Coordination of cellular telephones in a residential area to obviate need for wired residential service

• US 20060057961A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dietz, Timothy Alan, Holloway, Lane Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A comprehensive method for coordinating cellular phones in a residential area to obviate the need for wired residential service. The present invention includes coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area to be able to receive a call directed to a user'"'"'s cellular telephone. Said wireless devices can have different numbers and be serviced by different providers than the user'"'"'s cellular telephone. Peer-to-peer relationships are formed between associated wireless communications devices, similar to IEEE 802.11 peer-to-peer relationships. A call could also be answered by another cellular telephone, or other device, such as a computer. All communicating handsets of associated wireless communications devices could join the call. The present invention would prevent a user from missing any incoming calls while at the user'"'"'s residence. The present invention would also allow a user to receive calls at the user'"'"'s residence on any associated communications device without the need for wired residential service.

Claims

1. A wireless telephonic communication system for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area for alerting all devices in the set to receive a call sent to any device in the set, comprising:

a short range RF broadcast station in said residential area;

a set of wireless devices in said residential area, each device adapted for receiving said short range RF signals from said broadcast station;

means for identifying information sent from a first device to other device within said RF broadcast range via said station;

means enabling the first device to request transmitted information to form peer-to-peer relationship between said other device and first said device; and

means for accepting said request by the other device.

2. The wireless telephonic communications system of claim 1, further comprising means for the other device to pass incoming calls to devices within said RF broadcast range.

3. The wireless telephonic communications system of claim 2 wherein said broadcast station is a cellular broadcast tower in said residential area.

4. The wireless telephonic communication system of claim 3 wherein all communicating handsets related to said other devices have means to join a call.

5. The wireless telephonic communication system of claim 3 further comprising a privacy feature for limiting handsets from joining a call.

6. The wireless telephonic communication system of claim 4 wherein calls can be answered by a computer within said RF broadcast range of the first device.

7. The wireless telephonic communications system of claim 4 wherein calls can be answered by a VoIP capable device within said RF broadcast range of the first device.

8. In a wireless telephonic communications system, a method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area for alerting all devices in the set to receive a call sent to any device in the set, comprising:

having a short range RF broadcast station in said residential area;

receiving said short range RF signals by a set of wireless devices in said residential area, each device adapted for receiving said short range RF signals, from said broadcast station;

identifying information sent from a first device to other device within said RF broadcast range via said station;

requesting transmitted information by the first device to form peer-to-peer relationship between said other device and first said device; and

accepting said request by the other device.

9. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 8, further comprising means for said other device to pass incoming calls to devices within said RF broadcast range.

10. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 9 wherein said broadcast station is a cellular broadcast tower in said residential area.

11. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 10 wherein all communicating handsets related to said other devices have means to join the call.

12. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 11 further comprising a privacy feature for limiting handsets from joining a call.

13. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 11 wherein calls can be answered by a computer within said RF broadcast range of the first device.

14. The method for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 11 wherein calls can be answered by a VoIP capable device within said RF broadcast range of the first device.

15. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area for alerting all devices in the set to receive a call sent to any device in the set, comprising:

a short range RF broadcast station in said residential area;

a set of wireless devices in said residential area, each device adapted for receiving said short range RF signals from said broadcast station;

means for identifying information sent from a first device to other device within said RF broadcast range via said station;

means enabling the first device to request transmitted information to form peer-to-peer relationship between said other device and first said device; and

means for accepting said request by the other device.

16. The computer program for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 15 further comprising means for said other device to pass incoming calls to devices within said RF broadcast range.

17. The computer program for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 16 wherein said broadcast station is a cellular broadcast tower in said residential area.

18. The computer program for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 17 wherein all communicating handsets related to said other devices have means to join the call.

19. The computer program for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 18 further comprising a privacy feature for limiting handsets from joining a call.

20. The computer program for coordinating a set of wireless devices in a residential area of claim 19 wherein calls can be answered by a VoIP capable device within said RF broadcast range of the first device.