Personal mobile communication system having meet-me bridge reconnect feature

• US 5,706,329 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Tsao, Yao-Chung, Weber, Roy Philip, Goldman, Shelley B., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Silverman, David Phillip, Murray, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/524,360
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/67, 379/82, 379/88, 379/89, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212
• US Class Current: 455/459
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/002 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers

Abstract

It is known in the prior art to, when a telephone customer is unavailable to take a call, page the customer, thereby notifying the customer that a telephone call is waiting. The customer may then call in to a meet-me bridge to be connected to the incoming telephone call. However, if the customer does not respond to the page in time, prior art systems provide for the calling party'"'"'s call to be routed to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system. The calling party'"'"'s telephone call is thereby considered completed. If the customer thereafter becomes available, the customer is not connected to the caller'"'"'s telephone call even if the caller is still connected to the alternate destination. In accordance with the principles of the invention, this problem is overcome by, in response to receipt of the telephone call from the customer, a) disconnecting the caller'"'"'s telephone call from the alternate destination and b) connecting the caller'"'"'s telephone call with the customer'"'"'s call substantially contemporaneous with receipt of the customer'"'"'s call.

Claims

1. A method for use in completing telephone calls comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call from a caller to a telephone number of a called party;

forwarding to a paging node a pager code stored for said called party in response to receipt of said telephone call from said caller;

causing said telephone call from said caller to be connected to a predetermined alternate destination when (i) a telephone call from said called party is not received within a predetermined time, (ii) said caller supplies a predetermined indication, or (iii) there is an indication that said called party is busy;

receiving a telephone call from said called party after said telephone call from said caller is connected to said predetermined alternate destination, said telephone call from said called party being originated in response to receipt of a page from said paging node by a pager of said called party; and

in response to receipt of said telephone call from said called party (i) causing said telephone call from said caller to be disconnected from said alternate destination substantially contemporaneous with receipt of said telephone call from said called party, and (ii) connecting said telephone call from said caller with said telephone call from said called party substantially contemporaneous with receipt of said telephone call from said called party.

2. Apparatus for use in completing telephone calls comprising:

means for receiving a telephone call from a caller to a telephone number of a called party;

means responsive to receipt of said telephone call from said caller for forwarding to a paging node a pager code stored for said called party;

means for receiving a telephone call from said called party, said telephone call from said called party being originated in response to receipt of a page from said paging node by a pager of said called party;

means for causing said telephone call from said caller to be connected to a predetermined alternate destination when a determination is made that said telephone call from said called party is not received within a predetermined time; and

means responsive to receipt of said telephone call from said called party for (i) causing said telephone call from said caller to be disconnected from said alternate destination substantially contemporaneous with receipt of said telephone call from said called party and (ii) for connecting said telephone call from said caller with said telephone call from said called party substantially contemporaneous with receipt of said telephone call from said called party.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for causing said telephone call from said caller to be connected to a predetermined alternate destination includes:

means for originating a telephone call to said alternate destination; and

means for bridging said telephone call from said caller with said telephone call to said alternate destination.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for causing said telephone call from said caller to be connected to a predetermined alternate destination includes:

data communications means for carrying a command instructing at least one switch of a telephone network to effectuate a transfer of said telephone call from said caller from said apparatus to said alternate destination.