Proximity detection for telecommunications features
First Claim
1. A method for use in an arrangement comprising a telephone station set, a telephone switching system, access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system, and proximity detector means associated with said station set, said proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to said station set and having a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to said station set, said method comprisingsaid switching system receiving via said access means information defining the state of said proximity detector means andin response to incoming signaling requesting service, said switching system determining the state of said proximity detector means based on said received information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switching system in which telecommunications features are improved by the use of the proximity status of a telephone station set user. The status is transmitted to the switching system over the same telephone line used for the station set. The proximity status information simply defines the presence or absence of a person to answer calls to the station set without identifying a particular person.
86 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for use in an arrangement comprising a telephone station set, a telephone switching system, access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system, and proximity detector means associated with said station set, said proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to said station set and having a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to said station set, said method comprising
said switching system receiving via said access means information defining the state of said proximity detector means and in response to incoming signaling requesting service, said switching system determining the state of said proximity detector means based on said received information.
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21. A method for distributing telephone calls to a plurality of telephone stations sets each having an associated proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set and a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set, said method comprising
in response to a call, determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a first one of said station sets, extending said call to said first station set when said determined state of said proximity detector means associated with said first station set is said first state, and determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a second one of said station sets when said determined state of said proximity detector means associated with said first station set is said second state.
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25. A method for effecting alerting at a plurality of telephone station sets each having an associated proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set and a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set, said method comprising
in response to a call, determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a first one of said station sets, effecting audible alerting at said first station set when said determined state of said proximity detector means associated with said first station set is said first state and determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a second one of said station sets when said determined state of said proximity detector means associated with said first station set is said second state.
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30. A method for use in an arrangement comprising a telephone switching system and a plurality of telephone station sets each having an associated proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set and a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to the associated station set, said method comprising
said switching system determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a first one of said station sets and the availability status of said first station set, said switching system determining the state of the proximity detector means associated with a second one of said station sets and the availability status of said second station set and upon determining that the state of said proximity detector associated with said first station set is said first state, that the state of said proximity detector associated with said second station set is said first state, and that said first and second stations sets are both available for receiving calls, said switching system attempting to complete a telephone call between said first and second station sets.
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34. A method for use in an arrangement comprising a telephone station set, a telephone switching system, access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system, and proximity detector means associated with said station set, said proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person within a predefined area and having a second state corresponding to the absence of a person within said predefined area, said method comprising
said switching system receiving via said access means information defining the state of said proximity detector means and in response to incoming signaling requesting service, said switching system determining the state of said proximity detector means based on said received information.
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37. An arrangement comprising
a telephone station set, a telephone switching system, access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system and proximity detector means associated with said station set, said proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to said station set and having a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to said station set, said switching system comprising means for receiving via said access means information defining the state of said proximity detector means and means responsive to incoming signaling requesting service for determining the state of said proximity detector means based on said received information.
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42. A telephone switching system for use with a telephone station set, access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system, and proximity detector means associated with said station set, said proximity detector means having a first state corresponding to the presence of a person to answer calls to said station set and having a second state corresponding to the absence of a person to answer calls to said station set, said switching system comprising
means for receiving via said access means information defining the state of said proximity detector means and means cooperative with said receiving means and responsive to incoming signaling requesting service for determining the state of said proximity detector means based on said received information.
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43. Apparatus for use with an arrangement comprising a telephone station set, a telephone switching system, and access means interconnecting said station set and said switching system, said apparatus comprising
proximity detector means for detecting the presence and absence of a person within a predefined area, said proximity detector means having first and second states and being for location with respect to said station set such that said first state corresponds to the presence of a person to answer calls to said station set and said second state corresponds to the absence of a person to answer calls to said station set and means responsive to said proximity detector means for transmitting state information of said proximity detector means via said access means to said switching system.
Specification