Send-all-calls feature for a wireless handset

• US 5,533,096 A
• Filed: 01/11/1995
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bales, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/371,936
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/142, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/214, 379/57, 379/202, 379/204, 379/206, 455/33.1, 455/53.1, 455/54.1
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A telephone terminal for implementing a send-all-calls feature by immediately transferring all incoming calls to call coverage but maintaining ongoing call control of calls from selected individuals. The telephone terminal maybe a wireless mobile unit. In response to calls from the selected individuals, the wireless mobile unit displays the name or number of the individual calling but still immediately transfers those calls to call coverage. The user of the wireless mobile unit can answer the call from a selected individual after the call has been transferred to call coverage. The user of the wireless mobile unit designates the selected callers by either manually entering names or telephone numbers of these individuals via the keyboard of the wireless mobile unit or by transferring the names or numbers to the wireless mobile unit from a computer.

Claims

1. A called telephone terminal for providing a send-all-call operation and the called telephone terminal for connection to a telecommunication switching system, the called telephone terminal comprising:

means for receiving a call setup message from the telecommunication switching system indicating that a call is being established from a calling telecommunication terminal and the call setup message having caller identification information identifying the calling telecommunication terminal;

means for establishing a call connection between the calling telecommunication set and a call coverage terminal through the telecommunication switching system with the call connection being controlled by the called telephone terminal which is a hand-held wireless mobile telephone unit if the caller identification information is found in a table defining selected individuals;

means for transferring the call to the call coverage terminal via the telecommunication switching system if the caller identification information is not found in the table defining selected individuals; and

the establishing means comprises means for receiving call control messages from the calling telephone terminal and relaying the call control message from the calling telephone terminal to the call coverage terminal via the telecommunication switching system and receiving call control messages from the call coverage terminal and relaying the call control messages from the call coverage terminal to the calling telephone terminal via the telecommunication switching system for the duration of the call.

2. The called telephone terminal of claim 1 wherein the establishing means comprises means for detecting call origination by an user of the called telephone terminal;

and

means for connecting the calling telecommunication terminal, the called telephone terminal, and the call coverage terminal in a conference call via the telecommunication switching system if the call coverage terminal is of a first type of call coverage terminal.

3. The called telephone terminal of claim 2 wherein the establishing means comprises means for detecting call origination by the user of the called telephone terminal;

and

means for connecting the calling telecommunication terminal and the called telephone terminal on the call via the telecommunication switching system and disconnecting the call coverage terminal if the call coverage terminal is of a second type of call coverage terminal.

4. The called telephone terminal of claim 3 wherein the establishing means comprises means for displaying the caller identification information.

5. The called telephone terminal of claim 4 further comprises a key pad;

and

means responsive to information defining the selected individuals received via the key pad for entering the selected individuals information into the table.

6. The called telephone terminal of claim 5 further comprises means for interfacing a computer to the called telephone terminal;

and

means responsive to information defining the selected individuals received from the computer via the interfacing means for entering the selected individuals information into the table.

7. A method for providing a send-all-call operation by a called telephone terminal and the called telephone terminal for connection to a telecommunication switching system, the method comprising:

receiving a call setup message from the telecommunication switching system indicating that a call is being established from a calling telecommunication terminal and the call setup message having caller identification information identifying the calling telecommunication terminal;

establishing a call connection between the calling telecommunication set and a call coverage terminal through the telecommunication switching system with the call connection being controlled by the called telephone terminal which is a hand-held wireless mobile telephone unit if the caller identification information is found in a table defining selected individuals;

transferring the call to the call coverage terminal via the telecommunication switching system if the caller identification information is not found in the table defining selected individuals; and

the establishing step comprises the steps of receiving call control messages from the calling telephone terminal and relaying the call control messages from the calling telephone terminal to the call coverage terminal via the telecommunication switching system and receiving call control messages from the call coverage terminal and relaying the call control messages from the call coverage terminal to the calling telephone terminal via the telecommunication switching system for the duration of the call.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the establishing step comprises the steps of detecting call origination by an user of the called telephone terminal;

and

connecting the calling telecommunication terminal, the called telephone terminal, and the call coverage terminal in a conference call via the telecommunication switching system if the call coverage terminal is of a first type of call coverage terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the establishing step comprises the steps of detecting call origination by the user of the called telephone terminal;

and

connecting the calling telecommunication terminal and the called telephone terminal on the call via the telecommunication switching system and disconnecting the call coverage terminal if the call coverage terminal is of a second type of call coverage terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the establishing step further comprises the step of displaying the caller identification information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the called telephone terminal comprises a key pad and the method further comprises the step of entering the selected individuals information into the table in response to information defining the selected individuals received via the key pad.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises the steps of interfacing a computer to the called telephone terminal;

and

entering the selected individuals information into the table in response to information defining the selected individuals received from the computer via the interfacing step.