Charger/detector for cordless telephones

• US 5,596,633 A
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rehder, Michael C., Bligh, Peter, Butler, Chris, Meier, Rolf G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRESSON, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/321,239
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/210, 379/376, 379/396
• US Class Current: 379/201.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72 Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• 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: Y10S 379/913 Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subscriber presence detector system comprised of a switching system for connecting calls to and from a plurality of lines, a person presence detector connected to a line, for providing an indication to the switching system that a person is adjacent or not adjacent the detector, and apparatus for routing calls to the line in the event an indication has been received by the switching system that a person is adjacent the line.

Claims

1. A subscriber presence detector system comprising:

(a) a switching system for connecting calls to and from a plurality of lines,

(b) a person presence detector connected to a line, for automatically providing an indication to the switching system that a particularly identified person is adjacent or not adjacent said detector,

(c) means for storing said indication at the switching system comprised of an identity of the particular subscriber,

(d) means for enabling a security device by said switching system upon the switching system receiving and storing said indicating that said identified person is adjacent said detector, and

(e) the security device being at least one of an amplified microphone and a video camera disposed adjacent said line, and further including a separate transmission medium for transmission of at least one of sounds and images at a remote location from said at least one of an amplified microphone and video camera of said security to a monitoring location.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the person presence detector is comprised of means for detecting unique identities of wireless telephones as identities of particular subscribers and for providing indications of said unique identities to the switching system.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, including means in the switching system registering said unique identities, and for routing incoming calls for specific subscriber members associated with unique identities of the telephones to the lines with which said unique identities have been detected.

4. A system as defined in claim 2 including means for enabling special services at said line related to a specific subscriber if a specific person present indication has been received by said switching system.

5. A system as defined in claim 2 including means for enabling special services at said line if a person present indication has been received by said switching system.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the detector is comprised of a bar code reader located in a portable telephone charger, and further including a bar code fixed to a portable phone in a readable location by the bar code reader when the portable phone is placed in the charger.

7. A system as defined in claim 6 in which the bar code is formed as one of an optically readable UPC bar code label and a magnetic strip.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the detector is comprised of a magnetic code detector and further comprising a magnetic element for carriage by said person, expressing said magnetic code.

9. A system as defined in claim 1 including means for enabling special services at said line related to a specific subscriber if a specific person present indication has been received by said switching system.