origin of the first telephone call;

detecting a failure of the first telephone call; and

automatically establishing a second telephone call to the origin of the first telephone call using the stored information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting uses at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

waiting a predetermined amount of time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the establishing further comprises:

determining whether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition;

initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is met; and

refraining from initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is not met.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises a dialable telephone number.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN).

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary location directory number (TLDN).

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number (MIN).

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI).

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the notifying comprises a vibratory alert.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the notifying comprises a visual alert.

25. A method of automatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintended disconnection, the method comprising:

originating a first telephone call via a wireless communication network;

storing information identifying a destination of the first telephone call;

detecting a failure of the first telephone call; and

automatically establishing a second telephone call to the destination of the first telephone call using the stored information.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular communication network.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the detecting uses at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

waiting a predetermined amount of time.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the establishing further comprises:

determining whether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition;

initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is met; and

refraining from initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is not met.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises a dialable telephone number.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN).

40. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary location directory number (TLDN).

41. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number (MIN).

42. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).

43. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI).

44. The method of claim 25 wherein the stored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).

45. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

notifying a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the notifying comprises a vibratory alert.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the notifying comprises a visual alert.

49. A method of automatically re-establishing a telephone call after unintended disconnection, the method comprising:

establishing a first telephone call between a first party and a second party, at least one of the first party and the second party communicating via a wireless communication network;

storing information identifying the first party and the second party;

detecting a failure of the first telephone call; and

automatically establishing a second telephone call between the first party and the second party using the stored information.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular communication network.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the detecting uses at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

56. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

waiting a predetermined amount of time.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein the establishing further comprises:

determining whether at least one characteristic of a wireless communication link meets a predetermined condition;

initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is met; and

refraining from initiating the second telephone call if the predetermined condition is not met.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal strength.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an error rate.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a signal to noise ratio.

61. The method of claim 57 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises an Eb/No measurement.

62. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises a dialable telephone number.

63. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises a directory number (DN).

64. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary location directory number (TLDN).

65. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises a mobile identification number (MIN).

66. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises an international mobile station identifier (IMSI).

67. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI).

68. The method of claim 49 wherein the stored information comprises an electronic serial number (ESN).

69. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

notifying a user that a telephone call is about to be re-established.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the notifying comprises an audible alert.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the notifying comprises a vibratory alert.

72. The method of claim 69 wherein the notifying comprises a visual alert.