Transferring a communications exchange

• US 20070263828A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jabbour, Fadi, Lee, David, Lee, Eric, Lee, Johnny
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/212.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

Methods and systems for transferring a communications exchange using a mobile handset are described. A radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted from a mobile handset to a base station to provide a communications exchange. The communications exchange exists between the mobile handset and a first communications device. The mobile handset automatically detects a second communications device when it is in close proximity to the second communications device. The second communications device is capable of receiving a call handoff. If the mobile handset is in close proximity to the second communications device, then a transfer request including information associated with the second communications device is received from the second communications device. The transfer request is accepted and the communications exchange is seamlessly transferred to the second communications device form the mobile handset.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a side of a communications exchange from a first communications device to a second communications device, the method comprising:

while the first communications device is participating in the communications exchange, receiving a transfer request from the second communications device, the second communications device having communicated the transfer request in response to the second communications device automatically detecting a proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device, the transfer request comprising information about the second communications device;

accepting the transfer request; and

seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange from the first communications device to the second communications device during the communications exchange.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving input from a user at the first communications device instructing the first communications device to accept the transfer request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications device is a land-line telephone and the second communications device is a mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first communications device and the second communications device are each Internet Protocol (IP) capable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications exchange has two sides.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications exchange is a telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device comprises using one or more infrared signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange comprises using a call conference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange comprises using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the second communications device comprises an identification of the second communications device.

11. A method for transferring a side of a communications exchange from a first communications device to a second communications device, the method comprising:

automatically detecting a proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device while the first communications device is participating in the communications exchange;

communicating a transfer request to the first communications device;

receiving an acceptance of the transfer request from the first communications device; and

seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange from the first communications device to the second communications device during the communications exchange in response to the acceptance of the transfer request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communications device is a land-line telephone and the second communications device is a mobile telephone.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein one or both of the first communications device and the second communications device are each Internet Protocol (IP) capable.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications exchange has two sides.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications exchange is a telephone call.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device comprises using one or more infrared signals.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange comprises using a call conference.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein seamlessly transferring the side of the communications exchange comprises using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the information about the second communications device comprises an identification of the second communications device.

20. A system for transferring a side of a communications exchange from a first communications device to a second communications device, the system comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a transfer request from the second communications device while the first communications device is participating in the communications exchange, the second communications device having communicated the transfer request in response to the second communications device automatically detecting a proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device, the transfer request comprising information about the second communications device; and

one or more logic units collectively operable to;

accept the transfer request; and

seamlessly transfer the side of the communications exchange from the first communications device to the second communications device during the communications exchange.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the logic units are collectively operable to accept the transfer request in response to input from a user at the first communications device instructing the first communications device to accept the transfer request.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first communications device is a land-line telephone and the second communications device is a mobile telephone.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein one or both of the first communications device and the second communications device are each Internet Protocol (IP) capable.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the communications exchange has two sides.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the communications exchange is a telephone call.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein detecting the proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device comprises using one or more infrared signals.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the seamless transfer of the side of the communications exchange comprises a call conference.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of the logic units use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to seamlessly transfer the side of the communications exchange.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the information about the second communications device comprises an identification of the second communications device.

30. A system for transferring a side of a communications exchange from a first communications device to a second communications device, the system comprising:

a detector operable to automatically detecting a proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device while the first communications device is participating m the communications exchange;

a transmitter operable to communicate a transfer request to the first communications device;

one or more logic units collectively operable to;

access an acceptance of the transfer request from the first communications device; and

seamlessly transfer the side of the communications exchange from the first communications device to the second communications device during the communications exchange in response to the acceptance of the transfer request.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first communications device is a land-line telephone and the second communications device is a mobile telephone.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein one or both of the first communications device and the second communications device are each Internet Protocol (IP) capable.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the communications exchange has two sides.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the communications exchange is a telephone call.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the detector is operable to use one or more infrared signals to detect the proximity between the first communications device and the second communications device.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the seamless transfer of the side of the communications exchange comprises a call conference.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein one or more of the logic units use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to seamlessly transfer the side of the communications exchange.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the information about the second communications device comprises an identification of the second communications device.