Systems and methods for handling calls in a wireless enabled PBX system using mobile switching protocols

• US 20080032704A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ford, Brian, O'Neil, Douglas, Ford, Tammi L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

Methods of routing an incoming call to a mobile telephone received at a wireless enabled private branch exchange (PBX) include issuing a location request query to an element of a wireless communications network to which the mobile telephone may be subscribed, receiving a location request response from the element indicative of a status of the mobile telephone on the wireless communications network, and forwarding the incoming call to a voicemail mailbox associated with the at least one mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is not available to receive a call on the wireless communications network. The incoming call is forwarded to a telephone number associated with the mobile telephone on the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network. Corresponding communications systems and private branch exchanges are also provided.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a wireless enabled private branch exchange configured to route and manage telephone calls to terminals in the communications system including at least one mobile telephone; and

an interface unit coupled to the wireless enabled private branch exchange and configured to issue a location request query to an element of a wireless communications network to which the at least one mobile telephone is subscribed and to receive a location request response from the element indicative of a status of the at least one mobile telephone on the wireless communications network, and configured to provide the location request response to the private branch exchange,

wherein the private branch exchange is further configured, upon receipt of the location request response, to forward a call directed to the at least one mobile telephone to a voicemail mailbox associated with the at least one mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is not available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

2. The communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one base station coupled to the wireless enabled private branch exchange and configured to establish a wireless communications link with the at least one mobile telephone when the at least one mobile telephone is within range of the at least one base station.

3. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the interface unit is further configured to send a provisioning request establishing a secondary call handling protocol for the at least one mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

4. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the provisioning request sets a Call Forward-No Answer and/or a Call Forward-Busy setting in the wireless communications network for the at least one mobile telephone.

5. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the interface unit is configured to send the provisioning request to the mobile telephone and/or to a mobile switching center serving the mobile telephone.

6. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the private branch exchange is further configured to forward an incoming call received at the private branch exchange for the at least one mobile telephone to a telephone number associated with the at least one mobile telephone on the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

7. The communications system of claim 6, wherein the interface unit is further configured to send a provisioning request establishing a secondary call handling protocol for the at least one mobile telephone to the element of the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

8. The communications system of claim 6, wherein the private branch exchange is further configured to alter at least one call setting associated with the mobile terminal when the incoming call is forwarded to the mobile telephone in the wireless communications network.

9. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the at least one call setting comprises a timeout value associated with the incoming call, and wherein the private branch exchange is further configured to increase the timeout value associated with the incoming call.

10. A method of routing an incoming call to a mobile telephone received at a wireless enabled private branch exchange, comprising:

issuing a location request query to an element of a wireless communications network to which the mobile telephone is subscribed;

receiving a location request response from the element indicative of a status of the mobile telephone on the wireless communications network, and

forwarding the incoming call to a voicemail mailbox associated with the at least one mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is not available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link with the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is within range of a base station coupled to the wireless enabled private branch exchange.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a provisioning request establishing a secondary call handling protocol for the mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the provisioning request sets a Call Forward-No Answer and/or a Call Forward-Busy setting in the wireless communications network for the mobile telephone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the provisioning request comprises sending the provisioning request to the mobile telephone and/or to a mobile switching center serving the mobile telephone.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

forwarding the incoming call to a telephone number associated with the mobile telephone on the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a provisioning request establishing a secondary call handling protocol for the mobile telephone to the element of the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

altering a call setting associated with the mobile terminal when the incoming call is forwarded to the mobile telephone in the wireless communications network, wherein the call setting comprises a timeout value associated with the incoming call, and wherein altering the call setting comprises increasing the timeout value associated with the incoming call.

18. A wireless enabled private branch exchange configured to route and manage telephone calls to terminals in a private communications system including at least one mobile telephone, configured to issue a location request query to an element of a wireless communications network to which the at least one mobile telephone is subscribed and to receive a location request response from the element indicative of a status of the at least one mobile telephone on the wireless communications network, and configured, upon receipt of the location request response, to forward a call directed to the at least one mobile telephone to a voicemail mailbox associated with the at least one mobile telephone if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is not available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

19. The wireless enabled private branch exchange of claim 18, wherein the private branch exchange is further configured to forward an incoming call received at the private branch exchange for the at least one mobile telephone to a telephone number associated with the at least one mobile telephone on the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.

20. The wireless enabled private branch exchange of claim 19, wherein the private branch exchange is further configured to send a provisioning request establishing a secondary call handling protocol for the at least one mobile telephone to the element of the wireless communications network if the location request response indicates that the at least one mobile telephone is available to receive a call on the wireless communications network.