Personal-signaling communication system

• US 4,680,785 A
• Filed: 10/03/1984
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Telecom Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippo Communication Industrial Company Limited
• Inventors: Otsuka, Yoshio, Akiyama, Tadahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US06/657,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 179/18 BA, 179/2 EC, 179/18 BF, 179/18 BE, 179/90 CS, 179/90 AN, 179/5.5, 179/2 CA, 179/6.3 CC, 340/825.44, 340/825.48
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2765 implemented by means of portable magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/627 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/909 Alternatives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

A personal-call communication system wherein a personal identification number is assigned to each telephone user, and an arbitrary person is called by wireless by dialing a corresponding personal calling number. The called person sets an ID-card-type portable device memorizing one'"'"'s own personal identification information in a card reader of a telephone set, and communicates with the calling party over the wire system via an exchange. The system allows a direct call of an individual person, who in turn has a choice as to whether or not a response should be taken depending on the calling party whose name is indicated to the called party.

Claims

1. A personal-signaling communication system comprising:

a portable memory device provided with memory means for storing personal identification information and a portable receiver device provided with receiver means operable in response to receipt of a wireless personal signaling code to provide an indication of received signaling;

a plurality of communication terminal units connected by way of respective lines to an exchange facility and each provided with a reader to read personal identification information stored in said portable memory device and each of which includes means for transferring said personal identification information, a called number signal and an off-hook signal to said exchange facility;

a wireless pager device connected to receive a personal signaling code from said exchange facility for transmitting said personal signaling code by wireless communication to said portable receiver device; and

said exchange facility including means for converting a called number signal, received from a communication terminal unit along with a caller'"'"'s personal identification information, to a personal signaling code, memory means for storing a personal signaling code in correspondence with said received caller'"'"'s personal identification information to form a signal management table, comparison means responsive to reception of personal identification information and an off-hook signal from a communication terminal unit for comparing the received personal identification information with data forming said signaling management table as stored in said memory means, first means responsive to said comparison means not detecting the received personal identification information in said signaling management table for transferring a personal signaling code from said converting means to said wireless pager device and for storing said received personal identification information along with said caller'"'"'s personal identification information in said signaling management table in said memory means, and second means responsive to said comparison means detecting the received personal identification information in said signaling management table for effecting connection selectively between the communication terminal unit from which the personal identification information is received and a line to another communication terminal unit identified by caller'"'"'s personal identification information derived from said signaling management table in said memory means.

2. A personal-signaling communication system according to claim 1, wherein said portable receiver device is provided with display means for displaying information related to a call, such as a calling person'"'"'s name, which is sent as part of said personal signaling code from said wireless pager device.

3. A personal-signaling communication system according to claim 1, wherein said exchange facility includes timer means for determining if a call from a calling communication terminal unit is not answered by a called communication terminal unit for at least a predetermined length of time, means for storing the identification of a selected communication terminal unit to be connected to a calling communication terminal unit in case a call is not answered by the called communication terminal unit, and means for terminating a call to said selected communication terminal unit whose identification has been stored in advance in correspondence to personal identification information of said called party.

4. A personal-signaling communication system according to claim 2, wherein said portable receiver device includes means for emitting an acoustic call signal to a called party in response to receipt of a wireless personal signaling code.