Method and system for call management within a cellular telephone group subscription

• US 20070037562A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tysor, Arthur, Smith-Kerker, Penny
• Application Number:
  US11/201,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20070037562A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8072 Group, conference or multi-party call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7485 Group call; Conference call; Multi Party Call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A unique telephone number is assigned to each member within a cellular telephone group subscription and one or more ancillary unique telephone numbers are assigned to subsets of members within the cellular telephone group subscription such that a call directed to an ancillary unique telephone number may be answered by one or more members of the cellular telephone group subscription assigned that particular number. In this manner a unique number may be utilized to contact any member of the cellular telephone group subscription or a selected subset of the members of a cellular telephone group subscription.

Claims

1. A method for call management within a cellular telephone group subscription, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a separate unique telephone number to each member within a cellular telephone group subscription; and

assigning an identical ancillary unique telephone number to at least two members within said cellular telephone group subscription wherein a call to said identical ancillary unique telephone number results in transmission of a signal to both of said at least two members for answering by either or both of said at least two members.

2. The method for call management within a cellular telephone group subscription according to claim 1 further including a step of assigning a second identical ancillary unique telephone number to every member within said cellular telephone group subscription wherein a call to said second identical ancillary unique telephone number results in transmission of a signal to all of said members for answering by any or all of said members within said cellular telephone group subscription.

3. A system for call management within a cellular telephone group subscription comprising:

number assignment means for designating a separate unique telephone number for each member of a cellular telephone group subscription;

means for assigning an identical ancillary unique telephone number to at least two members within said cellular telephone group subscription;

call direction means for coupling a call directed to said identical ancillary telephone number to both of said at least two members; and

call completion means for establishing a connection with one of said at least two members in response to an answer by one of said at least two members and for establishing a connection with both of said at least two members in response to an answer by both of said at least two members.

4. The call management system according to claim 3 further including:

means for assigning a second identical ancillary unique telephone number to every member within said cellular telephone group subscription.

5. The call management system according to claim 4 wherein said call direction means comprises means for coupling a call directed to said second identical ancillary telephone number to any or all of said members within said cellular telephone group subscription.