Mobile call routing based on detected wireless personal area network devices

• US 20060281484A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, Gregory Allan, Moore, Scott Alan, Kronlund, Curtis Duane
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A portable phone a portable phone is equipped with a personal area network (PAN) detection mechanism to detect all portable phones and electronic identifiers (e.g., key fobs) in its PAN. A buddy list is included in the portable phone. If an electronic identifier is detected, such as from a key fob, but its corresponding portable phone is not, a proxy signal mechanism signals to the wireless telephone network that the phone may receive calls for a different phone. In response, the wireless telephone network routes calls for the different phone to the proxy phone instead. In this manner a phone may change functions automatically as devices enter and leave the PAN.

Claims

1. A portable phone comprising:

a detection mechanism that detects via wireless interface devices in physical proximity to the phone; and

a proxy mechanism coupled to the detection mechanism that sends a message to a wireless telephone network to route calls for a second portable phone corresponding to a device detected by the detection mechanism to the portable phone.

2. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the detection mechanism detects at least one device that sends an electronic identifier corresponding to a person.

3. The portable phone of claim 2 wherein the detection mechanism detects at least one phone that corresponds to a device that sends the electronic identifier corresponding to a person.

4. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the proxy mechanism comprises a buddy list that lists devices that send an electronic identifier and a corresponding phone.

5. The portable phone of claim 4 wherein if the detection mechanism detects an electronic identifier in the buddy list, but does not detect a corresponding second portable phone in the buddy list, the proxy mechanism sends a proxy signal to the wireless telephone network to instruct the wireless telephone network to route the calls for the second portable phone to the portable phone.

6. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the proxy mechanism comprises a proxy call notification mechanism that receives a proxy call signal from the wireless telephone network when a call being routed to the portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the undetected corresponding portable phone.

7. The portable phone of claim 6 wherein the proxy call notification mechanism provides notification to a user when a call being routed to the portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the second portable phone.

8. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein, upon a detected device leaving the physical proximity of the portable phone, the proxy mechanism determines if calls for a corresponding portable phone are being routed to the portable phone, and if so, the proxy mechanism sends a signal to the wireless telephone network to no longer route the calls for the undetected corresponding phone to the portable phone.

9. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the proxy mechanism further comprises a buddy validation mechanism that requires a buddy to authorize the addition of the buddy to the buddy list.

10. A portable phone comprising:

a personal area network (PAN) detection mechanism that detects via wireless interface devices in close enough physical proximity to the portable phone to be within the PAN;

a proxy mechanism coupled to the PAN detection mechanism, the proxy mechanism comprising;

a buddy list that lists key fob devices that may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism and a corresponding phone that may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism; and

a proxy signal mechanism that sends a proxy signal to the wireless telephone network to instruct the wireless telephone network to route the calls for a second portable phone to the portable phone if the PAN detection mechanism detects a key fob device in the buddy list but does not detect the corresponding second portable phone.

11. The portable phone of claim 10 wherein the proxy mechanism further comprises:

a proxy call notification mechanism that receives a proxy call signal from the wireless telephone network when a call being routed to the portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the undetected corresponding portable phone.

12. The portable phone of claim 11 wherein the proxy call notification mechanism provides notification to a user when a call being routed to the portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the second portable phone.

13. The portable phone of claim 10 wherein the proxy mechanism further comprises:

a buddy validation mechanism that requires a person corresponding to a key fob device to authorize the addition of the corresponding key fob device to the buddy list.

14. The portable phone of claim 10 wherein, upon a detected device leaving the physical proximity of the portable phone, the proxy mechanism determines if calls for a second portable phone are being routed to the portable phone, and if so, the proxy mechanism sends a signal to the wireless telephone network to no longer route the calls for the second portable phone to the portable phone.

15. A telephone system comprising:

a wireless telephone network that comprises a router for routing calls, the router including a proxy router that receives a message from a first portable phone, and in response to the message, the proxy router routes calls for a second portable phone to the first portable phone; and

a proxy call signal mechanism that sends a signal to the first portable phone when a call for the second portable phone is being routed to the first portable phone.

16. A telephone system comprising:

(A) a first portable phone comprising;

a personal area network (PAN) detection mechanism that detects via wireless interface devices in close enough physical proximity to the first portable phone to be within the PAN;

a proxy mechanism coupled to the PAN detection mechanism, the proxy mechanism comprising;

a buddy list that lists key fob devices that may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism and a corresponding phone that may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism; and

a proxy signal mechanism that sends a proxy signal to the wireless telephone network to instruct the wireless telephone network to route the calls for a second portable phone to the portable phone if the PAN detection mechanism detects a key fob device in the buddy list but does not detect the corresponding second portable phone;

(B) at least one key fob device that includes an electronic identifier for a person, wherein the key fob device may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism;

(C) a second portable phone comprising;

a mechanism that sends an electronic identifier for the second portable phone that may be detected by the PAN detection mechanism; and

(D) the wireless telephone network receiving the message from the proxy signal mechanism in the first portable phone, and in response, routes calls for the second portable phone to the first portable phone.

17. The telephone system of claim 16 wherein the proxy mechanism in the first portable phone further comprises:

a proxy call notification mechanism that receives a proxy call signal from the wireless telephone network when a call being routed to the first portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the second portable phone.

18. The telephone system of claim 17 wherein the proxy call notification mechanism provides notification to a user when a call being routed to the portable phone is a call that was originally intended for the second portable phone.

19. The telephone system of claim 16 wherein the proxy mechanism in the first portable phone further comprises:

a buddy validation mechanism that requires a person corresponding to a key fob device to authorize the addition of the corresponding key fob device to the buddy list.

20. The telephone system of claim 16 wherein, upon a detected device leaving the physical proximity of the portable phone, the proxy mechanism in the first portable phone determines if calls for a second portable phone are being routed to the portable phone, and if so, the proxy mechanism sends a signal to the wireless telephone network to no longer route the calls for the second portable phone to the portable phone.