Location registration system for a personal communicator such as a cellular telephone

• US 5,197,092 A
• Filed: 10/31/1990
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bamburak, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/606,523
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/58, 379/60, 379/355, 379/357, 379/59, 379/210-212, 379/201
• US Class Current: 379/211.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• 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 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

A personal communicator receiving station, also known as a holster, is capable of receiving a personal communicator unit and communicating therewith. Such receiving stations may be at various locations, including a subscriber'"'"'s home, office, automobile and other sites. The personal communicator includes the telephone number for call forwarding updating in the central exchange of the personal communications network, while the receiving station includes a call forwarding number. When the receiving station is connected to a landline system, the receiving station obtains the network update number from the personal communicator operatively positioned therein, and communicates the call forwarding number to the network central exchange. In a variation, the personal communicator obtains the call forwarding number from the receiving station and communicates that number to the network through the personal communications system.

Claims

1. A location registration system for personal communicators within a personal communications network, comprising:

a personal communicator unit, which is part of a personal communications network, the personal communicator unit being capable of direct, two-way communication with the personal communications network and with other personal communicator units within the personal communications network via said network, the personal communications network having the capability of maintaining a call forwarding number for the personal communicator, wherein the personal communicator includes information for contact with the personal communications network;

at least one receiving station positioned at a selected location, for receiving the personal communicator, wherein the receiving station includes a particular call forwarding number associated therewith;

means in the personal communicator and the receiving station for two-way communication with each other; and

means for automatically communicating the particular call forwarding number to the personal communications network which will in operation maintain the particular call forwarding number for communication with said personal communicator, in response to said personal communicator being operatively positioned in said receiving station.

2. A system of claim 1, including a plurality of receiving stations, each positioned at a selected location.

3. A system of claim 1, wherein the receiving station includes means for actuating itself when a personal communicator is operatively positioned therein.

4. A system of claim 3, including means in the receiving station for activating and deactivating the personal communicator, when the personal communicator is operatively positioned therein.

5. A system of claim 1, wherein the personal communicator is a cellular telephone, and the personal communications network is a cellular communications network.

6. A system of claim 5, wherein the particular call forwarding number is communicated to the cellular communications network through cellular communication.

7. A system of claim 5, wherein the receiving station is connected to a landline telephone network and wherein the receiving station includes means for obtaining from the personal communicator said contact information for the personal communications network, wherein communication between the receiving station and the cellular communications network and communication between the cellular telephone and the cellular communications network is carried out via landlines.

8. A system of claim 7, wherein said receiving station includes an automatic means for dialing the personal communications network.

9. A system of claim 7, wherein the contact information includes a call forwarding update telephone number for the personal communications network.

10. A system of claim 7, wherein the receiving station includes means for communicating the call forwarding number to the personal communications network following telephone connection therewith.

11. A system of claim 10, wherein the receiving station includes means for indicating the success or failure of telephone connection with the personal communications network and of communicating the call forwarding number thereto.