Portable telephone user profiles using central computer

• US 5,703,942 A
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinard, Deborah L., Letkeman, Kim D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/636,777
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/142, 379/144, 379/216, 379/211, 379/67, 379/95, 379/242, 379/219, 379/279, 379/357, 379/212, 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/199, 379/200
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/557 Portable profiles
• 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 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method of invoking a telephone user profile comprised of storing in a database a user telephone service profile containing a directory number of a user, in association with a telephone set line, transmitting the user telephone service profile to a central computer, transmitting the service profile to a group of telephone office switches from the computer, storing the service profile at each of the telephone office switches in the group, and providing service to the user at each of the telephone office switches in the group in accordance with the service profile.

Claims

1. A method of invoking a telephone user profile comprising:

(a) storing in a database a user telephone service profile containing

(i) a directory number of a user, in association with a telephone set line location, and

(ii) at least one of telephone feature data and telephone restriction data,

(b) transmitting the user telephone service profile to a central computer,

(c) transmitting said service profile to a group of telephone office switches from said computer,

(d) storing said service profile at each of the telephone office switches in the group for use by each of the telephone office switches in processing calls which involve said directory number, and

(e) providing service to said user at each of the telephone office switches in the group in accordance with said service profile.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the service provided at each of the telephone office switches in the group includes recognition of a single telephone number for incoming calls to said user which is the same for all said switches in the group, resulting from access to said stored service profile at any of said switches.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 including:

(a) receiving a command to change the telephone set line location associated with said user profile, and changing said user telephone service profile in response to said command,

(b) transmitting the changed user telephone service profile to a central computer,

(c) transmitting said changed service profile to the group of telephone office switches from said computer, and

(d) storing said changed profile at each of the telephone office switches in the group.

4. A method as defined in claim 2 in which the database is stored in a memory associated with a telephone switching office.

5. A method as defined in claim 2 in which the database is stored in a memory associated with said central computer.

6. A method as defined in claim 2, including storing user data on an encoded card, inserting the card into a card reader associated with a telephone line, reading the card, and storing said profile in association with said telephone line in said database.

7. A method as defined in claim 2 including storing user data on an encoded card, inserting the card into a card reader associated with a telephone line, reading the card, and storing instructions to direct all incoming calls to said directory number to said telephone line from all of the telephone office switches in the group.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which the number of telephone office switches in the group is one.