Mobile communication device with interrogator to interact with tags

• US 20070032224A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Boyer, David, Nelson, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A mobile communication device interrogates a tag on nearby communication-type equipment and in cooperation with a remote server causes a communication to be forwarded to the equipment. The mobile communication device may also interrogate a nearby tag and receive information from a remote server concerning a nearby object or activity.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a controller;

user inputs connected to said controller; and

an interrogator connected to said controller for reading information from a local tag relating to a nearby piece of equipment, wherein the read information is transmitted to a remote service and wherein in response to receiving a user input, a communication accessible at said mobile communication device is routed to the nearby piece of equipment.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said interrogator is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag scanner.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is a cellular telephone.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said interrogator is activated to read information from a local tag when a user presses a button on said cellular telephone.

5. A method of transferring a communication from a mobile communication device to a fixed communication device comprising:

receiving a communication at the mobile communication device from a remote service;

activating an interrogator of the mobile communication device;

reading a code from a tag in the local environment;

transmitting the code to the remote service; and

transferring the communication from the remote service to the fixed communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said activating step includes pressing a button on the mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of reading a tag includes receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) from an RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication is an ongoing telephone conversation

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication is a text message.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote service is a service provider of cellular telephone services.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the remote service is a server of a business and the fixed communication device is a printer or land line phone of the business.

12. A mobile communication device comprising:

a controller;

a display connected to said controller;

user inputs connected to said controller; and

an interrogator connected to said controller for reading information from a local tag relating to the local environment, wherein the read information is transmitted to a remote service provider and a communication from the remote service provider containing information about the local environment is received at said mobile communication device and displayed on said display.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said interrogator is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag scanner.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said mobile communication device is a cellular telephone.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said interrogator is activated to read information from a local tag when a user presses a button on said cellular telephone.

16. A method of obtaining information at a mobile communication device comprising:

activating an interrogator of the mobile communication device;

reading a code from a tag in the local environment;

transmitting the code to a remote service; and

receiving information from the remote service.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said activating step includes pressing a button on the mobile communication device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of reading a tag includes receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) from an RFID tag.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the information concerns an object having the tag affixed thereto or placed nearby.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote service is a service provider of cellular telephone services.